Itachi asked, "Who are you seeking revenge against?"
The answer to this question was very important to him.
"That masked man, Shimura Danzō, and..."
Sasuke didn't hesitate when he mentioned the first two names.
But when it came to Konoha, he hesitated because he thought of Naruto, his close friend and brother.
If Naruto knew that he was planning to take revenge on Konoha, he would definitely try to stop him, right?
But…
If he doesn't take revenge, will he be able to face his dead parents and clan members?
Thinking back to that night, Sasuke couldn't hold back the two streaks of blood and tears flowing from his eyes.
Revenge!
He must have revenge!!!
"I knew it would come to this." Itachi sighed.
He had debated whether to hide part of the truth from Sasuke to keep him devoted to Konoha.
But then, he thought of the masked man—the one who claimed to be Madara.
Even if he concealed the truth today, what about the others who knew it?
What about the masked man himself?
What if he eventually tells Sasuke everything?
If Sasuke learns the truth from someone else, won't he hate Konoha even more?
Itachi didn't dare to gamble.
So, he decided to reveal everything and see Sasuke's reaction.
If Sasuke only sought revenge on the masked man and Danzō, then Itachi could rest easy.
After all, the original higher ups of Konoha were already dead.
Only the masked man remained. Itachi had wanted to kill him himself but lacked the ability.
If Sasuke wanted revenge against him, Itachi didn't mind. But now, Sasuke resented Konoha as a whole. This was not what Itachi wanted.
"I'm sorry, Sasuke." Itachi suddenly said.
Sasuke, still consumed by pain, glared at him sharply.
Even after learning the truth, his hatred for Itachi had not diminished much.
After all, he had participated in the massacre. He had executed it.
It was he who had killed his parents and clansmen with his own hands.
That fact would never change!
Even if he had spared Sasuke, so what?
Did that erase what he had done?
It didn't!!!
Sasuke could not forgive Itachi nor could he forgive the higher ups of Konoha who had orchestrated everything.
Even if the original higher ups were gone, not all those involved were dead.
The Root ninjas, the Anbu operatives—weren't they all accomplices?
Did they not deserve to die?
Now, the flames of vengeance in Sasuke's heart burned fiercer than ever.
Not just because he had learned the truth about that fateful nightbut because he had just defeated his greatest enemy of the past ten years—Itachi.
Sasuke now believed he had the power to take revenge for his parents and clan.
And he would soon awaken the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan after transplanting Itachi's eyes.
At that point, his strength will far surpass what it is now.
"Don't think I'll forgive you just because you said sorry."
Sasuke looked at Itachi with unyielding resentment.
But…
He had misunderstood what Itachi meant.
Itachi said, "Sasuke, in the future, you will take my place in protecting Konoha."
Itachi looked at his younger brother calmly, completely unfazed by his imminent death.
"Use my eyes to protect the village."
Sasuke sneered, "Itachi, are you delusional?"
Itachi didn't argue. He simply gazed at his younger brother with the same gentle look.
Itachi said, "Everything I did was for your sake."
"Sasuke, one day, you will understand me!"
What nonsense is this guy spouting?!
Sasuke frowned, confused by Itachi's cryptic words.
Just then—
Caw~!
A black-feathered crow with shining eyes landed on Itachi's shoulder.
Instinctively, Sasuke met the crow's gaze.
At that moment, he was shocked to see that the crow's left eye bore the Mangekyō Sharingan.
"What?!"
Sasuke's eyes widened in disbelief.
His instincts screamed that something bad was about to happen.
But it was too late!
"Sasuke, forgive me."
"This is the last time!!"
Itachi's voice was gentle, yet his actions were ruthless.
The next second—
"Kotoamatsukami!"
Itachi activated the powerful genjutsu embedded within the crow's eye.
But at the very same moment—
A hand suddenly clutched the crow's head.
"Plunder!"
In an instant, the Kotoamatsukami that had just been unleashed dissipated.
A pure stream of pupil power was absorbed into another Mangekyō eye—the left eye of Ryosuke.
Within moments, the power of Kotoamatsukami was completely devoured by Ryosuke.
As he released the crow, its left eye turned completely gray and lifeless.
A sign of irreversible blindness.
"You...!!!"
Itachi's eyes widened in utter shock as he recognized the figure before him.
"Itachi, did you really think I wouldn't anticipate this?"
Ryosuke, disguised as Menma, spoke coldly.
"...Heh."
Itachi suddenly let out a bitter laugh.
He realized now that he had lost.
What he had thought was his perfect opportunity had been a trap all along. He had walked right into it.
"Menma-sensei!"
Sasuke, startled by his mentor's sudden appearance realized that he had almost been manipulated by Itachi just now.
Immediately, his shock turned to rage.
"What were you trying to do to me just now?!" Sasuke demanded angrily.
Itachi shook his head with a weary smile. He had no more chances left.
Even if he still had some strength to continue fighting…
Against Menma's overwhelming power, he had no hope of victory.
He had lost.
Utterly!
"That eye belonged to Shisui." Itachi finally admitted.
Menma said, "And within it was the most powerful genjutsu—Kotoamatsukami."
Sasuke asked hastily, "Menma-sensei, what is Kotoamatsukami?"
"Kotoamatsukami is a pupil technique that can alter a person's will and thoughts. Just now, Itachi likely wanted to use it to change your mind and make you protect Konoha forever."
Menma directly exposed Itachi's plan.
Hearing these words, Sasuke felt a storm surge in his heart.
Change a person's mind?
Make him protect Konoha forever?
Sasuke stared at Itachi on the ground, filled with anger and disbelief.
He hadn't expected Itachi to try something like this.
But… why?
Sasuke couldn't help but wonder.
Why didn't he just directly control him, turning him into his puppet, his plaything?
If he did that, wouldn't he be able to take Sasuke's eyes right away?
Protect Konoha?
If you want to protect Konoha so badly, do it yourself.
Why must—
Sasuke didn't understand.
"Don't understand?"
Seeing the change in Sasuke's expression, Menma could guess his thoughts.
Upon hearing this, Sasuke nodded.
He truly couldn't comprehend it.
"Menma-sensei, since Itachi possesses such a terrifying pupil technique, why doesn't he just…?"
Halfway through his sentence, Sasuke hesitated because he suddenly realized something.
"Why doesn't he just control you and take your eyes away?"
Menma finished Sasuke's sentence, then looked at Itachi lying on the ground, his face ashen.
He spoke lightly, "Because he's already dying. Even if he awakens the Eternal Mangekyō, he won't have long to live."
"???"
Is that the truth?
He thought that…
Sasuke clenched his fists tightly.
An inexplicable feeling of being deceived welled up inside him.
He had just thought that Itachi, that bastard, still had some conscience left and couldn't bear to harm his little brother.
But the reality was this?
Menma glanced at Sasuke, then smirked slightly and said, "Of course, Itachi doesn't want to truly hurt his dearest brother. From the very beginning, he had planned to leave his Mangekyō Sharingan to you, letting you take his place—watching over the world like an outsider."
"!!!"
Sasuke's head shot up in disbelief.
Sasuke asked, "Menma-sensei, are you telling the truth?!"
Menma nodded.
He had no reason to lie about something like this.
Itachi, lying on the ground, glanced at him with a trace of surprise.
Just moments ago, when he had heard Menma say he had done this because he was dying, he had thought Menma's understanding was shallow.
But now...
He hadn't expected this man to see through his true inner thoughts as well.
Truly… a terrifying man!
"Damn it!"
Sasuke, after hearing Menma's answer, lowered his head and cursed.
But in his eyes, tears flowed uncontrollably, dripping onto the ground.
That's right.
He still couldn't forgive this bastard of a brother, Itachi.
But knowing that this bastard had meticulously planned everything for him from the beginning…
It made Sasuke's heart ache unbearably.
Why… Why you?
Sasuke roared inwardly.
He lifted his head to look at Itachi.
The latter gazed at him tenderly amd said, "Sasuke, you'll understand me when you grow up."
Sasuke roared, "Bastard! I will never understand you!!!"
"You idiot, you fool! If you loved me so much, why did you take our parents away from me with your own hands?! Why?!!"
Itachi replied, "Everything I did was for the village."
Itachi looked at his tormented younger brother with tenderness.
"The existence of the Uchiha clan had already threatened the peace of the village. As long as the clan disappeared, the village could maintain its peaceful status quo."
"Sasuke, you have to understand—sometimes, the small self must be sacrificed for the greater good."
Hearing this, Sasuke's eyes instantly burned with endless hatred.
"Konoha again?"
He said coldly, "Why should it be my family that gets sacrificed? Why not Konoha?!"
"..."
Itachi wanted to explain his ideology to his younger brother.
But at this moment, Menma smirked and laughed.
"Itachi, you're truly noble. You made such a difficult choice on behalf of others. I'm sure those you sacrificed must be very grateful to you, right?"
Menma's face curled into a mocking smile.
"You people will never understand me."
Itachi shook his head lightly, clearly unwilling to explain himself to Menma.
"I really can't understand your idiotic way of thinking."
Menma shook his head with a smirk.
How could any rational person align their thoughts with a madman's?
Itachi remained indifferent to Menma's ridicule.
He firmly believed he was right.
The world is foolish.
They just don't understand a genius like him.
Originally, he could have made his little brother understand him, agree with him.
But—
It was all because of this man!
Itachi looked at Menma, resentment flickering in his eyes.
If not for him, his plan would have succeeded.
Then Sasuke would have continued to guard the village with these very eyes.
Forever!
"Itachi, you're completely insane!"
Sasuke looked at his brother as if he were a stranger.
Just now, he had almost considered forgiving him.
But now, seeing Itachi's stubborn belief that he was right…
Sasuke suddenly realized he had never truly understood his brother.
When did their thoughts become so irreconcilable?