he sterile scent of the Konoha Hospital filled Itachi's senses as he slowly stirred awake. Sunlight filtered weakly through the window blinds, dust motes dancing in the shafts of light. His body ached — every muscle, every joint, every fiber still burned from the battle with Steppenwolf.
He opened his crimson eyes cautiously, scanning the room. Sasuke sat nearby, quietly observing, the ANBU unit standing like silent shadows in the corners. No words were spoken immediately; the tension of the past day's battle still lingered.
Unconscious for how long? Itachi thought. Doesn't matter. What matters now… the points.
The system chimed softly in his mind:
[System Notification: Recovery Complete — Health Restored][Total System Points: 400,500][Combat Record: High-Tier Enemy Engagement — Maximum Reward Applied]
Itachi's lips curled into a faint, almost imperceptible smile. Four hundred thousand points. Enough to buy almost anything in the system store.
He flexed his fingers, still sore from chakra exertion, and allowed himself a brief moment of calculation. The system store flashed in his mind like a constellation of possibilities:
All major bloodlines: Otsutsuki, Senju, Uzumaki, Rinnegan, Hashirama Sage Body — everything he could imagine.
Forbidden techniques and artifacts: Kamui mastery, Flying Thunder God technique, Perfect Sage Mode, and even 10 Tails Jinchuriki abilities if he wanted.
Summoning armies, villages, and clans: Entire villages, elite ANBU units, personal ninja armies — all at his disposal.
Itachi sat up slowly, his mind racing through the possibilities. The streets of Metropolis still smoldered from yesterday's battle, but he didn't need to move yet. The power he had accumulated was almost ridiculous — every single system point from defeating Steppenwolf, Parademons, and previous battles had compounded into an unimaginable fortune.
Sasuke finally spoke, his voice quiet but sharp. "You're awake. You pushed yourself too hard. You need to rest… but I see you're already thinking about what's next."
Itachi's eyes, glowing faintly with residual Sharingan energy, met his brother's. "Of course. This is only the beginning. Steppenwolf was the first wave. Darkseid will come. And I will be ready. But first…" He paused, closing his eyes momentarily. "…the system store."
The ANBU units remained silent, but their loyalty and precision were evident. Every move Itachi made, every decision he considered, would be executed with deadly efficiency.
Four hundred thousand points… Itachi mused internally. I can buy everything I need to prepare for the strongest enemies on Earth — and beyond. This is not just power. This is absolute control. My little brother, my ANBU, my entire army… everything will be ready when Darkseid arrives.
He rose from the hospital bed, his body still sore but his mind already sharp. The system store awaited, and with it, the path to ultimate power.
[System Notification: Konoha Hospital Recovery Complete — Chakra Restored][Available Actions: Access System Store, Redeem Ninjas, Purchase Bloodlines, Unlock Forbidden Techniques, Expand Power Base]
Itachi smiled faintly, crimson eyes glowing as he flexed his hands, already envisioning the army, the techniques, and the power he would acquire.
This world… this universe… will bend to the strategy of Itachi Uchiha.