However, in the next instant, Light seemed to think of something amusing—and smiled.
With a casual flick of her wrist, she lightly tossed the teddy bear doll toward Sasuke.
"Little brat of the Uchiha Clan," she said teasingly, "a gift for you. A souvenir, perhaps?"
Sasuke's gaze turned instantly frigid.
Without the slightest hesitation—without even attempting to catch or block it—he simply condensed chakra into his palm and swung it out sharply.
"Get lost!"
A gust of force smacked the incoming teddy bear away like a fly. It flew into a distant pile of rubble, rolled several times, and came to rest covered in dust.
Sasuke's response was clean and decisive—full of rejection and distrust toward both Light and the eerie doll.
Light watched his reaction. Not only did she fail to grow angry, the strange smile on her face deepened.
A nearly intoxicated gleam shimmered in her bright eyes.
"This is… so entertaining."
She murmured softly—barely audible—yet the Heavenly Screen captured every word.
She lifted her head and looked around at the battlefield, now in ruins. Her gaze swept across Sakura, Orochimaru, and the wary Sasuke—
then seemed to pass beyond the sky itself, toward a far broader "world."
"So this is what it feels like… to break free from someone else's control and seize control yourself?"
Her tone carried the thrill and dizzying excitement of someone tasting freedom and power for the first time.
"With a mere whim, I can decide a person's form… their mode of existence… even—"
"No justification. No explanation. Simply because… I want to."
"This feeling… is wonderful."
Her smile grew brighter.
And far more unsettling.
The atmosphere thickened under the naked hatred emanating from Light.
"Do you have a grudge against me?" Sasuke asked coldly, his Rinnegan scrutinizing her sharply. "I don't believe we've ever met."
He searched his memory. He was certain he did not know this self-proclaimed "Light," nor her strange ability.
"A grudge?"
Light seemed to snap out of her intoxicated reverie. The smile vanished, replaced by a bone-deep chill and resentment.
She let out a mocking laugh.
"Who told you to be an Uchiha? That entire clan deserves to die."
The words struck like thunder.
Sasuke's expression froze over instantly, his aura turning dangerous.
"But…" Light continued, her tone shifting into something almost cruelly satisfied, "your useless brother, Itachi Uchiha, already slaughtered the clan down to just you. Saves me quite a bit of trouble."
She spoke of the Uchiha Clan Massacre lightly, as if recounting a play. Yet the hatred in her voice remained ice-cold.
"So, Sasuke…" Her eyes locked onto him like a viper targeting prey. "Your life—I'll be taking it. That's what your clan owes."
I see.
Sasuke understood.
The hatred was not personal.
It was directed at the entire Uchiha Clan.
As for its origin—that remained unknown.
"Hmph."
Sasuke gave a cold snort. His remaining arm tightened around the hilt of the Kusanagi Sword. Battle intent surged within his purple Rinnegan.
"If you have the ability, then try."
He was no longer the powerless boy who could not protect his clan, who lived in the shadow of his brother.
Even with one arm. Even if not at full strength.
Sasuke Uchiha would never retreat in the face of a threat.
Light watched him without fear. Hatred and a twisted excitement intertwined in her gaze.
Outside the Heavenly Screen
By now, the shinobi world had pieced it together.
"Sasuke and the others… they've really forgotten Neji!"
"They must have! With their perception—especially Sakura and Orochimaru—how could they not notice Neji being turned into a toy right in front of them?"
"And Sasuke even slapped the doll away himself! If he knew that was Neji, would he ever do that?"
"This ability is terrifying! It's not just transforming someone into a toy—it interferes with cognition! It makes people forget the transformed person, or subconsciously ignore their disappearance!"
"A Devil Fruit… it truly deserves the name 'Devil.' Manipulating existence and perception like that—it's impossible to guard against!"
Discussions erupted everywhere.
This power surpassed conventional ninjutsu, genjutsu, even Kekkei Genkai.
Somewhere in the Shinobi World — A Hidden Sewer
Uchiha Itachi watched the Heavenly Screen, brows tightly furrowed.
"An enemy of the Uchiha Clan… judging by her age, she's about Sasuke's generation. Did some clan member wrong her in the past?"
There was too little information to analyze further.
But that did not stop the killing intent in his eyes.
At that moment, Itachi had only one thought:
Find Light.
Kill her.
While she was still a child.
Otherwise, she would one day become Sasuke's greatest enemy.
In Reality — Neji Hyūga
Neji watched the Heavenly Screen in silence as he saw himself transformed into a doll, forgotten by his comrades—and even swatted away by Sasuke.
His pride and composure were nearly drowned by fury and humiliation.
He clenched his fists so tightly his knuckles turned white. Veins bulged faintly at his temples.
"Damn it…!"
For once, the calm and restrained expression he usually wore was gone.
He had been one of the focal points of the Heavenly Screen's narrative.
He had awakened the Tenseigan.
He had fought against berserk Naruto.
He had heard Sakura reveal the truth of the world.
All of that should have placed him at the center of destiny—an active force driving events forward, seeking truth.
But what was the reality?
He was like a puppet.
Or merely a "viewpoint vessel."
Aside from observing with the Tenseigan and listening to revelations, he had accomplished almost nothing of substance.
Against powerful enemies—Karin, Wangcai—he had been helpless.
And now?
In his own "main character perspective"—
He had been turned into a toy.
Like a cheap magic trick.
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