Nagi introduced himself to the gathered members of the Akatsuki.
"By the way, I never formally introduced myself. My name is Nagi . I'm a shinobi of Konohagakure."
Deidara nodded.
"Ohhh, so you're from the same village as that annoying guy Itachi."
He suddenly remembered something.
"By the way, Nagi —when are you planning to recruit Kisame, Zetsu, that goofy 'intern' Tobi, and that irritating Uchiha Itachi?"
Everyone turned toward Nagi .
He shook his head.
"Tobi is Madara Uchiha's successor. Zetsu is his accomplice. I have no intention of recruiting them."
"What?! Madara Uchiha?!" ×3
Deidara, Sasori, and Kakuzu were stunned.
No one had imagined that the constantly joking, eccentric "intern" was actually Madara's inheritor.
Hidan, meanwhile, simply didn't care—after all, in his mind, Lord Jashin was the only true god.
"I'll explain that later," Konan said. "No need to trouble him to repeat himself."
Nagi continued.
"Kisame was recruited by Tobi. He holds fast to his own convictions and won't betray him easily. Recruiting him would be difficult.
"As for Itachi… he's already terminally ill. And he has his own plan. As members of the Uchiha Clan, the matter between the brothers should be resolved by them alone."
Deidara sighed.
"Too bad I can't blow him up myself. But if he's already like that, then it wouldn't be very artistic. Let the brothers settle it. Hmm."
After giving a few final instructions, Nagi departed.
After all—
Sasuke was waiting.
Konohagakure — Uchiha Clan Compound
Sasuke sat silently on the steps before the Uchiha Shrine.
Earlier that day, he had watched the children of the Uchiha Clan.
Some were attending the Ninja Academy. Some were cooking or washing clothes. Others trained together.
They no longer cried every day for their parents as they once had.
But Sasuke knew the truth.
They hadn't forgotten.
They had simply matured.
They didn't want their parents in the Pure Land to worry about them.
Most of them were younger than he was. Some had been mere infants on the night of the Uchiha Clan Massacre.
Even with caretakers, the pain of loss could not be erased.
Every time Sasuke remembered their small, brave faces pretending to be strong, his fists clenched.
Suddenly—
Nagi appeared beside him in a flicker.
Without lifting his head, Sasuke spoke.
"Root has located Itachi. He's waiting at a remote Uchiha outpost outside the village."
Nagi glanced toward the shrine behind them.
"He's waiting for you."
"…Yeah."
After a long pause, Sasuke stood.
"It's time. This ends today."
The two donned their masks and departed.
Reactions
[Kisame Hoshigaki]: "So the time has finally come, Itachi-san."
[Itachi Uchiha]: "Yes."
[Fugaku Uchiha]: "It has come to this…"
[Mikoto Uchiha]: "Itachi… Sasuke…"
[Madara Uchiha]: "By the looks of it, Itachi will still fall to Sasuke. The real question is—will Sasuke transplant Itachi's eyes and awaken the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan?"
[Ōnoki]: "If he does… would his strength rival Madara's?"
Ōnoki still remembered Madara's overwhelming dōjutsu with lingering fear.
[Mū]: "Don't be foolish. Madara's power wasn't just his eyes. His chakra alone was monstrous."
[Sarutobi Sasuke]: "Back then, Madara alone showed our clan who truly embodied Fire Release."
[Izuna Uchiha]: "Heh. Even without the Sharingan, my brother could crush you."
Ōnoki fell silent.
Outside the Uchiha Outpost
Following Root's intel, Sasuke and Nagi arrived.
Nagi sensed familiar chakra signatures.
"Kisame. Black Zetsu. White Zetsu. It seems Obito isn't here."
As they approached the perimeter, Kisame stepped forward, Samehada resting on his shoulder.
"My apologies. Itachi-san instructed me to allow only his younger brother to pass. I know it's presumptuous… but I must help him."
Nagi nodded.
"I understand. Sasuke—go. This is between you two."
"…Right."
Sasuke dashed toward the compound.
Kisame turned to Nagi .
"Thank you for your understanding."
Nagi regarded him thoughtfully—taking the opportunity to consider recruiting him.
Inside the Outpost
Sasuke followed the dim corridor into the main hall.
At its center sat Itachi Uchiha.
"You've finally come… my foolish little brother."
Sasuke's voice was cold.
"That line belongs to me. My foolish older brother."
Itachi studied him carefully.
"You've grown, Sasuke."
"And you haven't changed at all. How long will you keep playing these pointless games?"
Itachi stood.
"So you've already broken the genjutsu. Impressive. But that was a simple illusion. A Mangekyō Sharingan genjutsu wouldn't be so easily dispelled."
He stepped forward, voice solemn.
"The Mangekyō Sharingan… is special. From the moment it awakens, those eyes begin walking toward darkness. The more you use them, the closer they come to blindness. One day… they will lose their light."
Sasuke didn't even blink.
It was as if he hadn't heard.
Itachi continued.
"If you read the stone tablet at the Naka Shrine, you'd understand the secret of the Mangekyō Sharingan. And the only man who uncovered its true secret… was Madara Uchiha."
Sasuke scoffed.
"Still trying to deceive me? I know more about Madara than you do.
Lightning Release: Chidori Sharp Spear!"
The lightning blade pierced straight through Itachi—
Only for his body to dissolve into a flock of crows.
The crows reassembled elsewhere, forming Itachi once more.
"Oh? So you know of Madara. Then you must also know how to break the Mangekyō's curse.
"That's right. Madara took his brother's Mangekyō Sharingan and awakened the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan. But he is a failure.
"The one who will surpass him… who will reach true heights… is me."
Itachi's expression twisted, bordering on madness.
"Sasuke—you are my new light.
"You are my spare parts.
"The Uchiha Clan… has always been a filthy clan. Killing friends to gain the Mangekyō. Slaughtering kin to obtain eternal rule. A narrow-minded clan that glorifies such power.
"Pathetic. Disgusting.
"Hahaha!"
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