Shinigami in the Ninja World (Re-upload)

Specifically naming someone to take a mission…

And throwing down such a large stack of silver bills at once.

What kind of game is this?

"That's not how it works," the exchange office ninja said, shaking his head with a cold expression. His words were firm, but his hands betrayed him as they reached for the pile of silver notes. "Once a mission is posted, it's up to chance who accepts it. Anyone capable of completing it can take it…"

He was indifferent.

But Sasuke's blade was even colder.

Before the words fully left the man's mouth, a flash of steel followed, and a spray of blood painted the room.

"Now can it be done?" Sasuke asked softly, his tone devoid of emotion, as if he'd just done something utterly mundane.

The ninja gasped, his breathing ragged and labored.

Pain spread through his body. Though the wound was on his hand, his legs gave out beneath him, leaving him trembling on the floor.

Instinct took over.

For those who lived by the sword, slow reflexes meant an early death.

Others in the exchange office quickly retreated. The cautious, the timid, or the weak darted away, unwilling to get involved.

But several members of the exchange rushed forward.

Shuriken, kunai, and an assortment of bizarre ninja tools flew toward Sasuke.

Others, armed with swords or specialized weapons, maneuvered to engage him in close combat.

"Are you here to make trouble?" one of them demanded as they attacked, leaving no time for an answer.

After all…

One of the exchange's ironclad rules was to never harm those within its walls.

Breaking that rule invited swift and deadly retaliation.

Sasuke's cold eyes scanned the attackers.

He had expected more skilled fighters.

But most were no stronger than mid-level Chunin. The few who might qualify as Jonin were so poorly trained it bordered on laughable.

With a slash and a sweep, Sasuke's blade carved through the air. His strikes came relentlessly, cutting down the opposition.

In moments, only a handful of cautious ranged attackers remained, trembling in fear.

'Damn it…'

'What kind of monster is this?'

What kind of terrifying figure had they crossed paths with?

For someone of this caliber to appear at an exchange office… it was baffling.

By now, only the renowned elite—top-tier fighters from the Five Great Ninja Villages—might have remained standing.

"Now, can I specify the Akatsuki to take on this mission?" Sasuke asked icily, glaring at one of the remaining attackers as he withdrew his blade from the man's chest.

The remaining ninja forced strained smiles and nodded quickly. "No problem! Of course!"

The exchange office operated on violence.

And when faced with overwhelming violence…

Naturally, its rules bent accordingly.

Sasuke tossed the stack of silver notes onto the floor and said coldly, "Then get it done. I'll be waiting in the Land of Fire."

He deliberately left his location, repeating it clearly several times to ensure there was no chance they'd forget, before turning and walking away.

…

Within the borders of the Land of Fire, Itachi Uchiha and Kisame Hoshigaki were on the hunt for Sasuke.

"The eyes I nurtured have borne fruit" was as good a justification as any. Conveniently, Sasuke was currently associating with someone who posed another significant threat to the Akatsuki.

This secondary target was just as important, and with the Akatsuki's workload relatively light, Kisame had no reason to refuse the mission.

However…

When they arrived near the Land of Grass, unexpected intel reached them.

"A message from the leader," Kisame read aloud, clicking his tongue as his voice turned peculiar. "A particularly skilled individual has placed a direct contract at a bounty station in the Land of Fire. A one-million-ryō mission to assassinate Sasuke Uchiha, specifically tasking the Akatsuki to do it."

Itachi turned his head slightly, his gaze settling on Kisame.

"The details say it's a black-haired ninja, not very old but incredibly skilled. He reportedly wiped out an entire group of enemies in one go," Kisame continued. "And it seems this guy's real goal isn't for us to kill Sasuke. He was anxious to give us an address."

"Looks like he wants us to pay him a visit," Kisame concluded with a dry chuckle.

Itachi was silent for a moment before speaking softly: "I see."

"Orochimaru truly is a dangerous individual—he's leaked information about the organization to Sasuke."

Kisame snorted. "Trouble he can't handle himself, so he tries to let others take care of it? Classic Orochimaru."

He paused and turned to Itachi. "So, do we still go after your brother?"

Itachi slid his hands into his pockets, his expression calm and indifferent as always.

"Of course. We'll find him first. That slippery snake, Orochimaru, can wait."

…

A remote town in the Land of Fire.

Sasuke sat on a rooftop, gazing into the distance, waiting.

He didn't know which member of the Akatsuki would come, and he didn't care.

As long as they could lead him to Itachi Uchiha.

Better yet, if Itachi himself appeared.

Suddenly, chakra rippled in the distance, steadily approaching.

Sasuke turned his head.

Two men in black cloaks adorned with red clouds walked into the town from the outskirts.

One had a shark-like face, but Sasuke glanced over him with disinterest.

The other had black hair and blood-red eyes marked with three spinning tomoe.

Sasuke couldn't look away.

'It's him.'

The man he could never forget—the one he hated most.

With a burst of speed, Sasuke leapt from the rooftop, cutting through the air with a sharp sound and landing directly in front of the pair.

"What speed!" Kisame Hoshigaki exclaimed, gripping the hilt of his massive sword. But after getting a good look at Sasuke, he smirked and relaxed his grip.

"Is this your little brother, Itachi? He's full of energy. Unlike you."

Sasuke ignored Kisame, his gaze locked on Itachi. His eyes burned with fury.

"Itachi! I've finally found you!"

"Foolish as ever," Itachi replied coldly, his hand slipping from his cloak to reveal his arm.

"Partnering with someone like Orochimaru… Did you actually believe him?"

"Do you know what gave you the confidence to provoke us?"

"Orochimaru must've told you. He fought me once, and it took only a single move to defeat him."

His gaze was piercing, weighted with disdain.

"I have the power to kill you now!" Sasuke declared, ignoring Itachi's words.

Fueled by hatred, he stepped forward, his sword flashing as he slashed at his brother.

Kisame jumped back to avoid the conflict, a wide grin on his face.

Itachi, however, stood motionless, letting Sasuke's blade pierce through his chest.

In the next moment, a flock of crows exploded outward, filling the air with dark, fluttering wings.

'Genjutsu.'

Sasuke recognized it instantly.

'When?'

During that brief moment of eye contact?

"Damn it, Itachi," Kisame complained, shaking his head. "Stop using your genjutsu on me too."

But as he spoke, a hand suddenly emerged silently from behind Sasuke, thrusting straight into his chest.

"You're dead, Sasuke," Itachi's cold voice whispered.

"Let this be a lesson."

The words remained unfinished.

Sasuke's body dissolved into nothingness, a flickering illusion.

'Genjutsu again.'

Kisame groaned in exasperation. "You genjutsu specialists are so troublesome. Leave me out of it!"

Neither brother paid him any mind.

"It seems the gap between us isn't as wide as I thought," Sasuke said calmly.

"I can use genjutsu too."

The battle continued—two Sharingan wielders locked in a relentless exchange of illusions.

Their deadly game of perception and deception left no room for error.

Standing on a tree branch, Itachi's tone softened ever so slightly, though his words remained harsh.

"You've grown quickly, Sasuke. You're nearly on my level."

"But you seem to have forgotten the true difference between us."

He raised his eyes, and the three tomoe began to spin, morphing into the shape of a scythe.

"These Mangekyō Sharingan are what set us apart," Itachi said.

"Once more, I'll show you the pain of that night."

"Sasuke."

"The gift I gave you—you seem to have squandered it."

He widened his eyes, unleashing the malevolent power of his Tsukuyomi.

A blood-red world enveloped them, dragging Sasuke into its depths.

He was bound to a crucifix, helpless.

Before him stood countless versions of Itachi, each holding a blade.

In unison, they spoke, their voices a chilling tide.

"In this world, I hold absolute control."

"Now, feel the pain…"

But Sasuke—strapped to the executioner's block—smirked.

"I'm smarter than you think, and far more determined."

"Do you really think you're the only one with those eyes?"

He glared fiercely.

The tomoe in his Sharingan spun wildly, transforming into a six-pointed star, glowing crimson.

Another Mangekyō Sharingan.

Itachi froze, momentarily stunned. Even in this realm of pure willpower, he faltered.

That instant was all Sasuke needed.

In this spiritual battlefield, where the flesh held no sway, Sasuke's superior mastery of his soul gave him the edge.

Itachi's moment of hesitation allowed Sasuke to seize control of the Tsukuyomi's domain.

In an instant, the roles reversed.

It was now Itachi who was bound to the executioner's block.

The countless clones vanished, replaced by a single, vengeful Sasuke holding his blade.

"Itachi!" Sasuke roared.

"This strike is for Father!"

His blade plunged deep into Itachi's body.

Itachi groaned in pain.

"This one's for Mother!"

Without hesitation, Sasuke drove the sword in again.

Blood spilled from Itachi's left eye, leaving a crimson trail down his face.

"And this one…"

Sasuke raised the blade for another strike, shouting the name of another close to his heart.

The Tsukuyomi world shattered.

Even though Sasuke had turned the tables, the space ultimately belonged to Itachi. A single thought was all it took for him to end the technique.

...

Reality.

Itachi Uchiha bent forward, blood-tears streaming down his face, the effects of the mental strain from the illusory world manifesting physically. Crimson droplets fell from his cheeks to the ground.

Sasuke Uchiha clenched his teeth. "Figured it out, have you?"

"Can't handle it already?"

"That was only two strikes. When you slaughtered the Uchiha clan, it was far more than just two."

"You haven't even begun to taste the agony they felt."

Kisame Hoshigaki's eyes widened in shock.

Sasuke's eyes—those were no ordinary Sharingan.

He had known Itachi long enough to recognize those eyes: the Mangekyo Sharingan.

But...

How could a twelve-year-old possess such power?

How?

Itachi had unlocked his Mangekyo Sharingan only after immense personal sacrifice—by slaughtering his own clan.

What had Sasuke done to achieve this? There were no other Uchiha left for him to kill.

And even more shocking, Itachi was struggling.

By all accounts, Itachi, being older and having wielded the Mangekyo far longer, should have had superior experience, mastery, and ocular power.

Not to mention, this was a battle within Tsukuyomi, a technique that Itachi controlled.

Yet Sasuke was prevailing.

A terrifying thought crossed Kisame's mind.

Could Sasuke...

Have surpassed Itachi?

Kisame tightened his grip on his massive sword. "Itachi, let me help you."

"No," Itachi refused decisively. "This is a matter for the Uchiha."

Kisame froze.

"Your mental strength is extraordinary," Itachi acknowledged, blood dripping from his eyes. "To find a way to break even Tsukuyomi... impressive."

"However, the Sharingan's powers do not end with illusions."

He raised his hand to his right eye, fingers parted slightly as fresh blood trickled through.

With a sharp 'whoosh', black flames ignited on Sasuke's body.

Sasuke looked down at himself, smirking. "So, this is your other technique?"

"Amaterasu."

He named the technique with precision and stood unmoving, unshaken.

Itachi froze.

How did Sasuke know about Amaterasu?

They had never fought before.

This ability had never been revealed, not even to Orochimaru.

Unless…

Could Sasuke possess this power as well?

"You're destined to be killed by me," Sasuke said with a manic grin. His right eye spun with the Mangekyo Sharingan as a bloody tear slid down his cheek.

"Do you know what my ocular power is?"

"Kagutsuchi."

"Blaze Release."

"The ability to manipulate the flames of Amaterasu."

For the first time, Sasuke truly understood the purpose of his journey to the Soul Society.

It was preparation—'to counter Itachi Uchiha.'

A powerful soul allowed him to resist Tsukuyomi.

Kagutsuchi allowed him to manipulate Amaterasu.

Every aspect of Itachi's Mangekyo was rendered ineffective against him.

Itachi was born to be defeated by him.

With Sasuke's declaration, the black flames shifted. The unrelenting fire molded itself into the shape of an arrow, sharp and precise, before shooting straight at Itachi.

Itachi's face twisted into a grimace as he desperately dodged.

The very technique he had wielded so masterfully was now turned against him, becoming the most effective weapon in the hands of his adversary.

Kisame couldn't watch anymore. Once again, he gripped his sword tightly. "Itachi, I'm stepping in."

"You seem to be having a hard time dealing with your little brother."

"Man, these young ones are terrifying."

Itachi rolled out of the way of another attack, shaking his head even as he dodged. His stance was unwavering. "No. The Mangekyo's true power is far beyond this."

Kisame blinked, momentarily stunned.

He had worked with Itachi long enough to understand his combat habits, even his ocular abilities.

Yet despite that…

Even he couldn't fathom the full extent of Itachi's power.

The Sharingan truly was a fearsome Kekkei Genkai.

Itachi bent low, his voice calm but resolute. "The Mangekyo Sharingan is your greatest asset, Sasuke. But this power… it isn't so simple."

"How long have you had those eyes? This technique—"

As he spoke, chakra swirled around him. Blood-red energy condensed, thin at first, but rapidly thickened, forming a skeletal ribcage around his body.

The black flames of Amaterasu scorched the surface, but they couldn't penetrate the bones to harm the man inside.

The ribcage was only the beginning.

A skull formed, followed by limbs. A colossal giant rose, standing dozens of meters tall, blocking out the sun.

It was magnificent and terrifying.

Kisame stared in awe.

"So… this is also within the Sharingan's grasp?"

Sasuke's expression remained unchanged. He simply raised his hand, the tomoe in his Mangekyo spinning as he activated the same ability.

"Susanoo."

His own skeletal giant emerged, forming faster than Itachi's. Though similar in structure, its glowing purple aura set it apart.

Inside his Susanoo, Itachi's expression softened.

Sasuke had already reached this level?

Susanoo was not an easy technique to master. Even for Itachi, it had taken time after unlocking the Mangekyo Sharingan to learn it. In the beginning, he could summon only fragments—ribs or an arm at most.

But Sasuke had already summoned a full skeletal frame.

There was no need to hold back anymore.

Itachi felt a heavy burden lift from his shoulders.

The death of the Third Hokage had left him deeply uneasy. Without Hiruzen, the fragile balance of his agreement with the village was at risk.

To reassert his presence, he had returned under the pretense of monitoring the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki and even got into a fight with Kakashi to send a message: 'He was still alive, and the deal still stood.'

Then Sasuke defected to Orochimaru—a man who had expressed clear interest in the Sharingan and even attempted to steal Itachi's eyes.

Itachi had rushed to find Orochimaru, fearing that his little brother would fall victim to the Snake Sannin's ambitions.

But now…

There was no need to worry.

If Sasuke could surpass him, no one could threaten him—not Orochimaru, not anyone.

As long as Sasuke overcame the final flaw of the Sharingan, he might not even need to fear 'Madara Uchiha'.

The two titanic figures clashed, trading devastating blows.

Sasuke's strikes were ferocious, relentless.

Itachi dodged and parried, carefully holding back his strength. He didn't need to—Sasuke's direct combat prowess already surpassed his own.

Speed, strength, tactical ingenuity—Sasuke held the upper hand.

It was as though the roles of elder and younger brother had been reversed.

However, Itachi wasn't done yet.

The skeletal figure around him began to change. Flesh grew over the bones, filling out its frame. The once-emaciated giant now stood tall, clad in muscle and sinew, its size increasing further.

This was Susanoo's second stage.

"Don't get complacent, Sasuke," Itachi said softly. His voice, muffled by the Susanoo, barely reached Sasuke's ears.

Sasuke's expression remained unchanged as his own Susanoo advanced to the second stage as well.

Though he had rarely used his Mangekyo Sharingan in the Soul Society to avoid damaging his eyes, his theoretical understanding of its powers was unmatched.

Time worked differently in the Soul Society, making his growth unbound by the limitations of the ninja world.

For now, Itachi remained one step ahead.

However, his frail body limited him, forcing him to stop at the third stage.

Compared to the first and second stages, the third was a significant turning point.

Not only did Susanoo don armor, but at this stage, it also unlocked a unique weapon.

Different Susanoo wielded different types of weapons, each serving a distinct purpose.

Given Sasuke's talent, progressing to this level in such a short time after awakening the Mangekyo Sharingan filled Itachi with pride. He now wished to burn out his remaining life to pave the way for his brother.

But to his surprise...

Even at the third stage...

As soon as Itachi entered it, Sasuke caught up.

Sasuke's attacks were less relentless than before, no longer aimed at Itachi's vital points. Yet, the pressure on Itachi grew even greater. On one hand, it was due to the strain of maintaining the third stage of Susanoo, which heavily taxed his body. On the other, it was Sasuke's shift in tactics—applying a style that seemed as if he were trying to force something more out of Itachi.

Ten minutes later, the purple Susanoo faltered.

Sasuke's voice, loud and crystal clear, cut through the air, reaching Itachi's ears:

"Is this all you've got?"

"Is this where it ends?"

"How pathetic, Itachi."

"You killed the entire clan, killed our parents, all to gain power—and this is the pitiful result?"

"Then again, a wretched person like you could never truly attain real strength."

Itachi remained silent.

He understood Sasuke's hatred toward him. It was what he had intended.

But there was something else in Sasuke's words that he couldn't fully decipher.

Was he implying mastery of the fourth stage of Susanoo?

Even Itachi, after acquiring the Mangekyo Sharingan six years ago, had only managed to reach the third stage. Even in good health, he doubted he could have achieved the fourth stage by now.

How long had Sasuke had the Mangekyo?

Even with the emotional shock Itachi had deliberately given him, it hadn't been that long. At best, assuming Sasuke had awakened it six years ago, he would've had almost no opportunity to hone it in Konoha's peace and safety.

After all, six years ago, Konoha had explicitly informed him that Sasuke had merely unlocked the Three-Tomoe Sharingan.

But as Itachi silently observed, the purple figure surrounding Sasuke grew larger, rising fully to its feet. One hand wielded a bow, the other a sword.

Itachi's eyes widened with awe.

'So it's true.'

But before he could process the full extent of what he was seeing, the transformation continued.

The purple giant grew even taller, sprouting wings from its back. The bow warped, reshaping itself into another sword, forming a pair of twin blades.

Now, Itachi was truly at a loss.

This wasn't the fourth stage of Susanoo.

This was what Madara Uchiha had once described as "Complete Form Susanoo."

Throughout history, even among those who had awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan, almost none had achieved this level of power.

And Sasuke had done so in just a few years?

"Do you see it, Itachi?" Sasuke's voice boomed as he raised the right arm of his Susanoo, pointing directly at his older brother.

"I am far stronger than you now."

"And I've reached this point without killing a single relative, without murdering anyone dear to me."

"You, a heartless, ungrateful coward, not only threw away your humanity but also failed to gain anything in return."

"You were wrong!"

Sasuke's words were venomous, spoken through gritted teeth.

He wasn't just intent on killing Itachi physically—he wanted to destroy his spirit.

If Itachi believed that power required ruthlessness, that strength came from sacrificing one's loved ones, then Sasuke would prove otherwise.

He would show Itachi that the stronger path was the exact opposite.

Itachi said nothing, staring at Sasuke with unease.

Things were spiraling away from what he had anticipated. The outcome he had painstakingly planned for was now unraveling into something unpredictable and absurd.

And yet, despite his silence, he couldn't ignore Sasuke's words.

Itachi's reasons for annihilating the Uchiha clan weren't about power—they were for Konoha.

In his eyes, the village had to come before the clan.

Now, his greatest fear was that Sasuke, wielding such immense power, might choose to rebel against the village.

If Sasuke decided not to return to Konoha, there would be no one capable of forcing him to.

Such a decision would completely contradict everything Itachi had worked toward.

Sasuke activated Shunpo, showing no mercy.

Knowing Itachi's strength had reached its limit, and having shattered his spirit through his words, Sasuke no longer hesitated.

From the spiritual to the physical, Itachi was thoroughly defeated.

Sasuke thrust his blade forward, piercing Itachi's chest.

The ethereal armor of Susanoo cracked and shattered into fragments.

Itachi coughed violently, blood spewing as his Susanoo disintegrated. He plummeted from the sky, barely saving himself with a desperate Earth Release technique.

Sasuke dissipated his Susanoo and landed beside Itachi.

He raised his sword high, preparing to deliver the final blow.

Like an executioner of the 2nd Division, he swung his blade with the precision of someone carrying out justice on a traitor.

"Wait—wait, Sasuke," Itachi choked out, coughing between his words.

"That night, I wasn't the only one who acted."

Sasuke's blade stopped just short of Itachi's neck, the wind from the strike leaving a shallow cut.

"Who else?" Sasuke asked, his tone calm and measured. "Was it someone from Konoha?"

Itachi shook his head weakly. "No. The other person... was also an Uchiha."