Seeing that wooden palm holding the massive Rasengan pressing down, Itachi Uchiha's expression darkened slightly. He forced strength into his legs and leaped straight up from the ground, narrowly dodging Naruto's fused ninjutsu.
"Fire Release: Phoenix Flower Claw Crimson!"
Mid-air, Itachi had already exhaled a sheet of blaze. Shuriken followed right behind, hurled into the firelight as the flames instantly solidified into phoenix-flower-shaped fireballs that continuously bombarded the wrist of the Wood Release giant palm like cannonballs.
Explosions rang out one after another.
The wooden arm took the concentrated impact of every fireball, its thick wrist instantly blasted apart as fractured pieces of wood crashed down in a roar.
"You want to end it just like that? It's way too early." Naruto tugged at the corner of his mouth, his tone full of mockery. "This time, the Nine-Tails isn't standing on your side. Kurama!"
As his words fell, golden-red Nine-Tails Chakra immediately coated Naruto's body, and a dazzling cloak ignited around him. Naruto lowered his head to glance at his state, and what satisfied him most in his heart was precisely this—compared to other Jinchuriki, the Nine-Tails Mode was obviously leagues cooler.
"Multiple Rasengan!"
The chakra cloak behind him suddenly split, nine arms extending simultaneously to fiercely slam toward Itachi Uchiha with Rasengan in hand.
Itachi raised his Mangekyō Sharingan, his gaze meeting Naruto's head-on.
"The Nine-Tails' power is nothing more than a toy to be manipulated at will in front of these eyes."
"Tsukuyomi!"
The next moment, reality was yanked away as if forcefully pulled. The spirits of the two plunged into the Tsukuyomi Space together.
When Naruto opened his eyes, he found himself nailed to a cross. Across from him, Itachi Uchiha still wore an expressionless mask, surrounded by the familiar Uchiha Clan Grounds.
Naruto raised an eyebrow