novel-books Chapter 10: Internal Strife Brews in Konoha, Sasuke's Lament Fails to Reach Itachi's Heart
Chapter 10: Internal Strife Brews in Konoha, Sasuke's Lament Fails to Reach Itachi's Heart
But before that...
The Konoha ninjas wanted to get more information about the upcoming war, and if possible, they even wanted to find Obito Uchiha in advance and kill him before the war began!
Especially those radical Konoha elders, who were already radical and wary of the Uchiha! Now they're like vicious dogs, seizing on the Uchiha's weakness and refusing to let go!
The two worlds are connected by a mirror, which is similar to a live video link.
"The Uchiha have started this war again!" Shimura Danzo slammed his cane into the ground, making a thud. The Root ninjas behind him immediately tensed their muscles, ready to be deployed at any moment!
Danzo Shimura turned to Fugaku Uchiha, the captain of the Uchiha police force and head of the Uchiha clan, and demanded, "Fugaku Uchiha! You bear undeniable responsibility in this matter!!"
"Hiruzen! You too!" He then angrily rebuked Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, "That's why I said long ago that the entire Uchiha clan should be placed under surveillance! Your current policies are too indecisive!!"
Upon hearing this, the ninjas behind Danzo drew their weapons, ready to bypass the Hokage and attack the Uchiha police force at any moment!
Danzo Shimura's disrespect for the Hokage and Root's attempt to overstep its authority prompted the Anbu behind the Third Hokage to prepare for battle as well!
The Uchiha ninjas from the police force could not tolerate such a false accusation. They all revealed their proud Sharingan to Danzo!
The atmosphere was tense and ready to fight...
Young Sasuke hid behind his older brother. This was the first time he had ever seen anything like this, and he was deeply shocked. He didn't understand why those people were looking at them with those eyes.
Weren't the Uchiha clan supposed to protect Konoha? Why? Why do they say the Uchiha started the war?
Naruto was still reeling from seeing the village's great hero—the Fourth Hokage—until the Uchiha and Konoha were on the verge of exchanging blows.
When he came to his senses, he noticed that those people were once again giving him the look he hated most, but this time it seemed to be directed at Sasuke and his family?!
That same look in his eyes again...
Even the top student in school gets looked at like that?
Even the young Naruto Uzumaki was greatly shocked.
The Uchiha police force and Danzo and his Root are increasingly poised to go to war!
"Step back, Danzo!" At the Third Hokage's command, the Anbu members who belonged to the Hokage no longer held back and jumped directly in front of the Hokage, lowering their bodies and ready to fight the Root ninjas at any time!
Danzo Shimura stared coldly at the Third Hokage, not immediately obeying orders. The Root members behind him leaped in front of Danzo, confronting the Hokage's ANBU!
Hiruzen Sarutobi roared, "What kind of behavior is this in front of the First and Second Hokage?!"
When Danzo heard Hiruzen mention the two previous Hokage, he initially flinched, but quickly realized that the two worlds were not interconnected, and his momentum returned.
The two are locked in a battle of wills, with Root and Anbu each serving their own masters!
……
On the other side of the mirror, on the battlefield of the Fourth Shinobi World War—
It's unbelievable that Konoha was already so deeply divided back then; this was something that Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura, and all the other ninjas of their generation were unaware of.
But just like Danzo Shimura's attack couldn't get through, their attack couldn't get through to the other side either.
Let alone them, even the First and Second Hokage wouldn't pose much of a threat to the other world!
Looking at the situation on the other side of the mirror wall during the Fourth Shinobi World War, Sasuke, who had already killed Shimura Danzo, felt more grief for his brother than anger towards Konoha...
And then there was my father, who led his clan through those difficult circumstances. In the end, due to arrangements made by Danzo and the Third Hokage, he was forced to fight my brother.
And as a child, I knew absolutely nothing about it...
Sasuke in the Fourth Shinobi World War seemed to be transported back to the scene of his parting with Itachi not long ago—
"At least until the very end, I want to tell you the whole truth, Sasuke."
Itachi's memories:
Itachi: Dad, Mom, I...
Mikoto: Itachi, we all know...
Fugaku: Compared to you, our suffering ended in an instant.
Itachi, promise us one last thing...
Sasuke, he...
I'm counting on you.
The Impure World Reincarnation technique is dispelled; Itachi's soul is about to ascend to heaven.
"I didn't want to involve you, so I kept deceiving you."
But looking back now...
"If we had faced you honestly from the beginning, stood on your side, and told you the truth..."
"Perhaps you can change our parents, or even the Uchiha clan."
elder brother……
Sasuke looked at Itachi Uchiha, who was only 11 or 2 years old, on the other side of the mirror.
Beneath those calm, dark eyes lay an untold longing and sorrow for her family…
……
On the other side, Sasuke was clutching Itachi's clothes tightly, almost crying with anxiety. He had no idea what was happening!
"I'm sorry, Sasuke," Shisui turned to the 6-year-old Sasuke and smiled apologetically, "These are things that we should have handled ourselves, but we've dragged you and Itachi into this mess."
"Don't say such things," Itachi said, displeased with Shisui's statement. "I will fight alongside you, Shisui!"
"Itachi..." Even in this situation, Shisui suddenly felt as if his mind was wandering in a pool of spring water, and he immediately had more confidence, vowing to protect Itachi and his brother's smile no matter what.
Itachi turned his head and smiled gently at his younger brother: "Sasuke, no matter what, your brother will protect you."
"Sasuke... I will always protect you..." Sasuke recalled his brother's dying smile, and the touch on his forehead seemed to still carry the warmth of Itachi's blood.
That's how it was back then! Itachi and the others...
I always wanted to protect my younger brother! No matter how difficult or painful it was, I didn't want him to know!!
Itachi...
Even if it means sacrificing one's own life!!
Even while enduring such pain!!!
Even after death, they will still be subjected to their wanton insults!
An explosive emotion welled up in Sasuke's chest! He hated those who had brought Itachi pain! He hated those who had insulted and cursed Itachi!!
He wanted to tell Itachi that he didn't need his protection! He wanted to fight alongside them!
Even in death—!!!
He just wanted to... be with his family...
The pain of being left behind, the exhaustion of carrying all the responsibility and hatred—he truly didn't want to experience that again…
"Itachi! I—"
Sasuke had just called out his brother's name when the young Itachi looked at him.
[“Uchiha Sasuke, do you agree with the statement, ‘Uchiha Sasuke is incredibly unlucky to have a friend like Uzumaki Naruto!’”]
As the eerie sound rang out, a small selector silently appeared in the 6-year-old assistant of Sasuke in the "timeline before the Uchiha Clan Massacre".
……