The four-bladed windmill in Itachi's Mangekyō Sharingan turned slightly. An invisible emerald aura instantly passed through Minato and Kushina, rushing into Sasuke's forehead behind them.
Seeing this, Itachi smiled with relief. He deactivated his Susanoo and staggered forward.
"Hey, Itachi, don't you dare come any closer!" Kushina shouted.
Adamantine Sealing Chains materialized around her, blocking his path.
"I didn't attack immediately because you held back in the last fight," she warned, "but if you take one more step toward Sasuke, I really will seal you!"
Itachi ignored her and continued to stumble toward Sasuke. Seeing him refuse to stop, Kushina took a step forward, the chains extending outward.
However, they had only gotten halfway when Minato sighed and pulled her back.
"Kushina, stop," he said softly. "His body can't hold on anymore. He's dying."
"Dying?" Kushina froze.
How can he be dying? It's just some serious injuries, isn't it? With a ninja's constitution, wouldn't some rest be enough?
A complicated expression crossed Minato's face. "It's probably emotional distress and the toll the Mangekyō Sharingan takes on his body. He doesn't have the Nine-Tails' chakra to enhance his healing."
He paused, his voice heavy. "Besides, I can guess what he's after."
Kushina looked at him, waiting.
"After learning Sasuke awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan," Minato continued, "his goal was likely to provoke Sasuke into killing him. Then, without hesitation, he'd take Sasuke's eyes and fuse them with his own."
They had raided Hiruzen Sarutobi's mansion for intel days ago. They knew the truth: Itachi had acted on Danzo Shimura's orders, slaughtering the Uchiha Clan. He had joined Akatsuki as a double agent to investigate Obito. Sasuke, the sole survivor, was someone Itachi had begged Konoha to protect—a promise the village had broken.
"Is that so…?" Kushina's anger softened. She stepped aside, watching Itachi's unsteady figure pass by.
Her rage shifted from Itachi to Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo Shimura. "That despicable Danzo Shimura. That damned Old Fossil. They didn't stop after harming our children—they ruined Mikoto's sons, too. I can't swallow this!"
Her hair flew wildly as she turned to Minato. "Minato! Tomorrow, you're taking me to kill those two bastards. We're avenging Mikoto."
Minato sighed. He wanted to kill them too, but Menma was clearly planning something, and they couldn't disrupt his plans by acting rashly.
"Calm down," Minato said, trying to divert her. "Look over there. Menma is here."
Kushina's attention snapped to where Minato pointed. She saw Itachi staggering toward Sasuke, whose face was blank and eyes lifeless. Itachi extended two fingers toward Sasuke's forehead.
"Forgive me, Sasuke. This is the last…"
His arm was grabbed.
Itachi turned his head. Through his blurred vision, he recognized the figure.
"You really did appear… Menma."
In an instant, Itachi's pre-set transfer seal activated. It was a trap he'd prepared during his fight with Sasuke. The moment he saw Menma, he would unleash Amaterasu.
Whoosh!
At such close range, there was no time to dodge. The pitch-black flames instantly enveloped Menma.
But the next second, an unexpected voice rang out from behind Itachi.
"Fire Release: Kagutsuchi."
The black flames dissipated instantly. Sasuke—who had been in front of Itachi—was somehow standing behind him, his body glowing with Tailed Beast chakra, right next to Menma.
Seeing Itachi's stunned expression, Menma chuckled.
"You should look at who's in front of you."
Itachi mechanically turned his head. The "Sasuke" in front of him shifted in appearance and height, transforming into a blue-skinned, shark-like boy with a massive scar bisecting his chest and abdomen.
It was Kisame Hoshigaki—the one Menma had temporarily revived to shield him.
At the moment, Kisame's body was controlled by Menma, his expression twisting wildly as he muttered incoherently.
"Escape from Hidden Mist Village… take Itachi's eyes… return to Konoha… protect Konoha…"
"Return to Konoha? Protect Konoha? Why am I thinking this?"
"No, I must have joined Konoha a long time ago…"
"No, I joined Akatsuki! Madara Uchiha-sensei…"
The powerful psychological suggestion of Kotoamatsukami clashed violently with Kisame's logic, leaving his mind confused, unable to comprehend what was happening.
As for Itachi, the moment he saw Kisame, deep despair washed over his face.
He knew he had lost completely.
Sasuke must have been replaced by Kisame after crying out for help, a genjutsu placed on him. His attention had been drawn to Minato and Kushina, and with his blurred vision, he hadn't noticed the switch.
"Cough… ugh!"
Under the devastating blow, Itachi's body finally gave out. He spat a mouthful of blood, his eyes losing their luster as he collapsed backward.
Sasuke, his expression complex, rushed forward to catch him. He had heard Minato and Kushina's words, including Itachi's final apology.
Sasuke glanced around, his gaze settling on Menma.
Menma tossed him a pre-prepared scroll of information.
"Everything about Itachi is in there," Menma said. "This tragedy all stems from the higher-ups of Konoha."
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