The Death of Ninja World Itachi

Ninja World Itachi could no longer hold on.

In the crater, he spat out a mouthful of blood, and his Susanoo vanished instantly.

"Is that all you've got, Uchiha Itachi!? Your resolve to protect Konoha amounts to just this?"

Ninja World Sasuke sneered and shouted, appearing before Ninja World Itachi, who lay coughing on the ground like a dying dog. He grabbed his collar, staring into his opponent's eyes.

"Cough cough cough… I lost… those unknowns by your side… each one… far stronger than expected… Sasuke… you're dangerous with them…" Ninja World Itachi said weakly.

"Dangerous? A traitor who massacred his entire clan, killed his parents, calling others dangerous—how laughable!"

"Itachi! Didn't you always want me to become an avenger? An avenger who'd sacrifice everything, even attack friends to gain the Mangekyou Sharingan!"

"Now I've done it! As you wished! I severed all ties with Konoha, pursued power, first joining Orochimaru, then a stronger new organization!"

"I gained tremendous power, surpassing yours. I've dealt with Konoha's old trash! And you! Why aren't you happy now?"

"Shouldn't you be laughing, Itachi? All this! Moving according to your hopes! Itachi! Even if it costs a price, who cares! As an avenger, shouldn't I be ready to lose my life?"

Ninja World Sasuke grinned menacingly.

Ninja World Itachi's heart trembled violently. For the first time, he felt a twinge of regret, regretting pushing his brother this far.

But… there was no remedy for regret now!

'For my brother, for Konoha! It seems… this is the only way! Forgive me, Sasuke, for Konoha! For your future!'

A crow suddenly appeared beside Ninja World Itachi, blinking to reveal a Mangekyou Sharingan, glaring at Ninja World Sasuke.

Ninja World Sasuke froze, standing still.

Imperial Setsuna, watching the scene, sneered. "Still hiding one Mangekyou? But no Mangekyou Sharingan ability can save you now. In your state, I'm genuinely worried you'll freeze to death in this rain soon."

"Tch. I wanted to torture you properly, but it seems hopeless now."

"…"

Imperial Itachi, observing, frowned instinctively.

He sensed something odd.

His Mangekyou Sharingan spun, gazing at Ninja World Sasuke, his brows lifting slightly.

"What's wrong, Itachi? Could this trash's final Mangekyou be that powerful? What ability did he use?" Imperial Setsuna, noticing Imperial Itachi's odd reaction, asked.

"It's Kotoamatsukami, likely this world's other Shisui eye. He wants to use Kotoamatsukami's power to alter little Sasuke's will."

Through his Ōkuninushi ability, Imperial Itachi instantly understood the situation and the eye's power.

Ninja World Sasuke clutched his head, letting out a wail: "AAAAAHHHHH!!!"

His body shook violently for a while, finally calming, his face twisted in rage as he glared at Ninja World Itachi. "Itachi, you trash, so used to being a dog, you still want to make me Konoha's dog like you? That dark place ruled by such scum, worthy of my loyalty?"

"You're truly selfish! You only ever want others to act by your will! Never considering anyone else!"

"What? Kotoamatsukami was…" Ninja World Itachi was shocked that Ninja World Sasuke wasn't affected.

"Was it you?" He turned his gaze to Imperial Itachi.

"Correct. My Ōkuninushi can understand and dispel abnormal conditions on bound targets." Imperial Itachi said.

"Ōkuninushi… cough cough cough… who… are you all? The Uchiha clan shouldn't have people like you… cough cough cough… why target Sasuke, target Konoha? Cough cough cough…"

Ninja World Itachi, now utterly exhausted, had no strength left to fight, only able to ask with his dying breaths.

"Target Sasuke? What a laughable claim! The Uchiha clan—debts must be paid, grudges must be avenged! Those scum dared touch the Uchiha; they must bear the consequences!" Imperial Setsuna said.

"Uchiha Itachi… you're a failed product of ninja village education. Your heart and will were distorted long ago. Someone as pathetic as you still wants to taint little Sasuke with your warped heart… I can't allow that!" Imperial Itachi added.

"Disgusting, Itachi. In the afterlife, old geezer Sarutobi Hiruzen and his family will be thrilled. After all, their loyal dog was obedient from start to finish."

After Ninja World Sasuke spoke, his hands reached for Ninja World Itachi's eyes, unhesitatingly gouging them out, tossing them to Imperial Itachi. "This pair of Sharingan is yours."

Imperial Itachi calmly caught them.

But Ninja World Itachi's heart surged with turmoil. "Sasuke gave my Sharingan to someone else? What's he planning? So… Sasuke was deceived!"

He tried to speak.

Ninja World Sasuke stabbed his heart with his sword.

"Ugh… eyes… Sasuke… you need… my eyes… my eyes… can give you eternal light… and… spare Konoha… please… I beg you… Sasuke…" Ninja World Itachi said in agony.

"You're truly a hopeless idiot. Deluded, thinking joining Sarutobi Hiruzen, helping them wipe out the Uchiha, was saving the Uchiha, saving Konoha."

"Deluded, wanting me to be Konoha's guard dog like you. Deluded, wanting me to use your eyes. Your life… was a failure, Itachi. Your delusions were utterly useless."

"Konoha will soon be destroyed, and I and my allies are its destroyers. Your eyes won't be used by me; they'll only be tools for my allies to crush Konoha!"

"Disgusting, hypocritical, selfish—go to the afterlife. I don't want to hear you say anything now!"

Ninja World Sasuke growled low, his right hand twisting sharply.

Ninja World Itachi took his final breath, his face full of reluctance and regret.

He descended to hell with too many unknowns and uncertainties.

"His last words seem to have hurt this trash." Imperial Setsuna remarked, gazing at Ninja World Itachi's reluctant expression in death with admiration.

"Those who believe they're on the right path, always deluded in their righteousness, find it most unbearable to realize their sacrifices and efforts were meaningless. That's more painful than being torn to pieces."

Imperial Itachi spoke, then gouged out the Mangekyou Sharingan from the crow.

The rain kept falling.

By now, the surroundings were empty. The terrified Amegakure ninja and villagers had long fled, even by crawling.

The rain dripped from the sky, washing away Itachi's sinful blood.

Ninja World Sasuke quietly looked up, gazing at the dark clouds and endless rain, the corners of his mouth slowly curling, his shoulders trembling, letting out a chilling laugh: "Hahaha… haha… I did it! Finally! I completed my revenge! Father! Mother! All of you! Rest in peace in the afterlife!"

"Those Konoha scum! And Itachi, I've killed them all! After this… once the Five Kage Summit is held, Konoha and all ninja villages in this world will fall! This time! The Uchiha are the ultimate victors! Hahaha…"

His crazed laughter echoed within a kilometer.

Imperial Obito landed softly, exchanging glances with Imperial Setsuna and Itachi after his Susanoo vanished.

They let Ninja World Sasuke laugh maniacally for minutes until he stopped.

Imperial Itachi then said, "What's your plan after this?"

"Plan? Join the Empire, grow stronger, then defeat that arrogant guy." Ninja World Sasuke said without hesitation.

The annoying figure of Imperial Sasuke flashed in his mind.

Imperial Itachi nodded, pausing before adding, "Good drive, but as the sole surviving Uchiha of this world, little Sasuke… I think you have something more important to do."

"Huh? More important? What?" Ninja World Sasuke didn't understand.

Imperial Itachi's expression turned gravely serious.

Seeing this, Ninja World Sasuke, confused, grew serious too, his Mangekyou Sharingan staring sharply at Imperial Itachi.

Until Imperial Itachi said, "Procreate… offspring!"

"Huh?" Ninja World Sasuke was stunned.

Imperial Setsuna and Obito both showed "as expected" expressions.

"Procreate offspring, little Sasuke! You're now the sole surviving Uchiha in this world. Though two Uchiha will join later, your real parents and clan surely hoped you'd revive the Uchiha's glory here. To do that, you need many offspring, right?" Imperial Itachi said solemnly.

"This… procreate offspring, revive the name… even so… why does it feel weird…"

Ninja World Sasuke frowned.

"Weird how? In the ninja village era, marrying and having kids in your teens was normal. Marriage and children are sacred, noble things! Every major clan takes it seriously!" Imperial Itachi said.

"Your vibe feels off! Don't come closer! Right! Where's that arrogant guy? Is he married?"

Ninja World Sasuke, seeing Imperial Itachi's increasingly serious expression and approach, spoke with disgust.

"Well… Sasuke, he… isn't married…"

Imperial Itachi's expression soured at Ninja World Sasuke's question.

"Huh? That jerk isn't married, so why should I rush? My goal now is to beat that arrogant guy. Women and such will only get in the way!" Ninja World Sasuke said.

"How did it come to this… Sasuke from both worlds… neither wants to marry or have kids… my nephew… my beloved nephew… when can I hold him…"

Imperial Itachi said, disappointed.

Ninja World Sasuke's eye twitched, glancing at Imperial Setsuna and Obito, his look saying, "This guy's always been like this."

"Itachi's always been so, wanting to hold Sasuke's son. Since the one back home's impossible, he's targeting you." Imperial Setsuna said.

"Can't this guy have his own kids?" Ninja World Sasuke said.

"He's trying with Izumi… but no luck… Empire hospital checks found that though he and Izumi have strong bloodlines, they're slightly incompatible, with very low fertility…" Imperial Setsuna said.

"Is that so… I didn't expect the other world's Itachi to be like this…"

Ninja World Sasuke realized, as if truly knowing Imperial Itachi for the first time.

"Let's go. Those last Akatsuki rats likely won't return." Imperial Obito said then.

"Haaa… those sewer rats, now hiding in some dark drain to survive, but no matter… just a few rats. Next time I find them, I'll wipe them out myself."

Ninja World Sasuke said calmly, then paused. "By the way, this operation failed. That idiot Naruto won't be in trouble, right?"

"Relax. Even if Naruto dies now, the Empire can revive him." Imperial Setsuna said.

Ninja World Sasuke nodded, and the group finally left Amegakure.

◆━⊰✧⊱━◆

Soon after, Black Zetsu slipped in quietly, finding Amegakure's situation. The entire Akatsuki didn't dare return to the village.

In a dark underground cave, the remaining Akatsuki gathered. Nagato said with a grim expression: "They knew our base…"

"Uchiha Itachi was killed, but fortunately, they didn't attack the village's civilians." Konan frowned.

"At this rate, Akatsuki is down to just us few."

After speaking, Nagato glanced at Konan, Obito, Black Zetsu, and Spiral White Zetsu beside him, his expression worsening: "With so few, can we really retake Sanbi?"

"Numbers don't matter; the spirits of the dead do." Black Zetsu said.

"So, how many of those dead spirits' bodies have been collected?"

"Plenty. Soon, we can launch a counterattack. Trust me."

◆━⊰✧⊱━◆

At the same time, the major ninja villages received letters from Konoha, stating that their Bijuu were captured by Akatsuki and urging unity against them.

The villages took it seriously, rushing to Konoha.

Within two days, the four Kage from Sunagakure, Kirigakure, Kumogakure, and Iwagakure arrived at Konoha's gate with their escorts.

"Kazekage-sama, Mizukage-sama, Raikage-sama, Tsuchikage-sama. Konoha welcomes you…" At the gate, Kotetsu greeted the four Kage respectfully.

But before he finished, the hot-tempered Raikage A waved him off: "No need for pleasantries. Take us to the Hokage! Akatsuki kidnapped B! I'll make those bastards pay!"

"Our village's Jinchūriki was likely taken too. Akatsuki… do they aim to rule the world? Daring to kidnap Jinchūriki." Tsuchikage Ōnoki, arms crossed behind his back, floated in the air, speaking gravely.