As Sasuke stepped out of the shrine, a figure cloaked in a black robe adorned with red clouds disappeared in the distance.
"Itachi!"
Sasuke's eyes instantly transformed into the three-tomoe Sharingan, and his expression twisted with rage.
"So, it *was* him who destroyed the shrine. Is he afraid I might find the clues to awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan? Damn it!"
He suddenly felt a pang of regret.
If he had known Uchiha Itachi would come to destroy the shrine, he would have gone there directly after leaving the training grounds.
But it was too late now.
"No matter. I'll catch up to him. This time, even if it costs me my life, I will kill him!"
Having made up his mind, Sasuke immediately used the Body Flicker Technique to chase after Itachi in the direction he had disappeared.
---
About ten minutes later, Sasuke followed Itachi's trail through the Konoha forest and arrived at a high cliff.
Two men were standing there.
One was Itachi, dressed in his signature black cloak with red clouds. The other was Shigeo Aburame, wearing a red robe.
"What's he doing here?"
Sasuke narrowed his eyes and quickly concealed himself among the nearby trees, creeping closer to eavesdrop on their conversation.
He dared not get too close, fearing he would be discovered.
Fortunately, night had fallen, and the surroundings were silent. Even at a distance of several meters, Sasuke could hear their conversation clearly.
---
"What did you call me here for?"
Shigeo Aburame's voice was calm but tinged with impatience.
"You should know your current position. Returning to the village recklessly will cause a lot of trouble. Aren't you worried that the secret from back then will be exposed?"
*The secret from back then?*
*What secret?*
Sasuke's eyes widened as he fixed his gaze on Itachi.
Under Sasuke's watchful eyes, Itachi finally spoke.
"No one will know about that secret. These past two years, you've taken care of Sasuke, and I'm very grateful for that, Shigeo-senpai."
"No need for thanks. It was just a convenient task."
Shigeo Aburame waved dismissively, then tilted his head slightly.
"And you? Surely you didn't return just to thank me. There must be another reason, right?"
"Indeed." Itachi nodded. "I went to see Danzō."
"Danzō?"
At the mention of that name, Shigeo immediately frowned.
"That man has always been hostile to the Uchiha. If he hadn't used Sasuke to threaten you back then, you wouldn't have been forced into that situation. Why would you go see him?"
*What?!*
Sasuke, still hidden, felt as if he had been struck by lightning. His face was filled with shock.
"Itachi… my brother… He was forced to… because of me? That can't be true…"
In that moment, Sasuke's mind was thrown into complete chaos.
---
Meanwhile, Itachi continued speaking.
"I went to warn Danzō. I told him that if anyone dares to harm Sasuke, I will expose Konoha's secrets."
"A waste of effort."
Shigeo frowned as he turned to Itachi.
"Sasuke is under my protection. No one in Konoha can touch him—not even Danzō. Or do you not trust me?"
"…"
Itachi didn't respond. He simply gazed at Shigeo with a calm expression.
For about two minutes, the two men stared at each other in silence. Finally, Shigeo raised his hands in concession.
"Fine. I admit I've been a bit harsh on Sasuke. Taking his money was just to help him become more self-reliant. Besides, I've made him stronger, haven't I? Also—"
"Just keep things as they are."
Itachi interrupted him, speaking in a composed tone.
"Becoming stronger also brings more danger. It will attract those with ill intentions. Keeping things as they are is fine."
"Keep things as they are?"
Shigeo frowned again, then spoke in a low voice.
"What about the truth? The truth about the Uchiha clan's annihilation and the real culprit? Are you going to keep hiding it? Let your beloved brother hate you forever?"
"It doesn't matter."
Itachi smiled faintly, his face filled with warmth.
"I will be the obstacle he must overcome. Even if he hates me, I want to live alongside him. That's what it means to be an elder brother. Senpai, may I ask one last favor?"
"Alright." Shigeo nodded. "As long as it's not too troublesome."
"Heh… It's actually not that complicated… *cough, cough, cough…*"
Suddenly, Itachi coughed violently, and bright red blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.
Seeing this, Shigeo's brows furrowed deeply once again.
"Your health is worsening. If you don't take care of yourself, you won't have long to live."
"That doesn't matter." Itachi waved a hand weakly. "As long as you promise me… *cough, cough…*"
Watching Itachi cough up more blood, Shigeo nodded quickly.
"Alright, alright. I promise. What is it?"
"Heh… Senpai, you're such a kind person."
Itachi smiled faintly, then reached up and gouged out his own eyes. He held them out to Shigeo.
"I'm entrusting these eyes to you. Please give them to Sasuke at the right time. This is the only thing I, as his brother, can do for him… *cough, cough…*"
"…"
Shigeo stared at the offered eyes in silence for a moment before speaking in a strained voice.
"For Sasuke, you're willing to go this far? Alright, I accept."
He stepped forward and took Itachi's eyes, then asked, "I'll hold onto these. What are you planning to do next?"
"I don't want Sasuke to see me in such a pitiful state."
As Itachi spoke, he backed up until he was at the edge of the cliff.
"Wait!"
Shigeo reached out to grab him, his voice urgent. "Are you planning to kill yourself? What about Sasuke after you're gone?"
"Isn't he in your care, Senpai?"
Itachi smiled again, his face full of trust.
"Senpai, you were my father's closest friend and the person I respect most. With Sasuke in your hands, I have no worries. So… please don't stop me."
"…"
Shigeo remained silent but eventually let go of Itachi's hand.
As he did, Itachi's body began to tilt backward toward the edge of the cliff.
At that moment, Sasuke, who had been hiding, could no longer hold back.
"Brother!"
He shouted and used the Body Flicker Technique to dash in front of Itachi, reaching out to grab him.
But just as he was about to grasp Itachi's hand, the latter dodged the attempt and gently placed two fingers on Sasuke's forehead.
"Forgive me, Sasuke. This is the last time."
With those words, Itachi fell off the cliff, plunging into the roaring Naka River below.
"Brother!"
Sasuke screamed, tears of blood streaming down his face from his wide, shocked eyes.
At the same time, his three-tomoe Sharingan morphed into a complex six-pointed star pattern.
The Mangekyō Sharingan—
had awakened.
*(End of Chapter)*