Itachi looked at Sasuke, who was lying on the ground with a bump on his head, then at the calm group of people beside him. A smile flickered across his lips.
"It seems Sasuke has friends too."
Hey, how did you come up with that strange idea?
"So, is there anything I can help with?" Itachi asked Neji, knowing that Neji wouldn't have let him out so quickly if there wasn't a specific reason.
"Yes."
Then, Neji told Itachi his plan.
"Using illusions?" Itachi pondered, "Perhaps."
They immediately agreed. One activated his Mangekyo, and the other widened his Byakugan. The moment Sasuke woke up, still looking confused, they combined their efforts and trapped Sasuke in an illusion.
The scenario and experiences were naturally crafted by Itachi. Neji's role was simply to use his formidable power to ensure Sasuke didn't notice anything amiss.
The scene began to shift…
The weather was clear and sunny, the chirping of insects creating a symphony. In a lush green field, a slightly older boy was walking, carrying a small child in blue clothes, white pants, and black hair on his back.
"Brother, I want to catch butterflies," the child said, smiling innocently and kindly.
"Okay," the older boy squinted and smiled warmly. He ran around with the smaller child on his back, not using any ninja skills, just playing normally.
Suddenly, the child let out a soft sound, feeling something wasn't quite right, but he couldn't pinpoint what it was.
"Sasuke, what's wrong?" Itachi asked, looking at Sasuke on his back, puzzled.
"No, nothing's wrong," Sasuke shook his head, a genuine smile on his face.
"Sasuke, make some friends after school starts."
"Friends?" Little Sasuke shook his head, holding onto Itachi's neck. "No, I only need you, brother."
"But friends are necessary for a person."
"No, having you is enough. But since it's your request, I'll try."
"Is that so..." Itachi gave a wry smile.
"Brother, brother, the butterfly flew away," Sasuke said, patting his chubby hands and looking displeased at Itachi.
"I can't help it with you," Itachi said, running again in the green field with little Sasuke on his back.
At this moment, the scene suddenly changed. In the Uchiha Clan's training grounds, Itachi was gently teaching Sasuke shuriken techniques and some common low-level ninjutsu.
"Sasuke, watch closely. This jutsu is very difficult to perform," Itachi said with a soft laugh. To let Sasuke see clearly, he slowly made the hand seals. Then, white smoke rose, and Itachi transformed into another Sasuke.
"How was it, Sasuke? Did you learn it?" Itachi kept changing, sometimes into a stone, sometimes into grass or trees, or even cats and dogs.
In short, this technique made Sasuke's innocent eyes show deep admiration.
"So amazing, brother's so amazing!" Sasuke excitedly clapped his hands and cheered for Itachi.
"Sasuke, you try it too."
"Okay, brother, I'll work hard," little Sasuke said confidently. In the end, he just stood there for the whole afternoon.
"Don't be discouraged, Sasuke. You'll be able to do it someday," Itachi said, stepping forward with a smile.
"Yes, brother, I'll keep trying."
Sasuke seemed greatly encouraged, his little face flushed red as he continued practicing.
Just then, the scene changed again. Moments from Itachi and Sasuke's shared experiences flashed by…
Spring: Itachi took Sasuke to the fields to fly kites, enjoying the spring breeze. Although Sasuke often cut his fingers on the kite string, Itachi would gently put Sasuke's finger in his mouth to heal it.
Summer: Itachi taught Sasuke how to swim, took him to fireworks festivals, and pointed out all the novel and interesting things to little Sasuke, bringing solace to his young heart.
Autumn: Itachi took Sasuke to pick wild fruits, went on autumn excursions to climb mountains, and helped the clan in the golden fields. Although Sasuke was tired, his young self found it very fulfilling, often rolling around covered in fallen leaves.
Winter: Itachi and Sasuke built snowmen on the rooftops and in the courtyard. Sasuke always made a mess of things, leading to Uchiha Mikoto's scolding, and he'd have to kneel on the floor as punishment. But these were Sasuke's happiest times.
His gentle brother would pick him up from school and take him home. Although he regretted not having friends, he was very happy.
However, the scene changed once more.
This time, Sasuke woke up as if from a dream. He remembered everything, frozen in place, but he had become an observer.
Rumble… Crash…
A fine drizzle fell outside, like a heavy hammer striking people's hearts. In the dim room, Itachi knelt on one knee, his expressionless face listening to the orders of Konoha's higher-ups.
"Tonight, exterminate the Uchiha Clan."
Lightning flashed, illuminating the faces of those people: Sarutobi Hiruzen, Shimura Danzo, Utatane Koharu, Mitokado Homura. They were the high and mighty decision-makers, like death gods, announcing the fate of the Uchiha Clan.
"Afterwards, you will become a rogue ninja and infiltrate the Akatsuki organization."
Their heartless words struck Sasuke's heart. He cried out repeatedly, begging Itachi to refuse, but Itachi couldn't hear him.
"I have one condition," Itachi said, his expressionless face turned towards the four Konoha elders. "My younger brother must live. You must do everything you can to care for and train him."
Time seemed to stop at this moment. Even though he already knew all of this, Sasuke's head was still buzzing. Hearing it through word of mouth was entirely different from seeing it with his own eyes. He felt a searing pain in the lower left side of his chest, and his eyes welled up with tears.
"Why?" he murmured softly, but no one answered him.
The scene shifted again. A blood-red full moon hung high in the sky. The Uchiha Clan lay dead everywhere, blood pooling on the ground. In a dimly lit room, little Sasuke repeatedly asked his respected and gentle brother why, only to receive cold answers.
"I want to test my strength, to awaken these eyes." Itachi's eyes instantly turned blood-red, three comma-shaped patterns swirling within them.
"My foolish little brother, hate me, loathe me. Come find me when you awaken the same eyes as mine. At that time, I will gouge out your eyes with my own hands," Itachi laughed madly. He looked at the little Sasuke, who could no longer bear the torment of Tsukuyomi and had fainted, a hint of heartache in his eyes.
Outside, Itachi turned, his eyes full of tenderness and reluctance as he looked back at the fallen Sasuke inside the room. In his eyes, Sasuke was the most important.
Not even the village mattered as much as his beloved little brother. He was doing this only to let his beloved little brother live.
"It's done. Let's go," a masked man emerged from the mist and said to Itachi. "Konoha's people will be here soon."
"Mm," Itachi replied indifferently, and then they both disappeared.
All of this was imprinted in Sasuke's mind.
---
You can read 50 Chapters ahead on my
pat reon.com/GMadman