On the screen, the confrontation between Sasuke and Itachi continued. Sharingan against Sharingan, Genjutsu layered upon Genjutsu—truth and illusion intertwined beyond distinction.
"Stop joking around!" Sasuke didn't believe a word, his voice seething with restrained fury.
Itachi, on the other hand, spoke unhurriedly: "In order to survive, we cling to all we know and understand. And we label it 'reality.'"
"But knowledge and understanding are ambiguous. And that reality could be an illusion. All humans live with the wrong assumptions. Isn't that another way of looking at it?"
Faced with Itachi's roundabout rhetoric, Sasuke grew impatient: "Just what are you trying to say?"
"It's only your assumption that Madara is dead. In exactly the same way, you once assumed that I was your kind older brother."
"What happened that night... I was so young and thought it was all an illusion. That I was caught in a cruel Genjutsu... I wanted to believe that. But that was... unmistakably reality!"
Sasuke roared: "My eyes are different now! My Sharingan can see through any illusion!"
Before the words had fully left his mouth, he spun around and unleashed another Chidori Nagashi toward Itachi, who had somehow appeared even further behind him. However, the lightning merely grazed past Itachi's body, striking the wall behind him and leaving several cracks in its surface.
Hearing that, Itachi merely replied coldly: "You still speak with such confidence. But for now, I'll take your word for it."
It was only then that everyone realized, the stone chair and Itachi that Sasuke had pierced moments ago had vanished, leaving nothing but empty space. The real Itachi had once again repositioned himself further back, and the stone chair appeared never to have moved at all.
One Genjutsu after another, infinite layers of deception—impossible to guard against. Fortunately, Sasuke also possessed the Sharingan and managed to see through it all in time.
"Why don't we end this little charade?"
Sasuke said with a hint of mockery, simultaneously withdrawing the Chidori from his palm.
"Being confident is fine. But Sasuke, your eyes still aren't the same as mine."
"So... you couldn't kill the friend who is most dear to you. And you dared to appear before me with such weak resolve?"
At this reminder, the people of the Shinobi World recalled how Itachi had awakened his Mangekyō in the first place—wasn't it when he witnessed Shisui die before his very eyes?
The death of a loved one was the catalyst for awakening the Mangekyō. This was the Uchiha clan's curse, and also their destiny.
However, Itachi's perspective was limited. He didn't yet know that later, someone would awaken their eyes through the power of love. That little girl had opened her Sharingan simply out of concern for the one she cared for.
No death. No hatred. Only love. To Itachi, that concept was probably unimaginable.
"Then hurry it up and try to kill me with your Mangekyō Sharingan."
Sasuke's voice carried a hint of provocation: "Or is it too difficult to test your capability against me now?
To that, Itachi only sighed and stood up: "You're pretty sure of yourself..."
Meanwhile, on the wall beside them, Black Zetsu and White Zetsu watched the two below, unable to resist thinking: 'Neither of them has moved for a while. They're just feeling each other out with Genjutsu.'
His words hit the nail on the head; all the confrontations between the two just now were non-existent, merely illusions created by their battle within Genjutsu.
The scene continued, with the two discussing the Mangekyō Sharingan further, including the stories of Madara and Izuna, though the content didn't quite match what those in the know actually understood.
Earlier, the Sky Screen had already given a detailed explanation of all Sharingan-related information, including the relationship between the Mangekyō Sharingan and the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan.
They mocked Itachi's evasive and secretive way of explaining things, when it was clearly just the fusion of two pairs of Mangekyō, he made it sound so mystically profound.
But in Konoha Year One, atop the cliff outside the village—
Madara's face had turned as dark as it could.
That brat Itachi was purely tarnishing his reputation! What did he mean by 'I took Izuna's eyes'?
If there were even the slightest possibility, he would never have taken Izuna's Mangekyō! Did that kid really think he was as power-hungry and deranged as he himself was?
Besides, although he still hadn't figured out what Indra's reincarnation truly meant, based on the screen's information, the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan clearly wasn't something you could just fuse from any two pairs of Mangekyō.
Throughout the history of the Shinobi World, the only successful cases were himself and the future Sasuke. Not just any random Tom, Dick or Harry could upgrade to the Eternal Mangekyō.
And that wasn't even all. After all, the matter between him and Izuna was definitely recorded by the Uchiha clan. And as the son of the clan head, Itachi couldn't possibly be unaware of what really happened. So the only possible explanation was that he was deliberately deceiving Sasuke.
Madara's expression remained sour. Even though he had figured out the truth, being slandered like this by a younger generation still left a bitter knot in his chest.
Thinking of all this, Madara shot a fierce glare at Tobirama.
Tobirama, feeling Madara's glare, kept his usual stoic face—but inwardly, he was rather pleased. 'Serves you right for having a bad reputation, Madara… Now you're the one taking the fall.'
Meanwhile, on the screen—
As the conversation continued, Itachi's expression grew increasingly unhinged.
"Sasuke! You are my new light! You have my spare eyes!"
"Originally, the Uchiha Clan killed off friends in order to possess the Mangekyō Sharingan. Parents and siblings killed each other off to possess eternal ocular powers... And they showed off this power... They are a tainted clan!"
Itachi on the screen burst into manic laughter.
"And, from the day you were born, you have been inevitably linked to this blood-sullied fate!"
"Now come! My little brother!"
"I shall kill you... and free myself from this fate and bring about true change! I will be free of the constraints that bind me!"
---
[Konoha, Year 52. Uchiha Clan Grounds]
Hearing Itachi's words on the screen, the Uchiha present instantly erupted in fury.
"You brat! What kind of nonsense are you spouting?!"
"Since when did our Uchiha clan become a tainted clan that kills friends, turns father against son, and brother against brother for the sake of eyes?!"
"This madman is dragging the entire clan down with him!"
Itachi, after slaughtering the entire clan, was now slinging mud on the Uchiha name itself. The Uchiha present wished they could tear him apart with their bare hands.
But given Fugaku's authority and presence in the room, they could only glare at Itachi with resentment.
Meanwhile, Itachi sat in the corner, eyes closed, as if he hadn't heard a thing.
"Everyone, please don't misunderstand—Itachi on the screen is only deceiving Sasuke. If he truly wanted to take Sasuke's eyes, he would have simply done it. There would be no need for all this talk."
Shisui's voice was somewhat hurried as he rushed to explain, fine beads of sweat seeping from his forehead.
He too felt a hint of resentment inside. 'Itachi—why did you have to say those things? Even if it was to make Sasuke hate you, you didn't have to drag the entire Uchiha clan into it.'
And that manic laughter… Itachi laughing like that was unbearable to watch. It was as if he had become a completely different person.
Of the "Four Maniacal Uchiha Laughs," only Madara was left now, right? Shisui wondered what that guy would look like when he laughs.
*****
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