Itachi's Tactics

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Explosions continuously rang out through the air.

A dense barrage of attacks crashed against the crimson chakra giant, making Itachi's Susanoo tremble without end.

Fortunately, the divine Yata Mirror in his left hand could reflect nearly the vast majority of attacks in the shinobi world. Thus, aside from the Shinra Tensei of the Deva Path, which had inflicted minor injuries on Uchiha Itachi, all other attacks were ineffective against him.

That was why Itachi had been able to hold out for so long.

However, Itachi's body had long been riddled with illness.

His Susanoo could only be activated to its third stage. If he could unleash the complete Susanoo, he would never have been in such a passive position.

Yet even merely maintaining the third-stage Susanoo consumed an enormous amount of his ocular power.

Bloody tears continuously seeped from his eyes. Itachi could clearly feel the blur before his eyes worsening.

Very soon,

Another wave of attacks was blocked by the Susanoo.

But the Asura Path's missiles and the summoned beasts called forth by the Animal Path descended once more!

A dense barrage of rockets struck the Susanoo's body.

The crimson chakra giant shuddered continuously, and fine cracks appeared across its lower half.

Itachi completely ignored the artillery barrage from the Asura Path and instead covered his left eye. At that moment, he drove the Amaterasu in his right eye to its limit!

A sea of black flames ignited the bodies of the chameleon, rhinoceros, and Bubble Crab, the three summoned beasts called forth by the Animal Path.

Miserable screams roared from the mouths of the summoned beasts.

Amid three bursts of smoke, the beasts were sent back to the Summoning World.

Only then had Uchiha Itachi completely intercepted the attacks.

"As expected of the Uchiha clan's genius, Itachi-kun. I never thought you could hold on for so long against the attacks of so many of us. I truly want you more and more!"

Orochimaru stared fervently at Uchiha Itachi—or rather, at the Mangekyō Sharingan in his eyes.

"Wonderful. The Uchiha clan's Sharingan is truly a perfect Kekkei Genkai, practically a gift from the gods. I must obtain it!" Orochimaru was determined to claim the Mangekyō Sharingan.

The Deva Path stood nearby without expression.

Nagato had not expected so many attacks to be blocked by the chakra giant Uchiha Itachi had summoned.

The Deva Path's gaze fell upon the Yata Mirror held by the Susanoo.

"This shield can reflect energy attacks?"

Nagato quickly realized that most of the ninjutsu used against Uchiha Itachi earlier had been reflected by that shield. Only his Shinra Tensei had struck the chakra giant's body solidly.

"The Shinra Tensei is essentially control over repulsive force, not a purely energy-based attack. In other words, as long as I increase the power of Shinra Tensei, I can shatter Uchiha Itachi's turtle shell!"

Nagato's mind raced as he swiftly grasped the secret behind it.

During the time Nagato was thinking, Uchiha Itachi gained a brief chance to catch his breath. His mind was likewise racing as he considered how to escape.

"I have to kill a few of them if I want any chance of getting away!"

Uchiha Itachi's eyes seemed covered by a layer of mist, blurring his vision. This was a side effect of overusing the Mangekyō Sharingan. Even so, he continued maintaining the Susanoo, quickly examining everyone present as he rapidly formulated a battle plan.

"Orochimaru can be ignored for now. He has the Crystal Release Kekkei Genkai in his body, so he is difficult to kill."

"Sasori controls too many puppets, and all of them carry deadly poison. I have to deal with every one of those puppets."

With a single glance from his Mangekyō Sharingan, Itachi spotted the core in Sasori's chest, marked with the character "Sasori."

"And Konan... her attacks are all Paper Release secret techniques. They are heavily countered by flames, so she is not much of a threat."

"Lastly, these six..."

Uchiha Itachi looked toward the Six Paths of Pain. Upon closer observation, he discovered an extremely crucial detail.

"That person is hiding in the back. Could he be important?"

Itachi's gaze settled on the Naraka Path.

After thinking it over carefully, Itachi realized that during the earlier attacks, everyone except Konan, whose weakness was obvious, had stood toward the front.

Only this person and the fat man in front of him had not even attacked him.

Uchiha Itachi had already tested the fat man's ability. He seemed capable of absorbing chakra?

But the Naraka Path had never displayed any ability. Itachi felt he might have found a chance to survive. If he killed this Pain of the Naraka Path, perhaps he could escape!

Of these six, the Animal Path specialized in the Summoning Technique, the Asura Path could launch immensely powerful missiles, and the Deva Path—the leader—could pull people in or repel them.

The greatest threats to him were the Preta Path and the Deva Path.

In that lightning-fast instant of thought, once Itachi decided on his target, his eyes widened and his hands moved immediately.

Outside his body, the crimson chakra giant moved almost simultaneously with his hands.

"Yasaka Beads!"

A massive magatama resembling the Sharingan pattern appeared in the Susanoo's hand. It hurled it with all its strength, sending it whistling toward its target!

The magatama was incredibly fast. In but an instant, countless puppets in midair exploded one after another.

These Human Puppets, whose individual combat strength was not particularly formidable, shattered one after another in the explosions of the Yasaka Beads.

Once all the puppets had been destroyed, another magatama was hurled toward the true body of Sasori of the Red Sands.

Its target was extremely clear: the core in his chest had to be shattered!

However, Sasori was no pushover. He immediately pulled a massive scroll from behind him, and after opening it, the Human Puppet of the Third Kazekage appeared beside him.

"Magnet Release: Iron Sand Gathering Assault!"

Tide-like black Iron Sand surged from the body of the Third Kazekage, blocking Sasori's front and forming an enormous defensive line.

Sasori's eyes were filled with confidence. A shield formed from the Kekkei Genkai of the strongest Kazekage could never be broken by Uchiha Itachi!

Closer!

The magatama speeding through the air accelerated further, about to collide with the shield made of Iron Sand.

The Six Paths of Pain, Konan, and Orochimaru split into two groups. One moved toward Uchiha Itachi's true body, while the other went to assist Sasori.

The Preta Path, which had been standing before the Naraka Path all along, was also rushing toward Sasori. Nagato sensed the immense destructive power within that magatama and wanted to use the Preta Path's absorption ability to rescue Sasori.

The Naraka Path of Pain, which had been protected all along, was now left with a gap in its defenses.

At the instant the Yasaka Beads were about to strike the Iron Sand, they abruptly changed direction.

The magatama made a ninety-degree turn in midair.

In an instant, it crashed down before the Naraka Path!