That instinctive move to turn around—
However.
His body had gone rigid.
His mind was drained.
And he had wasted a great deal of chakra earlier.
All of it made Itachi's reaction half a beat too slow.
Sasuke seized the opportunity.
He charged in on the attack.
Thud!
A sharp crack rang out.
Like bones breaking apart.
"Uchiha Itachi!"
His face twisted into a fierce scowl.
Sasuke stormed forward.
Thud!
His right fist clenched tight.
Along its incoming trajectory—
The fist grew larger in Itachi's vision.
It slammed into Uchiha Itachi's left cheek.
His cheek instantly caved in.
"Ugh!"
His body flew backward through the air.
Blood sprayed straight from his mouth.
As if he no longer wanted to hold back—
Sasuke drove his knee down with all his strength.
In midair—
He came in at an angle—
And smashed it hard into Itachi's abdomen.
The chakra dispersed once more.
Susanoo vanished completely.
Thud!
As he hit the ground, a huge cloud of dust billowed up.
"Ugh!?"
Itachi had been struck a second time.
On top of the injuries he had sustained in the battle—
And the tremendous strain he had already endured—
His nerves and body alike—
Uchiha Itachi had been pushed to the very limit.
Yet he still forced himself to cling to the last of his strength and resolve.
At this distance, I should be able to...
It wasn't his injuries that made him realize he probably couldn't go on. It was his own condition.
At close range—
Itachi could finally make out his younger brother's face. A faint smile tugged at the corner of his mouth as he tried to force the last of his power into action once more, summoning the Totsuka Blade to strike at the Cursed Seal on Sasuke's shoulder!
Itachi was certain