Demonic Illusion: Shackling Stakes Technique
The birds were startled by Obito's sudden shout and scattered in all directions, their wings flapping in the air, creating a chaotic commotion.
They circled in the sky, hesitated for a moment, and then a group of them landed back on distant branches, leaving only a few lonely feathers that slowly danced in the air.
Amidst the scroll of countless bird feathers, Obito's gaze followed their trajectory, yet his heart burned with anxiety.
He looked around and saw towering trees with intertwined branches and leaves, and sunlight dappling through the forest.
However, deep within this ancient forest, there seemed to be no other signs of life besides him.
A sense of foreboding rose in Obito's heart; Koki must be hiding somewhere in this forest.
Obito began searching through the forest, his steps hurried and uneasy, each step revealing his concern for Koki.
His heart was pounding like a drum, and fine beads of sweat were already forming on his forehead.
He kept calling out Koki's name, hoping to hear her playful response the next moment, and to see Koki leap out from behind a tree or in the bushes, smiling at him and saying, "Hey, Obito-nii, what do you want?"
However, as time ticked by, Obito's calls echoed through the forest, but no one answered.
His mood grew heavier, and his sense of foreboding intensified.
Obito took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down and forcefully compose himself.
In the midst of the fierce exchange, the masked man suddenly halted his attack. His breathing became rapid, like a bellows, but a calm light still shone in his deep eyes.
He looked directly at Uchiha Kōki, his words revealing a subtle hint of admiration.
"I've reviewed all the information about you. Uchiha Kōki, son of the Uchiha clan head, awakened the Sharingan at the age of three. You are indeed a rising genius of Konoha, living up to your reputation."
A faint smile appeared on Koki's face, a smile that contained both confidence and wariness. He replied casually, "Not at all, you're only slightly inferior to me."
Why the sudden self-praise? Is this a form of flattery intended to harm?
Despite speaking lightly, Koki was actually on edge. He knew that ninjas who could be promoted to Jonin were true strongmen who had gone through countless life-and-death trials.
Before Koki, the masked man spoke in a cold, defiant voice. "Then let me see the skills of this Uchiha Clan genius!"
Before the masked man could finish speaking, his figure had already appeared silently in front of Koki like a ghost.
The short knife sliced through the air in his palm, launching a lightning-fast attack with a speed that left everyone speechless.
Koki's heart tightened, but with the help of her Sharingan's perception, she took in every move her opponent made.
Almost the instant the attack arrived, he responded, his black Kunai tracing a beautiful arc, precisely meeting the masked man's short sword in mid-air, producing a crisp metallic clang.
The clash between the sword and the Kunai was instantaneous. Taking advantage of this opportunity, Koki took a half-step back, secretly admiring the opponent's immense strength.
Taking advantage of this opening, Koki rapidly Hand Seals and shouted, "Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!"
Immediately, a huge fireball burst from his mouth, streaking across the night sky like a meteor, heading straight for the masked man.
A look of surprise flashed in the masked man's eyes. He hadn't expected that even when Koki was exhausted, she could still unleash such a powerful Great Fireball Jutsu. He immediately activated Body Flicker Technique, nimbly dodging the fireball's attack, and began forming his own Hand Seals.
"Earth Release: Stone Coffin!" the masked man uttered in a low voice, summoning a defense as hard as stone to surround Koki.
Koki was extremely wary of Earth Release techniques because, under Fugaku's careful guidance, he knew their stealth and suddenness; carelessness could lead to a fatal blow.
Koki leaped lightly through the air, like a nimble cheetah, skillfully creating distance between herself and the masked man.
The masked man's Earth Release attack was like a lurking venomous snake, silent yet deadly, but it missed thanks to Koki's quick evasion.
The masked man, not to be outdone, immediately changed tactics, once again closing in on Koki in close combat. The short knife in his hand gleamed coldly, like a white lightning bolt slicing through the night sky, aimed straight at Koki's heart.
However, under the Sharingan's illumination, every attack from the opponent appeared so clearly discernible.
Koki calmly shifted to the side, as if anticipating her opponent's movements. The two black Kunai like the Grim Reaper's scythes; one swept towards the opponent's throat, while the other, like a viper's tongue, aimed at the opponent's vital abdomen.
"Clang!" A crisp metallic clang shattered the silence as the masked man's short sword rose with astonishing speed from below, like a soaring dragon, accurately deflecting both of Koki's Kunai.
Their weapons clashed in mid-air, sparks flying like dazzling fireworks—beautiful yet deadly.
They then engaged in another fierce battle, switching between offense and defense with lightning speed, each move brimming with deadly intent.
Koki skillfully created a safe distance between herself and the masked man, and both of them began to breathe rapidly.
The masked man stared directly into Koki's blood-red Sharingan and said, "It seems I underestimated you, the Uchiha Clan's genius."
Koki smiled slightly and said confidently, "Your strength is indeed not to be underestimated, but in front of my Sharingan, every move you make has nowhere to hide."
The masked man asked skeptically, "Is that so?" As soon as he finished speaking, a sharp glint suddenly flashed in Koki's eyes.
He had been waiting for this moment for a long time!
The Genjutsu Koki had been preparing in her eyes was like Hayate storm, rushing straight into the masked man's eyes.
During Itachi's duel with Orochimaru, he skillfully used a Genjutsu called "Magic Demonic Illusion: Shackling Stakes Technique".
This technique is like an invisible giant net, silently enveloping the enemy and imprisoning their minds in the illusory world constructed by the caster, making it difficult for them to escape.
In that illusory world, the person under the spell seemed to be trapped in a nightmare.
Their bodies felt as if they were being pierced by countless giant iron nails; every cell and every muscle was being torn apart by cold steel, losing the freedom of movement.
Even more terrifying is that this Genjutsu brings an indescribable pain, as if real pain is tormenting their nerves. This pain is not only physical but also reaches the depths of their soul.
It can be described as a low-budget version of Tsukuyomi. Its terrifying aspect is that once activated, it can easily deprive the opponent of their freedom of action, causing them to struggle in endless pain until they suffer a mental breakdown.