When Sasuke deduced Uchiha Itachi's choice, tears once again streamed down his face.
Seeing this, Aburame Shigeo let out a long sigh.
"Ah… For you, Sasuke, Itachi made the cruelest choice. Together with Uchiha Obito, he personally wiped out the entire Uchiha clan..."
"What did you say?"
Sasuke abruptly raised his head, his Mangekyō Sharingan with its six-pointed star design glaring at Aburame Shigeo.
"Obito was involved in the Uchiha massacre too?"
"Yes, according to the intel I've gathered, that's exactly the case," Shigeo confirmed with a nod, raising three fingers.
"There were three parties involved. The mastermind was Danzo, one of the Hokage advisors. Uchiha Obito, who brought the Uchiha to their current plight, and your brother, Uchiha Itachi."
"My brother was forced!" Sasuke roared, clenching his fists tightly.
"It was Danzo and Obito who caused all of this! They deserve to die!"
As he finished, he turned sharply toward Shigeo.
"And how do you know all of this? You weren't in the village at that time, were you?"
"Your brother told me!"
Shigeo adjusted his sunglasses, a trace of reminiscence flashing across his face.
"Back then, under the Third Hokage's orders, I was infiltrating the Akatsuki. Later, I encountered Itachi after he defected from the village and learned the truth from him."
He pounded the desk before him with his fist.
"Damn it! If I had been in Konoha back then, I would never have let this happen! With my relationship with Fugaku, I might have convinced him to abandon the coup! And Danzo, that bastard… Damn it!"
"..."
Seeing Shigeo's remorseful expression, Sasuke was silent for a moment before closing his eyes.
"It's too late for regrets now. Both Obito and Danzo must pay the price for their actions!"
"Bang!"
Shigeo slammed his hand on the desk again and stood up, his voice resolute.
"You're right! Back then, Fugaku was just as capable as Minato, a candidate for the Fourth Hokage. The way things turned out today is directly tied to Obito and Danzo. They must face justice!"
"..."
Seeing Shigeo share his resolve, Sasuke's expression softened somewhat.
Once he calmed down, he spoke again.
"No matter what, I will personally kill Danzo and Obito. You won't stop me, will you?"
"Of course not!" Shigeo waved a hand sternly.
"Danzo is nothing more than a parasite to Konoha. If it weren't for certain circumstances, I would have killed him myself long ago!"
"Good!"
Sasuke nodded and turned to leave, seemingly intent on heading straight for Danzo.
Seeing this, Shigeo quickly called out to him, "Wait, you can't kill him like this!"
"Hmm?"
Hearing this, Sasuke paused and frowned at Shigeo.
"Are you trying to stop me?"
*This fool!*
Cursing inwardly, Shigeo explained,
"Danzo isn't as weak as you think. Even if he can't beat you, if he wants to escape, you won't be able to stop him within the village."
"I won't give him the chance!" Sasuke declared, activating his Mangekyō Sharingan again.
"There's no escaping these eyes!"
Shigeo: "..."
*Damn, Sasuke thinks he's invincible again after calming down!*
Watching Sasuke's overconfidence, Shigeo's lips twitched before posing a question.
"Sasuke, are you aware of a forbidden technique of the Sharingan called Izanagi?"
"You know about Izanagi?" Sasuke asked, surprised.
"That's the ultimate genjutsu, able to transform all unfavorable events, including death, into mere illusions. Simultaneously, it converts favorable events, like attacks, into reality. But the cost is—"
"The Sharingan used for the technique becomes permanently blind!"
Shigeo finished for him and dropped a shocking revelation.
"Danzo can use Izanagi!"
"That's impossible!"
Sasuke's face was filled with disbelief, his wide eyes conveying his shock.
"Danzo isn't an Uchiha. How could he possibly use Izanagi? It requires a Sharingan unless he… uh…"
Realization struck Sasuke mid-sentence, and he fell silent.
Seeing this, Shigeo nodded solemnly.
"Yes, you've guessed it. Danzo can use Izanagi because he transplanted Sharingan. And not just one!"
"What do you mean?" Sasuke frowned.
"Are you saying he transplanted multiple eyes?"
"Yes!"
Shigeo nodded again, revealing Danzo's secret.
"Danzo's right arm, always wrapped in bandages, was transplanted with cells from the First Hokage. Using those cells, he implanted ten Sharingan into his arm, treating them as disposable tools for Izanagi."
"What?"
Sasuke's face turned grim at this revelation.
"How dare he?"
"But he did!"
Shigeo narrowed his eyes, glancing at Sasuke.
"If not for this, do you think I would have let Danzo live? And he has a Mangekyō Sharingan too!"
"A Mangekyō Sharingan?" Sasuke frowned again.
"Whose eye is that?"
"It belonged to Uchiha Shisui!"
Shigeo sighed deeply.
"Shisui once had the power to stop the Uchiha coup. His Mangekyō Sharingan could alter others' thoughts. But Danzo feared that ability and ambushed him, stealing one of his eyes."
"Damn Danzo!"
Sasuke clenched his fists, his eyes brimming with killing intent.
"I swear, I'll kill him!"
"Wait for the right moment!"
Shigeo waved a hand, his voice tinged with helplessness.
"If you confront him now, his Mangekyō Sharingan from Shisui might control you, turning you into his pawn."
"Shisui's Mangekyō is that powerful?" Sasuke asked skeptically.
Shigeo chuckled.
"He didn't earn the title of 'Shisui of the Body Flicker' for nothing. Back then, the Uchiha relied on him to carry out the coup. Without him, do you think they could've delayed their rebellion for a year and a half, even at the cost of his life?"
"..."
Sasuke remained silent for a few moments.
Finally, he asked Shigeo,
"What should I do then?"
"Grow stronger and wait for the right moment!"
Shigeo adjusted his sunglasses, brimming with confidence.
"I already have a plan. When the time comes, we can lure Danzo out of Konoha and force Obito into the open. Then, you can strike them down—but only if you have the power!"
"I understand!"
Sasuke nodded and walked out.
"Don't worry. I won't act recklessly. Until the moment for vengeance arrives, I'll train hard. Thank you for everything you've done for the Uchiha, Shigeo!"
Shigeo: "..."
*Is this how you thank people?*
*Why does this sound so condescending? Damn it, I feel like slapping him!*
(Chapter End)