Chapter 185: Involving the Innocent

Chapter 185: Involving the Innocent

Naka Shrine.

Although dilapidated, the remaining structures of the shrine were completely reduced to ashes under the rampage of Uchiha Itachi's Susano'o.

"Uchiha Flame Formation!"

A crimson barrier, with scorching flames that even tailed beasts couldn't easily break, rose up, enclosing the massive Susano'o within. Compared to before, Sasuke and his remaining team members, who had been halved in number due to injuries, were now spread around the Uchiha Flame Formation, with their hands pressed against the barrier, continuously infusing chakra to maintain it.

Boom!

The Totsuka Blade struck the barrier but did not cause any damage. Instead, it adhered to the flames of the barrier, causing the blade to ignite. Uchiha Itachi looked at this outcome with an expressionless face and ceased to drive Susano'o. Breaking the Flame Formation would consume considerable time and his limited chakra.

Uchiha Itachi's Mangekyōu Sharingan spun, and the vast Susano'o gradually dissipated, leaving only a portion of the ribs to protect his body.

If they want to drag this out, then let's drag it out.

He glanced at Sasuke, preparing to say something. Suddenly, a violent, uncontrollable cough erupted from his mouth. Uchiha Itachi clutched his mouth with one hand, but thick blood still gushed through his fingers.

Thud.

Uchiha Itachi collapsed to the ground, and the ribs of Susano'o around him dissipated instantly.

"Is it a trap? Or reality?"

Outside the barrier, Uchiha Kei watched the scene with uncertainty.

"It's real." Uchiha Izumi, gazing deeply at Uchiha Itachi, answered. Given her understanding of Uchiha Itachi, he wouldn't fake weakness to lure others in.

Uchiha Sasuke thought the same. Thus, the Uchiha Flame Formation dissipated. Sasuke, the fastest among them, was the first to reach Itachi, raising his Chidori Blade, filled with electricity, and slashing forward mercilessly.

Rip!

The Akatsuki cloak with the red clouds was split in two, and a stream of blood sprayed across the sky. When Sasuke looked again, Uchiha Itachi, now in his ninja attire with a long bloodstain on his chest, had retreated ten meters away.

"Fire Release: Great Dragon Fire Technique!"

Uchiha Kei and Uchiha Izumi swiftly followed, and two enormous fire dragons rose simultaneously, charging at Uchiha Itachi from the left and right. Uchiha Itachi, enduring his physical discomfort, dodged again. Seeing Sasuke and other Uchiha ninjas advancing, Itachi, narrowly avoiding one fire dragon, formed a one-handed seal.

Next would be the preliminaries and then the actual matches.

Thinking of this, Hagoromo Gengetsu looked towards the dense forest in the direction he had come from. Kisame, who had volunteered to clear out the insects, was still inside.

If he doesn't return now, it will be difficult to come back later.

Just then, Hagoromo Gengetsu noticed something and smiled faintly to himself.

As if hearing Hagoromo Gengetsu's words, there was a loud "boom." Kisame was sent flying like a cannonball, crashing through over a dozen trees and carving a long trench in the ground before stopping beside Hagoromo Gengetsu.

Although it didn't seem voluntary, he returned after all.

Kisame, with his Akatsuki cloak heavily damaged, pulled his legs out of the ground, shook his still trembling left hand, turned to Hagoromo Gengetsu beside him, and grinned:

"No wonder she's the Hokage. That woman packs a punch!"

"Did Tsunade come herself? Makes sense. In all of Konoha, only she could punch you this far."

Hagoromo Gengetsu looked calmly into the forest.

A few breaths later, Tsunade, clad in her familiar green outer garment with the "Gamble" kanji, leapt out, followed by Jiraiya and other well-known figures to Hagoromo Gengetsu.

Kakashi Hatake, Might Guy, Asuma Sarutobi, Shibi Aburame, Inoichi Yamanaka, and other elite jonin, along with the now-promoted to chunin members of the Konoha 12 like Rock Lee, Tenten, Shikamaru, and Neji.

And that wasn't all.

Hagoromo Gengetsu saw a large number of shinobi marching in from the rear. There were no fewer than five hundred of them.

Gathering such numbers in such a short time, truly befitting the largest village in the shinobi world.

Seeing the dense crowd ahead, Kisame beside Hagoromo Gengetsu was already breaking into a cold sweat.

"Hey hey! So many people! This is too much!"

Kisame, grateful he retreated in time, looked anxiously at Hagoromo Gengetsu.

He felt like he was an innocent bystander caught in the crossfire this time.