This sudden change in the battle situation was also beyond the expectations of Nagato and the others.
Seeing Itachi fail and Sasuke captured alive by Danzō, the situation immediately reversed.
"No way? Sasuke got captured? Danzō actually won?"
"Who bet earlier that Itachi and Sasuke would lose?"
Deidara was the first to shout, his face full of disbelief and anger.
Sasuke's humiliating defeat only made him, who had once been defeated by Sasuke, look even more pathetic!
"The Yamanaka clan's secret technique from Konoha is indeed special. In a surprise attack situation, it's almost impossible to avoid!"
Sasori nodded, not too surprised.
Battles weren't games; there were no rules saying the weak couldn't threaten the strong.
It all depended on cooperation and utilizing each other's abilities.
"I protest! Itachi deliberately let the enemy live! He should have killed that guy a long time ago..."
Deidara continued to complain, clearly dissatisfied with Itachi's performance.
Anyone could see that he let him live on purpose!
Otherwise, Fu should have been dead a long time ago; how could he have survived until now?
"But Itachi doesn't seem like the kind of person who would risk his younger brother's life? He didn't expect it either? Danzō's follower was willing to sacrifice himself to create an opportunity; both brothers were caught off guard!"
"Hiss... This has become complicated!"
"Sasuke is the only one still alive on our side, right? If he's taken hostage, what do you think Itachi will choose?"
Kisame: (o_O)??
Konan: (O_o)??
The two exchanged confused glances.
"Leader, if Itachi turns against us for his brother, what should we do?"
Nagato didn't hesitate in the slightest, answering directly: "Just kill him! Itachi with the Edo Tensei body isn't afraid of death. As for Sasuke's death? Blame Danzō..."
"Yosh! I understand! Hurry up and choose, you two Uchiha have finally fallen into my hands!"
Deidara was excited, impatiently waiting for Itachi to choose to become their enemy.
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
Itachi looked at Danzō and Sasuke in the distance, the gathering Yasaka no Magatama stopping.
He admitted, Danzō had truly succeeded, exploiting Sasuke as his weakness!
Perhaps he should have killed Fu earlier.
His feelings for Konoha had influenced his judgment, giving Fu the opportunity to attack!
In fact, if he had acted alone, he might not have been caught in this difficult situation.
But if he had resolved everything himself, he wouldn't have been able to eliminate Sasuke's already peaked hatred...
This blood feud was indeed very complicated!
Itachi maintained Susano'o, looking at Danzō in the distance, asking coldly:
"What do you want?"
"All of you leave here, I will take him back to Konoha! As long as I live, I guarantee Uchiha Sasuke's safety!"
"Impossible."
"What? Itachi! Do you really want to see him die here? I'm not joking!"
Danzō shouted while pressing the kunai.
The kunai at Sasuke's neck went deeper, blood flowing slowly as if showing his determination to kill.
Sasuke gritted his teeth, trying his best to break free from the curse seal. But Danzō kept injecting chakra to strengthen the bond, making Sasuke unable to move.
"I can release you, but they won't let you go... They are not under my control."
Itachi raised his head, pointing at Nagato and the others on the bridge pillars.
Even if Itachi was willing to let Danzō go, Nagato and the others definitely wouldn't allow it.
In their eyes, Sasuke's life was not worth letting Danzō escape!
"Hmph! Then you have to stop them! With your abilities, you definitely can, right? Or I'll kill Sasuke right now!!!"
Danzō threatened fiercely.
He had already calculated this; one Sasuke couldn't control all of Akatsuki's enemies.
But as long as he could manipulate Itachi, he could be forced to face other enemies, giving him time to escape!
He had already seen it. With Sasuke as a hostage, Itachi wouldn't dare attack him!
The advantage was in his hands!
Facing Danzō's threat, Itachi fell silent for a moment, as if considering. But soon gave his final answer.
"I understand."
"Good, I didn't misjudge you!"
Danzō was overjoyed, his heart pounding.
In an impossible situation, he had managed to find a way out; he was indeed the chosen one!
He was destined to become the Hokage of Konoha!
As long as he could return to the village and unite the Five Great Nations; all the humiliation of today would be avenged!
Danzō breathed a sigh of relief, forming the seals to stop Izanagi.
In his hand, only two open Sharingan remained; he had to use them sparingly.
Having successfully taken Sasuke hostage and forced Itachi to betray Akatsuki, there was no need to maintain Izanagi anymore.
But Itachi had been waiting for this moment.
"Sasuke, don't move!" Itachi's calm voice suddenly sounded.
'Nii-san...!'
Sasuke rejoiced, the corners of his lips turning up.
With his brother here, everything would be alright; he still loved him very much; he would definitely be able to save him...
*SWOOSH!"
A dazzling flash of sword light suddenly appeared; the orange Totsuka no Tsurugi pierced through Sasuke and Danzō behind him!
This scene shocked Deidara and the others.
Who would have thought that Itachi, who loved his younger brother so much, would instead stab Sasuke along with Danzō!
And aiming for the heart, directly piercing both the hostage and the hostage-taker!