"Yay, I'll get to see Sasuke again soon!"
Sakura clenched her fists, her pink hair swaying with excitement.
"Sasuke doesn't even like you."
Ino rolled her eyes. "Forehead, I suggest you take out Naruto. He's your biggest love rival."
"Ino-pig! What nonsense are you spouting?"
Sakura flared up. "Naruto's a boy. How could Sasuke possibly like him?"
"Who knows?"
Ino lost interest in arguing and turned to look out the window.
She wondered if that handsome guy named Natsume was still around.
She'd forgotten to ask where he lived.
"You're acting weird!"
Sakura finally sensed something was off.
Ino actually wasn't fighting her for ownership of Sasuke today.
This was unprecedented.
The two of them had been best friends since childhood, with similar personalities and tastes, which was why they both liked Sasuke.
But now Ino was acting completely out of character.
"Hey, Ino-pig, what's up with you?" Sakura asked, worried.
"I'm fine."
Ino looked at her in confusion.
Honestly, competing with Sakura over Sasuke was just bickering—her way of expressing friendship.
At her age, she didn't really understand love.
Of course, part of it was that Sasuke was undeniably handsome.
"…?"
Sakura frowned and asked bluntly, "Then why aren't you excited? Usually, you're more worked up than me at times like this."
"No, I'm not."
Ino denied it flatly. "I'm just excited because school's about to end."
"You're lying!"
Sakura narrowed her eyes. "Is it because of that handsome guy from today?"
"No!"
Ino answered without hesitation.
But Sakura knew her too well—she was just being stubborn and refusing to admit it.
Still, this betrayal was a bit too fast, wasn't it?
One meeting and she'd already abandoned Sasuke.
Sakura suddenly thought of something. Without Ino as a rival, wouldn't that mean…?
Wait!
There was still Naruto.
Damn it!
Why did he get to take up most of Sasuke's time?
Seeing that Sakura didn't press further, Ino let out a secret sigh of relief.
To be honest, she was a little confused herself.
But… he was just too handsome!
Stars sparkled in Ino's eyes.
Just then, the classroom door opened.
Homeroom teacher Umino Iruka walked in, carrying a stack of test papers.
Amid everyone's puzzled looks, he announced, "We just received an urgent notice from the school. Dismissal is delayed by two hours. You can't leave until you finish this test."
The next moment, wails and screams erupted.
Ino panicked inside.
My handsome guy is gone.
What test? Can't we do it tomorrow?
So annoying!
…
At that moment, on a cherry tree not far from the school building—
Itachi stood silently.
Reflected in his eyes was the image of Sasuke.
After a long while, he turned into crows and vanished into the sky.
Night fell.
The Konoha was as lively as ever.
Itachi walked down the main street, expression calm, only his eyes flickering with struggle and pain.
The number of pedestrians dwindled.
He had stepped into Uchiha territory.
Behind him, Shimura Danzo and Orochimaru's group emerged.
"Set up the barrier!"
Danzo could no longer suppress his glee; even his tone brimmed with excitement. "Don't let anyone escape!"
Orochimaru glanced at him without speaking.
He turned to look at Itachi and licked his lips.
Three-tomoe Sharingan alone wouldn't satisfy him.
He intended to snatch Itachi's Mangekyo Sharingan amid his battle with Uchiha Fugaku.
As for promises—those were Danzo's concern, not his.
Even if Hiruzen Sarutobi asked questions, he had his excuses.
He wasn't the one who did the killing—he'd merely picked up an unwanted Mangekyo Sharingan.
Besides, the old man probably wouldn't be in the mood to meddle in his affairs.
Root operatives immediately dispersed to their assigned positions to prepare the barrier.
Once the fighting began, the barrier would rise.
No one would escape their fate.
Itachi was aware of their movements but didn't stop them.
To weed the grass, you must pull up the roots.
He knew that well.
"Itachi, you're back. Everyone's waiting for you."
The middle-aged gate guard greeted him warmly.
Itachi nodded expressionlessly.
With a casual draw, blade flashing, blood sprayed—he slit the man's throat.
"Itachi, you…"
The man's eyes widened in disbelief.
"Sorry. I have to do this for the sake of the Leaf."
Itachi's voice was icy as he pulled back his blade.
Then he opened his Mangekyo Sharingan and walked into the compound without a change in expression.
The slaughter began.
"Itachi, are you insane?"
"Damn it! Everyone, be careful!"
"Aaah!"
Cries rose and fell.
…
Izumi woke with a start.
Because of her age and status, she wasn't allowed to join the rebellion.
She was resting at home.
Itachi was killing from the outskirts inward.
Izumi's house wasn't far.
She smelled thick blood, heart lurching, and rushed out of her room.
Her mother, Hazuki, had also been awakened by the noise.
"Izumi, is something wrong?"
"Mother, stay here. I'll go check."
Izumi grabbed a kunai and ran at full speed.
The streets were lined with corpses.
Finally, she saw a familiar back and was struck as if by lightning.
"Itachi?!"
Izumi stared in disbelief.
Itachi's sword paused slightly. He turned, looking at his confidante.
His face and clothes were smeared with blood—
A silent proclamation that he was the killer.
"Itachi, what are you doing?!"
Agitated, Izumi's three-tomoe Sharingan opened on its own, a chill aura spreading.
Itachi didn't speak.
His eyes pulsed sharply.
Tsukuyomi.
Forgive me—die in a dream.
He ignored her and headed toward the center—his home.
Izumi stood there, stunned.
With her strength, there was no way she could break free from Tsukuyomi.
Just then, the mark on her arm flickered faintly.
Natsume appeared out of nowhere.
He opened his Mangekyo Sharingan, grabbed Izumi's shoulder, and poured in ocular power and chakra, dispelling the genjutsu.
Ocular techniques are fundamentally a clash of eye power.
With sufficient ocular power, you gain the upper hand.
Itachi had only just awakened his Mangekyo—far inferior to Natsume.
"Itachi!"
Waking from the illusion, Izumi called out instinctively.
But she quickly realized the person before her wasn't Itachi—it was Natsume.
"Take your mother to the northeast corner. There'll be someone waiting."
Natsume pressed a finger to her lips. "I'll handle Itachi. If you don't hurry, Root operatives will show up."
At the words "Root operatives," Izumi shivered and, not daring to linger, turned to find her mother.