10. Itachi vs Kabuto

When Itachi managed to free himself from the control of Kabuto’s Edo Tensei Jutsu, he regained control over his body. Itachi then went to Kabuto’s hideout to stop the entire Edo Tensei operation that Kabuto had activated during the Fourth Great Ninja War.

Shortly after, Sasuke also arrived at the location where Itachi and Kabuto were. Sasuke wanted to confirm the truth behind Tobi’s statement that Itachi had massacred the entire Uchiha Clan under orders from the Konoha elders. However, Sasuke had to be patient and wait for his answer, as Itachi promised to tell him the truth only after they defeated Kabuto.

However, Kabuto was no easy opponent. He had mastered Sage Mode after training in Ryuchi Cave. Kabuto had absorbed nature energy and surpassed Orochimaru, who was still in his snake form, by achieving perfect Sage Mode and becoming a Dragon.

Kabuto unleashed Hakugeki no Jutsu, a technique that blinded his enemies and tortured their hearing. This rendered Itachi and Sasuke, despite being shielded by Susanoo, unable to move. Kabuto, in his Sage Mode, moved freely and attempted to attack Sasuke. Fortunately, Itachi used Susanoo’s arm to shield Sasuke. Kabuto then halted his jutsu, assuming that Itachi had detected his presence. In reality, Itachi admitted that he had merely guessed Kabuto’s first priority would be targeting Sasuke.

Itachi then reminded Sasuke of their past encounter when they fought a wild boar together. He instructed Sasuke to use the same strategy to fight Kabuto. Sasuke, using his Susanoo, shot an arrow at Kabuto’s tail. Kabuto’s tail got stuck in the rocks, leaving his body suspended in mid-air. However, just as Itachi was about to strike, Kabuto grabbed Sasuke’s sword lying nearby and stabbed Itachi in the stomach.

At that moment, Itachi used his Sharingan to record Clip A1 as part of the Izanami sequence. When Kabuto stabbed Itachi’s body, Itachi transformed into a flock of crows, seized Kabuto’s sword, and cut off one of Kabuto’s horns. With that, Clip A1 was stored in Itachi’s Sharingan as part of the Izanami technique.

Kabuto then told Itachi and Sasuke that Edo Tensei wouldn’t disappear even if he were killed—only he could stop the Jutsu. Kabuto also closed his eyes to prevent himself from being caught in a Genjutsu, convinced that neither Itachi nor Sasuke could defeat him.

Itachi then explained to Sasuke that the Uchiha had a technique called Izanami, which could trap opponents without requiring eye contact but at the cost of blindness in one eye. Itachi revealed that he had already set Izanami in motion against Kabuto.

Kabuto then showcased Sakon’s ability to grow other people’s bodies from within his own. He activated Jirobo’s Earth Element technique to shatter the Amaterasu defense that protected Itachi and Sasuke. Kabuto followed up with Kidomaru’s spider web attack, but the Amaterasu flames from Itachi and Sasuke burned the webs away. Then, Kabuto used Kimimaro’s bone attacks, but Susanoo’s defense was strong enough to break them.

Next, Kabuto used Tayuya’s flute sound-based Genjutsu, which managed to trap Itachi and Sasuke. He then activated Orochimaru’s white snake to bind and attempt to absorb them. However, Itachi and Sasuke made eye contact with each other using their Sharingan and activated Genjutsu to free themselves from Tayuya’s Genjutsu. The brothers then used their Susanoo to overpower Orochimaru’s white snake attack.

Finally, Itachi announced that he was ready to activate Izanami. From the mouth of Orochimaru’s white snake, Kabuto emerged and slashed Itachi’s body. This fulfilled the necessary condition for Izanami, which required physical contact.

Itachi then used his Sharingan to record Clip B as part of the Izanami. When Sasuke launched a fire attack at Kabuto, Kabuto countered with a water technique that extinguished the flames. The water splashed everywhere, and some drops landed on Kabuto’s shoulder. Clip B was now stored in Itachi’s Sharingan.

Next, Itachi recorded Clip A2 as part of Izanami. When Kabuto stabbed Itachi’s body again, Itachi’s eyes suddenly went blind—a sign that Izanami had begun. Itachi’s stabbed body turned into a flock of crows once again, grabbed Kabuto’s sword, and cut off Kabuto’s horn. Clip A2 was now saved in Itachi’s Sharingan.

Finally, Itachi recorded Clip C for the Izanami. As Kabuto walked toward Sasuke and Itachi, he stepped on a crow feather. Clip C was saved in the Sharingan as part of the Izanami.

As a result, no matter what action Kabuto took, he always experienced the same sequence: stabbing Itachi, Itachi turning into crows, getting his horn cut off, Sasuke and Kabuto exchanging fire and water jutsu, water dripping on Kabuto’s shoulder, Kabuto stepping on a crow feather, and stabbing Itachi again. Kabuto was caught in an endless loop of events.

Kabuto experienced déjà vu as Clip A1 linked to Clip B, which linked to Clip C, then to Clip A2, and back to Clip A1, creating an unending cycle. Such was the terrifying power of Itachi’s eyes. However, the price Itachi paid for using Izanami was the loss of sight in one eye.

In the real world, Kabuto’s body stood motionless. However, within his mind, he continued to relive the battle against Itachi and Sasuke. According to Itachi, there was a way for Kabuto to escape Izanami, but only if Kabuto acknowledged his mistakes, such as his misguided desire to absorb others’ abilities to become invincible. If Kabuto could accept himself as he was, he would break free and become a better person.