Chapter 212: Suigetsu Caught!
Inside the Akatsuki Base, Hidden Rain Village
"Itachi, we've pinpointed the most likely location where the One-Tail will appear. However, the area is guarded by members of the Immortal Organization. Taking the One-Tail from them won't be easy."
Konan took a paper slip that had just flown into her hand, examined its contents, and then spoke.
Seated in a chair, Uchiha Itachi slowly opened his eyes.
His eyes now held the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan!
Relying purely on his own willpower, he had evolved his Sharingan into the Mangekyō and then fused them into an Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan.
Now, his Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan far surpassed the power of his original Sharingan. Though his techniques remained unchanged, the sheer depth of his ocular power and the density of his chakra had grown significantly, making him far stronger than before!
Moreover, with his illness completely cured, he was now on par with titans like Uchiha Madara and Senju Hashirama!
After all, he possessed not only the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan but had also mastered Sage Mode!
"I understand. As long as Ishihara from the Immortal Organization doesn't interfere, our forces should be able to capture the One-Tail. Send Deidara and Sasori."
"Let's hope it goes smoothly," Konan replied before heading off to arrange the operation.
At this point, every member of the Akatsuki had mastered Sage Techniques, elevating their strength to near-Super Kage level.
With Sage Mode, their speed, power, and durability had all seen dramatic improvements, and their jutsu were now significantly more potent.
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"Sharingan!"
With a loud shout, Uchiha Obito's Sharingan spun wildly.
In an instant, Suigetsu Hozuki was trapped in a genjutsu.
"Too easy."
Seeing Suigetsu already caught in the illusion, Obito smirked and stepped forward, kunai in hand, ready to slit his throat.
However, at that very moment, Obito sensed intense danger!
Acting purely on instinct, he activated Kamui, phasing his body into the dimensional space of his Mangekyō Sharingan.
"Heh!"
With a sharp cry, Suigetsu swung his Zanpakutō, slamming it into the ground and carving out a deep pit.
"Didn't expect you to react so quickly!"
Suigetsu leaped back, grinning. His attack had been sudden and precise—yet Obito had still managed to evade it with Kamui.
Then, with a loud splash, the Suigetsu caught in the genjutsu dissolved into a puddle of water.
"A Water Clone? When did he—?"
Obito was genuinely surprised. He had been watching Suigetsu carefully the entire time—there was no sign of him forming hand seals.
Even if Suigetsu had secretly made hand signs, Obito was sure he would have noticed. So how had he managed to create a Water Clone?
"Confused? The moment I saw you, I started forming the seals. Everyone knows the Uchiha are masters of genjutsu and the Sharingan."
Suigetsu smirked and vanished in a Shunpo, reappearing right in front of Obito.
Raising his Zanpakutō, he slashed fiercely at Obito's neck!
Yet, as he expected, Obito evaded with Kamui.
Suigetsu knew he had to catch Obito off guard. If his opponent had even a moment's preparation, Kamui would allow him to escape any attack.
He needed a strategy.
"What's wrong? Having trouble dealing with me? Or have you already exhausted your chakra in just that brief exchange?"
Obito chuckled, reaching for Suigetsu's throat.
Suigetsu instinctively dodged and took a defensive stance.
Though Obito was exaggerating, Suigetsu had indeed burned through a significant amount of chakra.
Had he managed to kill Lansen, it wouldn't have been a problem—he could have absorbed his spiritual energy to replenish his own.
But since Lansen had escaped, Suigetsu was left drained, unable to recover either his lost spiritual energy or chakra.
That left him in a dire predicament.
At this point, his remaining chakra was probably only equivalent to that of two Jōnin combined.
Facing off against an elite Kage-level opponent like Obito was not a wise choice.
"What's wrong? Thinking of a strategy?"
Obito grinned and lunged at Suigetsu.
With Kamui, he had nothing to fear.
Seeing Obito charge straight at him, Suigetsu couldn't help but twitch his lips.
"Seriously? This attack is way too direct."
He quickly realized that Obito was likely baiting him, forcing him to waste chakra trying to land attacks—only for Kamui to negate them.
But why fight at all?
"I'll just leave."
Suigetsu wasn't stupid.
If Obito wanted to waste his chakra in a prolonged fight, then the solution was simple—don't fight.
"See ya, Obito. I'll come back to mess with you another time."
Grinning, Suigetsu waved and sprinted off into the desert…