After speaking, Sasuke swayed and collapsed backward onto the ground.
He stared at Shinichi, gasping for air. His chest heaved and cold sweat trickled down his forehead, as if he were seeing him for the very first time.
Shinichi glanced at him, ignoring the intense reaction, and casually sat cross-legged on the ground.
"Although it's hard for you to accept... this is the truth."
"Truth...?!"
Sasuke froze as if struck by lightning, his gaze losing focus before snapping back. "What kind of joke is this—!"
His roar shattered the silence of the courtyard.
"He's the enemy! He killed Dad and Mom—he killed everyone in the clan! He's a rogue ninja, someone meant to be hated!" Sasuke shouted. "I live for one reason—to kill him with my own hands!"
"This is everything that has kept me going until today! Now you tell me... you tell me all of this is a lie? You tell me he did those things for... for me?!"
Shinichi remained seated, his indifferent gaze fixed on the frenzied boy. "So… you think I'm making this up to deceive you?"
Sasuke choked, the words extinguishing his burning rage.
The rest caught in his throat. His expression froze, leaving only rapid breaths and wide, trembling eyes.
'Doubt Shinichi?'
What little rationality he had left told him it was possible—everything Shinichi said could be true. But his fists tightened, his heart violently rejecting the thought.
If what Shinichi said was true, then what had his hatred over the past six years been for? What had kept him alive all this time? A carefully constructed deception? A lie bought with the blood of his entire clan—just to protect him?
Shinichi looked away, giving Sasuke time to process everything. At the same time, a trace of curiosity surfaced in his mind.
'The truth behind the clan's destruction… Itachi's choice… I wonder how much of your eyes' potential this shock will draw out.'
Minutes passed in silence.
Then, suddenly, Shinichi moved. As if sensing something, he frowned, rose to his feet, and looked toward the outskirts of Konoha. After a brief moment, he withdrew his gaze and turned back to Sasuke, who was still struggling on the ground.
"Sasuke. Since you're willing to believe it… why not hear it from him directly?"
"Hear it… from him?" Sasuke froze for a split second—then a chilling realization hit him. His eyes snapped wide open, his throat constricting. "You're saying… Itachi… he's in Konoha?!"
Deep within the dense forest on the outskirts of Konoha, two figures in black cloaks patterned with red clouds moved silently through the shadows.
One of them carried a massive, bandage-wrapped blade and had a shark-like face devoid of expression. His small, beady eyes flicked toward his companion as he let out a low chuckle.
"Itachi, is it really fine for us to infiltrate so openly? Konoha's sensory barrier isn't just for show."
"It doesn't matter," Itachi said quietly. "Right now, most of the barrier's attention is focused on the southwest route, tracking the Sunagakure delegation entering the village."
"That's true—infiltration isn't the issue," Kisame grinned. "The real problem is locating the imprisoned Orochimaru under Konoha's tight security—and dealing with it cleanly. If we make too much noise, we won't be able to get out."
Itachi gave no reply and continued forward.
However, in the very next second, both of them stopped simultaneously. Two figures were approaching them directly on the forest path, making no attempt to hide.
"We've been exposed!" Kisame was slightly surprised.
They had slipped in during the brief window when the Sunagakure delegation drew the village's attention. Their movements had been extremely fast; he hadn't expected anyone to detect them so quickly.
Rustle... rustle...
Footsteps emerged from the shadows. Shinichi stepped out from behind a tree first, with Sasuke following close behind. His face was pale, but his eyes burned a vivid crimson—the two tomoe spinning wildly within them.
Four pairs of eyes met in the dappled forest light. Though Shinichi radiated a heavy, oppressive aura, Itachi paid him no mind, his gaze fixed solely on Sasuke.
Six years had passed. The young child who used to cling to him had grown into a resolute young man.
Itachi couldn't help but greet him. "Long time no see, Sasuke."
Sasuke's body trembled, his jaw clenched tight. "...Itachi."
Even though Shinichi had just revealed the truth, Sasuke couldn't immediately let go of the deep-seated resentment in his heart.
"Oh my." Off to the side, Kisame watched the pair with interest. His sharp instincts sensed a crushing pressure—like being dragged into the depths of the ocean— but it didn't diminish his interest in the unfolding drama.
"He has the Sharingan... and he looks quite a bit like you, Itachi." Kisame tilted his head. "So... who is he?"
"He is my younger brother."
"Brother?" Kisame raised what little remained of his eyebrows, his smile turning playful. "How interesting… I heard you wiped out the entire Uchiha clan yourself." He glanced between Itachi and Sasuke. "I didn't expect you to leave yourself a brother."
Those words instantly ignited the bitterness Sasuke had been suppressing.
"Shut up!"
With a roar, Sasuke's hands blurred through a rapid sequence of seals.
Tiger, Rabbit, Monkey…
Dazzling lightning burst to life in Sasuke's palm, the harsh blue glow casting sharp light across his face. In the same instant, he stomped down hard.
Boom!
Dirt and fallen leaves exploded outward as his figure blurred into a blue-white afterimage, charging straight at Itachi.
"Uchiha Itachi—I'm going to kill you!"
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