After the Sky Screen concluded, the messenger hawks from the Fifth Mizukage flew across the other Great Nations, but the letters proposing a Five Kage Summit were like stones cast into the ocean.
On Konoha's side, Hiruzen considered it seriously for a few days, but felt it was better to prioritize resolving the threat of Orochimaru before dealing with the Akatsuki.
He had already dispatched people to search the world for traces of Orochimaru, and the Fourth Kazekage, Rasa, also wrote a letter, stating that the Land of Wind suspected they had found traces of Orochimaru and were preparing to join forces with Konoha to eliminate the threat.
Rasa planned to come to Konoha in the coming days to discuss this matter in person, and Hiruzen naturally attached great importance to it.
As for the other Kages, their reactions were even colder. The reason was simple: after all, the Akatsuki had not yet started causing trouble, and while everyone was somewhat wary of them, it was not the most pressing matter.
Furthermore, the Sky Screen had also revealed that in the future, the entire Akatsuki would perish. So what was there to worry about? Once the members of the Akatsuki died, the Tailed Beast would eventually return.
Besides, when the sky falls, the tall ones will hold it up; they certainly couldn't hold up against Nagato.
What if they provoked the Akatsuki, and Nagato, instead of going to Konoha, turned his spear around and hit you with a Shinra Tensei?
What then?
The Five Great Nations already had significant disagreements regarding their respective interests; Ōnoki and A decided to wait and watch Konoha make a fool of itself, while simply strengthening precautions for their own Jinchuriki.
As for Rasa, he was currently thinking about joining forces with Orochimaru to pull a fast one on Konoha—a Five Kage Summit? Talk about a load of crap!
Time quickly passed to the new week.
Amidst the anticipation of the masses, the Sky Screen lit up once again.
[Konoha, Year 50]
Minato stood by the office window, his gaze sharpening.
"It's now basically confirmed that the Sky Screen appears once a week."
Shikaku stood behind him, his finger resting on his chin: "Mm. Based on previous patterns, it does appear once a week. However, whether that will change in the future is impossible to say."
Minato nodded: "Either way, at least there's a pattern to follow. That's good news for us."
'If only this time it would also reveal the details of the Nine-Tails incident...'
On the Sky Screen, the light grew brighter and brighter.
The new episode began:
"Amaterasu!"
A wild voice suddenly burst from the screen, accompanied by a wildly arrogant laugh: "Hahahahaha!"
The scene shifted to reveal the young Uchiha from the previous Team Hebi. He was covering one eye with a single hand, and between his fingers, the eye was clearly not the tomoe shape that the Shinobi World was familiar with—instead, it bore a complex, never-before-seen pattern: the Mangekyō Sharingan.
Black flames burned on the screen, as if they would devour everything.
[If you could freely choose where to be reborn in the Shinobi World, who would turn down a pair of Sharingan? After all, the Hokage World is also called the Legend of Eyes.]
The hearts of everyone in the world tightened.
'The Sharingan… is it really that powerful?'
This was a high level of recognition from the Sky Screen itself!
But…
'Hokage?'
Why "Hokage"? Why not "Raikage" or "Mizukage"?
The expressions of the various Kages grew subtle.
"Hokage…" A's brow furrowed into a knot. "Is this saying that Konoha is the main character?"
Ōnoki floated in mid-air, his expression also unpleasant: "The Legend of Eyes… does mean that Dojutsu is the core?"
Only in Konoha was the atmosphere completely different.
---
[Konoha, Year 52. Hyūga Clan Grounds]
Hiashi and the others had extremely grim expressions. They believed that the Byakugan was in no way inferior to the Sharingan. But with the Sky Screen saying this, the confidence of their clan members was sure to take a heavy blow.
More importantly, it would severely damage the Hyūga clan's reputation, forever keeping them one step below the Uchiha in the Shinobi World.
They had no desire to be eternal second-best. They could only hope that the Third Hokage would come through and ensure that the previously mentioned Uchiha clan massacre would still happen!
[Uchiha Clan Grounds]
The Uchiha, who had moved back to their original clan grounds, were now gathered together watching the Sky Screen. When they heard the specific content, the entire clan grounds erupted in earth-shattering cheers.
"Hahaha! Even the Sky Screen says that if you're going to be reborn, you have to be reborn as an Uchiha!"
"No one can refuse the Sharingan! We are the chosen clan!"
"What are the Senju compared to us? What are the Hyūga? In the eyes of the Sky Screen, there is only the Uchiha!"
Tetsuka's face flushed red with excitement as he grabbed the shoulder of the person next to him: "Did you see that?! The Sky Screen itself is praising us!"
Everyone looked at the wildly laughing young man on the Sky Screen, trying to identify him.
"He looks… a bit familiar?" someone said quietly.
"Familiar? Do we have anyone like this in our clan?"
"He awakened the Mangekyō and he's laughing that stupidly? That doesn't seem like our style… No wonder the Sky Screen called him 'Edgelord' before."
In the center of the crowd, Fugaku sat at a tea table, calmly drinking his tea. Thanks to the previous commotion, the Uchiha's situation had noticeably improved.
But the slight upward curve at the corner of his mouth betrayed his true feelings.
The Uchiha were, after all, the strongest shinobi clan, and the Sky Screen's statement was merely stating the obvious.
Fugaku set down his teacup and looked at the young man laughing arrogantly on the screen. "I just wonder who this 'Edgelord' is. Even though he awakened the Mangekyō, his laughter is way too silly."
Though it had never crossed his mind that his younger son would awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan in the future.
After all, the current Sasuke seemed far less talented compared to Itachi. That child spent all his days chasing after his brother and couldn't even master the most basic Fire Release.
He didn't look at all like someone who could awaken the Mangekyō. And as for his personality… he wasn't this arrogant either.
"Itachi, though… he might be capable of it." Fugaku suddenly thought.
"But Itachi wouldn't laugh like this…" He shook his head and continued drinking his tea.
---
[Konoha, Year 60]
At the Akatsuki hideout where they had gathered again, Itachi stood at the edge of the group, his eye twitching slightly.
Amaterasu!
One of Sasuke's Mangekyō abilities was also Amaterasu. Just like him.
What did this mean?
It meant his plan had succeeded. Sasuke had ultimately awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan. Everything was developing exactly as he had envisioned.
But—
Itachi looked at the young man on the Sky Screen laughing without any trace of dignity and felt utterly speechless inside.
'Why… does his face right now look so punchable?' Was the current Sasuke and this arrogant guy on the Sky Screen really the same person?
Hidan, as if sensing his thoughts, muttered quietly beside him: "This kid laughs way too arrogantly. Just watching him makes me want to punch him."
---
Meanwhile, Team 7 was once again assembled at the training ground. Kakashi had made it a regular routine to have them gather and train first, then watch the Sky Screen together.
"Th-This is me?"
Sasuke stood on the training ground, his expression a mixture of shock and embarrassment, his voice trembling slightly.
Naruto leaned in, looked carefully at the Sky Screen, then at Sasuke, and nodded seriously: "Sasuke, that's you! Even though your laugh is a bit stupid, your face looks exactly the same!"
Sasuke's face instantly darkened: "You're the stupid one!"
"But look, your eyes are all squinted from laughing, your mouth is wide open—"
Naruto imitated the image on the Sky Screen, exaggeratingly opening his mouth wide.
"Hahahaha! It's just like—"
Sasuke kicked at him: "Shut up!"
Naruto dodged and kept laughing, and Sasuke's face grew even darker.
'This look… isn't as cool as before!'
That earlier version of himself—wearing the white kimono, carrying the Kusanagi sword on his back—how cool and handsome was that?
And now? Covering one eye with his hand, laughing like an idiot.
Even though his eyes had become more powerful, his expression was way too stupid!
But… the black flames.
"Amaterasu," Sasuke murmured. "What kind of ability is this?"
Was this his future power?
"And no one can refuse a pair of Sharingan…" Sasuke repeated the Sky Screen's words, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly.
Those words from the Sky Screen made him feel proud.
He, Uchiha Sasuke, would become very strong in the future.
*****
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