Vanish with the thunder

After taking several deep breaths, the Third collected himself and continued.

"And don't forget Kakashi's connections and reputation among Konoha's younger and middle-aged ninja."

"Don't forget the tangled web of personal ties between the major ninja clans, the Hatake Clan, and Kakashi."

"If we move against Sasuke by force today, and Kakashi openly resists and makes his stance clear..."

"Then Konoha's entire middle tier of fighting strength and the loyalties of its major ninja clans will be shaken!"

"When that happens, where will the four of us stand?"

"To address a threat that hasn't even been confirmed, we would risk internal division in Konoha and the complete collapse of our authority. Can we afford that gamble?"

He dissected the issue layer by layer, every word striking home.

Danzo's lips moved slightly, but he fell completely silent, no longer able to offer an easy rebuttal.

Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu instantly came to their senses. They nodded repeatedly, cold sweat soaking their backs.

"Exactly! We absolutely cannot do this!"

"If Kakashi leads the opposition and our public attempt to pressure him fails, our authority will collapse in an instant!"

"Even if the major ninja clans have no affection for Sasuke, they'll seize the chance to kick us while we're down, support Kakashi, and fan the flames to undermine the four of us!"

"Konoha will descend into internal turmoil! The losses far outweigh the gains!"

The situation reversed once again.

The two returned to the Third's side.

Watching the pair repeatedly switch sides and follow whichever way the wind blew, Danzo's chest heaved with anger. Frustration and fury filled him, with nowhere to vent.

In the end, he could only grit his teeth and curse under his breath. "You two are nothing but fence-sitters!"

On the Sky Screen.

Uchiha Itachi remained silent for a long time. In the end, he could only settle this through force.

Without another word, the battle erupted!

His scarlet Mangekyo spun abruptly, and genjutsu silently enveloped the entire space. This was Itachi's greatest specialty.

Throughout the Shinobi World, it was considered an ironclad rule that the Mangekyo suppressed three tomoe-an absolute disparity in rank.

But in the next instant!

Sasuke's gaze sharpened. The eye power of his three tomoe surged back against it, forcibly breaking Itachi's Mangekyo genjutsu head-on!

Humm-!

The genjutsu barrier shattered piece by piece, and the backlash instantly struck its caster!

Itachi's body shuddered violently. Pain stabbed between his brows, and a flicker of agony crossed his eyes that he could not conceal.

With the genjutsu clash over, the two crossed paths using the Body Flicker Technique, their taijutsu colliding fiercely!

Fists tore through the air, legs flashed, and high-speed afterimages filled the entire space.

Itachi's taijutsu had always been exquisitely refined, the work of a top-tier veteran of countless battles.

But today, his attacks were restrained, and he was forced back at every turn.

Sasuke, meanwhile, unleashed the full fruits of three years of hellish training. With the Cursed Seal underpinning his formidable physique, every strike was lethal!

Blades crossed. Itachi evaded a fraction too slowly, and a long bloody gash opened across his thigh!

Immediately afterward, their ninjutsu clashed with a thunderous roar!

Their Great Fireballs collided.

The brothers fought their way from inside the secret chamber, smashing straight through its walls. Rubble flew, and dust filled the air!

Outside, the wilderness stretched wide, giving their battle free rein.

Sasuke's eyes hardened. Black markings instantly spread across his entire body as he fully unleashed Curse Mark Stage Two!

Violent chakra surged upward, his strength and speed skyrocketing across the board!

The footage sped up. Both were panting heavily, their chakra draining rapidly.

Itachi's gaze darkened!

"Amaterasu!"

Inextinguishable black flames ignited out of thin air, burning through everything as they sealed off the space around Sasuke!

Sasuke hurriedly dodged, escaping the lethal attacks time after time.

Beyond the Sky Screen, the entire Shinobi World erupted!

"This is incredible!! Every moment is intense!"

"Genjutsu, taijutsu, ninjutsu! Why does this feel a little like my late teacher giving me lessons?"

"Three tomoe taking on a Mangekyo head-on! Sasuke's strength is ridiculous! Could Itachi be going blind?"

Amid the uproar, enormous doubts rose in countless hearts, sparking endless debate.

"Something's wrong! How could three tomoe break a Mangekyo's genjutsu?"

"With that difference in ocular rank, Sasuke shouldn't stand a chance!"

"You're kidding. It's not like Sasuke's Sharingan could be special or different from everyone else's, right?"

All kinds of speculation flew.

But those who had truly encountered Uchiha Itachi at close range and knew his strength wore complicated expressions. They understood perfectly.

Whether Sasuke's eyes really were special or not...

In this battle-

Uchiha Itachi was clearly holding back.

The most terrifying thing about Uchiha Itachi was that he could always find his opponent's weakness in a very short time.

Then he would end the battle in an instant.

There was simply no way a boy could force him through a genjutsu clash, then taijutsu, and finally a ninjutsu showdown.

What appeared to be an evenly matched struggle, what appeared to be a brutal battle between brothers...

Had been, from beginning to end, a fight the older brother deliberately played out for his younger brother.

On the Sky Screen, smoke drifted, and the wind fell still.

Itachi's chest heaved, his breathing heavy. The drain of keeping his Mangekyo active had already left him utterly spent, exhaustion radiating from his entire body.

Opposite him, Sasuke Uchiha was also severely depleted, his clothes torn and his breathing ragged.

But unlike Itachi's exhausted stillness, Sasuke's eyes burned with wild exhilaration and an almost crazed hunger for battle.

He stared fixedly at Itachi, his lips curling into an utterly unrestrained grin.

"Itachi, do you know the real reason I've kept using Fire Release against you from the very beginning?"

His laughter was defiant, his killing intent icy. Years of pent-up hatred poured out in that moment.

"Hahaha! Now prepare to receive your divine punishment!"

"I prepared this move just for you-your very own funeral!"

"Lightning Release!"

Before his words had faded, dazzling electricity burst from Sasuke's palm!

Blue arcs crackled and writhed wildly, the fierce Lightning Release shooting straight into the sky!

Itachi, who had remained calm and composed without a ripple even as he was driven back step by step, finally spoke. His voice was quiet, carrying a hint of instruction. "Sasuke, when you have a trump card, there's no need to talk. Against an enemy, strike decisively."

"You talk too much!"

That casual admonition sounded like an elder counseling an immature junior.

It instantly detonated Sasuke's pent-up fury!

What he hated most was Itachi's lofty manner, as though he could always control everything and manipulate everything!

"Shut up!!"

Sasuke's eyes widened with fury, his harsh shout ringing across the wilderness!

"Kirin!"

In an instant!

The winds and clouds across the entire sky changed!

His countless earlier Fire Release attacks had scorched the air, raising waves of heat and updrafts that had already gathered into thick, oppressive storm clouds high above.

Black clouds churned, thunder lurking within!

Guided by Sasuke's Lightning Release chakra, a colossal beast formed from the heavens' natural lightning took shape within the clouds!

The beast roared, lightning tearing through the sky, its might bearing down on heaven and earth!

This was not a ninja's own chakra. It was the wrath of nature!

It was a lethal strike beyond human ability to evade or withstand, guaranteed to hit once it locked on!

"Vanish with the thunder!"

An icy gleam pierced Sasuke's eyes as he gave a cold snort!

BOOM-!!

A towering torrent of lightning descended from the heavens!