He pretended to be cold and heartless—until the moment little Sasuke came back.
The scene replayed again. Sasuke collapsed on the street, unconscious.
Itachi turned back to glance at his brother's pained expression. His eyes welled with unshed tears, heart aching, but he still wordlessly placed the ANBU mask back on his face.
He remained hidden nearby, watching until the Sandaime arrived with ANBU personnel and discovered Sasuke—the lone survivor.
Only then did Itachi feel a small sliver of relief. His gaze hardened with resolve.
He still had one final task—to carve out a path of safety for Sasuke's future. It was the last thing he could do for him before betraying the village.
The moonlight dimmed. More shadows appeared in the quiet Uchiha district. Another squad of masked ANBU emerged from the darkness, moving with practiced silence. Leading them was the man most despised by the Uchiha—Danzo Shimura.
The illusion shifted, slicing the scene open like a blade.
Itachi knelt before Danzo, who leaned on his cane, posture stiff, expression cold and self-righteous—like he believed he was justice.
"Itachi," Danzo said, "the conflict between the Uchiha and Konoha has escalated beyond reconciliation."
"I regret Shisui's death. I had hoped to borrow his Mangekyō Sharingan, but I didn't expect him to…"
"Now that things have come to this, I won't waste words. I've always acted with honor and clarity, but Shisui's death… I do feel some regret for that."
"The Sandaime and I have decided. You will begin the mission tonight."
As Danzo finished, Itachi, still kneeling, clenched his right fist.
This disgusting old bastard. He made it sound noble—even as he admitted trying to take Shisui's eye. He dared to say he lived an upright life. That he only felt sorry… for Shisui?
Bullshit.
Fury flared in Itachi's chest, silent but sharp. The instinctive twitch of his fist didn't go unnoticed. Danzo's remaining eye flickered with cunning, lips curling faintly.
"You have two options left."
"Kill every Uchiha and join Root. You'll become a shadow in the dark, protecting Konoha with me… anonymously… eternally."
"Or you can spare Sasuke. But in doing so, you'll bear the burden of infamy. You'll become a traitor… the executioner of your own clan."
Itachi's fist trembled, then slowly unclenched. His head lowered. He crushed the bloodlust boiling inside, masking it with chilling calm.
"…I understand."
Everyone watching felt it. Danzo was exploiting Itachi's love for Sasuke. Forcing the choice on him. Shoving the blade into Itachi's hands and making him the butcher of his own people.
"Damn it. Konoha had filth like this running things?" Boruto muttered through gritted teeth. "What kind of lunatic created an organization like Root?!"
Mikoto and Fugaku's Sharingan flared—Fugaku's three-tomoe spinning violently, Mikoto's Mangekyō radiating menace.
They glared daggers at Danzo.
If only we could tear this bastard apart right now.
Sasuke stood silently. His expression was raw—regret, grief, and a desperate longing for his brother.
Little Sasuke trembled with rage, fists clenched so tight his nails bit into flesh, molars grinding like a snarling beast.
"If I die, I'm taking that bastard with me."
Only Itachi remained calm, detached. His heart ached for the other version of himself—how far he had fallen, how much he had endured.
"Calm down," Itachi said softly. "Danzo's soul is already sealed inside my Totsuka Blade."
"That trash died long ago."
"He wouldn't last three rounds against me."
Uchiha Hikaru's voice broke in, low and biting.
Sasuke's eyes gleamed with realization. He turned to his brother eagerly.
"Um… Nii-san, I… have a request. But I'm not sure if I should say it."
Itachi already knew what Sasuke wanted. A faint, gentle smile tugged at his lips.
He nodded.
Sasuke instantly dispersed the Tsukuyomi illusion. The group returned from the illusion realm to reality.
Itachi's Mangekyō flared to life. Beside him, Susanoo emerged—the glowing orange-red skeleton rising, imposing and vast. In its hand was the gourd that sealed the Totsuka Blade.
Suddenly, something translucent, corrupted, and foul poured from the gourd's mouth.
Danzo Shimura's soul.
He staggered as he emerged, eyes wide in confusion. The dim surroundings, the people standing around him—old enemies, long-dead allies—felt like a curse.
Uchiha Itachi. Mikoto. Fugaku. Sasuke. The Jinchūriki kid with yellow hair. And worst of all… Uchiha Hikaru.
Danzo's face twisted.
"Uchiha Hikaru! I never thought I'd be alive again. That Sharingan of yours—will belong to me!"
He lunged like a mad ghost toward Hikaru.
But before he could move another inch, something yanked him backward violently. He slammed into the ground with a sickening crack.
He looked down—his lower body was thin, ghostly, barely visible, and tethered to the mouth of the Totsuka gourd.
And standing behind him… was the fully formed Susanoo of Itachi.
The crushing pressure of the chakra alone nearly broke his mind.
"No… no! What's going on!?"
"Wasn't I already dead!?"
"Is this… hell?!"
He stared at his own grotesque reflection—damaged, ghostly, barely intact—and began to scream.
Uchiha Hikaru stepped forward, his Rinnegan, still in incomplete form, glowing faintly. He activated the Human Path—the power to interact directly with souls.
He planted a foot on Danzo's head and shoved his face against the cold, wet stone floor of the cell.
"Hell? Nah."
"If I sent you to hell, that'd be letting you off easy."
"What's coming next… makes hell look like a hot spring."
He turned to the others, expression casual but sharp.
"Anyway, this bastard's long dead. Don't worry about Itachi's chakra consumption. I've got it covered."
"If you've got grudges, now's the time. Grievances? Air 'em."
"It's a family reunion. Be a shame if we didn't have a little fun."
"Think of it as recycling trash."
Little Sasuke, Big Sasuke, and Itachi all smiled—wide, wicked grins brimming with excitement.
Fugaku and Mikoto cracked their knuckles, rolling up sleeves like parents about to deliver some very overdue discipline.
Boruto, watching from the sidelines, looked almost mournful.
Damn it… I wanna join too… but I can't hit a ghost, and I don't know genjutsu…
How the hell do I sign up for this class?!
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