After sensing Uchiha Itachi's unwillingness once more, Uchiha Fugaku released his hold on him and pulled him to his feet.
"Want to try again?"
At Uchiha Fugaku's question, Uchiha Itachi quickly nodded.
Uchiha Itachi felt he had underestimated his father and that was why things had gone this way. He was sure it wouldn't happen again if he got another chance.
"Then let's try again."
The two separated once more and took their positions opposite each other.
This time, as Uchiha Itachi charged forward, he was the first to hurl a flurry of shuriken at Uchiha Fugaku.
But Uchiha Fugaku's reaction was beyond anything Uchiha Itachi had imagined.
Uchiha Fugaku didn't react at all. He simply stood there, waiting for the shuriken to hit him.
But just as the shuriken were about to strike Uchiha Fugaku, a cloak like red flames appeared over his body, covering him from head to toe.
A series of metallic clanging sounds rang out. The energy cloak had blocked the shuriken and knocked them away.
Seeing this, Uchiha Itachi couldn't help feeling astonished. Was that a Senjutsu Chakra Cloak like Susanoo?
But giving up now wasn't Uchiha Itachi's style.
Uchiha Itachi followed up by unleashing an enhanced ninjutsu.
"Sage Art: Great Fireball Technique!"
A gigantic fireball poured from Uchiha Itachi's mouth and hurtled toward Uchiha Fugaku.
Empowered by Senjutsu Chakra, the flames of the Great Fireball burned a much brighter white, and its temperature was far higher than that of an ordinary Great Fireball.
Seeing the Great Fireball charging toward him, Uchiha Fugaku made no attempt to dodge.
Instead, wanting to test the defensive strength of his Senjutsu Chakra Cloak, Uchiha Fugaku raised one hand and pressed it against the enormous fireball. As the fireball met the force opposing it, it began to disperse, then swallowed Uchiha Fugaku.
Watching from the side, Izumi Uchiha couldn't help covering her mouth in fear.
She began to worry about Uchiha Fugaku, who had always helped her.
After all, that was a Fire Release technique empowered by Senjutsu!
At the same time, Uchiha Itachi watched the blazing flames, and concern began to rise in his heart.
But before long, they both noticed a figure slowly emerging from the flames, which still hadn't gone out.
It was Uchiha Fugaku, clad in the Senjutsu Chakra Cloak.
As Uchiha Fugaku's figure came into clearer view, Itachi and Izumi saw that he was completely unharmed.
The sight of Uchiha Fugaku deeply shook them both.
Uchiha Fugaku wore a red Chakra Cloak, and with the white flames blazing beside him, he looked like a god striding out of the fire.
After that move, Uchiha Fugaku had a general understanding of his Senjutsu Cloak's defensive power. But he also wanted to show off a little and give his son a shock, so he said,
"Itachi, how about using Susanoo? Let me see yours."
"And let me show you the difference between our Susanoo."
Hearing his father's words, Uchiha Itachi couldn't help feeling his competitive spirit rise.
He touched his eyes, whose power had already begun to wane, and made up his mind.
"Then let's try."
"Father, let me show you what I can do."
After Uchiha Itachi agreed, Uchiha Fugaku unleashed his modified Sage Susanoo.
A massive red-and-white energy surged from Uchiha Fugaku's body and enveloped him. A half-body Susanoo, resembling Uchiha Fugaku and clad in a white-and-red energy cloak, appeared around him.
Uchiha Itachi couldn't help feeling surprised at the sight.
How was that possible? Why did his father's Susanoo look like him?
But this didn't affect Uchiha Itachi's resolve. He summoned his own Susanoo without backing down.
A second half-body Susanoo, scarlet and clad in armor, appeared on the training ground.
Seeing the Totsuka Blade and Yata Mirror in the hands of Uchiha Itachi's Susanoo, Uchiha Fugaku couldn't help marveling at the strength of his own genes—and at the sheer cheat-like nature of Uchiha Itachi.
Susanoo could even come with the Totsuka Blade built in.
Still, he wondered which was stronger: a Susanoo Blade empowered by his Senjutsu or the Totsuka Blade.
At that thought, Uchiha Fugaku's Susanoo held out its right hand. A long, white-glowing blade, shaped like the Demon Blade Thousand Edges, appeared in its grasp.
Uchiha Itachi naturally refused to be outdone and began to form his own unique Totsuka Blade.
The two quickly swung their weapons, and the blades clashed.
After several rapid exchanges, a crack quietly crept across Uchiha Itachi's Totsuka Blade.
Another slash followed, and a crisp shattering sound rang out in the ears of all three present.
Uchiha Fugaku's white blade had shattered Uchiha Itachi's Totsuka Blade.
Uchiha Fugaku understood now: the Totsuka Blade was simply a Susanoo weapon with the power to seal.
It was a little stronger than an ordinary Susanoo, but not by much.
With the Totsuka Blade shattered, Uchiha Itachi's eyes reached their limit. He was forced to release his Susanoo, then dropped to his knees, drained.
Izumi Uchiha, who had been watching from the side, cried out and ran toward Uchiha Itachi.
Uchiha Fugaku calmly walked over to Uchiha Itachi and gestured for Izumi Uchiha not to worry.
Then Uchiha Fugaku lifted Uchiha Itachi's head, pried open his eyes as tears of blood streamed down them, and took out the Magical Eye Drops he had drawn earlier. He put a drop in each of Uchiha Itachi's eyes.
Uchiha Itachi was stunned when the drops were forced into his eyes. He felt the pain easing rapidly, and his vision and ocular powers steadily returning. He couldn't help feeling astonished.
When had the Uchiha Clan gotten eye drops that could restore ocular powers? Could his father have been using them to...
Noticing what Uchiha Itachi was thinking, Uchiha Fugaku said,
"No, don't get the wrong idea. I got these drops by chance."
"They can't be duplicated. Once they're gone, they're gone for good."
As he spoke, Uchiha Fugaku poured half of the contents into another glass bottle he had prepared earlier. Then he placed one of the bottles in Uchiha Itachi's hand and said,
"I saved half for Sasuke. Keep this half-bottle safe and use it when you need it."
"And train your Taijutsu properly. With your amount of Chakra, combining Senjutsu and Taijutsu will greatly improve your stamina."
"That way, you won't keep relying on the Sharingan and overtaxing your body."
Hearing Uchiha Fugaku's words, Uchiha Itachi couldn't help feeling warmed, and replied,
"Yes, I understand."
Before you continue