"Who called me?" Haku's voice suddenly echoed behind everyone. "I thought I just heard someone calling my name!"
"No, no one was calling you—it wasn't about you at all," Sakura said with a laugh, then added, "Anyway, you guys might as well sit down and watch. You'll have your parts to play later too!"
"Huh? Is this related to us too?" After realizing they were there to help Sasuke awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan, Haku and Zabuza both looked somewhat surprised.
"Of course! You're essential extras!" said Sakura. The illusion she had created for Sasuke was none other than everything he experienced in the original storyline.
"'Extras'? What kind of term is that? Someone like me should definitely be an important supporting character! I think the second male lead spot suits me pretty well!" Zabuza said rather narcissistically.
"Cut it out already. With your face wrapped up in bandages like that, anyone can tell you're not a good guy. You want to be the second male lead? Kakashi's mask has more screen time than you do!"
Sakura rolled her eyes. Lately, Zabuza had really been getting full of himself—completely losing that murderous aura he once had.
"What?! That pervert who reads little orange books actually has more screen time than me?!" Zabuza's eyes widened, clearly unable to believe what he'd just heard. "How is he better than me? Why does he get more screen time than me?"
"What's wrong? You got a problem with that?" Kakashi appeared within the Inner Space, casting a rather disdainful glance toward Zabuza with his visible right eye. "Whether we're talking looks or popularity, me having more screen time is perfectly normal!"
"You both can shut up now—a face mask and a bunch of bandages. What are you even arguing about? Just sit quietly and watch without making noise!" Sakura immediately silenced both of them.
Onscreen, the scene had reached the part where Shisui Uchiha was ambushed and severely wounded by Danzō. At the banks of the Naha River, he entrusted everything to Itachi Uchiha. Everyone sighed simultaneously as they watched Shisui smile gently while handing over his eyes to Itachi before jumping into the river. Itachi reached out desperately to grab Shisui but missed by mere inches.
At that moment, the familiar sound of [Samidare]—the sword known as 'May Rain'—filled the air. The sorrowful atmosphere deepened instantly. Onscreen, tears streamed from Itachi's eyes as his three tomoe swirled into one. Triggered by Shisui's death, he awakened the [Mangekyō Sharingan].
"I died so pathetically!" Shisui covered his face with both hands. He thought he'd get way more screen time—he ended up being nothing more than a plot device used just to trigger Itachi's awakening.
"If I hadn't saved you back then, you'd still be dying like that again in [Reality]!" Sakura mercilessly jabbed at Shisui's ego, speaking as if he hadn't been the one sacrificing himself all those years ago.
"Hmm... why does it feel like there's something…off about Itachi Uchiha and Shisui Uchiha's relationship?" Fugaku Uchiha frowned slightly. Was it just his imagination? He couldn't shake the feeling that his son and Shisui shared something deeper than simple friendship.
"Well, dear, don't worry about these small details. It's their right to live however they choose, isn't it? As parents, we should just quietly watch over them!" Mikoto Uchiha laughed. "Come to think of it, his gentle personality really makes him suited to be a wife!"
"Hmm..." Itachi Uchiha's expression briefly faltered as deadly intent radiating from his girlfriend Izumi Uchiha forced him to hastily explain. "Mom, please don't say things like that. We're simply mentor and friend, and Izumi is my girlfriend!"
Feeling the killing intent behind him gradually fade away, Itachi secretly exhaled in relief. Fortunately, he still had strong survival instincts. That cursed Wrong Love Series: Temptation to Return Home book had already caused Izumi to question his sexuality. If his own mother continued making inappropriate remarks, he might soon return to his former status as forever alone.
"Mom understands!" Mikoto gave Itachi a knowing look that almost made him lose his composure.
The scene shifted. Itachi, who was chatting with Sasuke at home, started receiving suspicious glances from clan members. The obvious tension between Konoha and the Uchiha clan had completely surfaced.
In the blink of an eye, the scene showed Sasuke reaching school age, with Naruto and others appearing in the picture as well.
"It's definitely a fake illusion!" Hinata frowned and gave a disapproving pout while looking at the images. "There's no way I'd get flustered and blush so easily. And seriously, how could Sakura and Ino fight over Sasuke? That's totally unrealistic!"
"This illusion seems really fake!" Ino also looked unhappy. "There's no way I would sever ties with Sakura because of a little boy, especially when it's Sasuke Uchiha?"
"The Sakura in this illusion feels so fake!"
Naruto couldn't hide the sour look on his face. Even though he knew those were illusions, he still felt uncomfortable inside.
Chapter 182 This Is the Last Time, Sasuke! [Down]
"I've already told you—it's an illusion, so stop getting unnecessarily jealous!" Sakura tapped Naruto on the forehead with her finger and said, "Getting jealous too often is bad for your heart. Considering your heart is already injured, wouldn't you be worried about making it worse by being envious again?"
"I just can't help feeling upset!" Naruto muttered softly.
The scenes continued progressing. Seven-year-old Sasuke sensed something wrong with the atmosphere in his household. He realized that his older brother seemed to have been hiding many troubles from him. This realization frustrated Sasuke. But when he walked home alone after school, inexplicable anxiety filled his heart.
Now in the vision, blood covered the entire Uchiha compound. Wearing a mask, Obito Uchiha mercilessly killed one Uchiha clansman after another. Cries of dying people blended into a haunting chorus. Meanwhile, Itachi Uchiha appeared beside Fugaku Uchiha and Mikoto Uchiha.
"If Sakura hadn't entered our lives," sighed Fugaku Uchiha, "our fate likely would've mirrored exactly what we're seeing in this illusion. This illusion feels so vivid, like we actually experienced it ourselves."
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