Chapter 91: Encounter
After spotting the incoming Kumogakure unit heading in his direction, Itachi immediately had his illusionary crows high in the sky track the enemy's movements.
A cold glint flashed in his eyes. Without hesitation, he led his squad forward to intercept. Deep down, he had a strong feeling—this unit was coming specifically for him.
At this point, Itachi had successfully fused his father Fugaku's Mangekyō Sharingan into his own, attaining the Eternal Mangekyō. With this power, he had absolute confidence in taking on any opponent.
Previously, when fighting Kumogakure forces, there had been survivors—not because he couldn't kill them, but because he hadn't used the Mangekyō Sharingan, his trump card.
A few minutes later, the Konoha and Kumogakure squads finally encountered each other. Both sides now had a clear view of their enemies.
The Kumogakure squad numbered around forty—slightly more than Konoha's—but in terms of elite combat strength, both sides were evenly matched.
However, most of the Konoha squad were Uchiha elites, born with the Sharingan, giving them a natural edge in individual prowess.
Itachi's eyes swept across the enemy front, quickly identifying two figures at the lead—Kumogakure's brilliant strategist Dodai and the Two-Tails jinchūriki, Yūgito Nii.
His gaze fell on the tall, slender woman with long beige hair tied into a thick braid. Without hesitation, he issued his commands:
"The enemy leaders are the Two-Tails jinchūriki and Dodai. I'll handle the jinchūriki. Izumi, you take Dodai."
"The rest of you—stay sharp. The enemy is full of elites. Don't underestimate them!"
His declaration stunned the others—Itachi was going to face a jinchūriki head-on? No retreat, no regrouping?
Still, these were elite Konoha shinobi. Even if they felt concerned, they carried out his orders without question, immediately engaging the nearest Kumogakure combatants.
The two squads crashed into one another like colliding thunderclouds, igniting a fierce battle.
"Fire Style: Great Fireball Jutsu!"
Itachi weaved hand signs and unleashed a massive surge of flames toward Yūgito, aiming to disrupt her momentum.
But Yūgito didn't flinch. Her eyes were cold, her expression arrogant—she clearly didn't see the young shinobi before her as a threat.
"Mouse Hairball!"
She opened her mouth and spat out a blazing blue fireball in the shape of a chakra mouse. It split Itachi's great fireball down the middle with ease, cleaving the flames apart.
Following close behind her own technique, Yūgito charged directly through the gap in the inferno, lunging straight at Itachi.
A kunai appeared in Itachi's hand, while Yūgito's arms transformed into long, razor-sharp claws. The two passed by each other in a blur, exchanging a swift but intense clash.
Seeing the boy from Konoha—Uchiha Itachi—gazing at the kunai now severed by her claws, Yūgito assumed he was troubled by how to deal with her "Cat Claws."
But what she never imagined was that Itachi wasn't concerned about defense—he was contemplating how to capture her alive without fail.
Before they had set out, his teacher Yusuke had given him specific instructions: if he encountered any of Kumogakure's jinchūriki, he was to try and capture them alive.
Yusuke had explained to him the workings of both the forward and reverse forms of the "Dual Polarity Sealing Technique," and Itachi understood well how crucial the tailed beasts were to his teacher and their cause.
Had this been a one-on-one confrontation with Yūgito, Itachi wouldn't have hesitated to begin with Tsukuyomi.
Now that he had awakened the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan, Tsukuyomi still consumed considerable ocular power, but no longer left him with the crippling aftereffects he once endured. This meant he could still fight at near full strength after using it.
That said, falling under Tsukuyomi didn't always guarantee immediate collapse. If the target had exceptional willpower and mental fortitude, they could resist the illusion—at least temporarily—giving them a chance to flee or counterattack. Just like Danzo had.
As for Yusuke, who had volunteered to test Itachi's new Eternal Mangekyō Tsukuyomi and walked away merely "a little tired"—Itachi had long stopped considering his teacher a normal human being. In terms of spiritual strength, Yusuke might very well possess the strongest will in the entire shinobi world.
Quickly running through possibilities in his mind, Itachi settled on a plan: lure Yūgito away from her allies, isolate her, and then subdue her swiftly—leaving her no chance to escape or be rescued.
While Itachi was subtly drawing Yūgito toward the edge of the battlefield, exchanging blows as they went, Izumi had already engaged in battle with Dodai, the commander of the Kumogakure unit.
The Land of Lightning had a strong martial tradition—most children were trained in kenjutsu from a young age. Many Kumogakure shinobi wielded katanas as their primary weapons. Though Dodai's true strength lay in his Lava Release techniques, his swordsmanship was also nothing to scoff at.
In terms of raw combat experience, Izumi was clearly at a disadvantage. But armed with the supremely sharp Kusanagi blade Kikyō Senrakuzakura and the Genryū swordsmanship technique—taught to her by Yusuke and enhanced by chakra-based spiritual pressure—Izumi unexpectedly gained the upper hand, pressing Dodai hard.
With every dazzling arc of her pink sakura-hued blade, Dodai was forced to dodge desperately, unable to even parry.
As a keen observer, Dodai had quickly realized that his standard katana couldn't withstand a clash against her weapon. If their blades met, his would be destroyed in an instant. This critical difference was the primary reason Izumi had the advantage.
Yet even while being pushed back, Dodai was calmly watching, analyzing Izumi's technique, waiting for the perfect moment to strike a decisive blow.
"According to the intel, this girl is both the sister and disciple of their commander. If someone this young can reach such a level under his tutelage, then that man's strength must be truly terrifying."
Staring at the girl before him—pretty, with a trace of baby fat still softening her features—Dodai felt genuine admiration… and caution.
"Lava Release: Protective Membrane Wall!"
As he dodged another of Izumi's strikes, Dodai suddenly opened his mouth and expelled a mass of yellow, viscous fluid toward her.
Once solidified, this substance became rubbery and incredibly tough—stretchable, shock-resistant, and nearly impervious to standard blades. Even the sharpest weapons would struggle to cut through it.
But Izumi wasn't fazed. Though mildly disgusted, she didn't hesitate—her blade cut cleanly through the membrane barrier, shattering it instantly, and continued straight toward the stunned Dodai.
In a flash, her sakura-pink blade bisected him cleanly down the middle. His disbelieving expression froze on his face as he fell.
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