Naruto: Cultivating to Immortality

Chapter 462 First Encounter

Sasuke was shocked and unsettled by Itachi's strength. Despite his intense observation with his Sharingan, he couldn't catch a single hand seal during Itachi's Substitution Jutsu! This discovery struck Sasuke like a bolt from the blue. It meant that Itachi had demonstrated a power far exceeding his expectations, both in combat experience and hand seal speed. Facing such a formidable opponent, Sasuke knew the upcoming battle would be exceptionally difficult and perilous…

Sasuke Uchiha stared wide-eyed in disbelief at the direction of Itachi Uchiha's finger, which had been pierced through the body. His gaze slowly moved in the direction the finger was pointing, his heart filled with doubt and shock. When he finally turned his head slightly to look in that direction, the sight before him made his heart clench.

Not far from them, Itachi Uchiha remained unharmed, seated calmly on the cold stone chair! His posture was as upright as a pine tree, his expression serene and composed, as if everything that had just happened had nothing to do with him. This nonchalant attitude was undoubtedly a great irony to Sasuke Uchiha, who was currently filled with hatred and burning with rage.

Sasuke clenched his teeth, veins bulging on his forehead. He couldn't accept this reality. He had clearly delivered a fatal blow, so why was Itachi Uchiha standing there so calmly? Was it all an illusion? Or did Itachi possess some unimaginable ability that allowed him to easily evade his attacks unscathed? Countless questions flooded his mind, making Sasuke feel dizzy.

Sasuke Uchiha's eyes widened, staring intently ahead. His initially confident expression gradually turned serious, for he discovered that his prized Sharingan had only detected Itachi Uchiha using the Substitution Jutsu. However, to his utter surprise, things were far more complex than that!

Just when he thought he had seen through Itachi's techniques, a mysterious and powerful force silently assailed him. Sasuke suddenly felt dizzy, and his vision began to blur, as if the entire world was being distorted. He was startled and immediately realized that this was not just a simple substitution jutsu, but also accompanied by an extremely powerful genjutsu!

However, no matter how hard he tried to recall and analyze the battle scene, he couldn't determine exactly when Itachi Uchiha had used this incredibly difficult-to-defend genjutsu. Fine beads of sweat gradually appeared on Sasuke's forehead. He clenched his teeth, trying to break free from this chaotic state of mind, but the power of the genjutsu was like an invisible net, binding him tighter and tighter, making it impossible for him to escape.

However, in that instant, Sasuke Uchiha's expression underwent a very subtle change, but this change was fleeting. Almost simultaneously, something unexpected happened! From behind the stone chair where Itachi Uchiha was sitting, another Sasuke Uchiha suddenly appeared like a ghost. This newly appeared Sasuke wielded an incredibly sharp Kusanagi sword and, with lightning speed, thrust it towards Itachi, who was sitting on the stone chair. His speed was like lightning streaking across the night sky, leaving Itachi not even the slightest opening or time to dodge.

"Don't worry, I have no intention of taking your life, nor will I aim for your vitals. Right now, we need to sit down and have a calm talk. I want to know, why did you do that back then? Don't think I'm still an ignorant kid who can be fooled!" Uchiha Sasuke's face was solemn, his eyes blazing as he stared intently at the figure in front of him who had once both respected and hated him, and he spoke in a low, powerful voice.

He stood firmly behind the stone bench, like an impregnable fortress. Over the years, the questions buried deep in his heart had weighed him down like heavy shackles, almost suffocating him. Now, he finally had the chance to confront this man who held countless secrets and was determined to uncover the truth.

He firmly believed that the other party had fallen into his carefully laid trap and had no way to escape. As long as he could pry out the true motives and purposes behind the series of events from back then, all the mysteries would be solved, and he would be able to completely get rid of this long-standing shadow.

The moment Sasuke faced Itachi Uchiha, a barely perceptible glint flashed in his deep eyes. Beneath his seemingly calm exterior, he had already silently calculated and arranged his countermeasures like a precise instrument.

Recalling every subtle change in expression, every word spoken, and every movement during the exchange, Sasuke realized that none of it was accidental, but rather a meticulously planned scheme. He knew that his opponent was none other than Itachi Uchiha, the most brilliant and talented ninja in the history of the Uchiha clan.

However, precisely because of his deep understanding of Itachi Uchiha, Sasuke firmly believed that Itachi's arrogant personality, always placing himself in a superior position and looking down on everyone else, would inevitably lead him step by step into the meticulously crafted battle plan he had set up. At this moment, Sasuke was like a calm and wise hunter, patiently waiting for the best opportunity to deliver a fatal blow to his enemy.

Surprisingly, Itachi Uchiha maintained his calm and composed expression. Even though his chest had been mercilessly pierced, and blood was gushing out, he seemed completely unconcerned, as if this body didn't belong to him. This unusual calm and indifference instantly heightened Sasuke's vigilance. From the expression on Itachi's face alone, he clearly realized that all his previous efforts had failed to achieve complete control over Itachi. This seemingly weak man was far more powerful and unpredictable than he had imagined.

In that instant, Itachi Uchiha's body, which had already been pierced through, underwent an astonishing transformation! His body slowly began to transform into countless jet-black crows. These crows flapped their wings, emitting sharp cries, as if mocking Sasuke Uchiha's meticulously planned tactics.

Countless crows soared through the air, like a black whirlwind, quickly filling the entire sky. Each crow gleamed with a mysterious light, making their movements unpredictable. As time passed, these scattered crows gradually began to gather again.

Slowly, a familiar figure reappeared before everyone's eyes—it was Uchiha Itachi! His body was perfectly reformed, as if the injury had never happened. At this moment, Itachi's eyes remained indifferent, coldly staring at Uchiha Sasuke below. His gaze was like two cold, sharp swords, piercing straight into Sasuke's heart, sending a chill down Sasuke's spine.

Behind the stone chair, Uchiha Sasuke's figure flashed, instantly transforming into countless bolts of lightning flashing with dazzling light. These bolts of lightning twisted and turned like nimble snakes before gradually dissipating into the air, as if they had never existed.

In reality, Sasuke Uchiha didn't truly consider his meticulously planned and executed scheme to control Itachi Uchiha a top priority. Although the plan was flawless from conception to execution, he knew all too well that his opponent was the renowned genius ninja of the ninja world—Itachi Uchiha! With Itachi's strength and intelligence, easily dodging such an attack wouldn't be difficult for him; this was already within Sasuke's expectations.

Deep within Sasuke Uchiha's unfathomable heart, he harbored a rather complex feeling about this meticulously planned scheme. If the plan progressed smoothly as expected and ultimately succeeded, that would be ideal. However, even if the plan failed, it didn't seem to be an unacceptable situation for him. Because in his view, ultimately, possessing overwhelming power was the most crucial and reliable guarantee for achieving his revenge. No matter how winding and thorny the road ahead, as long as he held onto that invincible power, he firmly believed that one day he would utterly defeat his enemy and make the humiliation and pain he had suffered deserve retribution.

Sasuke Uchiha was fully prepared and ready to go all out for the upcoming fierce battle. He had already spent a great deal of time and energy meticulously preparing, leaving no detail overlooked that could potentially influence the outcome. He knew all too well that the person standing opposite him—Itachi Uchiha—was no ordinary opponent.

However, when Sasuke truly faced Itachi Uchiha, he deeply felt the opponent's extraordinary strength. The aura emanating from Itachi's every move was chilling. Yet, even so, Sasuke's inner confidence remained unshaken. He gripped his weapon tightly, his gaze unwavering, as if trying to pierce through the powerful enemy before him.

Sasuke believed that his long-term rigorous training and mastery of various ninjutsu techniques were sufficient to handle this difficult challenge. Moreover, a burning rage resided within him, stemming not only from the hatred for his clan but also from his intense desire to prove his strength. Therefore, no matter how powerful Itachi Uchiha was, Sasuke firmly believed he could defeat him and avenge his humiliation.