But before that...
The Konoha ninja still wanted to ask more about intelligence from the future war. If possible, they even wanted to find Obito Uchiha in advance and kill him before the war started!
Especially those radical Konoha elders—they were already the aggressive faction vigilant against the Uchiha! Now they'd seized upon the Uchiha's weakness like vicious dogs and refused to let go!
The two worlds were connected through the mirror—simply put, it felt like a live video call connection.
"It's the Uchiha starting a war again!" Danzo Shimura's cane struck the ground, making thumping sounds. The Root ninja behind him immediately tensed their muscles, ready to act at any moment!
Danzo Shimura turned to attack Fugaku Uchiha, captain of the Uchiha Police Force and head of the Uchiha clan: "Fugaku Uchiha! You bear inescapable responsibility for this!!"
"Hiruzen! You too!" Then he actually dared to rebuke Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi as well. "So I've been saying all along we should monitor the entire Uchiha clan! Your current policies are too indecisive!!"
As soon as he said this! The ninja behind Danzo had already drawn their weapons, ready to bypass the Hokage and attack the Uchiha Police Force at any moment!
Danzo Shimura's disrespect toward the Hokage and Root's attempt to overstep their authority caused the ANBU behind the Third Hokage to simultaneously prepare for battle!
How could the Uchiha ninja of the Police Force tolerate such false accusations? They all revealed their prideful Sharingan toward Danzo!
Three-way tensions reached a breaking point...
Little Sasuke hid behind his brother. This was the first time he'd seen this kind of situation. Young as he was, he received a huge shock. He didn't know why those people were looking at them with those eyes.
Didn't the Uchiha exist to protect Konoha? Why? Why were they saying the Uchiha started a war?
Little Naruto was still immersed in the shock of seeing the village's great hero—the Fourth Hokage—and didn't snap out of it until the Uchiha and Konoha reached this tense standoff.
Once he came to his senses, he discovered those people's faces showed that look he hated most again, but this time it seemed directed at Sasuke and his family?!!
That look again...
Even the genius who's first in class gets looked at with those eyes?
Little Uzumaki Naruto was also greatly shocked.
The Uchiha Police Force and Danzo with his Root—both sides increasingly looked ready to fight!
"Stand down! Danzo!" At the Third Hokage's command, the ANBU under the Hokage's authority could no longer hold back. They jumped directly in front of the Hokage, lowering their bodies, ready to fight Root's ninja at any moment!
Danzo Shimura stared coldly at the Third Hokage and didn't immediately obey the order. The Root behind him also jumped in front of Danzo, confronting the Hokage's ANBU!
Hiruzen Sarutobi roared angrily: "What kind of behavior is this in front of Lord First and Lord Second?!!"
Hearing Hiruzen mention the two previous Hokage, Danzo flinched at first, but quickly remembering the two worlds weren't connected, his aggressive stance returned.
The two men's battle of wills—Root and ANBU each serving their master!
...
On the other side of the mirror, on the Fourth Great Ninja War battlefield—
No one had realized Konoha's internal division had already reached such a terrible state back then. This was something Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura, and all their classmates hadn't been aware of.
But just like Danzo Shimura's attack couldn't pass through earlier, their attacks couldn't reach the other side either.
Forget them—even the First Hokage and Second Hokage couldn't exert much deterrence on the other world!
Fourth War Sasuke looked at the situation on the other side of the mirror wall. Having already killed Danzo Shimura, more than anger toward Konoha, he felt heartache for his brother...
And his father—back then, in that situation, father had struggled to lead the clan. In the end, due to arrangements by Danzo and the Third Hokage, he had to face his own son in battle.
And my childhood self knew absolutely nothing...
Fourth War Sasuke felt as if he'd returned to the scene of parting with Itachi not long ago—
'At least at the end, I want to tell you the entire truth, Sasuke.'
Itachi's memory:
Itachi: Father, Mother, I...
Mikoto: Itachi, we understand everything...
Fugaku: Compared to you, our pain ends in an instant.
Itachi, promise us one last thing...
Sasuke, he...
—We're entrusting him to you.
The Reanimation Jutsu released, Itachi's soul about to ascend:
'I didn't want to drag you into this, so I kept deceiving you.'
'But now, thinking back...'
'If from the beginning we had faced you properly, stood on the same ground as you, and told you the truth...'
'Maybe you could have changed our parents, or even the Uchiha clan.'
Brother...
Sasuke looked toward the other side of the mirror wall at Itachi Uchiha, who was only 11 or 12 years old.
Beneath those calm black eyes lay endless longing and sorrow for his family...
...
On the other side, little Sasuke's hand tightly gripped Itachi's clothes, nearly in tears with anxiety. He had no idea what was happening!
"I'm sorry, little Sasuke," Shisui turned back to apologize with a smile to 6-year-old Sasuke. "These should have been matters for us to handle, but they've dragged you and Itachi in."
"Don't say things like that," Itachi disagreed with Shisui's statement. "I'll fight alongside you! Shisui!"
"Itachi..." Even in this situation, Shisui suddenly felt as if his spirit were drifting in a pool of spring water. He immediately gained more confidence, vowing to protect both Itachi and his brother's smiles no matter what.
Itachi turned his head, smiling gently at his young brother: "Sasuke, no matter what, your brother will protect you."
'Sasuke... your brother will always protect you...' Before Fourth War Sasuke's eyes floated his brother's smile before death. The sensation on his forehead seemed to still carry the warmth of Itachi's blood.
Back then, it was like this! Itachi and the others...
They always wanted to protect their little brother! No matter how difficult or painful, they wouldn't let him know!!
Itachi, he...
Even sacrificing his own life!!
Even bearing such pain!!!
Even after death! Still having to be cursed and slandered by those people!!!
An explosive emotion brewed in Sasuke's chest! He hated those who brought pain to Itachi! He hated those who insulted and cursed Itachi!!
He wanted to tell Itachi he didn't need his protection! He also wanted to fight alongside them!
Even if it meant death—!!!
He just wanted... to be with his family...
The pain of being left behind alone, the exhaustion of bearing all responsibility and hatred—he really didn't want to experience it anymore...
"Itachi! I—"
Sasuke had just called out his brother's name when young Itachi looked toward him.
["Question for Sasuke Uchiha: Do you agree with the statement 'Having a friend like Uzumaki Naruto is the worst luck for Sasuke Uchiha'?"]
As that eerie voice rang out, a small selector silently appeared in the hands of 6-year-old little Sasuke from the 'Pre-Uchiha Massacre timeline.'
...