Considering all the above, Imperial Obito said:
"The prey you just mentioned—is that the trash Uchiha Itachi?"
"Of course, he's my prey! I won't let just anyone take him!" Sasuke replied.
"Oh? And if I still want to take him? What will you do?" Imperial Obito said, continuing to observe this world's Sasuke.
Just as handsome as the Sasuke from his world, but only 170 cm tall and looking very lean.
Yet, this aura and expression were indeed fitting for the same person from different worlds.
"Do what?"
Sasuke muttered, his right hand slowly drawing the Kusanagi sword from his waist, pointing it at Imperial Obito:
"Then I'll just make you understand my strength and force you to retreat in disgrace."
"I'm actually quite curious about how strong you are now." Imperial Obito nodded slightly.
"You'll see soon enough." Sasuke answered.
"Need my help? Sasuke-kun, this Shuji-kun seems very dangerous." Orochimaru said with a smile.
"No need, step back." Sasuke commanded.
"Hmph… then I'll eagerly watch this duel between two Uchihas."
Orochimaru licked his lips, not angry at all, leaping back to a tree branch in the distance, ready to enjoy the show.
"No help needed? Quite confident." Imperial Obito remarked.
"Those words should be mine to say to you." Sasuke retorted. As he finished speaking, he teleported in front of Imperial Obito, thrusting the Kusanagi sword forward.
Almost effortlessly, the Kusanagi pierced through Imperial Obito's body.
"Tch, this is the surviving Uchiha? The one daring to threaten Uchiha Itachi? His strength's only this much?"
The man who had just deceived Imperial Obito sneered dismissively.
Orochimaru, on the distant branch, showed a hint of curiosity in his eyes.
Sasuke, holding the Kusanagi, blinked slightly, then suddenly leaped back, creating distance, looking left and right.
This confused the ordinary man.
"What's going on? Why did Sasuke suddenly retreat? And why isn't that guy hurt after being stabbed? What's actually happening?"
He was puzzled.
"Shh! Be quiet."
Orochimaru's voice whispered in the man's ear, making him shut his mouth quickly, though his eyes grew more confused.
"Why? I'm right in front of you—why retreat?" Imperial Obito asked, tilting his head.
Sasuke completely ignored his question, continuing to scan the surroundings.
"Ignoring me? Then I won't hold back."
After speaking, Imperial Obito charged at Sasuke. Sasuke showed no reaction. Even as Imperial Obito's fist aimed for his stomach, he didn't dodge—until the fist actually struck.
*BOOM!*
"Argh!"
Sasuke cried out in pain, flying back over a dozen meters. He spun in the air, stabilizing himself, then skidded back a few more meters.
He stared at Imperial Obito with disbelief.
"You… how did you do that?"
Even Orochimaru beside him was shocked, his mouth agape.
"An illusory body suddenly becoming real? What kind of ability is this?"
"How did I do it? You think I'd tell my opponent?" Imperial Obito smirked, his figure darting toward Sasuke again.
In Sasuke's eyes, three tomoe appeared. Facing Imperial Obito, he didn't attack but began dodging and defending with all his might.
For a moment, he was forced to retreat, looking pitiful, but fortunately, he could still parry the current attacks.
A minute passed.
As Imperial Obito attacked again, Sasuke didn't dodge. Instead, he reversed his blade and stabbed at Obito simultaneously. Obito's entire figure passed through Sasuke's body.
He slowly turned and said: "Figured it out? Not bad. At least stronger than Uzumaki Naruto when we first met."
His tone carried a hint of admiration.
"Stopped? What's going on? Figured it out? Figured out what?" The ordinary man grew even more confused.
Orochimaru licked his lips: "As expected of Sasuke-kun, understanding his opponent's ability so quickly. But… this Uchiha Shuji-kun gives me a bad feeling. He doesn't seem… entirely serious. It's like he's toying with Sasuke-kun."
"Such confident, arrogant demeanor. Let's see what other powers you have."
"An intriguing ability, freely switching between illusion and reality."
Sasuke stared at Imperial Obito expressionlessly, praising him, then said: "Naruto… is that guy still as weak as before?"
"It's obvious you care a lot about him… Is this the bond of Indra and Ashura? But the current Naruto isn't weak. Without a Mangekyou Sharingan, you might not beat him." Imperial Obito said with a smile.
"Mangekyou!!!"
At that word, both Sasuke and Orochimaru's pupils shrank.
Their expressions showed shock and wariness.
This person knew about the Mangekyou Sharingan!
"You, an Uchiha living in remote forests and mountains, how do you know about the Mangekyou Sharingan? Could it be… you have those eyes?"
Sasuke's expression grew cautious.
"Of course."
Imperial Obito nodded. The next moment…
Sasuke and Orochimaru saw Obito's eyes spin, the three tomoe slowly merging into a strange pattern.
"It really is… the same Mangekyou Sharingan as Uchiha Itachi's! Uchiha Shuji… this guy seems like a genius no less than Itachi… If so, his body will be hard to claim."
Orochimaru's chest heaved, his eyes full of wariness and reluctance.
"Truly the Mangekyou Sharingan, just like Itachi's…" Sasuke whispered.
"Eyes like these require killing a loved one to awaken. For these eyes, what have you done…"
Sasuke's expression shifted to emotional disgust by the end.
"Killing a loved one? Who told you that?"
Sasuke's question stunned Imperial Obito.
"What? You did it but don't dare admit it?" Sasuke pressed.
"The Mangekyou Sharingan is a powerful eye awakened only when an Uchiha experiences immense mental shock. In ancient texts, it's typically triggered by the death of a loved one." Imperial Obito said slowly.
Sasuke's expression showed shock.
"No need to kill them yourself?"
"Of course not. Do you know someone who awakened the Mangekyou Sharingan by doing that… wait, that trash Uchiha Itachi—don't tell me he thought that was the only way to awaken it and massacred the clan?" Imperial Obito said with an odd expression.
"Killing a loved one directly—that's what he told me." Sasuke said.
"That idiotic bastard…" Imperial Obito frowned.
"The key to awakening the Mangekyou Sharingan is stimulation. For him to do something like that—he's truly foolish and clueless! Clearly, with proper methods, it can be done without a loved one's death. But in your world, it's become like this… So pathetic. This is the ignorant, backward ninja village era."
Imperial Obito sighed unconsciously.