Relying on his powerful genjutsu, Itachi passed through the front gate of the City of Peace and steadily made his way toward Sasuke's residence.
But the closer they got, the more bizarre and surreal the scenery became.
It was the dead of night. Two white lanterns hung at the entrance to Sasuke's home, glowing faintly with an eerie green light. In the courtyard, two tall trees had been transplanted—one cherry tree, and... another cherry tree.
Rumor had it that Sasuke, with his twisted temperament, had once scalded the two thriving cherry trees to death by dousing them with boiling water. Then, beneath the lifeless trunks, he planted creeping vines and wisteria.
When the flowers bloom, the rotten, withered branches are tangled in lush greenery and cascading violet blossoms, creating a scene at once beautiful and grotesque.
The green light from the lanterns lit up the hanging wisteria, their shadows dancing across the ground with the breeze. There was something chillingly off about it—something deeply unsettling.
But Itachi and Kisame's wills were resolute. Whatever strange unease lingered in the air, they quickly cast it aside.
Suddenly—bang!—a puff of white smoke dispersed, and a figure appeared beneath the trees.
Both Itachi and Kisame turned their heads simultaneously, their eyes locking onto the man beneath the branches.
Uchiha Sasuke.
Seeing his younger brother again, Itachi narrowed his eyes, trying to get a clear look at his face. But his eyesight had deteriorated too much—no matter how hard he tried, all he could make out was a blurry outline.
Was that really... Sasuke?
A heavy, overwhelming sense of unease surged in Itachi's chest. He forcibly pushed down his rising emotions and flickered into the courtyard.
"Sasuke. It's been a long time." Itachi's expression was stern, his voice cold—his performance as flawless as ever.
"It really has been a while…" Sasuke gave Itachi a slow, deliberate once-over. His eyes were laced with mockery, contempt, disdain—and an overwhelming grudge, almost suffocating in its intensity.
"Ever since our last encounter, my brain, my heart—every organ in my body—has longed to see you again. Do you know just how much I've missed you? Of course, I'm not the only one. There are two others who've been yearning to meet you as well. They really can't wait to see you~"
With that, Sasuke grinned and let out a high-pitched, grating laugh that echoed throughout the courtyard.
Itachi's brow furrowed. Something felt off.
Then Sasuke's voice came again.
"My dearest big brother, to commemorate this special day, I've prepared a little gift just for you. I hope you like it."
Before Itachi could respond, Sasuke summoned two coffins with a puff—and vanished in another swirl of smoke.
"A shadow clone?" Kisame narrowed his eyes at the coffins. "Looks like he knew we were coming. This reeks of a trap."
Itachi said nothing, his eyes fixed on the coffins. Images of what had happened to Danzō and the others flickered through his mind. A terrible guess began to form—but he didn't want to believe it.
Crack.
The coffin lids slid open.
Two pale figures stepped out, their skin cracked like old porcelain.
Itachi's pupils contracted sharply. He could no longer maintain his calm.
He knew them—too well to ever forget.
"Itachi, my child. My beloved son. You finally came to see your mother." The first to speak was Uchiha Mikoto. Her face was gentle and full of maternal love—but her voice was steeped in sorrow and despair.
That despair felt tangible, chilling Itachi to the bone.
"Your mom? Wait—wasn't she dead?" Kisame said, startled.
Itachi: "…" His thoughts were thrown into chaos. His fists clenched, tempted to deck Kisame right then and there—but on second thought, Kisame was just stating the obvious... hopefully not being passive-aggressive?
"We are dead," Uchiha Fugaku said flatly. "Sasuke summoned us back."
"He told us Itachi was planning something outrageous—something so unforgivable that, despite the bond between you two, he couldn't bring himself to fight you personally. So, he brought us back to teach you a lesson, you ungrateful child!"
Fugaku's voice carried a storm of personal emotion. Itachi opened his mouth, hesitating. He wanted to explain, to plead,
"Father, Mother, you don't know what Sasuke has done…"
But Fugaku cut him off. "We know everything! Sasuke eliminated the reactionary forces in Konoha and became the Shogun, serving the nation with unwavering loyalty. Everything he's done has brought honor to our clan. He is the pride of the Uchiha!"
Truthfully speaking, Sasuke's accomplishments were indeed the highest in Uchiha history. After being brought back through Reanimation, Fugaku had listened to Sasuke recount how he had endured, plotted, and ultimately pulled Konoha down from its pedestal—passing judgment on the village from a place of moral superiority.
He had avenged his parents, preserved the Uchiha's honor, and reclaimed their rightful place.
Fugaku could barely contain his excitement.
Damn, it felt good—like chugging an ice-cold soda on a scorching summer day!
My son Sasuke is a shinobi god in the making!
Hmph. About time Konoha got what was coming!
Serves them right!
Watching his father's expression grow increasingly fanatical, Itachi fell silent.
He couldn't help but wonder—what exactly had Sasuke told them? Had he twisted the truth, whitewashed his own actions, and smeared others in passing?
"Why aren't you saying anything? Feeling ashamed?" Mikoto's voice cut in, icy and devoid of affection.
"M-Mother?!" Itachi's mind went blank. His lips trembled, grief welling up in his eyes. This was the first time his mother had ever spoken to him with such harshness. A wave of sorrow crashed over him—dragging him back to that unforgettable night.
Why?
Even when he had killed her with his own hands that night, she hadn't looked at him like this.
Why now?
Did Sasuke say something to her?
Sure enough, Mikoto demanded, "Itachi. Back then, you fell in love with Danzō's niece, and for her—for her!—you betrayed your clan. You murdered your own parents."
"We are your mother and father. We can forgive you for being blinded by love. But you promised me. You swore to take care of Sasuke. Have you kept that promise?"
"Are you going to hurt Sasuke again—for that so-called earth-shattering love of yours?!"
Mikoto's voice was drenched in piercing disappointment. The air itself seemed to freeze.
Itachi stared blankly, lips twitching but no sound coming out. A shiver ran down his spine. It felt like an insurmountable wall had risen between him and his parents.
Are we even speaking the same language?
Why can't I understand anything she's saying?
Shimura? Who the hell is that?
Who the hell betrayed the clan for love?!
Everything I did—everything!—was for the village, for peace, for a greater cause!
And now I've been reduced to some tragic, love-struck idiot?
Me? The infamous clan-slayer Itachi? This is humiliating!
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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