"Don't make that expression. You've sensed it long ago, haven't you? The sensitivity of your body, the speed of hand seals, the strength of your taijutsu, the duration of Susanoo—these details clearly indicate that Itachi's condition is not good. No, it's very bad."
"At the moment he left the village, Itachi had already decided he would die in a duel with you someday. But, suffering from a serious illness, he couldn't wait for you to fully grow up and surpass him, so the fight was brought forward..."
"Why did he never return to Konoha before, yet after Orochimaru caused chaos in Konoha, he went back? It's because he wanted to send a message to Konoha's high officials—that I am still alive, and the promise still holds!"
Faced with Kaoru's continuous words, Sasuke painfully hugged his head and shook it recklessly. Right now, his heart was tormenting him.
"Shut up! Shut up! I don't believe you! I absolutely do not believe what you're saying!" Sasuke roared loudly, shouting that he didn't believe, but tears kept spilling from the corners of his eyes.
Seeing Sasuke's current state, Kaoru already knew that he fully believed what he was saying inside. But on the surface, he still appeared resistant. He couldn't help sighing and said, "You can ask your own heart—what do you want to believe is the truth?"
"Right before he died, Itachi used his last ounce of strength to beg me—beg me to let you return to Konoha as a hero who killed him, the S-rank rebel of Konoha. And he didn't want you to know the truth about the massacre."
Kaoru spoke softly, his voice quietly echoing in the dim room. Thinking of what Itachi said before dying, he couldn't help but feel a little touched.
No matter whether Itachi was right or wrong...
His love for Sasuke was truly heavy and pure.
Hearing Kaoru's final words, Sasuke deeply held his breath. Memories of practicing and playing with Itachi flooded his mind...
"Alright. Originally, Itachi wanted you to continue along the path he paved for you. But I don't think so. This is your own road. Therefore, I'm telling you the truth about the massacre—so that you can decide for yourself." Kaoru looked at Sasuke calmly and spoke.
"I promised Itachi before that I would take care of you. So I respect your decision. Do you want to follow Itachi's will and continue to protect Konoha? Or do you want to walk your own path and leave Konoha? I won't stop you. Think it over carefully."
After saying this, Kaoru no longer paid attention to the completely absent-minded Sasuke. He went straight out of the room. The moment he closed the door, he saw tears of crystal-clear water continuously sliding down Sasuke's cheeks.
"Ahhhhhhh!!!"
Finally, after Kaoru left the room, Sasuke crazily hugged his head and cried out loud. The conflicting feelings of love and hatred instantly flooded his mind. He could only vent his emotions through this pain-filled crying.
......
Now Sasuke was staying at the base of the Akatsuki organization run by Kaoru. The others didn't know about his return to Konoha yet, because Kaoru said he wanted him to decide for himself. So, no one else had been informed. Once Sasuke made his decision about his future, Kaoru would proceed with the next step.
After Kaoru told Sasuke the truth about the Uchiha clan, Sasuke remained in that room without coming out. He didn't eat, not even a drop of water left at the door. He spent two days like that.
After Kaoru revealed the truth about the Uchiha clan, Sasuke stayed in that room without coming out. He didn't eat, not even a single drop of water at the door. It wasn't until two days later that he staggered out of that already polluted room.
"Have you made your decision?" Kaoru spoke lightly as Sasuke, swaying unsteadily, walked over to him. He carefully observed Sasuke's eyes.
"..." Sasuke was silent, lowering his head, breathing slowly and evenly.
"Looks like you haven't made your decision yet..." Kaoru tilted his head slightly, then turned and walked to the edge of the balcony, staring at the surroundings without speaking.
Sasuke slightly raised his head, glanced at Kaoru's back, and a feeling of resentment flickered in his eyes. "Since you've known the truth all along, why didn't you tell me earlier?!"
"Because you weren't mature enough back then. If you had known this rashly, I can imagine what you would do—probably recklessly retaliate against Konoha, just as Kaoru said. The result would be either being imprisoned in a dark, sunless cell or secretly killed—there's no other possibility."
"Alright, then. What are you planning to do next?" Kaoru quietly looked at Sasuke, waiting for his answer.
"Before I make my decision, I want to see someone first," Sasuke said after a moment of silence.
"Then come with me," Kaoru smiled, then stepped down the stairs.
"Where are we going? Do you know who I want to see?" Sasuke asked with doubt.
"I know. Anyway, just follow me..." Kaoru's calm voice replied.
Sasuke first changed his clothes, put on a long robe, wrapped a headband around his face to conceal his identity, then followed Kaoru to Konoha's streets.
Although he hadn't set foot in Konoha for a long time, he had no interest in sightseeing or reminiscing. He silently followed behind Kaoru.
"I just received news that Itachi of Akatsuki has died. You can remove him from your wanted list now," a voice came from a tavern.
Sasuke turned to look and saw four Konoha ninjas sitting there drinking tea. They had just mentioned his brother...
"Kaoru, I want to have a cup of tea first," Sasuke stopped and said to Kaoru.
Kaoru glanced at the four ninjas sitting in the teahouse and nodded.
Then, the two of them entered the teahouse and sat next to the four ninjas.
Meanwhile, the four Konoha ninjas continued their discussion.
"The traitor finally died..." one of them spoke slowly, pulling out his wanted poster, which bore Itachi's expressionless face.
"But who exactly killed Uchiha Itachi, captain?" another asked.
"I heard it was his brother: Uchiha Sasuke," the captain answered. "The murderer of his own clan ended up dying at the hands of his own kin—what a irony."
"This is karma! That Itachi committed heinous crimes, and then he even joined Akatsuki. He's truly a rare villain in Konoha's history!" another said indignantly.
Hearing this, Sasuke clenched his teacup tightly, teeth gritting.
"However, his brother is truly considered a hero of Konoha—knowing the greater good and killing Itachi with his own hands," the captain finally said.
"Really... so that's how it is... Itachi, is this the path you arranged for me..." Hearing the captain's words, Sasuke put down his teacup: "Just..."
"Alright, that's enough. Let's go," Kaoru said, breaking the silence.
Sasuke nodded, and the two once again stepped out onto the street.
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