Amegakure's western region had already fallen into silence.
Deep within a forest, Itachi faced Sasuke, the spectral form of Susanoo flickering around the younger brother—its oppressive aura pinning Itachi in place.
Yet Itachi only smiled.
"You've grown stronger, Sasuke."
Sasuke's expression remained ice-cold.
"Tell me. What really happened the night the clan was massacred?"
Itachi had long known this question would come.
So he wasn't surprised.
"If you want the truth, then I'll tell you."
He began to recount everything—from Uchiha Shisui's sacrifice to the final order that sealed the Uchiha clan's fate.
Piece by piece, he revealed the truth of that night.
When Itachi finished, Sasuke's body seemed to lose all strength.
He collapsed to the ground, a bitter smile twisting his face.
"So that's how it was…"
"It wasn't your fault, Sasuke," Itachi murmured. "I did it all… for you."
Sasuke laughed softly—harshly.
"I'd rather die. If my death meant our parents and the entire clan could live, then I'd gladly die alone."
Itachi froze.
"How can you think that way?"
Sasuke lifted his gaze—dark, trembling with grief and fury.
"You talk about peace… but for Konoha's so-called safety, you abandoned your own family. You abandoned your parents. Your clan. What right do you have to lecture me?"
Itachi stiffened.
"In your eyes… the clan is more important than the village?"
"Of course."
Sasuke's voice sharpened.
"The Uchiha are everything. If a village exists where the Uchiha don't—what meaning does that village even have, even if it maintains its 'peace'?"
For the first time, Itachi had no answer.
He had once believed Sasuke would understand him—would return to Konoha after learning the truth, and choose to protect the village as he had.
But reality was far from his expectations.
Sasuke held no affection for Konoha at all.
"But… it's our village," Itachi said softly. "We should protect it."
"Are you an idiot?"
Sasuke's sudden outburst stunned him.
"The village is important—but the clan isn't? Our family wasn't worth protecting?"
"You slaughtered our clan… for the village. For peace. For me."
"But you killed them—Itachi. You killed everyone!"
Itachi's expression tightened.
"I had no choice."
"You did," Sasuke shot back. "Even if neither choice was right, you still chose one—and then called it justice."
Sasuke rose to his feet.
"You chose the village and betrayed your clan. Did it ever occur to you that if our clan's resistance succeeded, Konoha might have become something better than what it is now?"
Itachi's breath caught.
Better? Could the rebellion have succeeded?
In truth…
If the Uchiha clan hadn't been restrained by the influence of Shisui and Itachi—
If Uchiha Fugaku, with his own Mangekyō, had led them—
Their coup might indeed have succeeded.
Most other Konoha clans had refused to get involved.
Itachi stood frozen.
Sasuke gave a hollow smile.
"You've imagined it too, haven't you?"
"But you didn't choose that path. You ran away."
To Sasuke, following the Hokage's orders had been nothing but cowardice.
Itachi said quietly, "Do you truly believe that?"
"Of course."
Sasuke's voice was cold and razor-sharp.
"And since you love Konoha so much… I'll destroy it."
Itachi's eyes widened.
"You… you intend to destroy Konoha?"
"Why not?" Sasuke replied calmly.
"Konoha was founded by the Senju and Uchiha. Now that the Uchiha have been wiped out… there's no reason for Konoha to exist."
Itachi's heart clenched.
He wanted to stop him—shake sense into him—but before he could move, Sasuke's intent was already clear.
But time had run out.
Itachi's body began to peel away into light—the Edo Tensei release activated by Orochimaru.
Itachi looked at Sasuke with helpless eyes.
"You can't do this, Sasuke."
"Konoha is your home."
"Konoha? Home?" Sasuke's voice dripped with scorn. "I'd rather go to Kirigakure than return to that place."
"Konoha is filthy. Even if you claim the Third Hokage sacrificed himself for the village, in my eyes he was a coward who refused to take responsibility.
If he had restrained Danzo, the Uchiha tragedy would never have happened."
Itachi stared at Sasuke for a long moment.
Behind them, the Seven Ninja Swordsmen took a few steps forward, clearly having heard everything.
Kujiki stepped ahead.
"Lord Shigure ordered us to protect Sasuke-sama."
Sasuke glanced back at him.
"I understand."
"Let's return to the Hidden Mist."
But before they could move, several chakra signatures appeared behind them.
Sasuke smiled faintly and turned around.
Standing there was Naruto, with Sakura, Sai, and Senju Hashirama behind him.
Hashirama examined Sasuke curiously.
A young Uchiha… with this much power? Impressive.
But before he could speak, Naruto rushed forward.
"Wind Release: Vacuum Blade!"
At the same moment, Sasuke drew the Kusanagi sword.
"Lightning Release: Chidori Blade!"
Wind and lightning clashed, erupting into a shockwave that tore through the clearing.
BOOM!
Both were blasted back, landing and sliding across the ground.
Sasuke eyed Naruto with mild surprise.
"You've gotten stronger… Naruto."
Naruto wiped his mouth and smirked.
"You too."
Both had walked their own harsh paths—both had grown.
"What's with these two brats?" Hashirama muttered in confusion. "Why are they fighting the moment they see each other?"
Sakura looked conflicted, her eyes lingering on Sasuke.
Only Sai stepped in to explain.
"They were once teammates. Members of the same squad."
Hashirama blinked.
"So they were comrades, huh? Makes sense for a young Uchiha and an Uzumaki to end up together."
"And that girl?" Hashirama pointed bluntly at Sakura.
Sai sighed.
"Sakura has always secretly loved Sasuke. That's why she reacts differently when she sees him."
"Ohhh."
Sakura's face flushed red.
"W–Who said I love Sasuke?! Stop making things up!"
She turned sharply toward Sasuke.
"Sasuke, come back to Konoha with us! If you admit your mistakes, the village will accept you!"
"Admit my mistakes?" Sasuke gave a cold laugh.
"What mistake did I make?"
"Is it a crime worthy of death just because I'm no longer a Konoha shinobi?"
Naruto stepped forward.
"You defected!"
"Konoha no longer has my family," Sasuke shot back. "What's wrong with leaving a village that slaughtered my clan?"
"But Konoha raised you—"
"Raised me?" Sasuke's voice shook with anger.
"How much did the Uchiha sacrifice for Konoha? You call it a crime because I walked away from a village built on my clan's blood?"
Naruto faltered, unable to answer.
But he still forced out:
"In any case… you have to come back with me, Sasuke!"
At that moment, Kujiki stepped forward, expression hardening.
"Sasuke-sama is a friend of the Mizukage. If he does not wish to return, we will not let anyone force him."