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Bonus Chapter
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Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh!
Inside the cramped prison cell, two figures moved with extraordinary speed. Uchiha Itachi launched a relentless barrage of kunai and shuriken, while Uchiha Haru—calm and composed—dodged each attack with fluid grace.
Originally, Haru had many easier ways to end this fight swiftly. Techniques like Wood Release, the Eight Gates, or the elemental mastery he wielded could have overwhelmed Itachi in moments. But those were his hidden trump cards—secrets he wasn't ready to reveal just yet. That made this battle somewhat troublesome.
Only somewhat.
With each passing day, Haru's abilities deepened and expanded at an astonishing rate. His Otsutsuki-derived physiology had far surpassed the strength and resilience he possessed when he first awoke to it. Agility, durability, chakra reserves, self-healing—all had skyrocketed beyond natural limits.
Now, he didn't need to rely on flashy jutsu or elemental power. His body alone, enhanced by the Otsutsuki bloodline, could stand toe-to-toe with a Kage-level prodigy like Itachi without faltering.
On the other hand, Itachi felt an unfamiliar unease creeping over him.
It was as if he had finally met his destined nemesis.
No matter what technique he tried, Haru seemed to see through every move, every intention, anticipating his next step well before it happened.
Itachi felt trapped—his strength constrained, his usual precision undermined. The frustration of being outmaneuvered gnawed at him, but there was nothing he could do about it. No matter how much it stung, he had to endure.
This couldn't go on.
Itachi made up his mind. After trading blows and feints for a while, it was clear he couldn't defeat Haru with mere basics. It was time to unleash his real skill—something he took pride in: his illusionary mastery.
He didn't believe Haru could best him in this realm.
In an instant, Itachi stepped back, activating his Mangekyō Sharingan. The crimson light flared ominously in the dim cell, sending a chill through the masked observer and the cluster of Root operatives and Anbu watching silently nearby.
The rare Mangekyō Sharingan—an ancient and powerful kekkei genkai—had been awakened. Everyone understood this sign: Itachi was going serious.
Haru remained unshaken.
He, too, possessed the Mangekyō Sharingan, but it was of no use to mask his true power here.
Instead, he activated his Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan—the classic three-tomoe design—to meet Itachi's onslaught.
Three-tomoe versus Mangekyō. On paper, the contest seemed one-sided.
Yet the tension in the room was palpable. The Root operatives and Anbu exhaled collectively, sensing the battle's gravity. Itachi's shift meant this fight would soon reach a decisive climax.
The masked man's expression darkened with interest. Though he intended to recruit Haru into his shadowy organization, he wasn't about to intervene now. This fight was a trial—a test Haru needed to pass to prove his worth.
If Haru failed, the masked man wouldn't risk conflict with Itachi over him.
Moreover, he was curious how far Itachi—the Uchiha clan's prodigy—had truly come.
The battle commenced.
Though to outsiders, the pair seemed almost motionless, everyone present knew a deadly confrontation was underway—one that went far beyond the physical.
This was the realm of genjutsu.
Illusions.
A domain where only the truly attuned could perceive the shifting battlefield. Those trapped within could taste danger like a bitter poison.
Especially when facing an Uchiha wielding the Mangekyō Sharingan, illusions became more than trickery—they were crushing reality.
Just moments in, Haru had already engaged Itachi in three separate genjutsu duels.
Because he was forbidden from revealing his own Mangekyō Sharingan outright, many of Haru's techniques were constrained.
Yet his ocular power remained authentic.
The strength of his Sharingan didn't waver based on what was shown or hidden.
That balance gave him an edge in these battles of the mind.
Itachi's illusions were legendary—deadly even to Kage-level opponents. Orochimaru himself had suffered grievous losses trapped inside Itachi's genjutsu.
So the stakes were high.
Though confined to this tiny prison, Haru's senses projected him into a vast inferno.
An endless sea of flames roared around him, heat so real it seared his very soul.
Suspended midair was Itachi, godlike and serene.
With a mere wave of his hand, the fiery ocean surged forward, crashing in monstrous waves like a ravenous beast, intent on consuming Haru whole.
But all this fury—the blaze, the thunderous roar—was illusion. A trick of the eye, a fabricated nightmare designed to break the spirit.
Yet, Haru stood unmoved.
But only when you are inside it do you truly understand how terrifying illusions can be.
Clearly, the mind knows perfectly well that everything is fake, but the body reacts instinctively, affected by the scorching, oppressive heat that seems to burn from the inside out.
Yet, Uchiha Haru remained calm, his usual indifferent demeanor unshaken.
He simply watched as the blazing fire dragon barreled toward him—not dodging, not blocking, not countering.
Then, just as the fire dragon was about to engulf him, it vanished into thin air. The surroundings snapped back to their original form, the chaos replaced by an eerie calm.
Uchiha Itachi's brow furrowed slightly.
Haru was far more difficult to deal with than he had anticipated.
Not because Haru had blocked several attacks in succession, but because of how effortlessly he had done it. Standing his ground, Haru seemed to see through every illusion no matter how realistic or elaborate.
From the perspective of the Three-magatama Sharingan, Haru's ability was extraordinarily powerful. Even before Itachi awakened his Mangekyō Sharingan, he hadn't possessed such an acute perception.
A faint smile tugged at the corner of Haru's lips.
These illusions were indeed potent, more than enough to overwhelm ordinary opponents.
But Haru was no ordinary ninja.
Even though many of his abilities were suppressed in this confrontation, he was still a Kage-level powerhouse, relying solely on the power of his Three-magatama Sharingan and his Otsutsuki-augmented physique. Defeating someone of his caliber through illusions alone was a distant dream.
"Hmph."
Itachi's cold snort broke the silence, a hint of annoyance in his voice at Haru's unbothered attitude.
All of this had been just a test. The real technique—the one he truly prided himself on—had yet to be unleashed.
"Tsukuyomi!"
Suddenly, Itachi's eyes flared with an eerie crimson light, the signature of his Mangekyō Sharingan activating.
His unique Mangekyō Sharingan genjutsu, Tsukuyomi, was unleashed in an instant.
This technique was the pinnacle of mental assault, capable of imprisoning the victim in an endless nightmare. Once trapped, the victim's life and death hung entirely at Itachi's whim. It was the kind of attack that could end a battle decisively in a heartbeat.
But the cost was immense.
The use of Tsukuyomi severely weakened the Mangekyō Sharingan's power and drained a significant portion of Itachi's chakra reserves.
Either consequence could leave Itachi vulnerable—exhausted, disoriented, and weak.
If the technique failed or was broken by the opponent, the backlash could be catastrophic.
It was never a tool to be used recklessly.
But Itachi faced Haru with absolute confidence.
This was not arrogance or underestimation, but a clear acknowledgment of the gulf between the Three-magatama Sharingan and the Mangekyō Sharingan.
That gap was vast—impossible to bridge by any other means.
Nearby, the Root operatives, dark-cloaked shinobi, and the masked observer watching the battle all blinked in recognition as the deadly genjutsu was launched.
Within this close range, there was no conceivable way for Haru to avoid being caught in Tsukuyomi.
Once trapped, the battle would be over.
Itachi's superiority was undisputed.
The masked man felt a flicker of disappointment but was also unsettled.
If Haru was so easily dealt with, how had he managed to survive this long?
Why was his performance tonight so different from what the masked man had known?
Was there still some hope for Haru to turn the tide?
His doubts growing, the masked man fixed his gaze intently on the two locked in battle.
As Tsukuyomi enveloped Haru, he was drawn into the nightmarish genjutsu world.
A blood-red moon hung ominously in a blood-red sky. The very ground beneath was soaked in crimson.
Haru was bound tightly to a cross, utterly immobilized, yet his expression remained composed—undaunted by the mental prison.
Before him, Itachi stood holding a samurai sword, excitement flickering across his face.
He acknowledged that Haru was indeed a worthy adversary.
Whether in physical combat, ninjutsu, or mastery of illusions, Haru rivaled him.
However, the power of the Mangekyō Sharingan and the exclusive technique Tsukuyomi gave Itachi a decisive edge.
"Itachi said quietly, 'You were careless.'"
"The Three-magatama Sharingan and the Mangekyō Sharingan are on entirely different levels. Only those who possess it truly understand its overwhelming power."
"You will find peace only in death under my Tsukuyomi."
Step by step, Itachi advanced toward Haru.
But as he approached, multiple images of Itachi began to manifest.
Where there had been only one, now there were five, then ten, then dozens of Itachis—surrounding Haru in a dense, swirling mass.
They all drew their samurai swords in unison and plunged them downward toward Haru.
Suddenly, in reality, the crimson glow of Itachi's Mangekyō Sharingan flickered intensely before fading slowly.
Two streaks of blood tears traced down Itachi's cheeks.
He wiped them away, rubbing his eyes, feeling dizzy and utterly drained.
This was the aftermath of releasing Tsukuyomi.
But this time, the debilitation was worse than usual.
Fortunately, the battle was over.
At that moment, Itachi's figure froze.
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This Week Bonus Chapter - 200 Power stones
2nd Bonus Chapter - 400 Power Stones
3rd Bonus Chapter - 600 Power Stones
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📢 Support the Novel & Read Ahead!
Love the story and can't wait to see what happens next?
Join my Patreon and get access to 50+ early chapters before anyone else! 🔥
https://www.patreon.com/UK21
Thank you for reading, and I truly appreciate your support! 💖
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