Sasuke's gaze gradually focused, locking onto Itachi across from him.
For a fleeting moment, he was dazed, as if transported back to his childhood days training with his older brother, when Itachi would always offer guidance.
But that moment passed quickly. The confusion in his eyes was replaced by boundless hatred. "Don't lecture me, you murderer!"
Itachi froze for a second.
At that moment, Juzo Biwa, standing nearby, spoke up. "Itachi, we should go! We've caused too big a scene. Staying here any longer could mean trouble."
Itachi nodded and dispelled his Susanoo.
"Stop right there!"
Sasuke tried to stand, but a sharp, stabbing pain shot through his eyes. He stumbled a few steps before collapsing back to the ground.
At the same time, his damaged purple Susanoo flickered like dying embers in the wind, gradually fading away.
"Let's go," Itachi said, turning to leave.
"Hmph."
Juzo Biwa shook his head at Sasuke before following Itachi.
Clutching his aching eyes, Sasuke forced himself to stand. "Damn it, I didn't give you permission to leave!"
Whoosh.
Before Sasuke's words could fully land, a chilling gust accompanied the gleaming arc of the Decapitating Carving Knife, swinging toward him as if to cleave him in half!
"!?"
Sasuke's eyes widened in shock. He realized there was no way to dodge this strike and instinctively tried to activate Izanami no Mikoto.
But the intense pain in his eyes made it impossible to focus, let alone use his dojutsu.
Thud.
In the next instant, Sasuke felt a sharp pain in his abdomen. Despair washed over him. He knew that without activating Izanami no Mikoto in time, a wound like this—being cut in half—would end his life in mere seconds!
"Kid, know when to quit!"
Suddenly, as Sasuke awaited death, a voice rang in his ears.
Stunned, Sasuke looked at his attacker, then down at his abdomen. He realized it wasn't the sharp edge of the Decapitating Carving Knife that struck him but the flat of the blade.
Juzo Biwa retracted his weapon, gave a light chuckle, and sauntered off.
From start to finish, Itachi never looked back, as if he'd known all along that his partner wouldn't kill Sasuke.
Once Itachi and Juzo Biwa vanished from sight, Sasuke, still sprawled on the ground, began gasping for air.
In that moment, he felt he'd been just one step away from death.
He'd faced danger countless times before, but none had ever been as visceral, as bone-deep, as this.
In the bushes nearby—
Shion released her hand from Sakura's mouth and whispered, "They're gone, right?"
"Thank goodness!"
Sakura let out a relieved sigh.
If Shion hadn't covered her mouth, she would've screamed when Juzo Biwa struck Sasuke with the flat of his blade.
Undoubtedly, after sending the distress signal, Shion and Sakura hadn't stayed idle. They'd followed the clues to track Sasuke's whereabouts.
The massive clash of Susanoo between Sasuke and Itachi had been so loud it drew them in, allowing them to find Sasuke and witness the scene that just unfolded.
Soon, Sakura and Shion crawled out of the bushes and rushed to Sasuke's side. "Sasuke, are you okay?"
Sasuke was still somewhat dazed.
After his defeat in the Land of Grass, he knew deep down that his current strength was likely inferior to Itachi's.
But the rapid decline of his Mangekyo Sharingan's power forced him to take the risk and challenge Itachi.
Yet reality was harsher than he'd anticipated. Only when they clashed did he realize the gap between him and Itachi was far greater than he'd imagined.
In that moment, frustration overwhelmed him, leaving him at a loss.
Sakura's voice trembled with tears. "Sasuke, are you okay? Don't scare me!"
Sasuke snapped out of it, saying dully, "Sakura, Shion, it's you."
Sakura nodded repeatedly. "Don't worry, they're gone!"
"Gone, huh?" Sasuke paused, his face lifeless. "You saw it, didn't you? I failed again."
"It's okay!" Sakura tried to comfort him.
Shion, however, crossed her arms, clearly displeased. "Didn't we agree when we snuck out of the village? We'd meet up with Shinji first, then figure out how to deal with Itachi Uchiha! Seriously, how could you take on two opponents alone?"
Sasuke replied, "Some things I have to do myself."
Shion scoffed. "Itachi Uchiha single-handedly wiped out your entire Uchiha clan. What makes you think you can take revenge alone? Aren't you underestimating all those Uchihas he slaughtered? Do you think you're stronger than all of them combined?"
"You—"
Sasuke was at a loss for words.
Sakura quickly grabbed Shion, whispering, "Shion, stop it!"
Shion muttered, "I'm just telling the truth! Always talking about revenge but never thinking it through properly!"
Sasuke nearly roared, "I've done everything I could!"
"Itachi Uchiha is someone you can't defeat. No matter how much you do, what's the point? This is clearly something only Shinji can handle! Only a super genius like him can take on a super villain like Itachi Uchiha!"
Shion's tone was matter-of-fact.
Sakura nodded in agreement. "Yeah, if we bring Shinji, we can definitely beat Itachi Uchiha!"
Pfft.
Sasuke, holding back a surge of frustration, spat out a mouthful of blood.
Sakura panicked. "Sasuke, where are you hurt? Let me heal you!"
Sasuke pushed her away. "I don't need your help!"
Shion said, "Sasuke, you're too stubborn!"
"Stubborn!?" Sasuke's face darkened. "Do you know what I've been through?"
"You're not the only one suffering! As the priestess of the Land of Demons, why do you think I've stayed in the Hidden Leaf Village? Because the moment I leave its protection, I'll be devoured by demons!" Shion paused, then continued, "Shinji is an Uchiha too. He's been through the same pain as you! And I heard that on that night, Itachi Uchiha slashed him brutally. He was saved by the medical team in the morgue!"
Sasuke opened his mouth, full of grievances, but found no words to counter Shion.
Seizing the moment, Shion pressed on with an air of authority. "Alright, the Rock Hidden's Jinchuriki has been taken by Itachi Uchiha and his group. Now we need to figure out how to take them back!"
Sasuke slowly stood up.
Though Shion's words stung, his self-pity lessened, and his resolve began to return.