Hokage: I Confronted the Five Kage Before the System Arrived

Chapter 148: Acquiring the Mangekyō Sharingan

Chapter 148: Acquiring the Mangekyō Sharingan

Uchiha Itachi forcibly steadied Susanoo, swinging the Totsuka Blade at Hagoromo Gengetsu.

Gengetsu flickered and reappeared on the other side of Susanoo, delivering another powerful punch.

*Crack!*

The sound of Susanoo shattering echoed again.

Without the Yata Mirror, the massive Susanoo, a nightmare for most ninjas, was merely a large toy to Hagoromo Gengetsu.

Soon, after another powerful punch, Susanoo finally crumbled entirely with a loud bang.

Gengetsu immediately rushed inside, grabbing Uchiha Itachi by the collar.

*Caw caw caw!*

The sound of crows crying filled the air.

Watching Itachi's body transform into dozens of crows scattering in all directions, Gengetsu remained expressionless, scanning the surroundings.

"Did he switch places when he activated the Yata Mirror?"

He wasn't hiding to the east, nor to the west.

Neither the south nor the north.

Then he must be below!

"Fire Release: Dragon Flame Bomb!"

Instantly, a massive dragon-shaped flame roared up from beneath Gengetsu, aiming to engulf him.

Gengetsu retreated from the dragon's mouth, and as the persistent Dragon Flame pursued him, he extended his right hand, his palm turning into a black hole:

"Dark Release: Infinite Hole!"

The flames were immediately drawn into Gengetsu's palm.

Emerging from the ground, Itachi's right eye's Mangekyō Sharingan spun rapidly.

"Now's the time!"

"Amaterasu!"

Blood flowed from Itachi's right eye.

Despite the burning pain in his eye, Itachi's gaze remained fixed on the Dragon Flame he had unleashed.

In an instant, the all-consuming black flames of Amaterasu descended upon the Dragon Flame, rapidly transforming the normal red flames into Amaterasu's black fire.

In the blink of an eye, the black flames raced towards Gengetsu, who was still absorbing the Dragon Flame.

The Dark Release couldn't handle Amaterasu's flames.

Gengetsu reacted quickly, curling his right hand's fingers inward, stopping the Dark Release.

As he retreated, a resilient earth-colored protective membrane swiftly enveloped him.

Amaterasu's black flames arrived quickly.

In an instant, the destructive black fire enveloped the protective membrane.

Before the black flames could fully cover the protective membrane, Gengetsu swiftly severed it, letting it continue to be consumed by the black fire while he dashed out, heading straight for Itachi.

*Huff... huff... huff...*

Having repeatedly used Tsukuyomi, Susanoo, and Amaterasu, Itachi panted heavily, his body struggling to keep up.

Even so, Amaterasu's flames did not stop.

Noticing Gengetsu closing in, Itachi, enduring his fatigue, with more blood streaming from his eyes, directed his right eye's gaze at Gengetsu, reactivating Amaterasu.

The ominous black flames instantly appeared where Gengetsu stood.

However, with the Swift Release fully engaged, Gengetsu moved too fast for the flames to catch him.

Itachi could only elongate the flames, sweeping them towards Gengetsu in a long, black streak.

"Is it over?"

After all this, Itachi's vision began to blur. He strained to see, only to find the vast black flames continuing to burn.

Just as he was about to sigh in relief,

A calm voice whispered in his ear:

"Almost."

Like a thunderclap in his mind, Itachi's expression changed dramatically. Without thinking, he turned quickly, trying to aim his right eye at the source of the voice.

But a palm reached him first, striking his chin, forcing Itachi's Mangekyō Sharingan to face the sky.

Despite this, Itachi did not give up, swinging his arms blindly.

Soon, a black rod pierced his right arm, and a heavy punch landed on his chest.

Itachi's body contracted from the intense pain, unable to react further.

Taking advantage of this, Gengetsu, who had just evaded Amaterasu, grabbed Itachi's left hand, intertwining their fingers.

Boar-Dog-Rooster-Monkey-Sheep.

With their fingers moving together, they quickly formed the summoning hand signs.

Using Itachi's pre-prepared blood, they pressed their fingers together.

Finally,

"Summoning Jutsu!"

A puff of white smoke appeared.

Numerous crows were summoned.

Gengetsu swiftly identified the crow with Shisui's Mangekyō Sharingan in its left eye, grabbing and plucking out the blood-soaked eye into his hand.

"Mission accomplished."

Shisui's pair of Mangekyō Sharingan was now complete.

Gengetsu placed the Mangekyō Sharingan into a prepared container and turned to look at Itachi, who had distanced himself.

With a clang, Itachi pulled out the black rod from his right arm, blood splattering. Exhausted and nearly drained of chakra, he finally dropped to one knee, still partially wearing his Akatsuki cloak.

Seeing Gengetsu's attention turn back to him, Itachi forced himself to lift his head, his vision blurred, but his face remained calm as he sighed lightly.

No wonder he was a legend said to rival the gods.

From childhood to now, Itachi had always been considered a genius by everyone. In all aspects, he had far surpassed his peers, and even in the talent-rich Uchiha clan, few could withstand a single blow from him.

He had believed that even if the legendary figures of the Warring States period were powerful, with his Mangekyō Sharingan and other techniques, he could still hold his own or at least escape unscathed.

But he realized he had been too arrogant.

Not only had he failed to meet Sasuke, but he had also lost the other Mangekyō Sharingan given to him by Shisui.

Now, it seemed his life was also nearing its end.

"Sasuke..."

At this moment, Itachi found himself thinking more about Sasuke than Konoha.

*Step, step, step.*

Gengetsu walked leisurely towards Itachi.

Compared to Itachi's wretched state, he appeared as if he had merely been on a stroll.

Though Itachi had posed several threats during the fight, everything had been within Gengetsu's control, allowing him to move with ease.

Itachi was not one to sit and wait for death.

As he prepared to set a transference seal on his Mangekyō Sharingan, leaving behind one last move,

"Itachi, it's the first time I've seen you in such a sorry state."

With a spatial distortion, a familiar voice reached his ears.