Although it was only the first stage of Susanoo, it still possessed exceptionally formidable defense.
Fugaku's sword snapped in an instant, forcing him to leap back and stay on guard.
"Susanoo!"
With that, Uchiha Itachi broke free from the illusion Haze–Veil Reflection, panting heavily.
Even for a genjutsu master like him, forcibly shattering Fugaku's Mangekyō illusion had consumed a terrifying amount of chakra and spiritual energy.
"So that's Father's right–eye Mangekyō Sharingan ability?"
"It can actually simulate and extrapolate some realistic future..."
"I almost got lost in it with no escape—my own conviction was about to waver..."
"But alas, Father, you still underestimated my power and the firmness of my resolve!"
While Itachi managed to break free from Haze–Veil Reflection, Fugaku also suffered backlash from having used it. Moreover, just having awakened his Mangekyō Sharingan, then consecutively unleashing both eyes' powers—Yasokumori and Haze–Veil Reflection—had sharply exhausted his entire body's cells, his chakra, and his ocular energy.
The father and son stood apart, facing one another from a distance, both trembling and gasping for breath, but neither showing any sign of retreat.
"My father's right–eye power has been dispelled by me."
"That left–eye defensive barrier—how long can it hold out?"
"Besides, I'm also under Susanoo's perfect protection now."
"Father, you have no chance to win."
Fugaku realized he was speaking the truth. After all, he had just awakened the Mangekyō and would likely be no match for this wretched offspring.
Yet...
He had no right to back down.
"Tch—then give it a try!"
All at once, forcing himself to maintain Yasokumori, Fugaku lunged forth. Facing him was Itachi's first–stage Susanoo, both men letting out a furious shout as they clashed once more!
…
For Mikoto and Sasuke, the two bystanders, everything had already descended into utter collapse, despair, confusion. They had no clue what to do.
A father–son battle like this could never end well.
Yet ultimately, it was Itachi who raised his blade first against his own father. Both mother and child understood perfectly well who the guilty one was.
However...
At this moment, Fugaku was beginning to fall behind.
His chakra and ocular power had been heavily drained, and Yasokumori was on the verge of collapse, while Itachi's Susanoo was pressing relentlessly!
The mother and son watched with mounting anxiety.
Finally—
Bang!
The blood–red defensive barrier of Yasokumori shattered completely!
Itachi was also panting for breath but showed a look of relief at last.
"It's over, Father…"
"Forgive me…"
A flicker of hesitation flashed in his eyes, yet he still controlled Susanoo—its skeletal right arm hammered down violently!
Boom!!!
"No—!"
Mikoto and Sasuke screamed at the top of their lungs, lunging forward in despair, trying to stop all of this, but...
It was of no use.
Just as tragedy seemed certain...
Suddenly—
A Susanoo that was ten or a hundred times more formidable materialized out of nowhere, swinging a giant chakra–formed arm to seize Itachi's downward–smashing blow, forcing it to a halt!
Then—
It gave a slight squeeze.
Crack!!!
The right arm of Itachi's skeletal Susanoo was simply crushed to fragments on the spot, fully dispersed into nothingness!
"Y–You are...!"
Itachi's eyes went wide with terror, as if seeing a ghost!
Meanwhile, Mikoto and Sasuke felt a rush of hope, as if they'd seen their savior descend:
"C-Chiyu-sama!"
The newcomer was, of course, Uchiha Chiyu.
No—strictly speaking, he had been here all along.
Fugaku let out a sigh, grief–stricken.
"Chiyu... in the end, I'm still a useless Patriarch. Things have come to this—I needed you to act anyway, didn't I?"
Clearly, he had known everything. Indeed, this was the scheme he and Chiyu had devised in secret.
From the start, Chiyu had lain in wait here, but refrained from intervening. He had a greater purpose than simply preventing the "Night of the Annihilation" or killing Uchiha Itachi.
He wanted Fugaku, the Patriarch, to personally witness Itachi's betrayal—Itachi's intent to murder his own father and destroy the entire clan.
Thus enraged, Fugaku would awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan.
Sure enough, Fugaku had awakened it in the depths of grief and fury. Now the clan finally possessed a second pair of Mangekyō eyes.
However, as Chiyu had predicted, even so, Fugaku—who had just awakened—could not match Itachi. Hence he stood by, ready to intervene.
Itachi retreated in alarm, wearing an expression of unprecedented fear.
He had never been afraid of anyone. Even Uchiha Shisui was merely someone he deeply respected, yet to Itachi's eyes, Shisui was still mortal. But now, facing Uchiha Chiyu, the man who slew Shisui, Itachi was seized by utter terror.
As Chiyu had said: that was called despair.
"Why are you here?!"
"You should be at the Police Force Headquarters!"
"None of the intel from the Anbu nor that man's signal could possibly be fake!"
Chiyu had no intention of answering him. He glanced at Fugaku:
"They're still father and son."
"I'll handle him."
Fugaku fell silent for a moment, then slowly nodded.
"Thank you."
Itachi's face went pale!
He had never truly dreaded anyone before, but now…
He recognized that with a single move, Uchiha Chiyu could shatter his Susanoo. No matter what, this was fear unlike any he had known.
Chiyu gave him no chance. His Susanoo raised its sword high—the Ten-Taba Zaimetsu Ken Sword—and brought it crashing down!
Rumble!!!
Boom!!!
One blow!
Itachi's skeletal Susanoo was smashed to rubble, destroyed utterly, leaving him battered and vomiting blood, his ribs and spine likely broken from the force. He landed on the ground, his breathing ragged, helpless, almost at the verge of death.
Even though Fugaku already knew how frightening Chiyu's power was, witnessing him annihilating Itachi's Susanoo in one stroke still took his breath away.
That was Susanoo, after all!
Yet here it was, worthless before Chiyu's assault.
Itachi coughed up mouthfuls of blood, gasping in agony, his entire body mangled and soaked red. He was beyond saving—like a candle flickering in the wind.
Chiyu said no more, lifting the Ten-Taba Zaimetsu Ken blade a second time…
Die!
~~~
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