[Otsutsuki Physique (Golden Ability): Possesses an extremely powerful regenerative ability, comparable to immortality in its peak state. Capable of absorbing ninjutsu, with nearly infinite chakra reserves.]
[Wood Release (Golden Ability): A unique kekkei genkai created by the First Hokage, Senju Hashirama. Formed through the fusion of water and earth chakra natures. A powerful ninjutsu where the user utilizes their chakra as a life force to manipulate wood.]
[Genjutsu +100 (Blue Ability): Sharply enhances the user's ability to cast and resist illusions.]
[Taijutsu Mastery (Blue Ability): Greatly amplifies the user's effectiveness in hand-to-hand combat.]
After selecting the golden ability Wood Release along with two blue abilities, Uchiha Haru once again entered the simulation.
A familiar room.
A dark, silent sky.
The breeze howled softly across the rooftops.
Everything was exactly the same as before.
But one thing had changed—his power.
And not just a little.
If Uchiha Haru had previously hovered just above the level of an elite jonin, still shy of being truly considered Kage-level, then with the addition of Wood Release, he had finally stepped over that threshold.
Opening his palm, Haru channeled his chakra.
A small green sprout emerged from the center of his hand, unfurling with astonishing speed. In mere seconds, it blossomed into a young tree, brimming with vitality and strength.
Wood Release... now this is interesting.
He half-closed his eyes, watching the tree with growing anticipation. That thrill of power coursing through his veins was intoxicating.
In previous battles with Uchiha Itachi, the gap between them had been painfully wide. The Mangekyō Sharingan's dominance was undeniable.
But now?
Uchiha Itachi had the Mangekyō Sharingan...
And Uchiha Haru had Wood Release.
The outcome was no longer so certain.
He turned off the lights, leaped silently onto the roof, and waited.
The air stilled.
Even his heartbeat sounded thunderous in the silence.
Then—creak.
The door opened.
Moonlight spilled across the floor, casting a long, ominous shadow.
Uchiha Itachi.
He stepped inside slowly, deliberately.
The red gleam of his Sharingan flickered in the dim light, both beautiful and terrifying.
Whoosh!
The moment Itachi set foot inside, Haru struck.
From the shadows, three kunai flew toward Itachi, slicing through the air with murderous intent.
But just before impact—Itachi's form dissolved into a murder of crows, fluttering into the darkness.
A clone.
Thud. Thud. Thud.
All three kunai embedded into the floorboards.
Haru wasn't surprised.
Uchiha Itachi was a genius—no one could take him down so easily.
He dropped to the ground, landing silently just as the glint of Itachi's Mangekyō Sharingan shimmered through his mask.
To counter Tsukuyomi, you needed greater ocular power than the caster.
Haru didn't have that—not yet.
There was no way his Three Tomoe Sharingan could match the Mangekyō.
But he had studied the technique. He knew the counters.
First—distance.
Though Tsukuyomi was powerful, its casting range was limited. Five meters. Any further, and it couldn't be activated.
Second—eye contact.
Direct or indirect visual connection with the Mangekyō Sharingan was required to initiate the illusion.
Now, Haru was staring directly into Itachi's eyes, but from five meters away.
So he didn't flinch.
He stood his ground.
"Danzo was right," Itachi said flatly. "You're not ordinary."
Haru sneered. "Since when did the Uchiha start licking Danzo's boots?"
A traitor. A butcher of his own clan. No matter what noble reasons Itachi claimed to hide behind, he could never wash away that blood.
For the first time, a flicker of emotion passed through Itachi's eyes. The Mangekyō Sharingan glowed a little brighter—before dimming again.
"It wasn't for Danzo. It was for the village... to prevent war. But it doesn't matter now. You're going to die tonight."
Haru's lips curled into a cold grin. "Confident, are we?"
And he had reason to be confident now.
Wood Release, combined with the regenerative, chakra-absorbent Otsutsuki Physique—his strength was nothing like before.
Itachi didn't reply.
But his eyes told the story.
The Mangekyō gleamed crimson. Cold. Certain.
As one of the greatest talents to emerge from the Uchiha clan—and all of Konoha—Itachi carried his own unshakable pride. His belief in his abilities. In the power of the Mangekyō.
After all, Haru's Sharingan was still only a Three Tomoe.
The gap between that and the Mangekyō was enormous.
A chasm.
In the entire history of the Uchiha clan, countless shinobi had awakened the Three Tomoe Sharingan.
But only a handful had ever unlocked the Mangekyō.
Each of them legends in their own right.
Itachi's confidence wasn't arrogance. It was fact.
In the darkness, their eyes glowed—a red standoff of deadly intent.
Then—
Swish!
Haru vanished.
The power of the Otsutsuki Physique surged through him, and he disappeared from his spot in a flash of speed.
Too fast.
Even with the Mangekyō Sharingan, Itachi couldn't track his movement clearly.
He narrowed his eyes slightly.
He had already done his research.
After Haru killed Kuroki Raiga, one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, Itachi had taken it seriously.
Very seriously.
This wasn't some reckless mission.
This was the Night of Extermination.
Failure was not an option.
Every move had to be precise. Every enemy thoroughly understood.
Uchiha Haru.
Three Tomoe Sharingan.
Strength: Above elite jonin, below Kage level.
High proficiency in taijutsu, shurikenjutsu, and elemental ninjutsu.
Strong resilience against ninjutsu damage.
That was the information gathered.
But what he was seeing now...
This speed was far beyond what he'd anticipated.
Even with preparation, even with confidence—Itachi felt a chill of surprise run down his spine.
No wonder both Danzo... and that person... insisted I handle this personally.
This was no longer the same Uchiha Haru from before.
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This Week Bonus Chapter - 150 Power stones