Awakening

Warm blood stained the crystalline ice blade.

But this still wasn't the result Arata wanted!

At the critical moment, Itachi Uchiha had actually clamped down on the blade with his left hand. Even as the pain shot through his heart, he did not loosen his grip in the slightest.

That strike also made him truly confirm one thing: the boy before him genuinely wanted to kill him!

That undisguised hatred was just like the disgust he himself felt toward this decaying clan.

Fortunately, his eyes had seen through the blade's trajectory at the most crucial moment.

Otherwise—

Arata used every ounce of strength he had, frantically driving the blade forward. Yet that bloodstained palm was like a rough, unyielding boulder, firmly gripping the blade and preventing it from advancing even an inch.

The entire field fell silent.

No one had expected such a heaven-shaking reversal to occur in that split second.

Arata, who had never carried out a single mission, had actually suppressed Itachi to such an extent and even injured him!

This situation had truly exceeded everyone's expectations.

One had to know that after Itachi had opened up the distance, he had already been cautious enough to leave himself plenty of room to react.

Yet no one had expected Arata to have been holding back!

That ghostly speed combined with bizarre swordsmanship was simply a nightmare for any opponent.

It was fortunate that Itachi was the one facing him. Otherwise, this spar would already have ended.

"Did Arata win?"

Only after a while did someone mutter the question.

Was he really just a Genin who had recently graduated?

With that kind of strength, calling him a Chunin—or even a Special Jonin—would not have been an exaggeration!

No wonder there had been rumors that Lord Yashiro wanted to recommend him to the Police Force. At first, they had been unconvinced, thinking he was too young. But now, it seemed that strength was more than sufficient.

"It's still too early to say that. After all, Itachi hasn't truly used his Sharingan yet."

A clansman replied calmly.

Although Arata appeared to have the upper hand for now, that was largely because Itachi had underestimated him.

Aside from the Shuriken Shadow Clone at the beginning, which had been fairly impressive, he had not used any powerful ninjutsu at all. He surely still had strength in reserve.

Arata, on the other hand, had attacked fiercely from the very start without showing any sign of stopping. Whether it was his swordsmanship or that large-scale Ice Release, both consumed tremendous physical strength and chakra.

The most direct proof was that the blade could no longer advance even a fraction.

Of course, the truly important point was that they were members of the Uchiha Clan.

As long as the Sharingan remained, there was an endless possibility of turning the tables!

"No!"

"I absolutely, absolutely have to kill you!!"

Arata roared madly in his heart.

He had never regarded this match as a spar. He had even risked a mental breakdown to successfully replicate Gekko Hayate's other signature ability, Moon Shadow, on the sixth day. All for the sake of completely killing Itachi.

Because this was when Itachi was at his weakest, and it was his only chance at this stage!

Once he missed it, it would never come again.

"Secret Technique: Wind-Soughing Crane-Cry!"

A gritted, low roar swept across the lake. Biting wind and snow surged in response as sharp icicles pierced through the air from every direction, determined to skewer the person in his sight.

This was the greatest difference between sorcery and ninjutsu: no hand seals were needed!!

Yet Itachi Uchiha had regained his usual calm. Even with the icicles closing in, his expression did not change as he quietly watched the boy who refused to meet his gaze.

"Let me see."

"Who is pulling the strings behind this."

The kunai in his right hand quietly slipped down.

Ever since it had shattered Arata's Shadow Clone, it had accomplished nothing else. Even during the stalemate, Itachi had not used the ninja tool to break free. Now, he simply let it fall.

Crack.

A clear piercing sound exploded beside Arata's ear.

A round log was instantly torn apart by several icicles.

"Substitution Technique!"

Just before the icicles descended, Itachi Uchiha had successfully formed hand seals and escaped!

What kind of composure did this man possess in the face of danger?

Watching the wood chips scatter, Arata's eyes nearly split apart. He raised his gaze to search for Itachi's position, but a sudden stab of mental pain made him double over.

His vision changed as well.

The dim sky twisted crimson, all sound at his ears was completely blocked out, and his stiff limbs could not summon even the slightest strength.

"This is?"

"Demonic Illusion: Shackling Stakes Technique!"

"When?"

Arata kept questioning himself.

He had never met Itachi's eyes while his Sharingan was active. How could he have fallen under a genjutsu?

"Could it be?"

"Could it be?"

"That's right. It was that kunai."

Sound returned to his ears, but it was the voice of the person he hated most!

"Talk."

"Why do you want to kill me?"

"Who ordered you to do it?"

Itachi quietly appeared in his field of vision. Like the god of this crimson world, he could manifest anywhere at will.

Arata, meanwhile, was nailed to enormous stakes, unable to exert even a trace of strength.

This...

was the suppression brought about by the difference in Sharingan levels!

"Heh."

Arata sneered without answering, his eyes filled with undisguised hatred.

"It doesn't matter. I have time to wear you down."

"You should understand this ninjutsu very well."

Itachi added casually. A katana manifested in his hand, and without the slightest hesitation, he plunged it into Arata's body.

Over the past few months, what he had learned in the Anbu was not merely assassination, reconnaissance, concealment, and interrogation techniques. He had also learned absolute indifference.

Indifference toward everyone except Sasuke, Shisui, and his mother.

Even now, Itachi Uchiha did not believe that killing him had been Arata's idea alone. After all, the other boy was an orphan and had no direct stake in the clan's interests.

The most likely culprit was that Masked Man who had suddenly appeared in the clan and also possessed the Sharingan.

He had bewitched Arata.

Slap.

Water struck his face hard, and his consciousness began returning in fragments.

How many times had Itachi stabbed him?

Arata could no longer remember.

Even though he possessed the Sharingan as well, the difference in their levels merely allowed him to endure longer than an ordinary person. He could not break free from that crimson world at all.

I can't fall yet!

As his strength ebbed away, Demon Bind had long since been forcibly released. The blade clenched in his hand had sunk to the bottom of the lake, and his remaining chakra was only enough to barely let him stand.

Watching the boy struggle to his feet, the shock in Itachi's heart intensified.

Within that demonic world created by the Sharingan, he had stabbed his opponent 243 times over the course of an hour. Only after his own ocular power had been completely exhausted did he end the interrogation.

Yet the brat had not uttered a single sound. Apart from that mocking snort at the beginning, he had only continued staring at him with eyes full of killing intent!

The rest could be investigated later.

Now, it was time to end this farce.

Glancing at his left arm, already numb from excessive blood loss, Itachi instantly appeared behind Arata and swept him several meters away with a basic kick, sending countless splashes into the air.

"It's over."

A clansman by the shore murmured.

This battle had made their hearts tremble.

What was a genius?

Itachi and Arata had illustrated that word to perfection!

"His foundation isn't deep enough."

Clear regret showed in Yashiro Uchiha's eyes, though he had long anticipated this outcome.

Izumi clenched her fists tightly, her lips pale as paper. She did not know how deeply this defeat would affect Arata.

As for the victor, Itachi Uchiha gave his nearly unconscious opponent one more serious look before turning away.

For him, it would not have been an exaggeration to call this a miserable victory. His left hand was nearly ruined, his chakra was exhausted, and if not for his advantage in Sharingan power, the outcome would have been uncertain!

The tension in his nerves finally loosened at that moment.

But just then, a sudden change occurred!

By the shore, Fugaku Uchiha's expression changed drastically. His body shifted as though he intended to rush over immediately. The surrounding clansmen also stared in shock, mouths open as if they wanted to shout something. Little Sasuke was even more terrified as he cried, "Nii-san, watch out!"

"What happened?"

Itachi, whose guard had already dropped, slowly turned around. Three kunai were racing toward him, the Explosive Tags hanging beneath them hissing.

As for the culprit, he was still sprawled across the lake's surface, yet his eyes were filled with an unfathomable killing intent!