Chapter 54: The Skies Have Cleared, the Rain Has Stopped, and Uchiha Itachi Thinks He’s Got It Again

"Uchiha Reiji, Lord Hokage has removed Danzo from his position."

At Reiji’s home, Uchiha Itachi said with a gloomy expression.

"Only removed him from his position?"

Reiji curled his lips.

This punishment was completely superficial.

As far as Danzo was concerned, the members of Root only followed his orders. Even the Hokage’s words were ineffective against them.

And since Root was still under Danzo’s control, Danzo wouldn’t actually suffer any substantial consequences.

"The facts have proven that everything you said yesterday was nothing more than slander against Lord Hokage!"

Uchiha Itachi said coldly.

Shisui’s death might very well have been caused in part by the fact that he had listened to Uchiha Reiji’s words and allowed his convictions to waver.

Moreover.

In Itachi’s eyes, Uchiha Reiji was no different from those other clan members who kept shouting about launching a coup!

It was all these fanatical clan members who had forced Shisui to his death!

"I don’t want to hear you talk. You’ve delivered your message, right? Then hurry up and leave my house."

Reiji’s face showed undisguised disdain.

In the mere few minutes Uchiha Itachi had been inside his house, Reiji already felt as though the place had become unclean.

Uchiha Itachi frowned and immediately stopped hiding his hostility.

"Uchiha Reiji, fight me!"

He had been looking forward to this moment for a long time!

During the Ninja Academy’s practical assessment, Reiji had awakened his Sharingan first.

After Itachi awakened his own, Reiji had already reached the Two-Tomoe stage.

During the Chunin Exams, Itachi had also reached Two-Tomoe, only for Reiji to advance to Three-Tomoe.

But now!

He had finally awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan!

Although awakening his Sharingan because of Shisui’s death had left him with an intense sense of guilt, his desire to defeat Uchiha Reiji could no longer be suppressed!

"Oh?"

Reiji’s interest rose slightly. He looked at Uchiha Itachi leisurely.

"What, you seem pretty confident that you can beat me?"

"What gave you that confidence? Is it because Shisui’s death allowed you to awaken the Mangekyo Sharingan?"

Uchiha Itachi froze, an ominous feeling rising in his heart as he stared intently into Reiji’s eyes.

"Don’t misunderstand. My Sharingan is still Three-Tomoe. I haven’t awakened the Mangekyo."

Reiji understood what Itachi was thinking and explained.

Uchiha Itachi felt relieved, but anger immediately followed.

Uchiha Reiji’s ocular power was clearly stronger than his, and his talent was also extraordinary. Yet Shisui’s death hadn’t been enough to make him awaken the Mangekyo!

Did this man even care about Shisui’s death?!

Thinking of Shisui’s death and the clan members who still had no intention of abandoning their plans for a coup, Uchiha Itachi could no longer suppress his anger and threw a punch at Reiji!

However!

His body suddenly stopped.

Uchiha Itachi stared in astonishment at his arm, which Reiji had caught.

How was this possible?!

After awakening the Mangekyo Sharingan, his chakra reserves, perception, strength, and speed had all received an across-the-board increase.

If he had thrown that punch before awakening the Mangekyo, there was absolutely no way Reiji could have avoided it!

Yet Uchiha Reiji had caught it effortlessly?!

"Looks like awakening the Mangekyo really did make you think you’ve got it again."

Reiji grabbed Uchiha Itachi’s arm with one hand and drove his other fist directly into Itachi’s face!

Thud!

With a dull impact, Uchiha Itachi was sent flying backward.

The Mangekyo Sharingan was certainly powerful, but it wasn’t invincible.

After Sasuke awakened his Mangekyo, he excitedly went after the Eight-Tails, only to get beaten by Killer B with swordsmanship, ninjutsu, taijutsu, and Tailed Beast transformations.

If his three teammates hadn’t repeatedly saved him, Sasuke wouldn’t have known how many times he would have died that day.

The current Uchiha Itachi was similar.

Even though awakening the Mangekyo had given him a tremendous boost, there was still a huge gap between him and Reiji in terms of strength, speed, taijutsu, and ninjutsu.

Even after the Mangekyo made up for some of that difference, he still wasn’t Reiji’s opponent.

What’s more.

Reiji’s ocular power was already approaching the level of the Mangekyo.

Uchiha Itachi struggled to get back on his feet, his face aching badly and his mind in a daze.

Whoosh!

A figure suddenly appeared in front of him at incredible speed.

Another fist came straight toward his face!

The Mangekyo’s enhanced perception allowed him to clearly see the fist’s trajectory, but his body couldn’t keep up!

Uchiha Itachi could only watch helplessly as he was struck again, sent flying straight through the doorway.

"I probably never told you this before, but I really hate people like you, too."

Reiji’s emotionless voice came from inside.

Then the door slammed shut.

Outside on the road, several Uchiha clan members watched what had happened and whispered among themselves.

Why had the two young geniuses of their clan started fighting?

From Uchiha Itachi’s perspective, those whispers were undoubtedly mockery directed at him.

His face immediately flushed with humiliation. He quickly got back to his feet and left.

A bitter feeling filled his heart.

Even after awakening the Mangekyo Sharingan, he still wasn’t Uchiha Reiji’s opponent?

And Reiji was clearly still using the Three-Tomoe Sharingan.

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