Finally, Itachi seized Sasuke by the throat and pinned him against the wall.
Sasuke was already covered in wounds, barely clinging to life, yet the hatred in his Sharingan had not diminished in the slightest.
Itachi's eyes slowly changed, the three tomoe Sharingan gradually transforming into the shape of the Mangekyō Sharingan.
He stared directly into Sasuke's eyes and said softly:
"Tsukuyomi."
In an instant, Sasuke's pupils contracted sharply.
His consciousness was dragged into a twisted world, where that bloody night unfolded before his eyes once more.
He saw his parents lying in pools of blood. He saw Itachi standing beside their corpses, blood still dripping from his hands.
Everything was so real, so agonizing.
Sasuke let out a shrill scream, his voice filled with despair and pain.
His body convulsed violently, and the Curse Mark that had been spreading across him rapidly receded under the massive mental shock.
Itachi watched it all coldly, a trace of nearly imperceptible pain flashing through his eyes.
He silently said to himself:
"Hate me, Sasuke."
"Use your hatred to make yourself stronger..."
Even though Sasuke had used Orochimaru's Curse Mark and unleashed chakra far beyond that of an ordinary person, he was still no match for Itachi.
This battle had been destined to be a one-sided crushing defeat from the very beginning.
Just as the situation became completely one-sided, Jiraiya finally made his move.
His hands rapidly formed seals, chakra violently stirring the air around him.
"Ninja Art: Toad Mouth Bind!"
Jiraiya shouted.
In an instant, the entire space began to twist and deform.
The walls, floor, and ceiling all transformed into pink flesh, writhing as they contracted toward the center.
A foul, fishy stench spread through the air.
"Is this... a toad's esophagus?"
Kisame stared in surprise at the changes around them,