"Ding. You have activated the Revenge System."
The mechanical voice echoed in my head, flat yet undeniable.
"You will be transmigrated as Itachi Uchiha… after the Konoha Collapse Plan."
I froze. My eyes widened. "Am I hallucinating?"
"You are not hallucinating, Host."
"…But why me?"
"We have felt that you have always liked the character Itachi, but still saw some of his choices as foolish. We will give you a chance to change that."
I rubbed my temples. "I see…"
"Detected: there is already a transmigrator in this world. Choosing the best alternate Naruto verse. World selected. You will be transmigrated in twenty minutes."
My breath caught. Another transmigrator? That meant the story could already be warped beyond recognition.
"What are the differences in this world?" I asked.
"That is for you to find out, Host. Do you want to open the starter pack?"
I didn't hesitate. "Open."
"Ding. Starter pack opened. You have received:
God-Level Acting
God-Level Healing Ability
Fire Manipulation Mastery
Awakened Eternal Mangekyou Sharingan
Curse of Loving Brother
Items will be received after transmigration."
I stared at the void in disbelief. "…Wait, what? Why the hell do I have to be a bro-con!?"
The system ignored my protest.
"Fifteen minutes remaining. Itachi's memories will now be fused in 3… 2… 1…"
"Ahhh! Shit—fuck! It hurts!" I screamed, clutching my skull as flashes of Itachi's life stabbed into my mind. The training. The ANBU. The massacre. Sasuke's hatred. Danzo's schemes.
When the storm finally calmed, I lay there gasping for breath. "Okay… okay… from what I can tell, everything is mostly the same. Except—dammit. I'm loyal to Danzo?!"
The system chimed. "Detected a powerful genjutsu on Host: Kotoamatsukami. Removing… Curse of Loving Brother activated. Genjutsu neutralized."
My vision snapped into focus. For the first time, I felt free.
"Host, time for transmigration has arrived. Please close your eyes. After counting to five, reopen them."
I swallowed hard, then obeyed. One… two… three… four… five.
When I opened my eyes, a wooden hotel ceiling loomed above me.
"Ding. Starter pack rewards have been received."
A rough, shark-like voice interrupted. "Oi, Itachi. You good there, partner?"
I turned my head to see Kisame Hoshigaki watching me curiously. My surroundings matched perfectly—I was inside the hotel, right before Naruto opened the door. That meant…
'This is it. The first meeting with Sasuke after the Collapse.'
I forced myself into Itachi's usual stoic composure. "I'm fine," I replied.
Moments later, the knock came. The door creaked open, and there he was—Naruto Uzumaki.
"I need you to come with us," I said smoothly.
To my shock, Naruto didn't resist. He simply stepped forward. That's… not right. In the anime he put up a fight.
Kisame chuckled darkly. "Should I cut off his legs so he can't run, Itachi?"
Before I could answer, a familiar, venomous voice rang out.
"It's been a while… hasn't it, nii-san?"
I turned, meeting the blazing eyes of Sasuke Uchiha. His hatred poured out like a physical flame.
"Build up your hatred. Hate me. Kill me. That is your path!" he shouted, preparing to strike.
But this time—I refused to let the cycle repeat.
I activated my Eternal Mangekyou Sharingan. Sasuke's body froze as the world around us twisted. In an instant, he was bound to a chair inside my Tsukuyomi.
"Nii-san!" he roared, struggling against the illusion.
"Listen, Sasuke," I said firmly. My voice carried the weight of both Itachi's memories and my own. "I know you hate me. And I am sorry for what I've done."
"Lies! You're nothing but a cold-blooded killer!"
"If I truly were a cold-blooded killer," I asked quietly, "then why are you still alive?"
He froze, his rage faltering.
"Because I was weak," he spat.
"If I only wanted to test my strength, why would I slaughter children? Why would I kill the clan's civilians? Does that sound like someone seeking only power?"
Silence.
"You're… saying there was another reason?" Sasuke asked slowly.
"Yes." My eyes hardened. "The clan was planning a rebellion. Shisui and I had a plan to stop it, to control Father with his eye. But Danzo interfered. He stole Shisui's eye, poisoned him, and drove him to suicide. Shisui entrusted me with his remaining eye before he died. That was how I awakened the Mangekyou."
Sasuke trembled. "Danzo…?"
"Danzo manipulated me. He used Shisui's eye to bind me with loyalty, to make me his pawn. But I've broken free."
He grit his teeth. "So what now?"
"Now," I said, leaning close, "we train. Away from Konoha. Away from Danzo. If he gets his hands on you, it will be over. We will fight off both Konoha and the Akatsuki if we must. Are you with me, little brother?"
Sasuke's Sharingan flared. "Yes. Konoha will pay."
A dangerous smile tugged at my lips. "Good. When this genjutsu ends, fake passing out. I'll handle Kisame. Then we run."
I released the Tsukuyomi. Sasuke slumped forward, feigning unconsciousness.
Kisame was mid-swing at Naruto when I turned, Mangekyou blazing.
"Amaterasu!"
Black flames erupted, engulfing him. Without waiting, I grabbed Sasuke's body and vanished in a flicker of speed.
The world was about to change.