Hokage: I Confronted the Five Kage Before the System Arrived

Chapter 145: I Heard You Were Looking for Me?

Drip, drip.

Blood flowed from his scapula, dripping continuously down his left arm.

Unlike the initial White Zetsu body, Hagoromo Gengetsu had added many new components during the refinement process, making this clone almost indistinguishable from a real human body.

It could bleed, and it could feel fatigue.

Therefore...

Hagoromo Gengetsu stomped his foot, wiping away the blood on the ground, and looked up at Uchiha Itachi not far away.

This was different from the enemies he had faced before on Mount Katsuragi.

Even though Might Guy had opened the Seven Gates of the Eight Gates, his single-minded attack methods were entirely captured by the Mangekyō Sharingan, making it relatively easy for Hagoromo Gengetsu to handle.

Now, facing Uchiha Itachi, who not only possessed the Mangekyō Sharingan but had an extra eye compared to himself.

Coupled with his familiarity with the Mangekyō Sharingan, possessing dual Mangekyō techniques, and even the Susanoo.

To some extent, Itachi was a significant counter to this clone that relied heavily on the Sharingan.

After all, White Zetsu was famous because it could exert most of a deceased person's strength when combined with the Reanimation technique.

As for White Zetsu itself, just like the performance of the one hundred thousand White Zetsu army, its own strength was not particularly outstanding.

Even though Hagoromo Gengetsu had modified this White Zetsu clone and installed a Mangekyō Sharingan, the actual strength it could display was still limited.

"In that case, let the original body come."

After the recent clash of illusions had yielded good results in his Yin Release, Hagoromo Gengetsu, not wanting this clone to be scrapped, moved his gaze.

The next second.

Just as Uchiha Itachi was about to strike while Gengetsu was injured.

A deafening sonic boom erupted in the sky.

Itachi stopped abruptly, looking up.

Under the blazing sun, a figure enveloped in golden light, dazzlingly bright, leaped from the mountain beside them.

In the intense friction with the air.

In just an instant.

With a thunderous boom.

The ground shook violently, creating a massive crater in front of Itachi.

Smoke surged like a dragon.

And within it, a shadow loomed faintly.

Step. Step. Step.

Steadfast footsteps echoed through the smoke.

At this moment, Uchiha Itachi's expression turned unprecedentedly serious.

Leaping from such a height, even a ninja couldn't withstand it.

Yet the person within the smoke didn't pause for a moment and kept walking.

He had already guessed who the newcomer was.

In the current ninja world, only two individuals could exert such overwhelming pressure just by appearing: the leader of the Akatsuki, possessing the legendary Rinnegan, Pain.

And the man who had shaken the entire ninja world over the past year, living his second life, renowned alongside Senju Hashirama and Uchiha Madara during the Warring States period—Hagoromo Gengetsu!

A gust of wind blew, quickly dispersing the smoke, revealing the man striding forward.

With long black hair draped over his shoulders and a simple white robe on his body.

The only decoration was the three-threaded crescent moon crest of the Hagoromo clan, once famous in the ninja world, imprinted on his shoulder.

The real Hagoromo Gengetsu, who had already followed along, now raised his head, the Steel Release covering his body gradually dissipating. His young and handsome face, with distinctly black eyes, met Itachi's Mangekyō Sharingan without concern. A slight smile curved his lips as he said calmly:

"I heard you were looking for me?"

Uchiha Itachi's fingers, painted with purple nail polish, twitched slightly, his eyes narrowing as he spoke in a calm tone, "Uchiha Sasuke. I only want him."

Hearing this, a cold light flashed in Gengetsu's eyes: "Everyone knows Sasuke has already joined me. You didn't want him before, but now you do. So, you have a problem with me?"

As his words fell, everything around seemed to quiet down.

The wind no longer howled, the dust no longer flew, and the earth no longer trembled.

It was like the calm before a volcanic eruption.

It was also like being stared at by a giant dragon, whose eyes were bigger than himself, unable to hear any sound under such pressure.

Itachi's body tensed, chakra flowing involuntarily, and his Mangekyō Sharingan started spinning.

He stared intently at Gengetsu, thinking to himself:

"So this is the aura of a man who competed with the First Hokage and Uchiha Madara during the Warring States period? Even Pain with the Rinnegan seems somewhat inferior."

"Also, that spiral mask man is definitely not Uchiha Madara!"

Itachi had always been skeptical of the masked man's claim to be Uchiha Madara, who had appeared suddenly on the night of the Uchiha clan's massacre and teamed up with him.

Now, seeing the terrifying aura displayed by Hagoromo Gengetsu, who lived in the same era and was on par with Madara.

Itachi was fully convinced that the man who mostly lurked in the shadows, giving a deep and unfathomable feeling, but not the era-dominating presence like Gengetsu, could not be the Madara who was on par with Gengetsu.

The difference was too great!

As for the masked man's purpose in pretending to be Uchiha Madara and hiding behind the Akatsuki.

Itachi hadn't figured it out yet, and there was no time to think about it.

Now, all his focus was on Hagoromo Gengetsu.

The legendary strength of the Warring States trio was much stronger than he had imagined.

Moreover, Gengetsu had arrived very quickly.

Was it because the base was nearby?

Itachi did not forget his true purpose here was Sasuke.

But now, it seemed leaving wouldn't be easy.

In that case, he would experience the might of the man truly on par with Uchiha Madara.

Itachi's Mangekyō Sharingan began spinning rapidly.

"Another man who blindly believes in the power of the Sharingan."

Gengetsu, completely unhurried, calmly looked at Itachi and commented indifferently.

He didn't know why Itachi had the courage to stand before him.

Was it because of the Mangekyō Sharingan?

But Uchiha Izuna, who also possessed the Mangekyō Sharingan, had already fallen to Senju Tobirama's blade.

Uchiha Madara had also fallen to Senju Hashirama.

Although Itachi was an extraordinarily unique Uchiha.

Arrogance and self-righteousness were deeply ingrained in his bones.

Whether it was provoking Sasuke with hatred time and again without revealing the truth or coming here alone now, it all confirmed this.

"Perfect, there's still another Mangekyō Sharingan needed here."

Hagoromo Gengetsu waved his hand, and the clone that no longer needed to stay here instantly moved, returning to the base.

Itachi glanced in the direction the clone left, quickly withdrawing his gaze.

Although he wanted to retrieve Shisui's other Mangekyō Sharingan, now was not the time.

Only the two remained on the field.

Gengetsu looked at Itachi, calmly extending his hand and inviting:

"Make your move."

"Let me see the full strength of the man who exterminated the Uchiha clan."