The air in the ruins grew thick and cold. Itachi could feel the killing intent radiating from his fellow clan members, a suffocating pressure that promised violence. The Uchiha had always been an insular clan, and his decision to join the Anbu, the Hokage's personal black-ops unit, had already earned him criticism and suspicion from many of his kin. The recent, tragic death of his best friend, Shisui Uchiha, had not only awakened his Mangekyo Sharingan but had also solidified his resolve. He knew what he had to do: stop the Uchiha Clan's coup at all costs. Everything he did was for the good of the village.
"Brother! What are you doing?" Sasuke whispered frantically, tugging at Itachi's sleeve as he saw his older brother stand defiant against their father and the rest of the clan. In Sasuke's young eyes, Itachi was more than just a genius; he was an invincible hero who would do anything for his family and his village. But what would happen if the interests of the family and the village clashed?
If someone had asked Sasuke to choose, he wouldn't have hesitated for a second. He would stand with his family. A hothead like Naruto Uzumaki would probably choose the village, but he had no family left to protect. For Itachi, the choice was far more complicated.
A sharp glint appeared in the prodigy's eyes as he stared down his father. "So, you really intend to start a rebellion?" Itachi didn't bother to deny his father's accusation. Instead, his voice became as cold as the night air.
Fugaku's expression hardened. "Itachi, you've seen what's been happening in the village. This conflict between us and them isn't new, and it can't be solved with words," he said, his gaze fixed on his eldest son. "Are you telling me you're going to side with the Hokage to destroy your own clan?"
Seeing the grim determination on Itachi's face, Fugaku's own expression turned ugly. He couldn't believe it. The son his family had poured all its hopes and resources into was nothing but a traitor who couldn't see who his real family was. If I had known it would come to this, he thought bitterly, I would have let you fall off the wall as a baby.
The tension became unbearable. Just as it seemed blades would be drawn, the entire world around them shifted.
"He's here!" An ecstatic grin spread across Fugaku's face. He quickly reached into his robes and pulled out a small, ornate token.
"Is that… the Divine Moon Token? The legendary token of Lord Tsukihiko!" one of the Uchiha elders gasped.
"The stories say that whoever holds this token can ask the Divine Being for a single wish! Only the owner of the token is allowed to meet him!" another exclaimed in awe.
"I can't believe it! People have searched the entire Shinobi World for that token and found nothing, but the Clan Chief had it all along!"
The Uchiha elites erupted in excited whispers. The Divine Moon Token was a legendary artifact, said to have been given out by Tsukihiko himself when he once walked among mortals. It was rumored that he was protected by the Twelve Divine Moons, a group of terrifyingly powerful warriors whose strength surpassed even the Kage. These twelve were divided into Upper and Lower Moons, and as a reward for their loyalty, Tsukihiko had granted them immortality and eternal life.
For centuries, leaders from all of the Five Great Nations had tried desperately to find one of these tokens, hoping to meet the immortal being and gain his favor. They had spent countless resources and fortunes, all for nothing. Yet, here it was, in the hands of Uchiha Fugaku.
"This token was given to our ancestor, and he instructed me to use it only at a critical moment, when the survival of the Uchiha Clan is at stake," Fugaku explained. He bit his thumb and let a drop of blood fall onto the token.
The moment his blood touched it, the token hummed and unleashed a blindingly sharp light that swept over everyone. The next instant, time and space seemed to warp and collapse. Even Itachi, with his newly awakened Mangekyo Sharingan, felt a terrifying sense of powerlessness wash over him.
When the light faded, the Uchiha found themselves in a completely different place. Before them, a colossal platform slowly rose from an unseen depth. Atop it sat an ice throne, wreathed in what looked like endless streams of blood and fire. A man was reclining lazily on the throne, his presence dominating the entire dimension. His eyes were sharp, his aura was magnificent, and the power rolling off him was terrifying. There was no doubt in anyone's mind. This was the legend himself… Tsukihiko.
Without a moment's hesitation, every Uchiha, including their proud leader Fugaku, dropped to their knees in reverence.
"The Uchiha Clan respectfully greets Lord Tsukihiko!" their voices boomed in unison, trembling with awe. They felt like they were in the presence of a true god.
"No… this is bad," Fugaku muttered, his head still bowed. He risked a glance to the side and his heart sank. Itachi was still standing.
"Let's see what you really are," Itachi said, his voice dangerously low. His Mangekyo Sharingan spun to life. In a blur of motion, he shot from Sasuke's side and flew directly towards the ice throne.
Ever since awakening his Mangekyo Sharingan, Itachi had started to believe he was special, that his power gave him a unique perspective. He believed his existence had a higher purpose, which was why he dared to confront his own father and clan. With his power, he felt justified in his actions. He believed that the greater a person's strength, the greater their responsibility. The Sharingan, fueled by the Uchiha's powerful emotions, could grant them terrifying power, and Itachi felt the full weight of that now.
A surge of incredible power erupted from Itachi's eyes as chakra swirled around him. Though he had only recently awakened his Mangekyo and was still a novice with its power, he didn't hesitate to unleash it. He wanted to prove to his father, his clan, and his little brother that he was strong enough to walk his own path, even if that path led to the destruction of his family. And he would start by shattering the false god his clan was desperately clinging to. This so-called Divine Being, Itachi thought, is nothing more than an illusion.
In an instant, countless sharp black flames erupted from his gaze, sweeping across the sky and threatening to incinerate the entire space. Today, Itachi would show everyone his true strength.
"So, this is the so-called… Mangekyo Sharingan," a calm voice echoed from the throne. The terrifying black flames, which Itachi believed could destroy anything, seemed like a child's tantrum to the man reclining on the ice.
"The Sharingan… Do you really think something so useful is a power only you Uchiha can possess?" Tsukihiko didn't even move from his relaxed position. He simply extended a hand forward and opened his palm.
In an instant, an invisible power pulsed from his hand, and a fully-formed Mangekyo Sharingan appeared, hovering above his palm.
"What!?" Itachi froze mid-air, his confidence shattering.
Immediately, terrifying black holes materialized out of thin air, swallowing every last one of Itachi's black flames. At the same time, a second Mangekyo Sharingan appeared in Tsukihiko's palm.
Two streams of blood burst from Itachi's eye sockets as the immense power was turned back on him. His body went limp, and he crashed heavily to the ground.
"The Mangekyo Sharingan… it's a wonderful thing. I've collected a few hundred of them over the years," Tsukihiko's voice echoed through the silent space, still as calm as ever. "Do you think awakening one makes you the master of this world? Even your clan's great ancestor, Uchiha Madara, was crushed by me and fled in terror."
A faint, mocking smile touched Tsukihiko's lips. "The two ocular techniques I just used are Devour, which consumes all things, and Plunder, which steals all things. Now," he said, casting his cold gaze down at Itachi, who lay on the ground like a broken doll, "I'd really like to see if an arrogant little nobody like you… still has anything left to be arrogant about."
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