Prelude
Fujimoto Tōma no longer felt the same level of caution toward Nagato as he once had.
If Nagato were still in his prime—healthy, mobile, and able to wield the full power of the Rinnegan without restraint—then yes, Tōma would have been far more careful. A Nagato capable of directly using all Six Paths abilities was on a completely different level from the puppet-like Paths of Pain.
But reality was cruel.
Nagato's ruined legs and emaciated body had crippled his combat potential. Even so, with the Six Paths supporting him, he still possessed strength well beyond a Kage. The Rinnegan was simply that terrifying.
That said, now was not the time to clash with him.
If Tōma fought Nagato here, this entire area would be erased. Sasuke and Itachi's duel would be forced to stop, and the shockwaves alone would turn everything into rubble.
More importantly, Tōma couldn't rule out Obito making a move on Sasuke in the chaos. If that happened, Tōma would prioritize extracting Sasuke immediately.
They'd be safe—but Itachi wouldn't last long after that.
And Sasuke's chance to settle everything with his own hands would be gone.
That would make this entire operation meaningless.
Tōma was here for one reason: to let Sasuke face his past, confront Itachi, and walk forward without chains.
As long as the only lurking figures were Obito and Zetsu, there was nothing to worry about.
If anything, this confirmed Tōma's earlier judgment. Compared to Obito, Nagato still had a trace of humanity left. Once Itachi explained his intentions, Nagato likely chose not to interfere.
Sensing the chakra fluctuations deep within the Uchiha hideout, Tōma's lips curved into a faint smile.
The first exchange had begun.
Sasuke walked alone through the hidden corridors of the Uchiha base.
No traps.
No resistance.
With every step forward, his emotions twisted together—anticipation, bitterness, hatred, and a strange, unsettling calm.
At last, he entered the main chamber.
At the far end sat a stone throne.
On it rested Uchiha Itachi.
He had been seated there for a long time, eyes closed, his thoughts drifting through memories long buried. A faint sense of irony crossed his mind.
So this is what people mean by seeing one's life flash before their eyes.
Footsteps echoed closer.
Itachi opened his eyes.
He looked frail—thin, exhausted—but there was an odd lightness to him, as if everything ahead was already decided.
"How far can those eyes of yours see now?" Itachi asked flatly.
Sasuke met his gaze without flinching, staring straight into the Mangekyō Sharingan.
"I see things you never did."
"Oh?" Itachi replied. "Then let me see for myself."
In the next instant, he was in front of Sasuke.
A kunai pierced Sasuke's body.
Blood spilled down.
"So that's as far as your vision carries," Itachi murmured. "Not enough to support your strength."
Sasuke didn't react.
He didn't even look at Itachi.
His eyes were fixed on the throne behind him.
As his words faded, the Itachi before him dissolved like smoke.
The real Itachi still sat on the stone seat.
No matter how many illusions he cast, Sasuke's three-tomoe Sharingan remained locked onto him—clear, unwavering.
For the first time, Itachi felt something close to relief.
After a brief silence, he spoke again. "You've grown, otōto."
"I had no choice," Sasuke replied. "If I could've avoided gaining this power, I would have."
"Heh." Itachi smiled faintly. "Still naïve."
Yet inside, bitterness welled up.
Sasuke's hatred wasn't as sharp as before. Not like the day they met in Konoha, when Sasuke had charged at him without hesitation, ignoring the gulf in power between them.
His path had deviated completely.
And Itachi knew exactly who was responsible.
But blame no longer mattered.
If Sasuke had stepped off his plan, then Itachi would drag him back—personally.
"Naïve?" Sasuke shot back. "From where I stand, Itachi, your choices were the foolish ones."
Itachi didn't deny it. "So you've learned something about the past."
"Enough," Sasuke said. "Now answer me. Back then, there was a third Sharingan user, wasn't there?"
His voice hardened.
"When you wiped out the clan, you said there was another Uchiha you didn't kill. That means you had an accomplice. Even you couldn't slaughter the entire police force alone."
"I searched through ANBU records. Found nothing. So tell me—who was it?"
Itachi studied him for a long moment.
Then he spoke.
"Uchiha… Madara."
Sasuke's eyes widened. "Madara? The Madara?"
"One of Konoha's founders. The first to awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan."
"That's impossible," Sasuke snapped. "He's been dead for decades. Are you mocking me?"
"Madara lives," Itachi replied calmly. "Believe it or not."
"People rely on what they know," he continued softly, "and become trapped by it. They call that reality. But knowledge and perception are vague things. What you call reality may be nothing more than illusion."
Sasuke fell silent for a moment. Then said flatly, "I didn't come here for philosophy."
Itachi chuckled.
"Thinking Madara was dead was simply your assumption. Just like believing I was a gentle, caring brother."
Memories surfaced unbidden.
Seeing this, Itachi pressed on, his voice slipping into Sasuke's ear like poison.
"I played the role of your ideal brother to test your capacity."
"Are you trying to make me relive that night?" Sasuke asked suddenly.
Itachi paused, then shrugged. "Think what you want."
"There's no need," Sasuke said quietly.
His eyes changed.
The three tomoe twisted—collapsed—reborn into a six-pointed star.
Itachi's pupils shrank.
Mangekyō Sharingan?
Before he could react, the world shifted.
They stood once more in the Uchiha district—on the night of the massacre.
But this time, Itachi was seeing it through Sasuke's eyes.
The two stood on opposite sides of the street, watching history unfold.
"You really have grown," Itachi said softly.
"I couldn't stay there forever," Sasuke replied.
Even Sasuke was surprised by his own calm.
He had expected to lose control upon seeing Itachi again. But instead, his mind was clear. His resolve steady.
Revenge remained—but it no longer ruled him.
"People misunderstand the truth because of limited perspective," Sasuke said. "But reality doesn't change. The truth can be buried—but it always resurfaces."
He smiled faintly, Mangekyō spinning.
"Were you surprised when you saw these eyes?"
"Did you think I followed your path? Killed someone close to awaken them?"
Itachi's breath caught. "Didn't you?"
"No," Sasuke said, smiling as if delivering a verdict.
"Itachi—your path was wrong."