Exclusive Sage Susanoo

Sensing Uchiha Itachi's lingering unwillingness, Uchiha Fugaku released his grip and pulled him to his feet.

"Do you wish to try again?"

Upon hearing Uchiha Fugaku's question, Uchiha Itachi nodded quickly.

Uchiha Itachi felt that he had only failed because he had underestimated his father; he was certain that if he tried again, the outcome would be different.

"Then let us go again."

The two separated once more and stood facing each other.

This time, as Uchiha Itachi charged, he immediately flung countless shuriken toward Uchiha Fugaku.

However, Uchiha Fugaku's reaction exceeded Uchiha Itachi's expectations.

Uchiha Fugaku did not react at all, standing perfectly still as he waited for the shuriken to strike.

But just as the shuriken were about to hit, a cloak resembling red flames erupted from Uchiha Fugaku's body, enveloping him completely.

A series of metallic clanging sounds rang out; the energy cloak had actually blocked the shuriken and deflected them away.

Seeing this, Uchiha Itachi could not help but be astonished. Was that a Sage Chakra Cloak similar to Susanoo?

However, admitting defeat was not Uchiha Itachi's style.

He immediately unleashed an enhanced ninjutsu.

"Sage Art: Great Fireball Technique."

A massive fireball erupted from Uchiha Itachi's mouth, surging toward Uchiha Fugaku.

Under the infusion of sage chakra, the flames of the Great Fireball turned a searing white, their temperature far exceeding that of a standard fireball.

Seeing the fireball rushing toward him, Uchiha Fugaku had no intention of dodging.

Instead, wanting to test the defensive capabilities of his Sage Chakra Cloak, Uchiha Fugaku raised a hand and pressed it against the massive fireball. As the fireball met the immense external force, it began to dissipate, eventually engulfing Uchiha Fugaku entirely.

Seeing this, Uchiha Izumi, who was watching from the side, covered her mouth in fear.

She worried for Uchiha Fugaku, who had always helped her.

After all, that was a Fire Style technique enhanced by sage chakra!

Meanwhile, Uchiha Itachi watched the raging flames, his heart filled with concern.

But soon, both of them spotted a figure slowly walking out from the flames that had yet to die down.

It was Uchiha Fugaku, still clad in his Sage Chakra Cloak.

As Uchiha Fugaku's figure became clearer, Itachi and Izumi realized that he was completely unscathed.

Uchiha Fugaku's presence left them both deeply shaken.

Clad in his red chakra cloak against the backdrop of the still-burning white flames, Uchiha Fugaku looked like a god stepping out of the fire.

Having gauged the defensive power of his sage cloak, Uchiha Fugaku decided to show off a little to give his son a taste of true power. He spoke up.

"Itachi, how about using Susanoo? Let me see your Susanoo."

"And let me show you the gap between our Susanoo."

Hearing his father's words, a competitive spirit stirred within Uchiha Itachi.

He touched his eyes, which were already showing signs of strain, and steeled his resolve.

"Then let us try."

"Father, let me show you my strength."

Receiving Uchiha Itachi's response, Uchiha Fugaku manifested his modified Sage Susanoo.

A massive surge of red and white energy erupted from Uchiha Fugaku's body, enveloping him. A half-body Susanoo, wearing an energy cloak and resembling Uchiha Fugaku himself, appeared around him.

Seeing this, Uchiha Itachi could not help but feel stunned.

How was this possible? Why did his father's Susanoo look like him?

However, this did not shake Uchiha Itachi's resolve, and he summoned his own Susanoo without hesitation.

A moment later, another crimson, armored half-body Susanoo appeared on the training ground.

Looking at the Totsuka Blade and Yata Mirror held by Uchiha Itachi's Susanoo armor, Uchiha Fugaku could not help but marvel at the strength of his own genes and the "bug-like" nature of Uchiha Itachi.

To think his Susanoo came equipped with the Totsuka Blade.

He wondered, however, whether his own Sage-enhanced Susanoo Blade could surpass the Totsuka Blade.

With that thought, Uchiha Fugaku's Susanoo gripped the air with its right hand, and a long blade emitting a white glow, resembling the Demon Blade Thousand Edges, appeared in its grasp.

Uchiha Itachi, naturally, did not fall behind and began to manifest his signature Totsuka Blade.

The two quickly swung their weapons, clashing together in an instant.

But after the two sides collided violently a few times, a crack quietly began to spread across Uchiha Itachi's Totsuka Blade.

Following another slash, a crisp shattering sound echoed in the ears of the three people present.

Uchiha Fugaku's white longsword had directly shattered Uchiha Itachi's Totsuka Blade.

Uchiha Fugaku understood now that the Totsuka Blade was merely a Susanoo weapon possessing sealing power.

While its durability was higher than that of a standard Susanoo, it was not by much.

After the Totsuka Blade shattered, Uchiha Itachi's eyes reached their limit, forcing him to deactivate his Susanoo before he collapsed powerlessly to the ground.

Izumi Uchiha, who had been watching from the side, let out a cry of alarm and ran toward Uchiha Itachi.

Uchiha Fugaku walked calmly to Uchiha Itachi's side and signaled for Izumi Uchiha not to worry.

Uchiha Fugaku then lifted Uchiha Itachi's head, pried open his eyes—which were streaming with bloody tears—and took out the Magical Eye Drops he had drawn earlier, applying them to each of Uchiha Itachi's eyes.

Uchiha Itachi, having been forcibly administered the eye drops, was stunned; feeling the rapid relief of pain in his eyes and the constant restoration and clarification of his ocular power, he could not help but feel shocked.

Since when did the Uchiha Clan possess such medicine capable of restoring ocular power? Could it be that Father has been relying on...

Sensing Uchiha Itachi's thoughts, Uchiha Fugaku spoke up.

"No, don't overthink it; this medicine was obtained by chance."

"There is no way to replicate it; once it's gone, it's truly gone."

As he spoke, Uchiha Fugaku divided half of the liquid into another glass bottle he had prepared in advance, placed one bottle into Uchiha Itachi's hand, and said.

"I've saved half for Sasuke; keep this half-bottle safe and use it at a critical moment."

"Also, train your taijutsu well. With your chakra reserves, combining Sage Mode with taijutsu will greatly enhance your endurance."

"Stop relying solely on your Sharingan and overtaxing your body."

Hearing Uchiha Fugaku's words, Uchiha Itachi felt a warmth in his heart and replied.

"Yes, I understand."