Uchiha… Itachi??

"Meeting you really was the best thing that ever happened…"

Naruto's heartfelt words made Sasuke pause. His expression softened slightly, and for a brief moment, something warm flickered in his eyes.

But it was gone in an instant, replaced by cold resolve. His voice turned harsh as he spoke:

"Naruto, no matter what you say, my mind won't change."

"I will never return to Konoha!"

"Instead, I will destroy it—destroy everything about it."

Hearing this, Naruto's bright smile turned bitter. He narrowed his eyes sadly and asked:

"Is this really the only path you can take?"

"Yes. Either kill me and become a hero, or let me kill you. Those are the only choices you have."

"Konoha must pay for everything it did to the Uchiha clan. I'll make sure of it!" Sasuke said, his voice chilling.

Naruto opened his eyes wide, his expression firm with determination.

"I won't become a hero by killing you. And I won't let you kill me either. I'll choose neither of those paths!"

"I..."

[Boom!]

A powerful force erupted between them, pushing them both back. They landed firmly, now standing in the middle of the lake at the Valley of the End.

Naruto stood on the water's surface, his eyes fixed on Sasuke.

"I understand everything now… all your thoughts," Naruto said, his voice heavy.

Sasuke's hatred toward Konoha was real. It was like the hatred Naruto once felt toward the village, only much deeper.

Sasuke had lost his family, his clan, and finally, his brother. Learning the truth must have filled him with unimaginable despair.

Naruto couldn't fully understand. He hadn't experienced that kind of loss. But he knew if he had lost Iruka-sensei, he might have gone mad too.

This contradiction between them was why Naruto struggled to understand Sasuke's pain. But after clashing with him, Naruto began to see it more clearly.

[Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!]

Suddenly, figures emerged from the forest, surrounding Naruto and Sasuke.

They were members of Root.

The moment Danzo learned of Sasuke's defection, he ordered his men to capture him alive.

"The Nine-Tails Jinchūriki is here too?" One of the Root members looked at Naruto with a momentary flicker of surprise before his expression hardened.

"You two, come with us," he ordered coldly.

"What are you trying to do?!" Naruto stepped in front of Sasuke, shouting at them.

"Danzo-sama wants to see you both."

Without further explanation, the Root members charged forward, clearly intent on capturing them alive.

"Caw! Caw! Caw!"

Suddenly, a murder of crows filled the sky, swooping across the Valley of the End. The birds swirled in the air above the lake before gathering in front of Naruto and Sasuke.

A moment later, amidst the dense crows, a figure clad in a black cloak with red clouds appeared out of nowhere.

Seeing this figure, Sasuke's Sharingan widened in shock.

"You're…"

The Root members froze in place, equally stunned. Before they could retreat, the man made a single hand sign and activated his Sharingan.

"Fall into the depths of my genjutsu."

In an instant, the Root members collapsed to the ground, unconscious.

The entire scene unfolded in mere seconds, so quickly that Naruto barely had time to process what had happened. He stared blankly at the man until...

"Uchiha… Itachi," Sasuke muttered, his voice trembling with disbelief.

There he was. Right in front of them.

"Sasuke… and Naruto-kun," Itachi said softly as he turned to face them. His expression was complex, especially as he looked at Sasuke.

His eyes reflected a storm of emotions: guilt, pain, tenderness, and warmth.

But there was no longer any trace of the murderous intent from that fateful night.

Sasuke stayed silent, his brother's sudden appearance leaving him unsure of how to react. He didn't know how to face him, and truthfully, Itachi felt the same.

Naruto, meanwhile, curiously examined the man who was Sasuke's older brother.

For a while, an uneasy silence blanketed the lake.

[Whoosh!]

A figure suddenly arrived. It was Kakashi.

"Kakashi-sensei?" Naruto called out in surprise as he saw his teacher.

"Naruto, come here!" Kakashi ordered, his tone firm as his cautious eyes landed on Itachi.

Even with everything the sky had revealed about Itachi, Kakashi's wariness didn't waver. His expression flickered with complexity.

"Kakashi-san, you don't need to worry. I've always been Uchiha Itachi of Konoha," Itachi said calmly.

Hearing this, Kakashi's tension eased slightly, though his emotions grew more complicated.

Years ago, when they worked together in the ANBU, Kakashi had respected Itachi. But when Itachi committed the massacre, Kakashi was left baffled and hurt by his actions.

Hearing the word "Konoha," Sasuke scowled deeply, his dissatisfaction rising.

Why? Why did Itachi still align himself with Konoha after everything they did to him?

"This isn't the place to talk. Let's move. Itachi, you're coming with us," Kakashi said, his tone serious.

"Understood," Itachi replied with a slight nod.

As the group moved, Sasuke's eyes stayed on Itachi's back. His mind swirled with confusion and frustration.

How was he supposed to face this man now?

After everything that had happened, Sasuke knew things could never return to the way they were.

As Sasuke brooded, Naruto caught up to him and lightly bumped his shoulder, flashing him a bright smile.

The simple gesture lifted Sasuke's spirits slightly.

At least… at least he wasn't alone.

[Hokage's Office]

Kakashi successfully brought everyone back to the village.

"Lord Third," Itachi greeted Hiruzen respectfully, bowing slightly.

Hiruzen wasn't surprised to see him. With a heavy sigh, he replied:

"Itachi, you've carried such a burden all these years. The Uchiha clan's fate should never have rested on your shoulders alone."

"You did all you could, Lord Third. If anyone is to blame, it's our clan for making things so difficult for you," Itachi said, shaking his head. His tone carried no resentment.

He had accepted the weight of his actions long ago.

Hiruzen sighed deeply, while Sasuke glared coldly at him.