Gravely wounded, Itachi knelt on the ground, his face strained, but he maintained his Susanoo and opened the Totsuka Blade's Gourd!
—Totsuka: Mu Sword Sealing!
Whoosh! Every wisp of the spreading black mist was drawn into the Gourd!
Once that was done... Itachi's Susanoo collapsed with a thunderous crash!
He raised his bloodstained hand and formed a seal, then clutched his chest and staggered to his feet.
Madara could not see, but he could sense Itachi's condition.
"You should have used that move when I used Ame-no-Hitokoto-ne just now. Then you wouldn't be in such a sorry state..."
Itachi said, "Don't ask the impossible. Who can guarantee that every move will be the best one?"
Madara laughed. "Heh, in the end... you simply aren't strong enough. You didn't die immediately after your heart was pierced because the Hashirama cells gave you tenacious vitality. But your chakra has plummeted, and you're already on death's doorstep. Your only hope is for your little brother to save you!"
Drip!
Just then, blood trickled from the corner of Itachi's right eye.
Madara frowned. "Hm?"
—Amaterasu!
Fwoosh...!
Black flames erupted...!
Sensing the warning signs, Madara used the Body Flicker Technique to evade!
"Amaterasu, your Mangekyo's innate dōjutsu. I finally understand where the black flames Jiraiya summoned from that scroll came from!"
Itachi's gaze tracked that streak of golden light, but Madara was too fast for him to focus precisely!
"Ugh...!!"
Itachi covered his profusely bleeding right eye and braced his other hand against the ground!
Whoosh!
Madara doubled back!
"Itachi, your dying struggles are utterly hideous. Personally, I don't care whether you live, but Izuna seems to want you dead. So I'll send you to the king of hell. Then it'll be your little brother's turn!"
Crackle...!!
A pitch-black Tailed Beast Bomb formed in Madara's