Itachi's Power…!!

Caught in an illusion cast by Itachi, Naruto attempts the counter-technique Jiraiya once drilled into him, hoping to shatter the trap through a burst of disruptive chakra. The Uchiha simply smothers each effort before it can take hold, keeping his prisoner sealed inside the fabricated world.

Rather than strike physically, Itachi weaponises guilt. He conjures images of Sasuke, Sakura, and Gaara, forcing Naruto to relive every moment he was powerless to protect them. The torment leaves him paralysed until outside help arrives.

Working together, Sakura and Chiyo manage to pull Naruto out of the genjutsu. With his mind his own again, he answers Kakashi's summons to turn his strength against the flesh-and-blood Itachi standing before them.

Naruto's Genjutsu Cancel fails against Itachi, showing the vast gap between the two in illusionary combat. The vision preys on Naruto's bonds with Sasuke, Sakura, and Gaara to break his will.

Sakura and Chiyo intervene and release Naruto from the trap, and Kakashi calls on him to help engage the real opponent.

This installment belongs to the Kazekage Rescue Mission arc and appeared in the twenty-ninth collected volume. It underlines how illusion, not brute force, is Itachi's most dangerous weapon.