"Sasuke, no matter what happens in the future, you must understand that I'm on your side. Don't try to shoulder everything alone. Even if the sky falls, there are always tall people to hold it up, and I am that tall person (for now)."
chinatsu spoke earnestly, then reached out and pinched Sasuke's cheeks with both hands.
In the original timeline, Sasuke's personality had gradually become more and more extreme. After learning the truth about the Uchiha Clan Massacre, he eventually chose to bear all hatred himself, even intending to become a "god-like" existence who would unite the world through fear and opposition. By becoming the common enemy of all shinobi, he believed he could sever the endless cycle of conflict and create a new kind of peace.
But how was that any different from Nagato's philosophy?
Peace built upon fear, intimidation, and overwhelming power would only force resentment underground. Those emotions would continue to accumulate until one day they exploded once again.
More importantly, Sasuke would bear all those sins and burdens alone.
Year after year.
Generation after generation.
As his older sister, how could chinatsu possibly accept that?
That's right!
No matter what happened, Sasuke absolutely could not be allowed to walk down that road.
It wasn't that chinatsu didn't trust him.
Rather, she wanted an additional layer of insurance.
She had already decided to maintain a Wood Release clone for an extended period of time and secretly have it protect Sasuke from the shadows.
If anything unexpected happened, she would be able to intervene immediately.
Maintaining a Mokuton clone twenty-four hours a day certainly consumed chakra, but compared to Sasuke potentially going astray, that expenditure was insignificant.
"That should be enough for safety... No, maybe I should add another layer."
chinatsu reached out and lightly patted the back of Sasuke's neck.
At the same time, she silently left behind a nearly invisible Flying Thunder God formula.
The Flying Thunder God seal created by Tobirama Senju and perfected by Minato Namikaze was permanent unless erased by its owner.
Hair.
Clothing.
Collars.
There were countless ways to conceal it.
Perfect.
At this moment, chinatsu looked exactly like an overprotective mother worried about her child leaving home.
Fortunately, Sasuke wasn't the type to become annoyed by affection.
In fact, excluding head pats, he actually enjoyed most of chinatsu's gestures.
Younger brothers were strange creatures.
And Sasuke was especially strange.
Sometimes he resembled a proud cat.
Sometimes a loyal dog.
Sometimes a stubborn bull charging straight ahead.
Looking at him now, if the situation weren't completely inappropriate, chinatsu almost wanted to scratch his chin the way people teased cats.
Cough.
Cough.
Why do I suddenly feel like a weirdo?
"In short, I support your revenge. Find Uchiha Itachi and settle everything quickly!"
chinatsu clenched her fists and spoke seriously.
Unexpectedly, Sasuke's expression, which had softened somewhat, suddenly darkened again.
The corners of his mouth curved upward into a chilling smile.
"No, Sister."
"Ending it quickly would be meaningless."
"I'll settle the score with him slowly."
"Very slowly."
"Painfully slowly."
"......"
chinatsu immediately crossed her arms.
Goosebumps rose all over her body.
If the Sasuke from the original manga had said something like this, it would probably have sounded like a youthful boast.
But this version of Sasuke?
The version personally raised by chinatsu?
He was completely capable of carrying it out.
The current Sasuke had already reached at least elite jōnin standards.
Meanwhile, Itachi's body was being destroyed by illness, his eyesight was deteriorating due to excessive Mangekyō Sharingan usage, and he would never use his full strength against Sasuke.
Oh no.
Oh no.
Her little brother had truly evolved into a terrifying yandere.
"Uchiha Itachi..."
"I originally hoped to let you suffer a little less."
"But now it looks like you're going to suffer several dozen times more..."
Far away.
Uchiha Itachi suddenly stumbled on a small stone while traveling.
His body swayed slightly.
"Itachi-san!"
Hoshigaki Kisame immediately stepped forward.
"Are you alright?!"
Seeing Itachi nearly lose his footing, Kisame instinctively reached out to support him.
However, Itachi shook his head.
"I'm fine."
"Don't worry."
After stabilizing himself, Itachi looked ahead.
"But from here onward, let's separate."
Kisame was silent for a moment.
Although he was loyal to the Akatsuki and trusted the masked man who called himself Madara Uchiha, he also genuinely respected Itachi.
Among all Akatsuki members, Kisame considered Itachi one of the few people truly worthy of admiration.
Therefore, he rarely questioned Itachi's decisions.
"Understood."
"I'll handle my mission."
Kisame nodded.
"The Four-Tails Jinchūriki shouldn't be difficult to locate."
"You go deal with whatever you're planning."
After speaking, Kisame quickly departed.
Watching him disappear into the distance, Itachi slowly exhaled.
Then he changed direction.
As he moved, he deliberately left traces behind.
Subtle clues.
Just enough.
Enough for certain people to discover.
Days passed.
Back in Konoha, Sasori finally reunited with Granny Chiyo.
Under chinatsu's relentless supervision and Chiyo's sincere efforts, the emotional knot buried deep within Sasori's heart gradually began to loosen.
Compared with forcibly controlling someone using Kotoamatsukami, genuine emotional healing was obviously preferable.
Using Shisui's Mangekyō Sharingan technique to rewrite a person's will ultimately crossed a moral line.
If there was another option, chinatsu preferred to use it.
After confirming that Sasori's situation had stabilized somewhat, chinatsu finally released her constant surveillance and stepped away.
One matter solved.
Another immediately followed.
Leisurely days?
Those were merely stolen moments between endless work.
chinatsu sighed.
Then she returned home and began packing.
What was she preparing for?
Was she planning to chase after Kisame?
No.
No.
No.
That could wait.
Besides, she already had people gathering information.
Finding Kisame first and recruiting him later would save far more time.
The task before her now was something completely different.
The Land of Whirlpools.
Uzushiogakure.
The homeland of the Uzumaki Clan.
The nation that had once possessed sealing techniques so powerful that multiple countries united to destroy it.
Located east of the Land of Fire, the former Land of Whirlpools had long since become ruins.
chinatsu intended to personally investigate the area.
If conditions were suitable, it could become her future base after leaving Konoha.
"Naruto, are you ready?!"
"Ready, ready!"
Naruto immediately appeared carrying luggage.
His grin was as bright as ever.
This trip would only involve Naruto and chinatsu.
Sasuke was currently pursuing clues related to Itachi.
After careful consideration, chinatsu finally decided not to stop him.
Of course.
Her Wood Release clone was secretly following him.
Mokuton clones possessed exceptional concealment abilities.
If they deliberately hid themselves, even Itachi's Sharingan would have difficulty detecting them unless they approached extremely close.
"My clone."
"Little brother is counting on you."
chinatsu silently prayed for success.
Then she took a deep breath.
Picked up her luggage.
Put on her sunglasses.
And together with Naruto, left Konoha through the village gates.
Naruto looked excited.
"The Land of Whirlpools!"
"The homeland of the Uzumaki Clan!"
"I'm mentally prepared!"
chinatsu rolled her eyes.
"Relax."
"The Land of Whirlpools still has potential."
"If the place is suitable, we'll use it."
"And if it isn't suitable..."
chinatsu narrowed her eyes.
"If it isn't suitable..."
"Then I'll simply visit the Fire Daimyō personally."
Naruto blinked.
"And then?"
chinatsu smiled brightly.
"Then I'll hold a kunai against his neck and negotiate face-to-face."
Naruto: "..."
For some reason, that sounded exactly like something chinatsu-neechan would actually do.
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