Excellent Battle Instincts, Unparalleled Casting Speed

Kakashi saw Itachi's young face and thought of another boy—Uchiha Obito...

But Itachi's Mangekyo Sharingan felt a little out of place.

Itachi kept watch in all directions and naturally noticed Kakashi looking at his Mangekyo Sharingan, but he had no intention of using Tsukuyomi.

After all, ocular techniques consumed too much. He had only used it earlier to establish his authority.

Juzo was deeply moved when he saw how capable Itachi was. Before he had even made a move, Itachi had dealt with five enemies and intimidated the rest.

Naturally, Itachi did not know what Juzo was thinking. At the moment, he was wondering whether suddenly using a Fire Release technique would feel too out of place and ruin his cool image...

After all, he really did not have many techniques at his disposal right now.

Some strange thoughts came to mind as well, such as returning to Konoha someday to pick up a few ninjutsu to learn.

Or perhaps, since he possessed a Wind Release affinity, he could develop the Rasengan and Rasenshuriken.

After all, the A-rank Rasengan and the S-rank Rasenshuriken were the only techniques in the original work that came with tutorials.

Although the Rasenshuriken required Sage Jutsu enhancement and could not be thrown otherwise, since it would badly damage the wrist, it was simply too powerful...

While Itachi was slightly distracted, Juzo slapped his hands together and rapidly formed seals, using an auxiliary ninjutsu: the Hidden Mist Technique.

Not to mention, although it was only a C-rank technique, it was incredibly useful.

Combined with his excellent taijutsu and strength, this technique was the foundation of his ability to shine on the battlefield.

Of course, there were simply too many people here, and quite a few possessed Wind Release.

You used mist, and they used wind to blow it away...

That was not merely talk. Someone had already started using Wind Release.

Juzo could be considered the weakest member of the current Akatsuki aside from Kakuzu and his partner.

But while he might have been a little weak, he was undoubtedly the bravest and most reckless among them.

Just like now, numbed by alcohol, he became even fiercer.

One man charged at more than thirty visible ninja, including quite a few who were on his level.

His target was the culprit using Wind Release to disperse his mist.

"Bastard, do you know how much chakra the Hidden Mist Technique consumes when there's no water around?!"

Using the Substitution Technique, Juzo rushed before a ninja and exposed himself. He was getting a little anxious.

Naturally, Itachi would not let Juzo fight alone. Upon hearing Juzo's voice, he activated the Body Flicker Technique and gave chase.

"Holy shit, brothers! Those two actually dared to attack so many of us! Kill them!"

At last, some of those trapped within the mist came to their senses. Startled awake, they hurriedly shouted.

Everyone was bewildered, inwardly crying that these two were not following the usual script.

Shouldn't they have used powerful ninjutsu to intimidate everyone, then tried to persuade them to leave? Why had they started fighting outright?

Itachi's heroic bearing was also deeply etched into their minds. A twelve-year-old boy was actually this bold.

"Not a bad haul today. Looks like I'll be getting myself a pair of Sharingan too."

Quite a few ninja with powerful sensory abilities immediately moved to intercept Itachi as he tried to support Juzo.

Once greed took hold, they were willing to risk their lives. Who cared about anything else?

Sensing someone rushing toward him with the Body Flicker Technique while saying things he disliked, Itachi frowned deeply.

Without any visible movement, he continuously spat out several small fireballs.

It was not some particularly formidable technique, merely the ordinary C-rank Phoenix Flower Jutsu.

Itachi had no habit of calling out a technique's name when casting it.

The newcomer was no ordinary opponent. Chakra gathered around him as he kicked several small fireballs away with an imposing strike, appearing before Itachi in a dashing manner.

"Don't bring out childish techniques like that, Uchiha Itachi."

The newcomer carefully examined Itachi across from him, but remained wary and did not look into Itachi's eyes.

He seemed fairly rational.

"Oh..."

Itachi took a light step forward and slightly raised his wrist.

The Jonin opposite him instinctively stared closely at Itachi's movements, guarding against what he might do next.

Would he form seals, or throw a hidden weapon...

"You're finished..."

Itachi spoke softly amid the man's taut nerves. His voice was like a demonic whisper, and the scene before him instantly changed.

Trees now filled the surroundings as far as the eye could see, their branches and roots rapidly winding toward him.

"Genjutsu? How is that possible?"

The man raised his hands, preparing to form seals and dispel the Genjutsu.

But when masters clashed, a single second could be fatal.

During that brief instant of distraction, Itachi had already vanished from where he stood.

When the man dispelled the Genjutsu and the dense mist returned before his eyes, a faint sound and the rush of wind behind him made his scalp tingle.

"Big brother, spare me! I'll never dare again! Please spare my life!"

The man decisively dropped to his knees, with no intention of fighting back...

He had already realized the gap in strength between himself and Itachi...

That ghostly movement, along with the ability to trap him in Genjutsu without his noticing, filled him with dread.

The opponent's sudden surrender caused Itachi's sword strike to miss...

He had only calculated for the man to counterattack or flee. He had never expected this bastard to kneel outright, causing his sword strike to miss...

"Go. Don't come back. This isn't a place someone like you can covet."

Considering that, along with the man's intense will to survive and rapid speech, perhaps his life was not yet meant to end. Itachi was not a bloodthirsty person either.

So he spoke softly.

More importantly, after the ninja explosively released chakra and dropped to his knees, his chakra subsided. His fighting spirit had completely vanished, and he had bared his neck for execution.

It showed that the man had some skill at surviving until now.

Upon hearing Itachi's words, the man who had been so high-spirited moments ago crawled forward a few steps to widen the distance, then fled at top speed.

He looked very practiced at it.

Seeing this, Itachi could not help but sigh. There was a reason someone who talked so much trash had managed to survive until now...

Thinking back on his previous actions, Itachi calmly reviewed them and found that there had still been a slight flaw.

Though he had seemingly won with ease, it had not been simple.

The one who had remained in place to cast the ninjutsu had merely been a Shadow Clone. Both the Phoenix Flower Jutsu and the low-level Genjutsu had been cast through the Shadow Clone. His real body had used the Transformation Technique to become an inconspicuous fireball, then had been launched behind the opponent by the Shadow Clone's chakra. Taking advantage of the opponent's brief lapse in focus, he seized victory in one stroke. Without any surprises, he would have taken the man's head directly.

As for how the opponent had fallen under the Genjutsu, that was the most important part. There was also his casting speed, which seemed as though it required no hand seals at all.

With basic Genjutsu, as long as the opponent noticed his movements, they would easily fall for it. That was Itachi's mastery of Genjutsu.

But it was only low-level Genjutsu, easily seen through and capable of distracting the opponent for only an instant. The opportunity was fleeting.

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