In terms of swordsmanship, you are indeed stronger than me

The stone steps leading up to Ryudou Temple were a scene of utter devastation. It looked as though they had been raked by artillery fire countless times; it was hard to imagine that this was merely the result of a battle between two men.

The trees lining the mountain path were either snapped in half or uprooted entirely, with only a few scattered, broken branches clinging to the ruined trunks.

A wild wind whistled through the clearing, scattering withered leaves into the air as if they were desperate to flee this terrifying place.

Sasaki Kojiro and Sasuke stood on the stone steps of Ryudou Temple, one positioned above the other.

Because the preceding battle had been so intense, dust still hung suspended in the air, yet the two opposing figures remained completely spotless.

Sasaki could only manage to suppress Sasuke as far as the next landing; should they both step onto the same level, the situation would spiral into something uncontrollable.

Both men knew clearly that the other's swordsmanship was exquisite.

Sasuke, in particular, had gained a great deal from these few exchanges.

In terms of pure swordsmanship, Sasaki Kojiro could suppress Sasuke by utilizing the terrain, but that was the extent of it.

Since neither could defeat the other with conventional sword techniques, the moment for their final showdown had arrived.

But before that, Sasaki Kojiro had some heartfelt words to share with Sasuke.

Sasaki Kojiro walked slowly down the stone steps, sword held in one hand, his expression calm yet tinged with self-mockery:

"This one originally had no purpose for fighting."

"Naturally, I have no honor as a Heroic Spirit, nor any wish I should pursue."

"If you ask why, it is because this body is not the true Sasaki Kojiro..."

As he spoke, Sasaki Kojiro revealed a bitter smile, looking at Sasuke below the steps as he continued:

"Admittedly, a Sasaki Kojiro did indeed exist."

"A warrior wielding a Nodachi known as 'Monohoshizao' must have existed as well."

"However, they were not the same person."

"It was merely a name passed down by word of mouth to serve as a foil for a certain master swordsman."

"The swordsman named Sasaki Kojiro."

"Is a fictional character who never existed."

"And I am merely the swordsman most suited to bear the name Sasaki Kojiro."

"I am nameless."

"I am nothing more than a wraith summoned because I am capable of executing the legendary techniques recorded of Sasaki Kojiro."

At this point, Sasaki Kojiro's expression dimmed slightly:

"Therefore, there was never any meaning to begin with."

"For a void like me, nothing holds any significance."

"But, if there is one final meaning for a man such as I..."

"Then it is this moment."

"To have dueled you to this point, I have no regrets."

As he finished, Sasaki Kojiro stepped onto the same landing as Sasuke, his expression shifting from gloom to resolve.

Even Sasuke could not help but be moved by Sasaki Kojiro's words, yet he remained silent, watching him with an indifferent gaze.

"Even at the very end, do you have nothing to say to me?"

With that, Sasaki Kojiro slowly lowered his stance, gripping the hilt with both hands and pointing the tip of his blade straight at Sasuke.

At the same time, Sasaki Kojiro could sense that the vixen inside the temple might not be in the best of situations; after all, she had withdrawn the support magecraft she had been using on him.

However, this did not hinder Sasaki Kojiro from unleashing his ultimate technique.

Sasuke watched Sasaki Kojiro without taking a defensive stance, but the Mangekyo in his eyes made his intentions clear.

Having understood, Sasaki Kojiro curled the corners of his mouth slightly. He gripped the hilt tightly, and in an instant, an incredibly powerful aura erupted from him.

As Sasaki Kojiro's formidable presence surged, the surrounding air seemed to freeze in that very moment, and he confidently declared his ultimate technique once more:

"Secret Sword—"

"Tsubame Gaeshi."

As Sasaki Kojiro lunged toward Sasuke with his blade, three incredibly sharp flashes of light spiraled toward Sasuke's vitals in the blink of an eye!

The blade light moved like a shadow; space itself seemed to fold at that moment!

[Susanoo]

At the same time, Sasuke instantly activated the second form of Susanoo.

In a flash, the purple skeletal structure of Susanoo creaked and groaned, instantly shielding Sasuke within. Simultaneously, the skeleton was covered in meridians and flesh, draped in garments woven from magical energy.

The previously empty eyes of Susanoo ignited, burning like torches, appearing like a god of war!

Accompanied by the piercing screech of blade light tearing through the air, all three strikes slammed into Sasuke's Susanoo.

Sasaki Kojiro's Tsubame Gaeshi, lacking the support of immense magical energy, failed to pierce through Sasuke's Susanoo.

Three slashes severed the outer shell of the Susanoo.

But that was all; Sasuke remained completely unharmed.

Yet Sasuke knew clearly that the moment he resorted to the Susanoo, he had already lost to Sasaki Kojiro.

Without the Susanoo, Sasuke did not believe he could dodge Sasaki Kojiro's Tsubame Gaeshi.

If circumstances allowed, Sasuke would have truly liked to face this sword technique capable of folding space head-on.

After all, the one standing here was merely a Shadow Clone.

But the current situation clearly would not allow him to do so.

Standing within the Susanoo, Sasuke stared at Sasaki Kojiro with his Mangekyou Sharingan.

Demonic Illusion: Shackling Stakes

With just a single glance from Sasuke, Sasaki Kojiro froze in place.

This was a type of Sharingan genjutsu where the victim is fully aware they have been caught in an illusion, yet their body remains unable to move.

In this world, the usage and effects of genjutsu were much the same.

It was a technique that interfered with the opponent's five senses using magical energy, disrupting their internal flow and trapping them in a hallucination.

Sasaki Kojiro, with the class of Assassin, possessed no resistance to magical energy.

The Caster within Ryudou Temple was currently overwhelmed and unable to dispel this state for Sasaki Kojiro.

The next moment, the Kusanagi Sword in Sasuke's hand pierced directly through Sasaki Kojiro's heart, simultaneously breaking the illusion cast upon him.

Sasaki Kojiro did not seem surprised by this outcome at all; instead, he offered a smile of relief:

"As expected, my training is still insufficient in every regard..."

"To not be able to stand until the end and witness your strongest form."

"That is truly a regret of this journey..."

Sasuke watched Sasaki Kojiro as he began to fade away, speaking to him with a calm expression:

"I must admit, in terms of swordsmanship, you are better than me."

"I am the one who lost."

"However, if we are fated to meet again in the future, I will face your extraordinary sword technique head-on."

Upon hearing this, Sasaki Kojiro slowly closed his eyes, his form dissipating into the night wind.

Following this, Sasuke looked up toward the direction of Ryudou Temple, clearly sensing intense fluctuations of magical energy occurring within.

The battle appeared to be exceptionally fierce.