There was no more testing the waters, no hushed pause before two masters clashed. Blue flame erupted from the thrusters on Sasuke's back, and he shot forward like a battering ram, slamming into Itachi Uchiha's reanimated body as he formed a hand sign.
Boom!
Mud and water sprayed everywhere. Itachi reacted instantly. Susanoo's ribs formed in a flash, blocking the Power Sword. Orange-red chakra and purple lightning ground against each other at point-blank range, hissing.
"Too slow," Sasuke said through his helmet. "Susanoo at this level can't stop me now."
The Power Armor's hydraulic pistons contracted furiously, driving its output to the limit. Sasuke put his back into it and forced the skeletal frame back dozens of meters, smashing through three charred, dead trees.
Itachi's body rocked under the impact, but the red gleam in his eyes stayed calm. His fingers twitched, and several crows burst from the gaps in Susanoo, diving straight at Sasuke's visor.
"That trick again."
Sasuke neither dodged nor ducked. Miniature launch ports snapped open on his shoulders, firing two high-explosive rounds.
Bang! Bang!
The crows exploded into a shower of black feathers. Using the blast smoke for cover, Sasuke dropped low and swept a leg at Susanoo's base. Of course, that would do nothing to the chakra giant. It was only a feint.
The real killing blow was the Chidori Sharp Spear he had charged in his left hand.
Lightning thrust upward like a spear, piercing the gap between Susanoo's ribs and streaking toward Itachi's throat.
Itachi turned his head. The lightning sheared away half his neck, scattering scraps from his reanimated body. But he did not retreat. Instead, the instant Sasuke's attack ran its course, Susanoo's massive hand slammed down.
Sasuke raised his sword to block, but the blow drove him into the mud