["Ahem, it seems you've noticed as well," Uchiha Itachi remarked, closing his eyes momentarily as if retracing a memory.
[After a brief pause, he reopened his eyes:]
"The one who aided me was none other than Uchiha Madara."
[Sasuke's reaction to this revelation was one of shock, tinged with a hint of disbelief.
Off-screen, the expressions mirrored Sasuke's own, all turning towards "Uchiha Obito."
Inside the underground base, Madara's gaze met Obito's, who could only offer a helpless shrug.
Well, the disguise's usefulness was undeniable!
Whether true or not, dropping such a bombshell was sure to elicit a reaction!
Unfortunately, the disguise was now in tatters.
"Impossible! He should have perished long ago!" Sasuke's roar of indignation was palpable.
However, it was Uchiha Itachi's cutting retort that met his outburst:
"Madara's demise is merely wishful thinking on your part!"
"Just as you once believed I was your benevolent elder brother!"
"I've played the role you envisioned, but it was merely a façade to appease your expectations!"
These words ignited a frenzy within Sasuke, dredging up memories of Itachi's cold gaze behind their parents' lifeless forms.
"I tried desperately to dismiss that night as a figment of imagination in my youth, but it was undeniably real!"
"My eyes have been opened, my Sharingan piercing through illusions!" Sasuke declared fiercely, the blue hue once again enveloping his hands.
"Lighting Style– Chidori Sharp Spear!"
Yet, the azure tendrils didn't surge forward; instead, they recoiled backward."]
[Behind that, there is another Uchiha Itachi!]
[But the Chidori spear failed to harm Uchiha Itachi!]
[Uchiha Itachi merely tilted his head slightly and evaded the attack!]
["I see you're still as talkative and impetuous as ever, Sasuke."]
[A sweet voice interjects, shifting the perspective!]
[It is revealed that the stone seat and Itachi, which Sasuke just pierced, were merely illusions. The real Uchiha Itachi remains seated on the stone seat, gazing calmly at each other!]
[In the next moment, Itachi expresses a hint of disappointment, saying:
["Bravery is commendable, Sasuke, but it seems you lack the same insight as me, don't you?"]
["Haven't you sacrificed all those dear to you?"]
This utterance is delivered with an eerie calmness, as if it emanated from the depths of the underworld, sending shivers down the spines of countless viewers!
The act of sacrificing loved ones—is this the awakening of the Mangekyō?
Many perceive the Sharingan as the eye of a curse!
Yet, in the shadows, three figures have already dissolved into tears, unable to contain their grief.
[Sasuke disperses the Chidori sharp spear, then sneers:]
["Then use your Mangekyō Sharingan to end me swiftly!"]
["Or perhaps you can't quite measure up to the task?]
[He sighs in exasperation and rises slowly:]
["What a tedious display of confidence! But before we proceed, allow me to share a tale."]
[Following this, Uchiha Itachi begins to recount the story of Uchiha Madara slowly.]
[It's the tale of how the Uchiha acquired the Mangekyō, and how Madara seized his brother's eyes to stave off blindness!]
[Having narrated the tale, Uchiha Itachi regards Sasuke with fervent eyes, seemingly intent on emulating his ancestors and attaining eternal Mangekyō!]
"Truly mad, akin to a beast!!"
In the Land of Whirlpools, Kushina, her fiery red hair dancing wildly, stands with evident determination, cherishing family ties above all else!
She gently caresses Naruto's head and speaks:
"My son, didn't you once call Sasuke your closest friend?"
"In the days to come, you must aid him in confronting his malevolent brother!"
However, it is Naruto's silent response that echoes in the air.
"What troubles you, Naruto?" Kushina inquires with concern.
Naruto shakes his head, his expression puzzled:
"I... I do not sense any malice in Uchiha Itachi's gaze."
Kushina is momentarily stunned; she understands that Naruto's emotional perception, influenced by the Nine Tails, is somewhat unique.
Thus, Naruto's words likely hold truth!
But why is this so?
Kushina gazes at the screen in bewilderment, where only a single Uchiha Itachi, appearing somewhat deranged, is depicted!
[Uchiha Itachi suddenly unleashes a sinister energy, akin to a twisted hand of evil, ensnaring Sasuke!]
[He snarls, laughing maniacally:]
["I've finally grasped the Uchiha clan's readiness to sacrifice friends for the Mangekyō Sharingan!"]
["To attain the eternal power of the pupil, we Uchiha are destined to slay our own kin!"]
["Since your birth into this clan, you've been entwined in this bloody fate!"]
["Come, brother, I shall release you from the shackles of family destiny!"]
["And personally attain true transformation, shedding limitations, and liberating myself from my own constraints!"]
[In this moment, Uchiha Itachi appears as a demon lured by power!]
In an underground chamber, Obito gazes at Uchiha Madara.
He had anticipated witnessing anger on Madara's countenance, yet finds none of it.
Only an expression akin to that of a stranded puppy in a tempest, drowning in the mire.
[Sasuke shuts his eyes, and upon reopening them, all illusory tentacles vanish!]
[Having learned the truth, he no longer harbors resentment!]
"So, it all comes down to this?" he murmurs with a hint of sadness flickering in his eyes, swiftly replaced by resolute determination.
"Next, you shall meet your end before my very eyes!"
[In the ensuing moment, both engage in simultaneous assault!]
[In the blink of an eye, myriad cross darts and shuriken swirl!]
(To their astonishment, each throw from either side perfectly counters the other!)
[After a flurry of exchanges, they draw near to one another!]
[In just a dozen seconds, Taijutsu is mixed with Ninjutsu, dazzling!]
"And most importantly, be fast!"
"As long as you make any mistake, you will become a corpse!"
"Boom!"
"The battle is over!"
"After a burst of crows blocked his view, Sasuke was caught off guard by Itachi and slammed into the wall with force, creating a huge depression!"
"This is reality, Sasuke!" Itachi sneered. He then stretched out three fingers and aimed for Sasuke's eyeballs, causing blood to drip as Sasuke screamed, one of his eyeballs being gouged out!
"Sasuke did not remain idle; the curse seal activated! However, he's still not Itachi's opponent. Soon, Itachi regained control of Sasuke and targeted his other eye!"
"But at this critical moment, the power of the curse mark transformed into flames, appearing in Sasuke's eyes! The next moment, it seemed as if time had stopped! Everything turned gray and then shattered! Amidst the shuriken-littered ground, Sasuke, with his eyes intact, knelt and gasped for breath! It turns out that everything just now was all Uchiha Itachi's illusion!"
At this moment, countless ninjas fell into silence!
Illusion!
Illusion once more!
It's terrifying, silent, and strangely inconspicuous even off-screen!
Even Deidara in the desert stood stunned!
The earlier illusion may have had its flaws, but the latter one was simply art!
At this time, Black White Zetsu's face appeared on the roof. "The battle ended unexpectedly quickly, Itachi won!" White Zetsu exclaimed in surprise.
"Why?" Black Zetsu asked, puzzled.
White Zetsu chuckled oddly, "Because Sasuke fell victim to Tsukuyomi; he can't move anymore."
[Black Zetsu exclaimed, "It turned out to be Tsukuyomi, an illusion cast by the Mangekyō Sharingan, capable of ensnaring the enemy's spirit within its ethereal confines by merely meeting their gaze. Within the realm of Tsukuyomi, every aspect, from time to location to circumstance, is meticulously controlled by the caster."
Black Zetsu's revelation sent shivers down the spines of countless ninjas!
"Do we have to shut our eyes to stand against Uchiha Itachi? This is truly terrifying!"
[However, just as Black Zetsu's words reverberated, Sasuke, who was supposed to be under control, rose to his feet!]
[And he, though trembling, remained steadfast on the ground, clutching his eyes in agony!]
The tables have turned!
****
Support me on my ko-fi account and read upto 15 early chapters,
https://ko-fi.com/aayume