Chapter 154: The Truth...

Naruto and Sasuke were still racing ahead at full speed, using the Body Flicker Technique. The scenery around them blurred as it shot past. After covering some more ground, they suddenly spotted a familiar figure up ahead.

It was a man wearing a scratched-out Konoha forehead protector and a cloak with red clouds: Uchiha Itachi.

Sasuke's eyes blazed with fury. Without any hesitation, he charged straight at Itachi!

"Boom!"

He streaked forward like lightning, instantly closing in on Itachi. However, at the very moment Sasuke was about to reach him, Itachi's form flickered and vanished from where he stood. When he reappeared, he had already used the Body Flicker to put some distance between them.

Itachi's motive was clear—he wanted to lure Sasuke away from Kirigakure's domain so he could give his foolish little brother a proper "lesson."

After all, Sasuke had recklessly come to Kirigakure in the Land of Water with insufficient means to protect himself, which was far too dangerous.

Sasuke failed to grasp Itachi's intention. The moment he spotted Itachi, all he could think about was revenge. He rushed after Itachi without a second thought. Seeing this, Naruto also didn't hesitate—he followed right behind Sasuke.

Up ahead, Itachi moved quickly, drawing Naruto and Sasuke in pursuit. At the same time, he felt a hint of surprise. It hadn't been that long since he'd last seen Sasuke, but Sasuke's strength had clearly grown tremendously.

"As expected of Senshi's teaching," Itachi thought. "Only someone like him could make Sasuke improve so much in such a short time."

With that thought, Itachi decided to test Sasuke's abilities. He led Naruto and Sasuke through the forested mountains for a while and finally stopped in a dense, lush woodland. Once Itachi halted, Sasuke—now somewhat calmer—also came to a stop.

Itachi glanced at him and asked in a flat tone, "What are you doing in Kirigakure?"

Sasuke answered without hesitation, "I'm here for one reason—to kill you and avenge all the Uchiha!"

Itachi arched an eyebrow slightly. While it wasn't exactly a secret that the Akatsuki's main base was in Amegakure, the whereabouts of its core members were rarely known. He couldn't help wondering how Sasuke had figured out his location so accurately.

He asked offhandedly, "How did you know I was here?"

Sasuke didn't reply; instead, he said coldly, "Uchiha Itachi, you're going to pay for your crimes!"

Even before he finished speaking, he had already drawn a kunai and rushed at Itachi. Itachi, seeing this, also pulled out a kunai, prepared to square off against Sasuke. He was keen to see just how far Sasuke's training had come.

But Sasuke wasn't alone. Naruto likewise whipped out a kunai without hesitation, charging forward and shouting, "Sasuke, I'm with you!"

Sasuke did not refuse. Though he wanted to take vengeance for the Uchiha clan himself, Itachi was simply too powerful; Sasuke alone stood no chance of fulfilling his goal.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Their kunai struck viciously in midair, each impact ringing with a crisp clash of metal and throwing off sparks. Itachi's face remained expressionless, but inwardly he was astonished. He realized that Naruto's and Sasuke's taijutsu techniques and combat experience now far exceeded most ninjas their age—indeed, they stood at the very apex.

However, Itachi had no intention of allowing the battle to continue at this moderate pace. He soon upped his tempo, forcing Naruto and Sasuke to feel enormous pressure.

"Pow! Pow!"

Itachi caught both of them off-guard, planting a kick on each that sent Naruto and Sasuke flying. But Sasuke promptly scrambled back up, forming hand signs with lightning speed. "Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!"

Seeing this, Itachi did likewise. "Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!"

Two scorching fireballs collided violently in midair, scattering flames in all directions. Meanwhile, seizing the instant they clashed, Naruto hurled a kunai at Itachi from the side.

Swish! Itachi didn't so much as glance at Naruto's attack; he flung a kunai of his own.

Clang!

The two kunai collided in midair and went spinning off, embedding themselves in a nearby tree. After pinning down Sasuke with the Great Fireball Technique, Itachi leapt into the air, making more hand signs. "Fire Style: Phoenix Sage Fire Jutsu!"

Swish! Swish! Swish!

Countless smaller fireballs rained down on Naruto and Sasuke like a meteor shower. Naruto didn't hesitate; he immediately employed his signature move. "Aura Sphere!"

A black sphere formed swiftly in his hand, then streaked toward Itachi in midair. At the same time, Sasuke's entire body flared with Lightning Chakra, cloaking him in Lightning Release armor.

Swoosh!

Sasuke shot off like lightning. With Naruto's Aura Sphere forcing Itachi to dodge, Sasuke guessed exactly where Itachi would evade.

"Hell Stab: Four Finger Nukite!"

Sasuke used the "strongest spear" from Kumogakure's Lightning Release taijutsu—a blow with four extended fingers.

Splurch!

With a muffled sound, Sasuke's hand went straight through Itachi's heart. Sasuke didn't even have time to rejoice in his successful strike before the Itachi he impaled abruptly dissolved into a flock of crows that scattered in all directions. Those crows re-formed into Itachi's likeness a short distance away—while Sasuke's body abruptly froze, unable to move.

"Dammit!" Sasuke's heart sank.

He realized instantly that he had fallen under a genjutsu, that Itachi had manipulated his vision before Sasuke even noticed. There was no need to ask "When did this happen?" because Sasuke knew it had been the very moment he closed in with the Four-Finger Nukite.

Fortunately, he wasn't alone. Next to him was a reliable partner—Naruto. True to form, Naruto did not disappoint. He saw Sasuke, crackling with Lightning Chakra, suddenly lose consciousness and drop from the air like a bird with broken wings.

Naruto quickly rushed in to catch him. Seeing Sasuke's blank gaze, Naruto realized Sasuke was under a genjutsu. He immediately gave external stimulation—a resounding slap across Sasuke's face—to break the illusion.

Smack!

Jolted awake, Sasuke instantly declared, "He's too strong. We have to go all-out from the start!"

Itachi: (O_O)???

Itachi was surprised by Sasuke's words.

Sasuke's prowess was impressive enough, but still significantly below his own. Even so, Itachi felt a measure of joy at Sasuke's growth. After all, Sasuke was just eleven years old and already this strong. Where would he stand in a few years' time?

What shocked Itachi even more was that Sasuke apparently hadn't been fighting at full power. That gave Itachi not only a sense of pride, but a hint of anticipation. Yet right when he was expecting Sasuke to show his true strength, the scene in front of him took a strange turn—Naruto and Sasuke abruptly stood on either side of him, no longer attacking, and then…started dancing.

Rubbing his forehead, Itachi clenched his fist. "Just what kind of weird stuff did Senshi teach my idiot otouto?! The kid used to be normal—now he's dancing on the battlefield!"

Naruto and Sasuke clearly didn't care what Itachi thought. They stood on opposite sides, moving perfectly in sync, left hand, right hand, moving in slow unison as they gradually closed in. Driven to the edge, Itachi prepared to thrash them so hard they wouldn't dare leave Konoha again—until, at last, their dance finished. Their index fingers met precisely.

Boom!

In the next instant, a brilliant white light exploded forth, illuminating the entire forest. Just moments ago, Itachi had been inwardly seething at Senshi—how had his brother been taught something so bizarre? But now, the moment Naruto and Sasuke completed their Fusion Dance, Itachi's attitude changed drastically.

A powerful gust of energy swept across the area as that dazzling white light gradually faded. Itachi's eyes widened in disbelief at what happened before him.

"What sort of ninjutsu is this?!"

He was utterly stunned. Only moments earlier, Naruto and Sasuke had been performing that ridiculous dance, but now they had fused in some astonishing way to form a brand-new ninja. Even for someone as knowledgeable as Itachi, it defied all reason.

The fused "Narusuke" bore the traits of both Naruto and Sasuke—his face more closely resembled Sasuke's, yet his hair was Naruto's unmistakable blond. He wore a strange outfit Itachi had never seen before, making him both unfamiliar and faintly recognizable all at once.

While Itachi was still reeling at the Fusion Dance's effect, Narusuke attacked without hesitation.

Swoosh!

Narusuke moved at amazing speed, forcing Itachi to concentrate completely. A moment's inattention, and he almost took a direct hit. He quickly activated his Mangekyō Sharingan, pushing his visual acuity to the max just to dodge Narusuke's first blow.

"He's even faster than me..."

Itachi felt a jolt of alarm and realized he could not underestimate this foe.

"SUSANOO!"

Without hesitation, Itachi unleashed one of his strongest jutsu. A massive, orange-red Susanoo rose up. At first, it was just a giant, transparent skeleton, but it swiftly sprouted flesh and legs, ultimately encased in heavy armor. The giant grasped a Totsuka Blade and held the Yata Mirror, towering behind Itachi in a show of intimidating might.

Yet Narusuke showed no inclination to back down. He had already confronted Obito's Susanoo before and wasn't unfamiliar with such power.

"Four-Finger Nukite!"

Narusuke roared, lightning flickering over him, and he bolted like a living thunderbolt toward Susanoo.

Boom!

Narusuke's Four-Finger Nukite smashed into the Yata Mirror Susanoo held. Though incredibly powerful, that thrust was useless against the mirror, which could block all attacks, so Itachi emerged unscathed.

"Three-Finger Nukite!"

Narusuke didn't let up—he attacked again, extending three fingers like a piercing spear of lightning, striking once more at the Yata Mirror.

Boom!

And yet, even with the Three-Finger Nukite, the mirror held firm. Seeing this, Narusuke dropped his prior technique and switched to an even faster Lightning ninjutsu—Thunder Punch!

Lightning flared powerfully across Narusuke's body, and his fists hammered at the Yata Mirror like thunderclaps.

"Ora Ora ORA!"

His fists pounded away like drumbeats, every blow carrying tremendous force. Yet, the Yata Mirror, being a powerful spiritual artifact, held off that violent barrage without wavering. From Susanoo's brow, Itachi stared in surprise at Narusuke's assault. He silently reflected:

"This jutsu is definitely something Senshi taught them. I don't know why they're shouting like that while using Thunder Punch, but there's no denying this fusion technique is extraordinary."

Itachi knew that without Susanoo, he wouldn't be a match for Narusuke right now. Although it wasn't purely Sasuke's own strength, Sasuke's ability to combine forces so effectively still delighted Itachi.

Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!

Sparks of lightning danced over Narusuke's entire body as his fists battered the Yata Mirror like a raging storm. Yet even though his attacks were ferocious, the mirror never broke. Realizing the effort was wasted, Narusuke changed tactics. But at that moment, Itachi already had Susanoo swing the Totsuka Blade in a slash at him.

Buzz!

Narusuke's eyes instantly shifted to a bright blue three-tomoe Sharingan. The combination of Mind's Eye of the Kagura and the Sharingan gave him remarkable perception and sensory abilities. So when Itachi's blade came down, Narusuke swiftly dodged, putting some distance between himself and Susanoo.

Originally, Itachi had planned to hold back, using combat to spur Sasuke to greater growth rather than truly trying to beat him. But Narusuke's abilities astonished him. The moment the Totsuka Blade struck, Narusuke was already out of range. Without pausing, he launched another Aura Sphere attack.

"Aura Sphere!"

"Muda, Muda, MUDA!"

With a furious roar, Narusuke fired black energy spheres like cannon rounds at Susanoo. Itachi raised the Yata Mirror to block, his eyes fixed on Narusuke's unusual blue three-tomoe Sharingan. He found it baffling. Never in Uchiha history had he heard of or seen a Sharingan like this.

Still reeling from the sight, Itachi watched Narusuke ramp up his assault yet again.

"Adamantine Sealing Chains!"

Rattle… clang… clang!

Countless chains shot from Narusuke's body, coiling around Susanoo like serpentine beasts. Itachi tried to sever them with the Totsuka Blade, and while some were sealed, others bound Susanoo's arms tight. Locked in a contest of strength, Itachi realized he couldn't effectively wield the Totsuka Blade for another strike at the moment.

By this point in the battle, Itachi was deeply surprised. Although he still had reserves of strength, these two kids—barely eleven or twelve—were already such a force. He couldn't help being shaken once more by Senshi's teaching prowess.

With both sides going all out, the fight reached a stalemate. Itachi couldn't genuinely kill Narusuke, and Narusuke had used all his usual moves without being able to take Susanoo down. Neither side could quickly gain the upper hand. Sensing that Narusuke's time was limited—that their chakra was burning away as the battle went on—Itachi guessed the fused form wouldn't last long. He decided to maintain a defensive stance, waiting for Narusuke's fusion to fade on its own.

Yet Narusuke didn't let up. He was waiting for a deeper merging of Asura's and Indra's powers so he could awaken the Rinnegan. And sure enough, about three-quarters into the fusion time, Narusuke's eyes began to change. Itachi clearly saw the bright blue Sharingan fade into pale purple Rinnegan, ringed with circular patterns.

"That's… the Rinnegan?!"

Itachi's pupils contracted sharply; a storm of emotion roiled inside him. He had only ever seen those eyes on Nagato, the leader of the Akatsuki. They were reputedly the eyes of the Sage of the Six Paths, wielding unfathomable might. If Narusuke's earlier performance was merely startling, the emergence of the Rinnegan left him stunned.

"How is this possible?! How could they have the Rinnegan?!"

Narusuke, having awakened the Rinnegan, looked ecstatic. Raising his right hand, he made a grasping motion toward a distant boulder and shouted, "Banshō Ten'in!" (Universal Pull)

Instantly, numerous rocks were yanked upward by powerful gravitational force and converged in midair into a massive meteorite. With a sweeping motion, Narusuke hurled that huge meteor straight at Susanoo.

Boom!

It slammed into the Yata Mirror with a deafening crash. Though the meteor shattered, its crushing impact still drove Susanoo back. Narusuke immediately recalled his Adamantine Sealing Chains to avoid getting dragged around, then raised his hand again. "Banshō Ten'in!"

More stones soared into the air, merging into a second giant meteor that hurled toward Itachi with even greater speed.

Swoosh!

Itachi manipulated Susanoo to swing the Totsuka Blade in a savage slash, reducing the meteor to shards. Wasting no time, he swung the Yata Mirror to smash downward at Narusuke before Narusuke could prepare a follow-up strike.

Narusuke faced Susanoo's offensive without the slightest fear. Narrowing his eyes, he roared, "Shinra Tensei!" (Almighty Push)

Boom!

A mighty, invisible force erupted outward from Narusuke, blasting Susanoo's strike away and forcing Itachi to retreat a few steps, deeply shaken. Bringing the Yata Mirror down on Narusuke, Susanoo had crashed into that invisible wave and been staggered back. Narusuke seized the moment to strike again.

"Banshō Ten'in!"

He lifted his right hand, pulling the unbalanced Susanoo toward him, then raised his left to yank another large mass of rock nearby. Those stones merged into a huge boulder, which he sent crashing into Susanoo.

Rumble!

The collision was ear-splittingly loud, and the sheer force battered Itachi's Susanoo into a sorry state, toppling it among the rubble.

"Banshō Ten'in!"

Narusuke wasted no time. Again, he used both hands to draw forth two large boulders and slammed them repeatedly onto Itachi's Susanoo.

Boom! Boom!

Susanoo, still on the ground, took multiple direct hits, half-buried in debris. With a wealth of battle experience, Narusuke never gave Itachi a chance to fight back. He quickly raised both hands in front of him, gathering chakra into an even more powerful jutsu. A compressed chakra sphere began slowly forming in his palms—he planned to use Chibaku Tensei (Planetary Devastation) to trap both Itachi and Susanoo, then finish him.

Vmm!

But at that moment, a swirling portal like a dark red vortex opened beside Narusuke. The next second, Senshi and Karin emerged. Seeing Narusuke about to cast Chibaku Tensei, Senshi patted him on the shoulder and said, "That's enough, Narusuke. There's more to the Uchiha Clan's downfall than you know. Let me tell you the entire truth, then you can decide what to do with Itachi."

Narusuke was astonished. Right then, all he wanted was to kill Itachi, but as a fusion of Naruto and Sasuke, he held deep respect for Senshi. Without Senshi's guidance and help, neither Naruto nor Sasuke would be where they were.

So when Senshi said there were hidden reasons behind the Uchiha's demise, subtly implying Itachi might not deserve death, the black chakra sphere in Narusuke's hands began to fade away.

Once that compressed chakra ball dissolved completely, their fusion time also ended. Narusuke reverted to Naruto and Sasuke in the blink of an eye. Both were visibly exhausted. Alongside his fatigue, Sasuke stared at Senshi with deep confusion. He needed Senshi to tell him the real story behind the Uchiha clan's destruction.

Senshi patted Sasuke on the shoulder. "The truth about the Uchiha's annihilation is a long story," he said. "Ever since Konoha was founded, the Uchiha clan was never fully integrated into the village—never fully accepted."

At that, Sasuke hadn't even spoken when Naruto blurted, "Sensei, why was that?"

Naruto, lacking deep knowledge of the village's history, only knew that Konoha had been founded jointly by the First Hokage and the Uchiha clan's leader ages ago.

From that standpoint, the Uchiha had been instrumental in Konoha's founding—so they should have been an essential part of Konoha. Sasuke and Karin were equally curious, so all three turned their gaze on Senshi.

While Senshi and his three young companions discussed the feuds between Konoha and the Uchiha, Itachi dispelled Susanoo and emerged from the rubble. He approached quietly, wearing a complicated expression as he listened to Senshi talk about the Uchiha and Konoha.

Senshi considered for a moment, then went on: "Back in the Warring States era, the Uchiha and the Senju—who produced the First Hokage—were bitter enemies for many years. During those endless wars, countless members of the Senju and other large clans allied with them were slain by Uchiha, while many Uchiha were likewise killed by the Senju and their allies."

These details were mostly unfamiliar to Naruto, Sasuke, or Karin. They certainly weren't something Konoha would volunteer to new ninja—such old grudges wouldn't help village unity.

After explaining the friction between the Uchiha, Konoha, and other clans, Senshi continued, "Because of the lingering hatred from the Warring States era, once Konoha was formed, its other clans somewhat shunned the Uchiha—deliberately or otherwise. Things were tolerable as long as the First Hokage lived, but after he died, the Second Hokage believed the Uchiha were inherently evil. His students—Hiruzen Sarutobi, Danzō Shimura, Homura Mitokado, and Koharu Utatane—were all more or less influenced by him."

Sasuke's face changed slightly at this. He'd had no idea the Uchiha's status in Konoha had been so precarious—that when they'd set aside their grudges and embraced peace, they'd been met with distrust and exclusion.

Meanwhile, Itachi's face grew increasingly grim. He had been surprised earlier at how far Sasuke and Naruto had come under Senshi, and now he was struck by Senshi's in-depth knowledge. Even Itachi didn't know half as much about how the Uchiha's relations with the Senju and other big clans had been in the Warring States era.

Senshi went on: "The Uchiha, already ostracized, gradually moved to the edge of the village. In order to stir up even more hostility against them, the Konoha higher-ups assigned the Uchiha to run the Police Force—work that naturally offends people.

That made the villagers resent them even more. Later, during the Nine-Tails' attack on Konoha, the Uchiha's Sharingan was known to be able to control Tailed Beasts, so the clan fell under suspicion. The higher-ups believed that the Uchiha had caused the Nine-Tails rampage."

Unable to restrain himself, Naruto asked, "Sensei, was the Nine-Tails incident really the Uchiha's fault?"

Because the Nine-Tails was now sealed inside him, he badly wanted to know the truth. Senshi shook his head. "No, it wasn't the local Uchiha but Uchiha Obito, who'd already defected from Konoha, that caused it. Yet the entire clan remained under heavy surveillance and investigation. From there, two voices rose among the Uchiha: some believed they should do everything possible to integrate with the village and earn everyone's approval; others thought they should stage a coup and seize ultimate power."

Upon hearing this, Itachi's face creased with pain. The old hatreds from the Warring States were beyond him, but the crisis Senshi was describing now was something he had lived through. As for Sasuke, he looked sick at heart. He kept silent, roiled by conflicting feelings.

Senshi glanced at Sasuke, then continued: "Eventually, the tension between the Uchiha and Konoha escalated to a crisis point. The clan's radical faction gained control. As war with Konoha loomed, a final chance to save the clan arose."

When Senshi reached that point, Itachi's face grew yet more anguished. Naruto, Sasuke, and Karin were all eager to know what that chance had been.

Senshi explained, "That final chance to save the Uchiha hinged on Uchiha Shisui—whom Itachi revered like an older brother—using his Mangekyō Sharingan's Kotoamatsukami to alter the clan's collective will. This would peacefully resolve the crisis and avert civil war. Shisui's plan had the Third Hokage's authorization and support, but Danzō and other high-level officials didn't trust either Shisui or the Uchiha. Before Shisui could act, Danzō ambushed him and stole one of his eyes, making the plan impossible. The Uchiha lost their last chance at salvation."

At this, Sasuke clenched his fists. Shisui's plan might not have been perfect, but it could have spared the clan from catastrophe. Because of Danzō's interference, the clan was instead doomed to destruction. Naruto also felt that the Konoha higher-ups, led by Danzō, had gone too far—there had been a chance to resolve the conflict peacefully, and they'd extinguished it.

Naruto frowned. "Sensei, what happened next?" he asked.

With a hint of helplessness, Senshi replied, "Afterward, Shisui entrusted his remaining Sharingan to Itachi and asked him to carry on his mission—fostering peace between the Uchiha and the village while still safeguarding Konoha. But Shisui's death snuffed out the possibility of reconciliation. Though the clan was gravely weakened by Shisui's loss, the radicals still led them to attempt a coup. Itachi, as an Anbu member, reported it to Konoha's leadership. The Third Hokage insisted on negotiation to resolve the strife, but Danzō demanded the clan's total eradication, believing a bloody conflict could erupt at any moment. Not only did he call for extermination, but after the meeting ended, he unilaterally began deploying forces to wipe out the Uchiha."

Hearing that, Sasuke's fists clenched tighter, his shoulders trembling. He never realized how many factors had led up to the clan's demise. Senshi glanced at Itachi, then continued addressing Sasuke, Naruto, and Karin: "After that, Danzō approached Itachi. He threatened with your life unless Itachi wiped out the clan and kept the truth from him. Additionally, Itachi would have to operate as a missing-nin, gathering intelligence that might threaten Konoha and reporting back. For the sake of the village—keeping it safe from foreign enemies—and for Shisui's ideals and his life, Itachi was forced to accept the mission of annihilating his own clan."

Lies may not always harm, but the truth cuts like a blade. As Senshi laid out the real circumstances, Sasuke's emotions surged. From the night of the massacre until now, he had lived in a lie, misunderstanding Itachi all along. Whatever else Itachi may have done, he had never betrayed Uchiha Sasuke.

Sasuke stood silently in front of Senshi, listening to a story he had never known. Itachi, likewise silent, stood off to the side. Naruto and Karin listened earnestly to Senshi's continued explanation. The tale of the Uchiha's massacre was drawing to a close.

"On the night the clan was set to stage their coup, Itachi found Uchiha Obito, and together they wiped out the clan. Itachi tearfully said farewell to his parents; Fugaku and Mikoto entrusted Sasuke to him. Carrying out Danzō's orders, and leaving Sasuke a reason to seek revenge, Itachi then prepared to flee Konoha. But first he infiltrated the Anbu to check on events. Realizing that Danzō planned to kill Sasuke anyway, he threatened Danzō that if Sasuke were harmed, Itachi would sell Konoha's secrets to enemy nations. Forced by this threat, Danzō backed off on targeting Sasuke. Afterward, Itachi left the village, and on Obito's suggestion, joined the Akatsuki."

At this point, Sasuke and the others understood the true story behind the clan's demise. It originated in the historical baggage of the Warring States. Uchiha Madara and the First Hokage, Senju Hashirama, had once tried mightily to achieve peace, yet the clan's deep-seated grievances kept them from being fully accepted by the villagers. Although Shisui, the Third Hokage, and others sought a true fusion of the Uchiha and Konoha, their efforts ultimately collapsed under Danzō's meddling.

Now the outside world only knew the Uchiha as a once-prestigious clan in Konoha, never that they died after a failed coup. By proceeding this way, Itachi had preserved the clan's honor, kept Sasuke alive, and protected the village. If war had truly erupted between the Uchiha and Konoha, the clan would likely still have been wiped out, Sasuke wouldn't have survived, and the Uchiha's name would be recorded in history as traitors. Meanwhile, Konoha—badly weakened—could have been left vulnerable to enemy nations.

Sasuke had never understood these realities—until now. He glanced at Itachi, his mind churning. His emotions were in tumult, too raw for him to speak. Itachi remained quiet, too. Though he had saved the village and protected his brother, he had, together with Obito, killed his entire clan. It was never the outcome he desired. Like his friend Shisui, he saw himself as a failure—unable to save both village and clan at once.

Naruto opened his mouth as if to comfort Sasuke, whose thoughts were in turmoil, but such a thing was not Naruto's strong suit. All he could say was, "Sasuke, get yourself together. There's still a lot for us to do."

That did little to lift Sasuke's spirits. He stood there, eyes cold, reliving the Uchiha's downfall in his head. Beside Senshi, Karin clung to his leg, gazing sympathetically at Sasuke and Itachi. In her eyes, the whole clan and both brothers were pitiful. Things could have ended differently; instead, they concluded in the worst possible way. This made Karin despise Danzō all the more. Had he not ambushed Shisui and stolen his Sharingan, Shisui might have settled the Uchiha–Konoha conflict peacefully.

Then again, Danzō had his reasons. He had never truly trusted the Uchiha or Shisui. Even if Shisui's plan worked, he doubted it would fully align with Konoha's demands. As Hokage's advisor, Danzō chose a solution that served the village's interests—at the cost of destroying the Uchiha once and for all, removing any threat they might pose.

From an ordinary villager's standpoint, it might be hard to blame Danzō. But to Sasuke—the Uchiha's sole survivor, who now knew the entire truth—it sparked a desire to grind Danzō's bones to dust. Because Danzō refused to trust Uchiha Shisui, the clan met its fatal doom.

Gritting his teeth, Sasuke turned to Naruto. "Naruto, will you go with me to kill Danzō?"

Now he had a new target for vengeance: fully understanding the truth, Sasuke saw Danzō as the one who most deserved to die. If not for Danzō, the Uchiha might not have been wiped out.

Naruto paused in surprise, scratching his head. "Sasuke, I—I'm willing, but can we kill Danzō? Old Grandpa and the others probably won't let us."

He didn't refuse Sasuke's request; he just doubted the village's leadership would allow them to murder Danzō. Hearing Sasuke's words, Itachi, standing nearby, spoke up as well. "Sasuke, don't do anything rash. Danzō isn't so easy to kill."

~~~

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