Hagoromo Gengetsu had completely adapted to being addressed as "senior." Seeing Kisame's respectful demeanor, he did not make things difficult for him. Waving his hand casually, he sat on a large rock, listening to the sounds of battle from Naka Shrine, and asked Kisame, "Have you been following Itachi Uchiha all this way just to see him off?"
Seeing that he had some time, Kisame, though aware that going along with the intentions of this ancient monster was the best choice, still glanced towards the shrine and grinned, "The battle isn't over yet. Whether this is his final journey is still uncertain."
Hagoromo Gengetsu gave Kisame a look and smiled faintly, "You're quite interesting."
He didn't elaborate on what made Kisame interesting. Looking towards the shrine, he said calmly, "From the moment Itachi Uchiha stepped onto the steps here, whether by his own will or by my push, his fate was already sealed."
Kisame's heart sank upon hearing this. He understood the implication: even if Itachi won, Hagoromo Gengetsu would still see to his end. Such an attitude, treating the notorious Itachi Uchiha as nothing more than prey, was overwhelmingly dominant.
"What strength!" Kisame had felt an indescribable pressure from Hagoromo Gengetsu in their brief encounters, despite his lack of overt actions.
'How would I fare in a fight against him?'
In the eyes of ninjas, Jinchuriki were like natural disasters, formidable and unbeatable. Yet, to Kisame, they were merely time-consuming targets.
Kisame was always confident in his strength. However, facing Hagoromo Gengetsu, a figure as legendary as Uchiha Madara, he found himself lacking the desire to draw his sword. Moreover, as he reached to touch Samehada, the bandaged blade trembled slightly, indicating its fear.
This was the first time he had seen Samehada, a sword that remained unflinching even against Tailed Beasts, so frightened.
'Is Hagoromo Gengetsu really that terrifying?'
Aware of Kisame's subtle movements, Hagoromo Gengetsu didn't mind. After all, Kisame was a reliable tool for capturing Tailed Beasts and a ninja who truly embodied professional dedication. For such a steadfast and meticulous individual, Hagoromo Gengetsu had a certain appreciation. Besides, he didn't want to deplete the Akatsuki's strength, as he already considered the organization his.
Meanwhile, the sounds of clashing metal from Naka Shrine were diminishing, not because the battle was ending, but because the fighting had escalated. Gengetsu sensed intense fire attribute chakra.
"They're getting serious. It seems I might not need to intervene," he remarked with a smile as he looked towards the shrine.
Inside the spacious main hall, kunai and shuriken were embedded in the tatami mats, with blackened scorch marks from Fire Release techniques visible in many places. The Uchiha clan's fighting style was on full display through Itachi and Sasuke.
Currently, Sasuke was cloaked in Lightning Release chakra, engaging in close combat with Itachi alongside Uchiha Kei, Uchiha Izumi, and two other three-tomoe Sharingan users. The other members of the group provided long-range support with ninjutsu.
Three-tomoe Sharingan was not easy to attain. Although many Uchiha had a deep hatred and motivation, due to their youth, not everyone had achieved this level. Fifteen members participated in this mission, with six having three-tomoe Sharingan, and the rest with two-tomoe.
During the encounter, two more members' Sharingan evolved to three-tomoe under the intense stimulus of seeing Itachi. The plan was clear: those with three-tomoe would engage directly while those with two-tomoe provided support.
Despite Sasuke's group outnumbering their target, Itachi's prowess forced three of the three-tomoe users to withdraw from the battle. Nevertheless, Sasuke and the others grew even more determined as they saw Itachi's Akatsuki robe tattered and blood seeping through.
"He's weakened!" Sasuke exclaimed, noticing Itachi's slower reactions compared to their past encounters in the Tsukuyomi world.
"His eyesight is very poor now," confirmed Uchiha Kei, having tested him specifically.
Though it might seem incredible to some that someone with the powerful Sharingan could have poor vision, Sasuke and his team knew about the blindness that came with overuse of the Mangekyō Sharingan.
"Let's execute Plan B!" Sasuke decisively ordered, summoning a large Fuma shuriken from a prepared sealing scroll. Cloaked in Lightning Release chakra, he threw it with great force towards Itachi. This was followed by a barrage of shuriken and ninjutsu from the other Uchiha members, leaving Itachi with no room to escape.
"Have they advanced to this level?" Itachi sighed, his familiar face now a blur. With his eyesight and body failing, he couldn't hold back. Despite considering holding back against Sasuke if alone, he couldn't afford to in this situation. Recognizing the need to support Sasuke one last time, Itachi's Mangekyō Sharingan began to spin like a windmill.