16 The Two Wills

Itachi had been speeding through the cave to reach the Dragon God's trial at the earliest. Although, it was unlikely for the flood dragons to recover that fast, still, it was better not to take any unnecessary risks. Anyways, he had already left an ordinary clone at a further distance from the flood dragons, instructing it to disperse in case of any abnormality.

Just as Itachi was about to reach the center of the cave, he got some memories from the stationed clone, resulting in him halting his footsteps as his previously indifferent face showed a somewhat hesitant expression….

Jasmine who had been quietly keeping an eye on Itachi's movements from inside the Sky Poison Pearl suddenly asked in his mind: "What is wrong? Why did you stop so suddenly?"

Not replying to Jasmine, Itachi instead started talking aloud with himself in a heavy voice: " So…You finally reveal yourself, hm? Although, is your purpose truly as I believe it to be. Or….? "

"What are y-you---"Before Jasmine could respond to Itachi's strange and confusing words, her attention was directed elsewhere as Itachi's sea of consciousness seemed to suddenly shake violently, like a violent storm ready to tear apart his inner world of soul. At the same tie, her connection to Itachi became lost. She tried so hard yet she couldn't contact him. She could still observe the outside happenings, becoming trapped inside the Sky Poison Pearl. She tried to get outside in her spiritual state however, something seemed to be blocking her, making her completely anxious and helpless about the situation. For now, she could nothing but observe the situation outside from the inside.

Unlike his soul, Itachi's face was completely tranquil, patiently waiting as a strange sort of determination could be seen in his eyes as if he was about to face a battle. He had already observed Jasmine's situation which simply seemed to further confirm his suspicions.

Right then, a black miasma like substance seemed to emanate out of the Sky Poison Pearl as it drifted a bit away from him before forming into an unclear silhouette of a person as it spoke in a drifting voice that didn't seem to completely clear with a somewhat monotone 'it' spoke hoarsely: "I wonder, how long have you known of my presence? Or was it a random guess that you made just now to make me reveal myself ?"

Itachi calmly stared at the apparition whose unclear voice could be heard clearly by him: "From the moment I was 'truly born' in 'this' world, a part of me has always known of 'your' presence. So, I could say I have known of your presence right from the very beginning…..Moreover, did you really think I wouldn't be able to sense your presence ?"

Instead of responding to Itachi's question, the apparition suddenly seemed to make a gesture with it's hands as a completely white figure dug out from the ground below his feet, the black miasma wrapped around the white human shaped being forming black markings all over it's body before the white human shaped being transformed itself into a somewhat familiar looking person…

Itachi readied himself in caution as his mind went into turmoil as soon as he saw the white thing which he immediately concluded to be a clone of White Zetsu. However, it's presence here was a mystery that he couldn't solve right now. Moreover, as he observed the black miasma as it wrapped around the Zetsu clone before it's transformation, he was reminded of it's other half: the Black Zetsu. Clearly, it wasn't the actual 'Black Zetsu' since he was already sure about who 'it' was. But the fact that it was using Zetsu's powers most certainly had him disturbed. Adding to the fact, who 'it' had transformed 'itself' into, Itachi suddenly felt extremely agitated.

Now that it had transformed into an older looking version of Itachi's brother 'Sasuke', 'it' spoke: "Well, how is it? Isn't it better to speak with a familiar face, Itachi…? Why do you seem disturbed instead?"

Itachi spoke after a moment: "How did you bring these powers to this 'place'?"

'Older Sasuke' replied: "We didn't bring them here, you brought them here instead. We only wanted to experience the world that you came from before letting ourselves be consumed. For that reason, a part of our 'soul' went to your world. Yet at the very end, once we had witnessed your world's history thanks to a chance encounter with 'Black Zetsu' as he was about to be sealed, our greatest regret turned into a longing, leading to the birth of this unrelenting desire to fix this regret. As such, we are just a remnant will, born of our greatest regret, the only one that we couldn't let go of, even at the very end. Once, this will was born, we decided to take over Zetsu along with some other 'things' from your world to that 'plane of existence' where we first met in order to fulfill our one and only purpose…For now, we will take our leave….after all, you need to be somewhere else,…..You must already know what we want.....We do hope to never have to interfere again. However, that is only possible if today's little interference can fulfill our purpose.....Itachi, we will meet again once you come out of the Dragon God's Trial…..Until then if you have fulfilled our will or rather ....your will, we shall forever disappear from this world..."

With those words, the apparition burrowed itself into the ground, disappearing from Itachi's view as well as senses.

"Your will huh? "Itachi calmly stared at the hole for a few seconds before started sprinting. Right now, he didn't have the time to analyze too much as such he immediately used the body flicker technique in conjunction with the Star God's Broken Shadow to return back to the cave entrance outside.

…...

As soon as Itachi arrived outside, he felt a sudden chill along with Chu Yuechan's cold voice: " Frozen Cloud------"

Itachi didn't wait for a second as he directly appeared in front of her using a body flicker Jutsu before interrupting her technique using Tsukuyomi as his Mangekyo Sharingan flashed intensely at her pearl eyes.

"Tsukuyomi!"

Itachi drew Chu Yuechan into the illusory dimension of the Tsukuyomi world as he observed an unveiled and disoriented Chu Yuechan in front of him. Her heavenly visage which seemed completely pure could be clearly seen right now. However, Itachi had much more to be worried about right now.

"What is going on? Where did you bring me? What even is this place?…..I need to go back. Chu Yueli is still out there."

Itachi responded to Chu Yuechan's inquiry in a somewhat lamenting manner: "No need to worry, Fairy Chu. This is just an illusion. As I told you before, I can cultivate in the path of the soul. We can chat freely here as even hours here pass in an instant in the actual world...…Is this fate? You almost succeeded in activating that forbidden technique. If I didn't have this way to interrupt it's final activation, I wouldn't have been able to stop this either."

Chu Yuechan's expression turned incomparably astonished as she looked at the world around which seemed almost real: "This is an illusion….And, how do you know I was trying to perform a forbidden technique?"

Itachi glanced at Chu Yuechan's heavenly pure visage , sensing her extremely confused as well as disoriented state, he sighed lightly before saying: "How indeed….Well, my eyes can see through many things….. except fate it seems….Anyways, we need to get out of those dragons' lair first. Then, we can talk about other things…."

Chu Yuechan's expression immediately changed to one of helplessness as her usual indomitable cold exterior seemed to be crumbling right now: "That's impossible!….Even if I had been able to successfully activate the forbidden art and kill that flame dragon, that would still leave the other two alive...You shouldn't have come here either…..Only death awaits us all when we go out there…"

Itachi simply stared at her for a moment before replying: "I was the one who brought you two to this dangerous land. Regardless of my strength, I have an obligation to at least fight with you. Moreover, so what if we were to die? Death is the final outcome of everyone's life, we can only try to live to the best of our ability while we still live. Nothing in this world is absolute. Right now, I believe that we do stand a very good chance in getting out of here alive. Although, I will need the help of both you…especially yours, Fairy Chu. The actions of a junior of mine once reiterated to me the value of having dependable comrades. Do you think you can believe in me and be that comrade today?"

Chu Yuechan frowned at Itachi's words, before she tried to calm her agitated state of mind. A moment later, her expression finally relaxed as she replied somewhat calmly: "I have no doubt regarding your intentions or in your determination to help. Yet, in the situation we are in right now how do you expect for all of us to get out of here alive? I don't understand…"

Itachi walked closer to Chu Yuechan before stopping a few steps away from her as the scenery around them suddenly changed to that of the same appearance outside.

However, at this time, four Itachi's seemed to bleeding profusely from their eyes as their stoic gaze seemed to emanate a strange devilish presence as a demonic black flame seemed to be burning the flood dragons's body, ever increasing in intensity amidst the dragons' growing horror and confusion until finally the Itachis seemed to disappear in a puff of smoke.

Chu Yuechan's pure visage turned incredibly astonished as she gazed at the seemingly terrifying event. Her lustrous lips parted slightly as her gaze at turned back to the real Itachi's eyes where she couldn't sense the same coldness that she had just seen a moment ago. Over the course of the last few weeks, Chu Yuechan had witnessed so many of his strange profound techniques yet she had still been left incomparably astonished with his ability to cast such realistic illusions as well as the strange demonic flame. At first, she had thought that it had been cast by some other, even higher realm beast. That had been the main reason why she had been even more desperate to get out of that place quickly. However, she couldn't imagine that the Itachi who had already shown so much of his miraculous abilities would still have something like this up his sleeve.

After calming her restless heart for a moment, Chu Yeuchan finally spoke: "I see. I don't even know what to say. You keep surprising me again and again. First, with your recovery, then with your medical abilities, with your speed of cultivation, with your strange abilities and now with those strange eyes and most of all, your temperament which is unlikely to be cultivated by any junior of your age. You are right, if we are to die anyways, we must give it our all first. So, I will believe in you. You have most certainly proved yourself capable enough."

Itachi lightly chuckled to her affirmation before her expression turned serious: "Thank you, Fairy Chu. I do possess what many might equate as strange abilities. However, in terms of raw power, I cannot compare to you. That's why I will create the chance by distracting the dragons and you will have to kill them one by one. We will start with the Flame Dragon since it would be the most tricky to deal with. Moreover, I am certain it would go completely berserk once it realises who I am. I want you to direct Fifth Fairy Chu to keep an eye on the other two flood dragons until the two of us can rid of the Flame Dragon."

Chu Yeuchan's expression which had finally regained it's usual indifference turned a bit doubtful at Itachi's plan. However, she still nodded her head: "Very well."

Itachi smiled lightly as the world around them started shaking slightly: "I am going to disperse this illusion now. Be careful, the dragon will be quiet enraged once it senses me."

Chu Yuechan barely had to time to register Itachi's words of caution before the world around her dispersed as she felt a dizzy sensation running throughout her body before she reopened her eyes, gazing at the Flame Dragon's menacing face still in front of her who had seemed to suddenly start laughing uncontrollably with it's wings shaking the entire core region.

"HAHAHAHA! YOU BASTARD HUMAN!!! Today, this king will take his revenge !!...…" The Flame dragon roared as he kept hurtling out different sorts of insults towards Itachi who seemed entirely unfazed as he kept standing in front of the dragon without flinching at all.

Chu Yueli who had been desperately trying to run towards her sister was incomparably shocked to see Itachi who had seemed to appear out of nowhere. Her expression turned even more shocked as the chilly effects of the Forbidden Art that her sister had almost activated seemed to suddenly halt before dispersing as the incomparably powerful cold chillness in the surroundings seemed to be gone, relieving her from the pressure as well as Chu Yueli even more determined and hopeful now could finally use the Frozen Cloud Steps to reach their location in a moment.

Chu Yuechan had just reacted to the menacing dragon's presence along with Itachi's who stood as a wall between her and the dragon barely felt another familiar presence beside her before she was grabbed by her shoulders towards her distressed sister, Chu Yueli. At first, she wanted to reprimand her sister for losing her emotional control yet Chu Yuechan couldn't blame her after what she had attempted and failed to accomplish just now, even her indifferent heart was full of ripples that seemed to increase as she sensed the distress in Chu Yueli's voice as well as demeanour.

Right now, Chu Yueli didn't look like the proud, cold fairy of Frozen Cloud Asgard as her expression seemed to contain a mixture of sadness, anger, worry, relief as her beautiful face was without any veil yet her eyes turned misty as she grabbed her elder sister's shoulder forcefully before hugging her.

"W-why-y did y-you…..it would have been better if I was the one who activated it…"

Chu Yuechan simply hugged her back for a few seconds before she withdrew herself as her demeanour turned back to the usual: " We will talk about this later. Itachi seemed to have stopped the forbidden jutsu that I tried to activate. Moreover, with the way he stopped it, somehow, apart from a bit of agitation in my profound energy state, there is no backlash that I can feel. So, you must relax as there is nothing to worry about. First, we must get of here alive, then we will talk. Now, go and keep an eye on the other two dragons. Make sure that there random and berserk attacks don't come this way. Itachi and I will deal with this one."

Chu Yueli glanced at Itachi's back who seemed to be staring deeply at the laughing dragon. Although, she wanted to talk more with her sister, yet she knew that the time was not on their side. Moreover, she was a fairy of the Frozen Cloud Asgard. She immediately tried to calm her distressed heard before she took a step back, gazing at her sister one final time : "Be safe, sister."

Chu Yuechan nodded lightly: "I will."

Chu Yueli gave a sideways glance to Itachi before she determinedly turned back around towards the hill below where the two dragons seemed to be berserking.

Chu Yuechan walked up to stand with Itachi after taking her sword that had fallen in front of her. Her snowy white robes blew gently in the wind as her cold eyes had a certain level of mistiness in them. She raised her milky white hands to her veil as she lightly took it off as it fell on the ground, revealing her purely holy radiant visage to the world that seemed to make men fall under instantly her spell.

Itachi who had quietly waiting for the two sisters to be done while keeping an eye on the dragon's movement glanced sideways at Chu Yuechan's actions on her arrival before murmuring: " Good idea. That veil might just get in the way."

Chu Yuechan turned towards Itachi with her mesmerizing face: "Yes. Now, what are we to do ?"

"Prepare the most powerful offensive attack that you possess and use that to attack it's weak spot, you will know what it is when you see it. "Itachi looked at Chu Yuechan's intoxicating visage before his demeanour suddenly changed as the dragon doesn't seem to have to the desire to make the first move while continuing to simply send insults at him most likely due to it's fear of Amaterasu. Itachi would have to make the first move.

Chu Yuechan simply nodded as her snow sword emitted a blue light as she readied herself.

Itachi also opened the first two Heretic God's gates increasing his profound energy by many times as his aura turned incomparably berserk breaking past the limit of True Profound realm to the Spirit Profound realm. But just that alone wouldn't be enough…As such, he activated one of his trump cards that he had been continously practising for the past months: the Eight inner gates. His physical training hadn't been just to cultivate the Great Way of the Buddha. He had been continously practising the Eight inner gates as well. He immediately activated the first three gates as he could feel his entire body bubbling with energy much more than what was appropriate for someone of his level as a green glow surrounded him.

Chu Yuechan's expression didn't show much of a change this time. She had already started considering him as someone strange. His sudden rise in profound energy seemed like something that was almost reasonable.

With a sudden gust of wind, Itachi disappeared in a blur as he appeared in front of the dragon before the pattern in his eyes revolved rapidly as a strange demonic skeleton started manifesting around him, muscles started growing upon it's skeleton as the wrathful being's eyes seemed to emanate strange flames out of it's eyes. In the center of this demonic armored figure, stood Itachi emanating a greenish glow around his body and seemingly untouchable.

"Susanoo!!"

The Flame Dragon seemed to take a step back as soon as it saw the demonic skeleton. Although it wanted to take revenge against this human yet it really was scared of this human's strange abilities. That was the reason why it had been trying to keep it's distance. It hadn't forgotten the horror of that illusion nor of that demonic black flame that those lesser dragons seemed to be suffering from right now.

Itachi took advantage of the Dragon's caution to summon the Susanoo to intimidate it as well as test it's effectiveness. Since Susanoo also was a part of his soul technically it should be much more powerful than a his mere true profound realm strength. His soul was incomparably powerful, that had been the reason why he had been able to use Mangekyo Sharingan even without profound energy, only with a little bit of chakra.

The Susanoo raised it's armored hands as an arrow appeared in it's bow string before Itachi decided to add something else to it.

"Amaterasu!"

The black flames seemed to wrap themselves around the arrow as it turned darker and bigger, before it left the bowstring, speeding towards the dragon.

The Flame Dragon roared as it tried to turn around to run. However, Itachi had already been gazing deeply at it's eyes: "You should have left as soon as you saw me. Now, die: Tsukuyomi!"

The Dragon became still for a moment as the arrow that been speeding towards it embedded itself straight between it's eyebrows as it's entire head exploded in a blaze of black inferno, rapidly devouring it's skin and muscles on the outer layer before rapidly swelling around it's eyes.

Quickly, a full three seconds passed before a miserable cry rang out in the core region shaking the nearby profound beasts.

Itachi's eyes seemed to be bleeding profusely as the dragon came out of the Tsukuyomi. The Susanoo had already started to shake as the the dragon's enraged flame attacks continued to render cracks on it.

"Still not enough, huh…." Itachi observed the burning head of the dragon before his bleeding eyes refocused on the dragon's barely visible irises as the Mangekyo Sharingan rapidy revolved again increasing the bleeding even further: "Fairy Chu , do it now! ...Tsukuyomi!"

The dragon immediately went blank again as it's profound energy stopped circulating as the black flames started devouring it with even more ferocity.

Chu Yuechan who had been waiting for his signal, immediately user Frozen Cloud steps to appear before the dragon while raising her sword straight between the dragon's eyebrow she used a vast amount of her profound energy as a single incomparably terrifying bluish white slash teared at the dragon's burning flesh, as it's head was instanly ripped apart in an arc, as it's eyeballs hung loosely on it's two sides.

Chu Yeuchan gracefully landed at a certain distance from the dragon, careful of the black flames, her goddess like figure turned around, searching for the demonic armored skeleton. However, what she saw as she went around turned her heart cold for an instant. Itachi seemed to be on his knees coughing out blood as his expression seemed extremely pale as the protective skeleton around him seemed to have disappeared white his entire face seemed to be covered with blood due to his bleeding eyes. Without much thought, she immediately rushed towards him, appearing at his side. After a moment of hesitance, she grabbed him by his shoulders before taking out a healing pill, putting it in his mouth.

Itachi who had been feeling extremely exhausted tried to stand before he fell to hi knees as he started coughing out blood. He had used too much of his soul strength. Creating the clones for the flood dragons, then going back and forth, using Amaterasu, Susanoo as well as Tsukuyomi again and again had drained him too much. He was even starting to feel a bit dizzy. Before he could fall over, he felt a warm sensation as two soft hands seemed to grab him up, before seating him on the ground as a pill was stuffed into his mouth, making a feel a little less nauseous.

Itachi glanced at Chu Yuechan out of the corner of his eyes as he said: "Go, deal with the other two in the same way. Those dragons are still berserk-ed. As soon as you give the signal I will increase the intensity of the Amaterasu for a few seconds before entirely dispersing them, leaving it only on their body. That will be your chance."

Chu Yuechan hesitated observing Itachi's state it seemed obvious to her, using those eyes came with a heavy price. To use it again would no doubt make his state much worse.

Sensing her hesitation, Itachi firmly stared at her: " We must make sure to end these two dragons now. This is our only chance. The Amaterasu around them is already growing weaker, we might not get another chance. I can't cast it again in such a wide range but I can reignite it using the ones that we have around us. Don't worry, I will not die. I might lose consciousness though. Take me inside that cave until I regain consciousness."

Chu Yuechan finally reluctantly nodded to Itachi's words as she flew over while Itachi kept his gaze focused on the two dragons below.

Chu Yueli who had been blocking the attacks of the dragons didn't have much of a problem as she sensed the Flame Dragon's death she wanted to go over yet she followed her sister's orders still blocking the berserk attacks of the two dragons.

Chu Yuechan flew beside her sister who blocked on the dragon's tails using a barrier as it trembled: "Yueli, prepare your strongest attack and decapitate the dragon on my signal."

Chu Yueli was startled to see her sister yet she immediately followed her instructions as her expression determined before her sword started emitting a chilling bluish quiet similar yet weaker than her sister' who had also done the same.

"Itachi, now!"

As soon as he heard her shout, Itachi's eyes rapidly revolved as all the black flames around the hill started trembling before dispersing to make way for the Chu sisters as the two terrifying sword slashes rapidly reached towards the two dragons.

"Amaterasu!"

Itachi's shout reignited the flames atop the dragons' head as it started devouring them with a greater intensity before their heads were broken in a similar fashion to the Flame Dragon.

Witnessing the dragons' death lifted a heaviness from Itachi's heart as his mind started drifting to sleep as his eyes that been bleeding even more than before closed before he fell unconscious with a final murmur: "I have changed my fate….or rather your destined fate for me…Yun Che....I know what your will for me is about….. However, this is the will that I have decided for myself…this is Itachi Uchiha's will…"