Half a month later, in the underground research lab.
Most of the researchers had returned to their normal work, with only a few people left to monitor Uchiha Itachi's life signs.
As it stands, he was just unconscious and didn't seem to have any major problems.
"Shouldn't he have revived on the spot after using that jutsu? Why has it taken so long..."
Hozuki Mangetsu was peeking into the lab from outside, pressed against the glass door.
"What do you mean 'revived on the spot'? Isn't he alive already? He just hasn't opened his eyes."
"And he doesn't have eyes to open right now."
Sasori, sitting on Hozuki Mangetsu's shoulder, was also pressed against the glass door.
"You're really sharp-tongued..."
A few dark lines appeared on Hozuki Mangetsu's head as he looked up at Sasori above him.
"I'm just stating the facts."
Sasori pouted and pressed a hand against Hozuki Mangetsu's head.
Anyway, Hatake Satoru was probably the only one who could think of a solution when at a dead end. Honestly, Sasori hadn't expected that kid to set his sights on Chiyo.
Hatake Satoru bringing Sasori back earlier was actually a bargaining chip. Sasori had thought about it a lot but hadn't expected to be used as a bargaining chip himself at first.
Hatake Satoru had used Sasori to repay a favor to Chiyo. Although Sasori was no longer young, he definitely wouldn't have any close relationship with Chiyo again.
But for her, an old woman, she had only hoped to see Sasori one more time.
Now, not only had she seen Sasori, but she had also spent so much time with him, which was already quite difficult to achieve.
So, when Hatake Satoru proposed the matter of reviving Uchiha Itachi to Chiyo, the old lady hesitated for a moment before agreeing immediately.
"After all, I'm an old bone. Even if I possessed this jutsu, I probably wouldn't have many years left to live."
"It's not a bad thing to pass it on to the younger generation."
Chiyo clearly saw things very clearly. At her age, she had let go of some things. Moreover, she had spent time with Sasori during this last period.
Sometimes, seeing the young Sasori, she felt as if she had gone back many years. Although she was reluctant to part with Sasori, this was the choice she had made from the beginning.
"Since the old lady agreed herself, I don't care either."
Sasori was somewhat repulsed by such humanitarian questions, as if he was being forcibly dragged out of his puppet state and reminded that he was a person who could feel pain.
In fact, before this, he had even harbored killing intent towards Chiyo. He was by no means a filial person.
Furthermore, when he was a rogue ninja, he had abandoned all such family ties. Because he had given up everything, he could become a rogue ninja and little by little kill himself, turning himself into a living puppet.
"I thought I would never need this jutsu in my life. It's good that I can help you like this."
"At least you can revive the people you want to revive."
Chiyo said to Hatake Satoru with a sigh.
When she developed this jutsu, it felt like everything was too late. She couldn't revive her son and daughter-in-law.
Sasori had fled and become a rogue ninja, disappearing and becoming untraceable. Even if Chiyo wanted to grant life to puppets, no one would accept such a gift anymore.
After the "Reanimation Jutsu," Sunagakure Village held a grand funeral for Chiyo.
However, it was conducted as a natural death, and all arrangements had been made before she died.
Hatake Satoru did not let Tsunade know about this matter, keeping Uchiha Itachi's presence there as low-key as possible. The fewer people who knew, the better.
Therefore, even the Kazekage was kept in the dark. If Hatake Satoru had to handle these matters alone, it would have been quite difficult.
However, with Chiyo's assistance, such matters were no longer difficult.
Uchiha Itachi had indeed revived shortly after that. However, despite the revival indicated by the instruments, he showed no signs of waking up.
"Forget it, let's go. It's no fun watching this guy. That jutsu sacrifices oneself to bring people back to life."
"It's good enough that he has vital signs. Nothing else can be done."
Sasori tugged at Hozuki Mangetsu's hair, not wanting to stay by the glass window any longer.
"Ouch, if you want to sit on my shoulder, at least pinch me lightly."
Hozuki Mangetsu winced in pain, quietly complained to Sasori, and then left.
The instruments emitted a regular beeping sound along with the rise and fall of Uchiha Itachi's chest as he breathed.
When Uchiha Itachi died, his mind was blank. There was no life reel or flashback of memories. He had lost consciousness in an instant.
It was as if he had been disconnected and then reconnected. After being plunged into darkness, he saw a faint light. Then, as if his whole being was restarted, countless scenes from childhood to adulthood flashed through his mind.
Chaotic memories and confused thoughts shattered in an instant. Uchiha Itachi opened his eyes almost immediately, his fingers instinctively twitching slightly.
However, after opening his eyes, it was still darkness, making Uchiha Itachi momentarily unable to distinguish whether he was alive or dead, or at the junction between the underworld and the living world.
Although he was almost blind before he died, there was a difference between not seeing clearly and not seeing at all. In any case, it was a very confusing state.
In this state of not being able to see, his sense of touch and hearing were enhanced.
He heard a regular, very gentle beeping sound next to his ear. What was that?
And this tactile sensation.
Uchiha Itachi bizarrely bent his fingers. This should be a person's cheek. As he bent his fingers, he could feel a soft cheek.
His palm was tickled by eyelashes. This person's eyelashes were very long, and the shape of their eyes was a round arc like a child's.
Sasuke didn't have such long eyelashes, and his eyes were more slender.
Uchiha Itachi paused for a moment, and surprisingly, could not recall anyone from his memory who had eyes similar to the ones he was touching.
Judging by this movement and the warmth of his palm against the cheek, this person should be very familiar to him.
Uchiha Itachi frowned. His throat was dry, likely because he hadn't had any water.
He felt the eye in his palm open, and then the person sat up silently next to him.
"Who...?"
Uchiha Itachi thought for a moment and couldn't come up with an answer. He could only ask in a hoarse, dry voice.
"You're so slow to wake up—Itachi-chan~"
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