Let This Childish Farce End Here

Impressive indeed.

It was rare for Madara to offer such praise.

But as the wielder of the Mangekyō Sharingan's Amaterasu, Itachi felt no joy. On the contrary, the pressure was only mounting.

Because...

Only Amaterasu had barely proved useful.

His Mangekyō powers consisted of Amaterasu and Tsukuyomi. And Tsukuyomi, a genjutsu, would never work on Madara—acknowledged as the most powerful Uchiha in recorded history. Itachi knew his illusion wouldn't stop him.

But…

Madara's compliment ended there.

The man, interested only briefly in a promising junior, suddenly erupted in layers of chakra. Blue skeletal ribs surrounded him, building rapidly into a massive half-bodied giant.

Susanoo.

Madara raised the hand of his blue Susanoo, summoning a glowing blue curved blade. Without hesitation, he slashed downward—cleaving through the Amaterasu flames with ease. The enormous blade was now aimed directly at Itachi.

"Enough. The Mangekyō Sharingan's tricks bore me."

Protected within his Susanoo, Madara chuckled:

"For the Uchiha, true combat is a contest of Mangekyō. Since you've sided with Obito, you know that our final battles always boil down to Susanoo vs. Susanoo. Let's see yours."

"…!"

Itachi gritted his teeth and formed a seal with his fingers.

Though uncertain of victory, he couldn't retreat—not when he needed to stall for Konoha's reinforcements and protect his brother.

The next moment—red skeletal ribs erupted from his body!

He raised his fingers, eyes locked on Madara, and called forth his own red Susanoo.

Interestingly, they both activated Stage 2 Susanoo—half-bodies with armor.

And both launched attacks simultaneously!

"Wh-What… is that…?"

Sasuke looked up in horror at the two towering spectral giants. He'd never seen such overwhelming power.

This level of combat—

Far beyond what he had witnessed during the Chūnin Exams.

"So that's the legendary Susanoo…"

Orochimaru, in contrast, was oddly amused. He examined each Susanoo like a curious scientist, eyes shifting between blue and red.

But eventually…

His snake-like gaze settled back on Sasuke.

This boy… was his shortcut to acquiring that power!

The battlefield's intensity surged.

Everyone knew—things were about to get far more brutal.

Itachi's red Susanoo lifted its hand, conjuring a spiraling set of Yasaka Magatama.

"So he's going there…"

Madara didn't back down. His blue Susanoo raised both arms and tore the air apart, forming his own Yasaka Magatama—hurling them toward Itachi.

"Damn it—!"

Itachi responded immediately, throwing his red magatama to intercept.

Boom!

Two opposing sets of chakra weapons collided mid-air, causing the very Susanoo forms to crack and tremble!

They knew…

If they didn't reinforce Susanoo, it would collapse.

Itachi especially couldn't afford that—his real body wasn't as resilient as an Edo Tensei.

Sasuke wouldn't survive the backlash, either.

So—

His red Susanoo erupted further, muscle-like chakra filling in, forming a more complete humanoid shape. It donned armored plating, gripped a gourd in one hand and a round shield in the other.

Stage 4 Susanoo.

The completed form slammed its wave-patterned shield into the ground, tanking the massive shockwave head-on.

"Yata Mirror…"

Madara narrowed his eyes in recognition.

"Said to block and reflect any physical attack…"

"Which means…"

"There must be a corresponding offensive weapon…"

Madara ignored the cracks in his own Susanoo, focused entirely on the red Susanoo's gourd-hand.

What kind of weapon would pair with the Yata Mirror?

Then—

Itachi gave him the answer.

The gourd-holding hand flared.

A brilliant red beam, glowing like molten lava, shot from the gourd—

—piercing clean through Madara's blue Susanoo!

And even more shocking—

It pierced Madara himself.

"Ah… So it's the legendary Totsuka Blade…"

Madara smiled.

Not at all afraid of being sealed away. He knew full well the Totsuka Blade could trap souls forever in a drunken dream.

But his will—

Would never succumb.

As the blade struck, Madara raised a finger.

His Susanoo surged upward—taller, stronger, now encasing him in a core crystal.

The Totsuka Blade snapped in half.

No—Itachi had deactivated Susanoo entirely.

He had known one strike wouldn't defeat Madara and had planned to retreat all along.

But—

His body couldn't hold on.

After Tsukuyomi on Kakashi… after Amaterasu and Susanoo…

Itachi coughed blood, stumbling, barely staying on his feet.

Yet he stubbornly pulled Sasuke up—determined to flee.

Thankfully…

He had a teammate.

Even if that teammate was also spying on him.

Kisame suddenly darted forward, body transforming into a half-shark monstrosity. He grabbed both Itachi and Sasuke and sprinted away at top speed!

No matter what—

The mission could not fail.

Even if he wasn't Madara's match, Kisame had prepared for this moment, forming a strange and silent trust with Itachi.

"WHAT?!"

Orochimaru was stunned.

Those two just fled with Sasuke?!

Did that mean—he had to face Madara alone now?!

Eyes wide, he slowly turned his head…

To see the colossal form of Madara's Complete-Body Susanoo rising behind him.

A true god of war.

Anyone who saw this 100-meter-tall warrior would feel their will to fight crumble. Itachi surely fled for this very reason.

After all…

As an Uchiha, he knew Madara's secrets.

Knew he likely possessed Eternal Mangekyō, and with it, this near-invincible ultimate form.

"Those bastards…"

Orochimaru gritted his teeth, then burst into speed—lower half transforming into a massive snake as he slithered away!

"Trying to run?"

Madara sneered, watching their retreating figures like ants scurrying under his feet.

Then—

The Complete Susanoo drew its massive sword.

SLASH!

The air split apart, the earth carved open into an abyss, blocking their escape!

Dust and debris exploded into the sky!

The fleeing trio were thrown to the ground, unable to cross the gap.

Above—

The colossal blue warrior hovered, wings flapping to keep it aloft, landing gently in the chasm it had created.

Only its massive head loomed before them.

Madara stood atop the crystal on its forehead, calmly overlooking the battered group. His mouth curled into a cold smirk, mocking their futile escape.

"Let this childish farce end here."

He reached out Susanoo's giant hand.

"Now, hand over the boy. I'd rather not disappoint Lord Shigen the moment I return to this world."

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Powerstones?

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