Shuji’s Confident Persuasion

Some of Sasuke's words were unclear, but the idea of awakening the eyes without losing a loved one piqued his interest slightly.

However, he didn't ask further. Instead, he continued:

"Let's put the casual chat on hold. Show me the power of this so-called mighty Mangekyou Sharingan that Itachi was willing to do such things to obtain."

"You want to see the Mangekyou Sharingan's power? Not impossible. But… my Mangekyou isn't on par with Uchiha Itachi or other Uchihas in this world. Let me show you a glimpse of the Mangekyou Sharingan's power, combining Uchiha and Imperial strength!"

"Layered Susano'o Armor!"

Imperial Obito's eyes spun rapidly.

Light blue chakra erupted, materializing into armor that enveloped his entire body. A pair of wings slowly unfurled from his back.

At this moment, Imperial Obito resembled a samurai clad in energy armor, exuding gallantry.

His height also increased from around 185 cm to over two meters.

"This is the Mangekyou Sharingan's power? Doesn't seem that impressive."

Sasuke's expression remained flat.

"Really?"

Imperial Obito extended his right hand, and a swirling vortex appeared.

He reached into it, slowly pulling out a peculiar spiral-cone-shaped sword.

"What's that sword?" Sasuke asked, slightly surprised.

"A Spirit Sword developed by the Weapon Development Department, specifically for Susano'o's power. His Majesty the Emperor personally named it the Severing Sword. I specially… took it before coming here." Imperial Obito said, his eyes glinting slightly.

When he said "took." his voice softened a bit.

But Orochimaru and Sasuke weren't interested in that detail, focusing instead on the terms "His Majesty the Emperor" and "Weapon Development Department."

This reclusive Uchiha seemed far more complex than he appeared.

A massive force might be backing him.

"Is that so? Then let's see which is stronger—your Severing Sword or my Kusanagi Sword."

As Sasuke finished speaking, the wings on Imperial Obito's small layered Susano'o vibrated, unleashing a tremendous sonic shockwave.

His figure instantly appeared before Sasuke, followed by the sound of a loud explosion and the swing of the Severing Sword.

"So fast! Far faster than before! Was he not using his full power earlier? Or is it because of this equipment?"

Orochimaru and Sasuke thought simultaneously.

Sasuke hurriedly raised his sword to block.

*CLANG!*

As the swords clashed, Sasuke was flung back like a bullet by an unmatched force.

"Ugh! This guy's strength is inhuman! I can't keep going like this."

While being thrown back, Sasuke felt his palm crack. He immediately activated his curse seal, black markings spreading as large fleshy wings sprouted from his back.

All his bodily functions surged. Only then, after crashing through several large trees, could he land safely.

Imperial Obito's figure glided across the ground, appearing before him again.

"So fast! But don't think you can defeat me that easily! Chidori Eisou!"

Sasuke thrust his sword forward.

A blinding lightning flash, centered on the Kusanagi Sword, surged and stabbed toward Imperial Obito.

But upon hitting Imperial Obito, the attack was blocked by his energy armor, unable to penetrate even an inch.

"Useless. Against the Layered Susano'o Armor, ordinary ninjutsu can't breach its defenses." Imperial Obito said calmly, almost leisurely.

He seemed to be deliberately toying with Sasuke, not attacking but merely withstanding the Chidori Eisou's lightning, forcing Sasuke's body to keep sliding back.

Even so, the ground formed two long furrows as he slid sixty or seventy meters.

*BOOM!*

Sasuke's figure vanished.

Imperial Obito halted his advance, slowly turning, his sharp eyes sweeping around until he spotted Sasuke standing solemnly on a tree branch a hundred meters away.

Without giving Imperial Obito a chance to speak, Sasuke swiftly formed hand seals, opened his mouth, and spewed out a massive fire dragon from his mouth.

"At this distance, using such attacks—you think you could hit me? But… with Susano'o on me, I don't even need to dodge at all."

Imperial Obito's expression was mocking. He stood calmly in place, letting the fire dragon engulf him.

Much of the ground and trees were scorched.

After the fire dragon dissipated, Imperial Obito's unscathed figure emerged.

"Just as he said, ordinary ninjutsu can't penetrate that energy armor. Then… this is the way."

Sasuke's eyes gleamed. He formed hand seals again, spewing fire ninjutsu, but this time the target wasn't aimed at Imperial Obito—it was the sky.

One by one, clouds in the sky parted, causing violent air currents to surge.

Seeing this, Imperial Obito was slightly surprised but quickly realized.

"Using that ninjutsu to pierce my layered Susano'o? Fine, let me feel the fundamental difference between Imperial power and the ninja village era."

"It's coming—Sasuke-kun's ultimate ninjutsu. Even Mangekyou's power might not withstand it."

Orochimaru licked his lips expectantly.

With Imperial Obito standing firm and unmoving, Sasuke swiftly used his fire ninjutsu, altering the surrounding atmosphere.

Soon, the village's sky filled with dark clouds, thunder rumbled, and lightning began to strike.

Sasuke gazed at the distant sky from afar with haughty confidence, his hands forming hand seals.

The thunder grew louder and fiercer, the lightning in the sky being manipulated, transforming into a massive, terrifying Kirin head glaring down at all living things:

"Uchiha-san Shuji-kun, your power is impressive. But against my Kirin, you have no chance of winning!"

"It'll descend in a fraction of a second. You won't even have time to turn illusory and will vanish into nothing. Surrender, as an a fellow Uchiha. I can spare you… but Itachi is my prey."

"Finally, the Kirin! Though it's not my first time seeing it, it's still awe-inspiring. This is Sasuke's ultimate lightning techniquejutsu-nin Even I, if facing it without dodging first, would struggle to survive."

"So beautiful…"

Orochimaru looked up at the lightning Kirin in the sky, praising it.

The ordinary man's face in the distance also showed shock.

"Amazing… Uchiha Sasuke's power has grown this far? This must be thanks to Orochimaru-sama! As long as I keep following Orochimaru-sama, sooner or later, I'll have power like this too!"

The man thought this, then looked at nodding toward Orochimaru with a hint of fanaticism in his eyes.