The end is on the rise. The truth isn't what it seems anymore. It's covered by lies that are covered by more lies. In this ninja world everything is a facade, almost a fake place to be where peace is unattainable and murder is the norm. A survivor...
Shizake squirms his way out of the snake's mouth allowing him enough leverage to push on the fangs. He dislodges the snake head as it crashes to the ground with a resounding boom. The boy falls to his knees, gaining enough strength to then stand back up.
"I'm so sick of this... sick and tired of having this constant burden on my shoulders," he mumbles. He then furiously looks up at Itachi with nothing but murder seizing him.
"Huh. You're still able to move? What could you possibly do at this point? The experiment is over. Sasuke's eyes will be mine," Itachi says.
Shizake slowly begins to stomp forward, each step like a thunderclap that crushes the concrete beneath his feet. "Damn your experiment! I couldn't care less about anything you have to say anymore!" Shizake says.
"So be it, little cousin. If you wish to perish here then I'll grant you your wish," Itachi replies, moving him and the Susano'o towards Shizake.
"The biggest mistake you ever made was keeping me alive... because no matter what, I'm taking you down with me!" Shizake roars as lightning explodes into both his palms.
Shizake forces the two charges of lightning together, focusing his remaining chakra and electricity together. The area illuminates with a bright beam of light before he begins pulling his palms apart. A single volt of lightning connects the two separated charges as Shizake's arms begin tremoring with force.
Sasuke stares in awe as he feels the static thicken the air and brush across his skin. With no energy left to move he can only sit and watch his cousin enact his contingency plan.
Lightning threads travel up his arms, wrapping around them and his body as well. The thunderstorm that had existed before begins to pick back up as if it was a warning of something terrible to come. However this time its raging strength becomes more apparent.
"Rgh...grahh!!!" Shizake grunts painfully as the lightning encases his body entirely.
"Another cheap jutsu won't save you here, Shizake," Itachi says, approaching his cousin slowly.
"SHUT UP! JUST STOP TALKING! I DON'T GIVE A DAMN ANYMORE!!!" Shizake screams at the top of his lungs.
The lightning begins to grow outwards, taking on a shape of its own. Thunderous booms expel all around Shizake while volts of electricity whip out in every direction surrounding him. The lightning eventually forms into a humanoid shape with demon like eyes and dagger like teeth.
RRRKKKKKGGGAHHH!
The shape growls beastly cackles with a loud hiss and thrum of energy as if lightning itself had become personified. Deadly claws extend out from the shape, slamming into the ground and turning large chunks of stone to dust. Shizake twitches and contorts, allowing every ounce of rage to consume his body and soul. His chakra system fires on all cylinders expending huge amounts to maintain the form.
The young Uchiha flashes forward, crashing into the Susano'o. Itachi stumbles backwards having been unprepared for the hit. He stares wide eyed at his cousin, aptly realizing just how much force is behind this form. Even though the lightning form stands about half as tall as the Susano'o it still has enough power to push it back.
"Chidori... essence!" Shizake cries out.
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This is stronger than everything he's thrown before. He had this much chakra in reserve...? No, this is something else. Itachi thinks to himself while examining Shizake's chakra signature. His chakra, it's... I have to stop him before he kills himself.
The form swings its claws forward, piercing into the armored form of the Susano'o. Itachi hacks and coughs, blood spewing from his mouth. He grits his teeth, becoming overwhelmed from the insane burst of strength.
"TO HELL WITH EVERYTHING. I'LL RIP YOU OUT OF THAT FUCKING THING MYSELF, ITACHI!!!!" Shizake bellows.
Itachi regains his composure, making the Susano'o swing its totsuka blade from right to left. The sword barrels towards Shizake's lightning essence, threatening to slice it out of existence. Much to Itachi's surprise the beast catches the sword with one of its claws, gripping it intensely.
It can even stop the totsuka blade? Itachi thinks.
"YOU WONT STOP ME THAT EASILY! NOT UNTIL YOU'RE DEAD! NOT UNTIL THIS IS OVER!" Shizake continues to scream in a blind rage.
While one claw gripping the totsuka blade, the other claw sinks deeper and deeper into the Susano'o. Tiny rivulets of electricity begin radiating across its chest. A crack forms as well, starting tiny before slowly becoming bigger as the seconds go by. Soon enough the cracks begin to spread like a web.
Shizake, consumed by hate roars out, "RAGHHHH!!!!!!"
Sasuke, still on his knees gazes in horror at the spectacle. Even without his Sharingan he knows exactly what his cousin is doing. Even after all the years of them being separated, he feels a tiny thread of despair scrape at his heart. For his cousin is still the one thread that he holds dear to him. He goes to scream but something takes ahold of his throat. However deeply he cares for Shizake is weighed against the fact that at this point this may be the only thing that can stop Itachi. Now faced with the burden of guilt, Sasuke can only silently look on in bewilderment.
"JUST GIVE UP AND DIE ALREADY!!!" Shizake yells again, thrusting the claws of his lightning beast deeper into the Susano'o. The crack continues to grow larger with chakra beginning to leak out of it thereafter.
"I never knew... rgh... you possessed this sort of strength," Itachi says weakly.
"YOUR WORDS MEAN NOTHING!!!!" Shizake yells back, grunting as he continues to push through Itachi's defenses. Angry sorrowful tears begin to drop from Shizake's eyes, stinging his cheeks. He throws every bit of strength and emotion he has into his final push. Lightning booms out from around him once more as the beast unleashes a crackling gurgle.
Sakura... I'm so sorry. I may not be there again to see your smile, to feel your warm touch. To feel your lips once more. He says to himself. Nitatchi... thank you for being the best brother I could ever ask for. Mother, father, aunt Mikoto, uncle Fugaku, Sasaui, Aya, Kutuya, and everyone else. I'msorry.
Shizake yells out once more, the whole destroyed complex and surrounding area flashing with a strobing light - a sign his jutsu is about to reach its apex. The beast removes its claws, pulling its arm back before forming it into the shape of a lightning spear. The spear punctures the Susano'o cleanly, aimed right at Itachi.
The spear is mere inches away from Itachi's forehead, static jumping from the spear to his skin. The older Uchiha relaxes for a moment, giving Shizake a warm eyes closed smile.
"Shizake... I'm so proud of you. I love you, little cousin," Itachi says.
Shizake goes blank for a moment, absolutely confounded at the words that just escaped Itachi's lips. The spear stops in its track, providing Itachi just enough time to act. He brings the Susano'o's shield over its head, slamming it down into the spear of lightning. The spear shatters into a frenzied storm of electricity, cleanly broken in half. The beast unleashes a blood curdling electrical cry, towers of lightning shooting off in random directions.
Finally Itachi thrusts the shield forward, knocking Shizake immediately unconscious upon impact. The boy's jutsu is expelled instantaneously as he is hurdled backwards at the speed of sound. His limp body rockets past Sasuke, who can only look on in anguish. Shizake craters into the last standing wall of the Uchiha hideout, a broken square with the Uchiha fan still intact.
Blood gushes from the back of his head from the impact before he slides down the wall in a collapsed heap. He comes to rest in a sitting position with his arms at his sides. The boy regains consciousness for a moment, blankly looking from Sasuke and then to Itachi. He then coughs up a puddle of blood before he blacks out, disappearing into the dark depths of his own mind.
~~~
Drawing above was done by soltei . I highly recommend checking out her works!
