Seeing the awkward look on Shinji's face, Sasuke asked in confusion, "Wasn't he? Did you not make him stronger in 'Takamagahara'?"
Shinji replied helplessly, "No."
Apparently, Shinji hadn't told Sasuke that the Itachi in 'Takamagahara' was only a weaker version. He was worried Sasuke wouldn't be able to handle the shock.
"How is that possible!?"
Sasuke took a step back, his eyes full of confusion.
In his view, they were both Uchiha with Mangekyō Sharingan, so why had the battle been so completely one-sided? Whether it was ninjutsu, genjutsu, or Taijutsu, he hadn't stood a chance against Itachi.
Shinji glanced at Sasuke and sighed.
Orochimaru had once been just as puzzled.
Even among Uchiha with Mangekyō Sharingan, some were simply stronger than others.
For example, during the Fourth Shinobi World War in the original timeline, Naruto and Killer B, who had already mastered 'Nine-Tails Chakra Mode,' encountered Nagato and Itachi, who had been revived with 'Impure World Reincarnation.'
Nagato had nearly taken on both of them at once, crushing Naruto and Killer B.
If Itachi hadn't turned against Nagato and successfully sealed him with the 'Totsuka Blade,' the outcome of the Fourth Shinobi World War might have been different.
Not long before this battle, the Hawk squad led by Sasuke had attacked Killer B. They'd not only nearly been killed by him, but had also been thoroughly toyed with in the end.
Using Killer B as a point of comparison, it was easy to see just how vast the gap between Sasuke and Itachi was.
And it wasn't just Sasuke. Even Shinji would have to be on full alert if he faced Itachi right now. Nobody would willingly fight someone like Itachi to the death unless they had to—not when nobody knew how many trump cards he still had up