Chapter 171: Oh no, this kid’s lost it. 

In the Uchiha compound, a young Sasuke was crying as he ran toward his home. On both sides of the street, countless bodies lay on the ground.

Some died with their eyes wide open, some passed peacefully, and others clung to their loved ones. But without exception, they were all lifeless.

Everyone stood beside the young Sasuke. Except for Hagoromo and Kurama, everyone was stunned. Kushina, holding Sasuke tightly, clenched her teeth, her eyes unconsciously shifting into the Sharingan.

Sasuke looked at his younger self as if staring at an enemy—filled with hatred, anger... and helplessness.

Kushina instinctively hugged Sasuke, using her gentleness to comfort his heart, which was on the verge of collapsing. How could his heart not break upon seeing this scene?

But with Kushina's comfort, Sasuke didn't explode in anger. Instead, he took a deep breath. Though his hands remained tightly clenched, at least on the outside, he seemed to have calmed down.

Following the steps of his younger self, Sasuke slowly began to speak, "I will never forget that day. On my way home from school, I found that everyone I knew was already dead. They were lying in pools of blood, their faces full of shock and anger."

"I was really scared at that time, but I had to find my mom and dad. I wanted to know what had happened."

Sasuke looked up, staring at his younger self who was still running. The calmness on his face turned cold. "But what I saw was my mom and dad, lying in a pool of blood just like everyone else. And the person who killed them was that guy..."

Sasuke looked up at the front, where the clan leader's residence stood. Inside, a bloody figure leaned against the shadows.

As young Sasuke entered the room, the scene before Kushina shocked her again. She gasped, unable to believe what she was seeing. "Itachi? How could it be Itachi?"

She had thought of countless possibilities, even considering that Konohagakure might destroy the Uchiha clan. But no matter what, she never imagined that the one who killed the entire Uchiha clan would be Itachi. That gentle Itachi who loved sweets?

How could this be?

Meanwhile, Minato seemed to be thinking deeply. The scene before him seemed to remind him of something.

The scene ended with Itachi saying that he was testing Sasuke's will, and using Tsukuyomi to imprint the process of him slaughtering the Uchiha clan into Sasuke's mind.

In the end, Sasuke passed out, and Itachi left.

It seemed like the story ended there.

Sasuke stayed silent, lowering his head, lost in thought. Kushina, feeling heartbroken, hugged him tightly. "It's okay, Sasuke. It's okay..."

When Kushina said "it's okay," she didn't mean that it was okay that Sasuke's entire family was dead. She was trying to tell him that what he was seeing was just a Genjutsu, not reality. So, it was even more important to calm his heart.

She wouldn't tell Sasuke to let go of his hatred, because even she still held a grudge against the people who destroyed the Uzumaki village. Her experience was somewhat similar to Sasuke's, but also completely different. She held a grudge against those who destroyed her village, while Sasuke's grudge... was against his own brother.

Hagoromo watched this scene quietly for a moment before speaking slowly, "What you are seeing now is what Uchiha Itachi wanted you to see. But next, I will project into your mind what he left behind but didn't want you to see."

"Do you still want to see it?"

Sasuke suddenly looked up, his Sharingan blazing in his eyes. "Please!" 

Naruto released his grip on Minato's hand and slowly walked up to Sasuke, a worried expression on his face. "Sasuke..."

"I'm fine, Naruto," Sasuke shook his head, a self-mocking smile on his face. "What difference does it make if I avoid it? These things have already happened. What I need to do now is take revenge on that person!"

Naruto hesitated for a moment, then nodded silently, understanding.

Hagoromo watched the scene and sighed with Kurama, who was beside him. Then, with a wave of his hand, the screen darkened again.

As the light and shadows shifted, the vibrant colors of Madara once again appeared before everyone's eyes.

This time, the story was a normal one. A genius boy was born into the Uchiha clan, unsure of the meaning of life. Confused, he saved an enemy on the battlefield, only to be betrayed when the enemy discovered he was a Konohagakure ninja. In the end, he quickly killed that ninja.

It was almost ironic that Itachi's story was always full of contradictions.

He loved his younger brother, but his own talent made his brother feel unfair. He loved his family, yet he had to watch those he cared about try to start a civil war against the village he loved.

He and his friend discussed ways to bring peace to the world, even willing to sacrifice their lives for it, only to be betrayed, simply because his surname was Uchiha.

When he watched his usually loving family try to start a civil war, when he saw his father remain silent, when he saw his friend betray his sincerity, when he watched his friend use his life to make a statement...

And in the end, his sacrifices meant nothing, and his friend's death was pointless.

Why?

He didn't understand. In his moment of confusion, someone approached him, a man claiming to be Uchiha Madara, telling him that the Uchiha clan was a decaying one.

When he tried to refuse, another person came to him: the Third Hokage of the village, asking him to end the village's internal strife, because the village could no longer withstand more turmoil.

At that time, Konohagakure had lost Hatake Sakumo, the Three Ninjas, the Fourth Hokage, and the Jinchuriki of the Tailed Beasts. Konohagakure was the weakest it had ever been, and the Third Hokage did not want a civil war.

Having tried everything to prevent the Uchiha uprising, Itachi remembered the man who claimed to be Uchiha Madara, and he hesitated.

Faced with the Third Hokage's request, he only wanted one thing: for the Third Hokage to protect the name Uchiha, and to take care of his younger brother, Sasuke.

The Third Hokage agreed.

That night was the Uchiha Massacre.

Everyone watched as Itachi cried in front of his parents, unable to speak. They all stared in shock at the boy, watching as his parents said to him...

"Don't hesitate. Our pain is just a moment compared to yours."

"Even if we have different thoughts, we are still proud of you."

"Itachi, you really are a kind child."

The scene suddenly flickered, and what appeared before everyone again was a young Sasuke pushing open the door and walking up to Itachi.

Seeing the look on the face of this boy, not yet twenty, who had killed his beloved with his own hands; seeing Itachi, trying to appear cold in front of his most beloved little brother; seeing Itachi kneeling before the Third Hokage, begging him to protect Sasuke…

One scene after another, one image after another, unfolded and then faded away, finally forming an unexpected picture.

The genjutsu ended...

The first to speak was Minato. He lowered his head, looking at the surface of the water, where his reflection appeared: "Compared to Itachi, what I've done... can only be called selfish."

He and Itachi were very similar. Both had given up everything for the ones they loved, both had taken on all the consequences for the village.

But the consequences Minato took on were borne by Naruto, while Itachi... right now, he still carried the name of 'traitor,' protecting Konohagakure amidst countless insults.

"Why?" Sasuke took two steps back, unable to believe it. His eyes, which had already decided not to shed more tears, began to overflow with hot tears once again. "Why! Itachi! There had to be a better way, didn't there? You didn't have to do this, did you?"

Sasuke went crazy, hysterically staring at the scene in front of him. His Sharingan spun rapidly, black curse marks spreading all over his body. "Konohagakure! That place! That village..."

"Sasuke!" Naruto shouted loudly.

Sasuke's voice grew fainter and fainter.

The black curse marks stopped. Tears continued to fall from Sasuke's eyes, never ceasing.

Sasuke looked at Naruto, his eyes filled with confusion. "Naruto, tell me, why? Why did it have to come to a coup? Why did it have to go this far? Why... why, even after seeing this side of Itachi, I still... can't bring myself to hate Konohagakure?"

"Why, Naruto?"

"Please... tell me..."

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