"Is he going to be alright?"
"Ever since Sasuke killed Itachi, he's been acting a bit... strange."
White Zetsu emerged from the ground, his voice surfacing with a wet, slithering sound as he addressed the masked man known as Obito.
"?"
Obito didn't seem particularly concerned. In his view, it would have been stranger if Sasuke had maintained his usual personality after learning the "Truth" about his brother.
While Itachi surely hadn't dumped every detail of his life onto the ignorant boy, Sasuke was smart enough to know what he needed to do next.
Obito wasn't worried about any information leaks from the Akatsuki side.
As long as he continued to "Add fuel to the fire" and manipulate Sasuke's emotions, the boy's hatred for Konoha would eventually reach a boiling point.
Manipulating an emotionally immature boy like Sasuke was almost too easy.
Uchiha Sasuke... still possessed a great deal of utility.
Everything was for the sake of his [Eye of the Moon Plan]!
"Don't worry about it. He's just dwelling on a meaningless past."
Obito spoke with a complete lack of interest in Sasuke's current mental state before turning back to Zetsu.
"Hmph."
Zetsu offered a cold, detached response.
***
Under the glow of the setting sun, Sasuke stood by the shore, staring out at the horizon. His expression shifted as he replayed recent events in his mind.
Having learned the truth that Itachi had hidden from the man calling himself "Madara," Sasuke found himself consumed by a renewed sense of fury and loathing for Konoha.
That hatred had already intensified to the point where "Destruction" felt like the only acceptable conclusion.
With his [Mangekyou Sharingan] active, he attempted to stabilize his racing emotions, forcing himself to recall Itachi's final words.
'Forgive me, Sasuke... I failed.'
'Unlike me, you will surely be able to do better...'
'You possess the potential to be chosen.'
Initially, Sasuke hadn't understood the meaning behind those words.
After learning everything, he viewed his brother as perfect.
A man like Itachi shouldn't have been capable of failure.
But as his ocular power continued to grow, the hidden truth buried within his eyes began to unravel.
[Sharingan: Transcription Seal]!
Sasuke was no stranger to this technique; he was capable of using it himself.
Once certain conditions were met, the seal would automatically release its contents.
It seemed Itachi Uchiha had buried a secret within Sasuke's eyes that no one else was meant to know.
"What is this?"
Unfamiliar surroundings. Unfamiliar streets. Unfamiliar people.
But the constant factor was the sight of Itachi, still dressed in his Akatsuki cloak.
He was engaged in combat.
His opponent appeared to be incredibly powerful, to the point where the [Sharingan]'s illusions were completely ineffective.
Even when he manifested [Susanoo], he couldn't escape the image of being systematically dismantled.
While the opponent didn't look like a ninja, they possessed a level of power that far surpassed anything Sasuke had ever seen.
Time.
From Itachi's perspective, Sasuke began to understand the nature of the enemy's ability.
A terrifying power that could manipulate and dominate the flow of time itself.
Acceleration.
Faced with such a power, even the legendary [Flying Thunder God] would likely be outmatched.
Stop.
This was an ultimate technique that could kill an opponent without them even realizing they were under attack. Even Itachi had been forced to rely on "Izanagi" just to survive a single encounter.
Could a ninja as powerful as Itachi really have been pushed into such a desperate corner?
Sasuke didn't know where this place was, but he was certain this wasn't just some elaborate lie constructed by a genjutsu.
Itachi Uchiha was dead; he had no reason to create such a pointless "Illusion" to trick him now.
As he slowly absorbed the information Itachi had transmitted, Sasuke's understanding began to broaden.
His fists clenched involuntarily as he watched Itachi being manipulated.
The muscular man with blond hair... Sasuke burned that image into the depths of his memory.
Stand.
A manifestation of mental and life energy.
That was the truth behind the power that rivaled the ninja arts despite its non-shinobi origin.
No... it wasn't just the so-called "Stand." There were "Servants" as well, each possessing a wide array of inexplicable abilities.
Morioh Town.
Where in the Ninja World was that town supposed to be?
Why had Itachi Uchiha encountered such mysterious opponents?
What had been his objective there?
Was it a mission assigned by the Akatsuki?
'No, that's not right. The Akatsuki usually operate in pairs. Even though Itachi was working with that strange middle-aged man, it's clear they weren't part of the organization.'
Sasuke felt a surge of anxiety as he analyzed the situation.
He desperately wanted to know the details of Itachi's previous actions.
The observation continued.
But to his disappointment, the recording showed Itachi's ultimate failure.
He seemed to have been defeated in that war and was subsequently forced to withdraw.
Sasuke could feel the heavy weight of regret radiating from his "Brother."
He had never imagined that the seemingly emotionless Itachi Uchiha could ever experience such profound feelings.
'What happened next?'
If Itachi Uchiha had truly died there, then who had Sasuke fought just recently?
Fortunately, the recording continued.
The scene shifted toward the conclusion of the event.
Itachi stood alone on top of a tall building, watching a group of Masters and Servants gathered around a table below.
The atmosphere of the scene was so warm and vibrant that it made Sasuke's chest tighten with a strange discomfort.
"Sasuke..."
Suddenly, Itachi spoke, as if he were aware that Sasuke was watching him.
"!"
Sasuke jumped at the sound of his name, his eyes widening as he stared at the image.
"You may eventually have the chance to face this challenge yourself."
"If you can... do not follow the same path that I did."
Sasuke didn't understand.
A chance to face a challenge?
What did that mean?
Why couldn't he just explain everything clearly for once?
Did he really have to leave Sasuke in such a state of confusion even after his death?
"You will likely hear many fabrications from the man calling himself 'Madara'."
"But I believe that you will eventually find the truth on your own."
"However, I must ensure that the information regarding this war is delivered to you in its entirety."
"Because... you may also be chosen to participate in..."
"The [Dragon Ball War]!"
Sasuke's brow furrowed at the name.
"That way, when the time comes, you will be able to make an informed decision."
"If your Master is someone trustworthy, then fight alongside them with everything you have."
"Using a ninja's logic to judge the hearts of people from other worlds... it is not always the correct approach."
"I am the ultimate example of that failure. If I had chosen to help them... perhaps the outcome would have been different."
As the recording continued, Sasuke saw a side of Itachi he had never seen: a man filled with "Remorse" and "Regret."
"This is a war capable of realizing any wish the winner desires."
"Only the one who reaches the end..."
"Will be given everything."
"But in this struggle... I was one of the two who failed."
Itachi didn't attempt to sugarcoat the ending. He was painfully honest about his defeat.
"What?"
"Realize any wish?"
Sasuke felt a surge of adrenaline at those words.
In that single instant, images of his brother, his parents, and the entire Uchiha clan being restored flashed through his mind.
"So... you must not repeat my mistakes."
"This place is filled with powers far more sinister and complex than any ninjutsu."
"Do not end up like me..."
"A man who accomplished nothing."
"!"
Returning to reality, Sasuke blinked, the light of the setting sun filling his vision once more.
He had never imagined that Itachi had experienced such a "Monumental Event" before their battle.
No wonder he had hesitated so many times during their fight.
He must have been debating whether or not to reveal the truth.
In the end, he had chosen to use the [Transcription Seal] to carve the "Secret" into Sasuke's eyes.
A secret that would only be unlocked once his ocular power had matured.
Hope.
Sasuke saw a flicker of hope that could change everything.
"Ah... brother."
"I will surely achieve it. I'll carry the weight of the entire Uchiha name!"
"And then... I will change everything!"
Obito had just appeared from behind him. Hearing Sasuke's low, intense mumbling, he found himself thinking that the kid had truly gone insane.
It seemed the destruction of Konoha was a certainty now!
[Translated and Rewritten by Shika_Kagura]