Chapter 250: The God of War with Burning Life
"Sasuke, calm down."
Speed, strength, and combat experience—everything had inexplicably surged several levels.
But seeing that familiar figure again, Sasuke found it impossible to stay calm. The night of the Uchiha massacre replayed in his mind with painful clarity. He could still see the image of his parents, collapsing helplessly to the floor.
Naruto's subtle hints echoed in his ears again and again.
After all these years, how could he not suspect that something deeper lay behind that night?
But... what kind of truth could justify slaughtering one's own father and mother?
The three tomoe of his Sharingan spun wildly. Sasuke felt the chakra in his body accelerating like a roaring current.
To him, the movements of everyone else began to slow down.
"Kakashi, stay out of this. This is between me and him."
Sasuke came to a slow stop, not even sparing a glance at Kakashi, who stood on guard against Uchiha Itachi.
"As captain of the First Melee Unit, you should focus on leading the others to crush the enemy."
His eyes remained locked on that one figure.
At this moment, no one else existed in his world.
"Calm down!" Kakashi urged. "Even if you really want to fight him, the others around won't just stand by and let you have a fair match!"
"Fair fight?"
Sasuke tightened his grip on his short blade. "Do you think I care about winning? I want answers. Answers!"
Without another word, he shot forward—blazing through the battlefield, weaving through dozens of shinobi with speed too fast to track, straight toward Uchiha Itachi.
"Sas—"
"Kakashi!" A voice called urgently. "Akatsuki's core members are hiding among the enemy forces. They're trying to break through the lines to get to Naruto and the others!"
Kakashi turned, ready to pursue Sasuke, when a green blur dropped beside him.
"Asuma and the others have already found traces of Kakuzu, Hidan, and the other core members of Akatsuki. We need to move and support them immediately."
Might Guy's tone was serious. Then he glanced at Sasuke's distant silhouette.
"Let Uchiha Sasuke handle his own battle."
"But…"
Kakashi looked again—at the figure racing toward Itachi, then at Guy beside him.
In the end, he grit his teeth and made his choice.
The tailed beasts were the linchpin of this entire battle. If Naruto and the others were captured, everything would fall apart.
Faced with the choice between saving his proudest student—the disciple who inherited the legacy of the Hatake clan—and protecting the greater mission, Kakashi made a decision… one completely different from the choice his father had made.
At that moment, he understood his father's pain. The agony of choosing between comrades and duty.
No matter which path you choose… you'll never forgive yourself.
Perhaps, even if his father had abandoned his comrades and completed the mission—ending the war early—he still would've chosen to die… out of guilt.
As Kakashi left with a heavy heart—
Sasuke had already reached Uchiha Itachi.
He stared at the familiar face, heart pounding with unresolved questions… but not knowing how to begin.
"So, this is how you've grown… standing before me so boldly?"
Through blurred vision, Uchiha Itachi looked weakly at Sasuke. "Don't you realize? Everything you've worked for is meaningless before my Mangekyō."
"Why…? Why did you do it?" Sasuke finally demanded, voice trembling. "I know things weren't easy for you… but why would you go that far?"
"Oh…"
Itachi shook his head in disappointment. "You risked your life just to ask that? You're still so naïve, Sasuke."
"You're the one who's naïve."
A cold voice suddenly echoed behind him.
A blur appeared behind Itachi, and even Kisame—watching from afar—was startled by the sheer speed.
"You can't even tell the difference between me and a shadow clone? You really are getting old."
Sasuke's eyes were like ice as he brought down his short blade with precision.
A series of ninjutsu had amplified his physical functions. Though it drained him quickly, the sword in his hand was sharp enough to end most targets in seconds.
"Indeed… my vision has deteriorated. I didn't detect your clone."
Itachi's voice sounded regretful. "But… you talk too much. Never chat with your enemy mid-battle."
"It throws off your rhythm… and exposes you."
Sasuke's blade struck—but there was no resistance. No flesh.
"Too slow."
The figure in front of him dispersed into crows and scattered into the air.
"Even if your speed is remarkable for a normal shinobi, don't forget—you're still just another Uchiha."
That speed—stimulating nerves with lightning chakra to boost reflexes and body functions…
It resembled the taijutsu of the Hidden Cloud, yet was faster—though more draining.
You've really grown, Sasuke…
But it's not enough.
Sasuke scanned the area. The voice came from all directions, making it impossible to locate Itachi's true position.
And at that moment, he realized his flaw—perception.
Against an enemy skilled in concealment and spiritual techniques, even the Sharingan had limits.
If you can't detect your opponent, it doesn't matter how powerful you are—you can't fight properly.
"My preparations were lacking."
Sasuke half-closed his eyes, recognizing his own oversight.
He couldn't match Itachi's Mangekyō in raw bloodline power. So he had sought other paths.
Swordsmanship was one.
He'd hoped the Hatake sword style—swift and deadly—might catch Itachi off guard.
But he hadn't thought it through enough.
Thinking back on Kakashi's use of summoning beasts… perhaps Hatake Sakumo had faced the same problem. That's why he trained those ninja dogs.
Sasuke had underestimated their value.
He had been short-sighted.
"If you face an assassin who is fast and good at hiding, and you can't find them… you're as good as dead, Sasuke."
Itachi's voice echoed again.
"In assassination, the one who finds the other first… wins."
"…Are you teaching me while we fight, Itachi?"
Sasuke kept searching. Occasionally, rogue Mist ninjas would charge at him, emboldened by his youth—but he cut them down with ease.
"I'm just measuring your level. I don't understand why, after all this time, your eyes still haven't evolved to the level I expect."
Uchiha Itachi didn't attack. He stood motionless, as if waiting for something.
"Do you know why I've kept you alive until now?"
"Why?"
Sasuke asked coldly. The sharp blade in his hand slid across the neck of a Chunin. Blood gushed out, splashing across his face.
His eyes remained vigilant. Finding Itachi on a battlefield this chaotic, when he was a master of concealment, was no easy feat.
"You still don't understand the Uchiha bloodline, or why it's seen as cursed by the rest of the village."
The voice was erratic—distant yet somehow whispering right into his ear. It grated on Sasuke's nerves, but he forced himself to stay calm.
"Hatred. Anger. Madness... these negative emotions feed and evolve our ocular powers."
"As our loved ones die, our eyes awaken. The bloodline that gains strength from sacrifice becomes a bloodline of sin."
"But that same evolution takes its toll. The stronger our eyes become, the more they corrode our bodies. Especially the Mangekyō. Each use devours our vitality."
"And there's only one way to stop the decay—by replacing the eyes."
As the words landed, Sasuke's instincts screamed.
Suddenly, blue lightning flared around him.
Electric current crackled along the short blade, wrapping his body in a web of chakra.
"Hm?"
Behind him, Itachi—who had just reached out to grab him—swiftly pulled his hand back at the first spark of danger.
"Die!"
Sasuke roared, spinning around. He wouldn't miss this golden opportunity.
Chidori Style wasn't just for defense—it was a spear disguised as a shield.
Spinning into motion, Sasuke thrust his blade straight ahead. The lightning flared even brighter, extending the weapon's reach with deadly chakra.
At this distance, Itachi couldn't possibly dodge.
The moment Itachi said "eye replacement," Sasuke had sensed something—some terrible truth.
Is this the answer?
But then... why did Naruto hesitate?
Still, the killing intent in Itachi's grasp was undeniable.
No matter the truth—once Itachi is dead, even if the Rinnegan comes for me, everything ends here.
"Snort!"
There was only death in Sasuke's gaze.
Across from him, Itachi's eyes gleamed coldly.
"Don't resist. Whatever you've learned—whatever powers you've gained—they're nothing compared to these eyes."
"The strength of my Mangekyō rivals even Nagato's Rinnegan. Once I take your eyes, I'll have the power to replace him entirely!"
Boom!
Orange-red chakra erupted from Itachi's body.
A spectral warrior took shape—first as a blur of energy, then as a solidified giant clad in armor. Fueled by eye techniques and burning vitality, the figure grew taller and more defined until it towered overhead.
Swish!
Sasuke's chakra blade struck the armor—and let out a shriek so sharp it echoed like a scream.
The danger hit Sasuke like a tidal wave, forcing him to leap backward several dozen meters.
His eyes widened in disbelief.
The entire battlefield trembled as a wave of pressure radiated from Itachi's fully formed Susanoo.
Dust and fog were swept away, revealing a battlefield drenched in blood and bodies—now basking in sunlight once more.
"What... what is that!?"
"Susanoo! That's the Uchiha clan's Susanoo!"
"Itachi! It's Uchiha Itachi!"
All around, shinobi dropped their weapons and fled. No one dared stay near that monstrous figure.
Even Sasuke's enemies forgot him, their eyes locked on the towering giant that blotted out the sky.
And within that warrior of flame and chakra... stood Uchiha Itachi, coughing blood.
"Can someone really still use Susanoo in that state...?"
The Five Kage, who had been locked in battle with Nagato, also turned in shock.
But when they saw the figure clearly, they relaxed.
"It's just Uchiha Itachi," someone muttered.
They'd feared it was Madara.
Yet among them, only Ōnoki frowned.
Why isn't it Madara?
From the start, the masked man hadn't shown up. That could only mean one thing—he had attacked Iwagakure directly.
Whether they won this war or not, their village might already be gone.
"Sasuke, feel the Uchiha's power!"
Itachi's voice echoed from within the blazing phantom. It trembled, but it still roared.
"Not even the Rinnegan can shake the body of the War God!"
"No repulsion, no suction—nothing can move him!"
"Even if you're a god, if I take your eyes—I can cut you down with this sword!"
Another cough—another splash of blood.
The blood sprayed across Susanoo's chest, and the great phantom bellowed in unison, as if stirred by Itachi's madness.
In its giant palm, a glowing magatama formed—crimson and shaped like a three-tomoe Sharingan.
Flames wrapped the orb. Chakra and ocular power condensed inside, ignited by Itachi's very life force.
"Watch this well! This is the power of the Uchiha!"
Below, Sasuke stared at the man inside the skybound armor.
He had never seen Itachi lose control like this. His face was twisted with emotion—rage, pride, obsession.
And yet...
While every other ninja retreated in fear, Sasuke remained still.
Why?
What could he possibly use to face such overwhelming power?
If I awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan... will I also gain that strength?
But how do I evolve my eyes again?
Do I really have to kill someone I care about, just like Itachi said?
The ones I care about...
Three faces surfaced in Sasuke's mind.
That must be it.
So—no matter how unstoppable the War God before him was—
Sasuke moved.
He took one decisive step and broke into a full sprint toward Itachi, while everyone else could only watch in shock.
Lightning surged from his body. The short blade in his hand pulsed with power. At that moment, he looked just like Konoha's legendary White Fang—charging forward, uncaring of what lay ahead.
Sasuke had one goal.
If I kill him—my eyes will awaken!
And if I can't—
Then I'll die here!
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