Compared to Itachi, whose mind was racing with turmoil, Mikoto and Fugaku—as his parents—understood better than anyone that he had always been a gentle child. No matter what had happened, they refused to believe that Itachi would massacre the clan simply for power.
They stood quietly to the side, watching everything unfold without a word.
Little Sasuke was so furious he stomped his feet in frustration, both angry and helpless.
"I don't believe it! Nii-san might be a bit strict—he used to make me copy 'Three Years to Chunin, Five Years to Jonin' every day—but he'd never do something like that!"
"There has to be some kind of hidden truth behind this! Maybe he's even taking the blame for someone else!"
His words made the older Sasuke glance at him, eyes shifting slightly in surprise.
It seems the bond between the two of them here is even deeper than the one I had with Itachi back then... I was so sure Itachi was the murderer. I truly believed he killed our family.
It wasn't until I met the reincarnated him that I learned the truth.
And yet, as little Sasuke spoke, he suddenly felt a chill run down his spine.
Why does my back feel cold… and my butt itchy...?
He turned around slowly… and locked eyes with his brother.
Itachi was staring straight at him.
A wave of dread washed over him.
"Uh… Nii-san, how about giving me a little face here?"
Itachi: "I'll try to be gentle. Give me some face too, little brother."
Under everyone's gaze, Itachi swept his leg out, knocking Sasuke to the ground in one clean motion. Without hesitation, he turned and sat directly on Sasuke's back.
"Nii-san! What are you doing?!"
"What's wrong with the whole 'Three Years to Chunin, Five Years to Jonin' thing, huh? It seems like you've forgotten how much love I poured into raising you."
"Now that you've graduated from the Academy, maybe you've started romanticizing those good old memories of us brothers."
"It's okay, little brother. I'll help you remember—right now!"
"Uchiha Family Discipline Technique—Ten Slaps to Enlightenment!"
"Pah! Pah! Pah! Pah! Pah!"
"AHHH! ITACHI! I'M GONNA KILL YOU!"
"Waaaah! I was wrong! I'm sorry, Nii-san, please stop!"
"Please, Nii-san, be gentle! I won't do it again next time... wuwuwu…"
Slap after slap echoed through the room, perfectly rhythmic, followed by Sasuke's pitiful wails.
At that moment, Sasuke realized life in this world would not be easy. It was hard to believe how he'd even survived this far.
Mikoto and Fugaku watched the entire scene unfold, smiling with satisfaction.
What a harmonious sibling bond.
Boruto glanced over, shuddering.
Thank the gods that Big Sasuke is my master. If it were Little Sasuke… I'd be getting my ass whooped like that every day.
On the side, Uchiha Hikaru and Saya were laughing their heads off.
After his flurry of slaps, Itachi stood up and exhaled deeply. Then, mimicking his own Tsukuyomi persona, he turned to look back dramatically.
"My foolish little brother… you're twenty thousand years too early to challenge me."
"You're so pathetic, crying like that. Hate me. Despise me. Until the day you awaken the same eyes as I have."
"I'll be waiting for your challenge."
The older Sasuke looked at this absurd scene and felt strangely uneasy. Because in that instant—right then and there—Little Sasuke's Sharingan spun rapidly.
The incomplete 2.5-tomoe rotated, then stabilized into a full three-tomoe Sharingan!
Fugaku and Mikoto lit up with joy and rushed to Itachi.
"As expected of our eldest son. You truly understand Sasuke best. I never imagined you'd help him awaken the three-tomoe Sharingan so quickly!"
"Thirteen years old, full Sharingan… his talent isn't any worse than yours back in the day."
Itachi gave a faint, confident smile.
"I believe Sasuke will surpass me someday."
"You're right, Nii-san," Sasuke murmured, wiping the tears from his eyes, trying to hold back the sniffles.
"How could we not be close, Nii-san? We're brothers, after all—blood thicker than water~"
"I swear I'll do whatever it takes to awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan."
Hearing that, Sword—the ability of Uchiha Hikaru's Mangekyō—manifested briefly at his side, shimmering as though responding to Sasuke's words.
He looked thoughtful.
The ninja world… has finally started shifting the way I hoped.
I wonder... one day, will Sasuke finally defeat Itachi… and sit on his back to spank his ass instead?
Cough cough~
"In any case," Sasuke interjected, "let's continue. What you just saw was the night I lived through—my memory."
The scene shifted again, spinning like a kaleidoscope of shattered glass. The surroundings twisted and transformed into a dense forest.
In the illusion, Itachi appeared wearing his ANBU vest. And across from him stood a man with wild, spiked hair and an orange-red tiger-stripe mask: Obito in disguise.
"I'll accept your invitation," Itachi said, voice calm but cold. "But you'll help me with something in return."
"Help me destroy the Uchiha Clan."
…
As the two finished speaking, Itachi's face darkened.
So this is how it happened in that timeline… I really didn't notice all the inconsistencies in Obito's story back then…?
The image shifted again.
It was night.
A bleak autumn wind blew through the streets. The air was thin, the sky overcast. Clad in his ANBU gear and gripping a ninjato, Itachi moved like a silent wraith through the Uchiha district, eliminating his clan members one by one.
Everyone watching knew this was an illusion, but that didn't stop their fists from clenching.
Boruto couldn't help blurting out, "Master, I know there was a hidden agenda, but… your brother was still a damn novice!"
He instantly felt Itachi's cold gaze pierce through him.
"No—I wasn't talking about you, Itachi-sama! I meant the other you… the one in the illusion!"
Itachi snorted coldly and said no more.
In the illusion, after killing everyone, Itachi finally returned home. This was the last place.
He pushed the door open cautiously, braced for battle—but there was no ambush.
"There are no traps here. Come in."
It was Fugaku's voice.
Itachi felt his breath catch in his throat. But he still stepped inside.
Contrary to what he expected, he found his parents, Fugaku and Mikoto, kneeling together, dressed in casual clothes. They weren't resisting. They were waiting for him.
The blood moon outside cast a crimson light through the window, outlining their faces in shadow.
"…Father. Mother…"
Itachi's voice trembled.
He knew this would be the last time he ever called them that.
Fugaku sat still, eyes closed. There was no fear in his expression—only quiet regret.
"I don't want to kill my own son," he said calmly. "But… if this is the path you've chosen, then promise me one thing…"
"Sasuke is in your hands now."
Itachi stepped forward, both hands gripping his sword. His arms trembled violently, and tears spilled from his eyes.
He couldn't do it.
He had slaughtered comrades, cousins, elders—but in front of his parents, he broke down.
He felt himself sinking into a pit of guilt so deep it drowned out everything else.
Darkness… so much darkness…
I'm afraid.
"Don't be afraid," Fugaku said softly. "This is the road you've chosen."
"Our pain… lasts only for a moment."
"I don't agree with you, but I'm still proud of you."
Those were his father's last words.
"And you," Mikoto whispered with a smile, "you've always been such a gentle child…"
"Even if you did nothing, the Third Hokage and Danzo wouldn't let the Uchiha live."
"Better for it to end by your hand than suffer slowly…"
"Promise me—take care of Sasuke. He's still so young…"
The blade fell.
Silence.
Their bodies slumped together on the floor. And Itachi stood there alone, drenched in crimson moonlight, tears streaming down.
...
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