Life as Uchiha Itachi

Kakashi glanced at Itachi's youthful face and was reminded of another young figure—Obito Uchiha. However, Itachi's Mangekyō Sharingan somewhat broke the immersion. 

Itachi, ever observant, noticed Kakashi's gaze lingering on his Mangekyō Sharingan but had no intention of using Tsukuyomi. After all, using such a taxing ocular jutsu would be excessive—it was just a display of dominance earlier. 

Jūzō couldn't help but marvel at Itachi's prowess. Before Jūzō could even make a move, Itachi had already taken down five enemies and intimidated the rest into submission. 

Of course, Itachi had no idea what Jūzō was thinking. At the moment, his thoughts were elsewhere. Would it seem too jarring—too much of a departure from his usual style—if he suddenly used a Fire Release jutsu now? Would it lower his cool factor? 

He was acutely aware that his current arsenal of techniques was somewhat limited. Thoughts of returning to Konoha to learn more jutsu briefly crossed his mind. Alternatively, he considered creating something new, like the Rasengan and its advanced form, the Rasenshuriken, leveraging his own Wind Release nature. 

After all, the Rasengan, an A-rank technique, and the S-rank Rasenshuriken were the only techniques in the original work to come with a guide. While the Rasenshuriken required the use of Sage Mode for safe execution (as it couldn't be thrown without it and caused significant strain on the user's wrist), it was undeniably powerful. 

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While Itachi was momentarily lost in thought, Jūzō clapped his hands and swiftly weaved signs for a supportive technique—**Hiding in Mist Jutsu**. Despite being a C-rank technique, it proved remarkably effective. 

This jutsu, combined with his exceptional taijutsu and physical strength, was what allowed Jūzō to shine on the battlefield. However, with so many enemies present, there were naturally a few adept at Wind Release. 

"You summon mist? I'll blow it away with wind!" 

This wasn't just an empty boast—someone had already begun using Wind Release to dispel the mist. 

Among the members of the Akatsuki, Jūzō could arguably be considered the weakest after Kakuzu's partner. Yet, while he might lack in skill, he was undoubtedly the boldest and most reckless. 

Fueled by alcohol-induced bravado, Jūzō became even more ferocious. Charging headlong into a group of over thirty visible shinobi, some of whom were on par with him, he set his sights on the Wind Release user dispersing his mist. 

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"Damn it! Do you even know how much chakra **Hiding in Mist Jutsu** consumes when there's no water source nearby?" 

Using a substitution jutsu to dodge, Jūzō appeared before an enemy shinobi, revealing his presence. His tone was slightly exasperated. 

Itachi, naturally, wouldn't let Jūzō fight alone. Hearing Jūzō's voice, he activated **Body Flicker Technique** and pursued him without hesitation. 

"Damn it! They're actually attacking all of us head-on?!" 

Someone among the group finally snapped out of their daze, yelling as they realized the situation. 

The surrounding shinobi were left bewildered, unable to comprehend this turn of events. Weren't they supposed to unleash some overwhelming jutsu, intimidate them into submission, and then try to negotiate? Why had things escalated straight into a fight?

Itachi's graceful demeanor had left a deep impression on everyone's hearts—a twelve-year-old boy showing such courage was truly extraordinary. 

... 

"Today's harvest isn't bad at all. It seems I'll soon possess a pair of Sharingan too," someone said. 

Among them were skilled sensory ninjas who directly moved to intercept Itachi, aiming to prevent him from assisting Jūzō. 

When greed takes over, people often throw caution to the wind, paying no heed to consequences. 

Sensing someone using the Body Flicker Technique to rush toward him, accompanied by words he found displeasing, Itachi frowned deeply. 

Without any noticeable movement, he began to spit out several small fireballs. 

These weren't powerful techniques, just simple C-rank jutsu—the Phoenix Fire Jutsu. 

Itachi never announced the names of his jutsu while performing them, as there was no need. 

... 

The approaching individual wasn't ordinary. Chakra was condensed around their body as they fiercely kicked away several fireballs, appearing confidently in front of Itachi. 

"Stop using these childish jutsu, Uchiha Itachi," they said. 

The opponent carefully observed Itachi but wisely avoided looking directly into his eyes. 

At least they were somewhat cautious. 

"Oh…" 

Itachi stepped forward slightly, lifting his wrist just a little. 

The opposing jonin instinctively focused on Itachi's movements, alert to what he might do next—whether forming hand seals or throwing shuriken. 

"You're done for…" 

In a split second, Itachi's soft voice broke through the tension, like a devil's whisper. The scene before the jonin's eyes instantly transformed. 

The surroundings were now nothing but trees, their branches and roots quickly entwining toward him. 

"Genjutsu? Impossible!" 

The jonin raised his hands, preparing to dispel the illusion. 

But between skilled fighters, a single moment of hesitation can be fatal. 

In that brief instant of distraction, Itachi had already vanished from his original position. 

When the opponent finally broke free from the genjutsu and the foggy surroundings returned, the sound of movement and the rush of air behind him made his blood run cold. 

"Please spare me! I won't dare anymore—just let me live!" 

The jonin decisively dropped to his knees, showing no intention of resistance. 

He had realized the vast gap in strength between himself and Itachi. 

The ability to cast genjutsu unnoticed and strike from the shadows filled him with dread. 

Itachi's immense potential left him swinging his blade into empty air… 

He had anticipated resistance or escape, but this cowardly display—kneeling in surrender—left his strike pointless. 

"Leave. And don't come back. This isn't a place for someone like you to meddle." 

Reflecting on the man's desperate survival instincts, Itachi decided to show mercy. After all, he wasn't a mindless killer. 

Moreover, the man's chakra had surged when he knelt down but dissipated entirely afterward, signaling complete submission. 

It was clear that this ninja had survived this long due to some skill. 

... 

Hearing Itachi's words, the once-proud man crawled a few steps forward, putting more distance between them, then quickly fled the scene. 

He seemed well-practiced at running away. 

Watching this, Itachi couldn't help but marvel at the irony. For someone so boastful, surviving this long must have taken some luck. 

Reflecting on his own actions, Itachi realized there had been some missteps in his execution. 

While the battle seemed effortless, it had actually been far from simple. 

The figure left behind to perform the jutsu was merely a shadow clone. Both the Phoenix Fire Jutsu and the low-level genjutsu were executed through the clone. 

Meanwhile, the real Itachi had used the Transformation Jutsu to disguise himself as an inconspicuous fireball. The clone's chakra transported him to the opponent's blind spot, allowing him to seize the moment of distraction and secure victory. 

If all had gone as planned, he would have taken the opponent's head. 

As for how the genjutsu took effect, that was the key detail. It was also due to his near-instant execution speed, which seemed to bypass the need for hand seals. 

Basic genjutsu could easily catch someone off guard as long as they noticed his subtle movements. This was a testament to Itachi's mastery of illusionary techniques. 

However, being a low-level genjutsu, it was simple to break. It could only create a fleeting moment of distraction—an opportunity that vanished in an instant. 

...