In the space of Tsukuyomi, Itachi Uchiha drove his blade into Sasuke Uchiha's body once, twice, and a third time.
"Squelch!"
Each thrust carried an eerie decisiveness.
When Itachi finally stopped, he coldly declared, "No matter how strong your three-tomoe Sharingan is, it's powerless before the Mangekyō Sharingan."
Hearing his brother's words, Sasuke fell silent. Once, he had refused to believe this, convinced that his own Sharingan had surpassed its limits.
After all, hadn't he defeated Orochimaru and outwitted Deidara? His victories had fed his arrogance to the point where he felt unstoppable.
But this battle shattered those delusions. The sheer gap in power between the Mangekyō and his three-tomoe Sharingan had never been clearer.
A single illusion had left him utterly at Itachi's mercy.
Even so, Sasuke pressed forward with the question that had haunted him for years, "Why did you massacre our clan? What were you trying to achieve?"
Looking at his younger brother, who still sought answers to this painful truth, Itachi fell into deep contemplation. The events of his past, his motives, and his decisions all weighed heavily on his mind.
Now, in this new world with a second chance at life, three choices loomed before him:
Option One: Continue the Lie
He could refuse to reveal the truth and allow Sasuke to grow through the bitterness of vengeance.
In the original timeline, Itachi had meticulously arranged events to guide Sasuke's development.
He believed that by playing out his own death at Sasuke's hands, his brother would awaken the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan and fulfill their clan's legacy while still protecting the Leaf Village.
But this plan came with risks. What if circumstances in the original world spiraled out of control? Could he truly trust that everything would proceed as planned after his death?
The presence of Tobi—claiming to be Uchiha Madara—posed an unpredictable threat. If Tobi deceived Sasuke into turning against the village, his careful plans might crumble entirely.
Option Two: Bear All the Hatred
He could take on all the blame, telling Sasuke that he massacred the clan solely to gain the Mangekyō Sharingan. This would ensure Sasuke's hatred was directed solely at him and away from the Leaf Village.
This approach aligned with Itachi's self-sacrificial nature, but cracks in this story were inevitable.
As more members of the Uchiha clan and other shinobi joins this world through Charles Doyle's efforts, the truth would likely surface.
The revival of figures like Shisui Uchiha, with his memories and experiences intact, could directly challenge Itachi's fabricated narrative.
Moreover, living a lie, even for Sasuke's sake, no longer resonated with Itachi.
Option Three: Reveal the Truth
The third and most honest choice was to tell Sasuke everything: the role of the Leaf Village's higher-ups, the pressure placed on him to carry out the massacre, and the reasons behind his decisions.
While revealing the truth might initially crush Sasuke's resolve, Itachi believed that this world's opportunities—especially with the revival of their clan and a growing sense of community—could help his brother heal.
By focusing on Charles Doyle's mission to bring their clan into this new world, Sasuke could channel his emotions into rebuilding rather than revenge.
After careful thought, Itachi made his choice.
In his past life, he had lived as a spy, shrouded in lies and deceit. This time, he resolved to walk a different path—a path of truth.
Breaking the silence, Itachi looked directly into Sasuke's eyes and said, "In this new world, the past is nothing but fleeting shadows. However, if you truly wish to know the truth, I will tell you everything I know."
He paused, letting the gravity of his words sink in, then continued, "But I hope that after learning the truth, you can devote yourself wholeheartedly to Lord Charles Doyle's vision. Together, we can bring more of our clan to this world and ensure the Uchiha legacy thrives once again."
The weight of his words lingered in the air, and for the first time, Sasuke saw not the cold, distant figure of his brother but a man burdened by impossible choices, now striving for redemption in a world of second chances.
"Because of Lord Charles's presence, I believe the Uchiha clan and the Leaf Village can coexist in peace," said Itachi Uchiha.
Hearing this, Sasuke thought to himself, 'Am I finally about to learn the truth?'
With a serious expression, Sasuke declared, "I will dedicate my life to Lord Charles's cause."
Itachi smiled faintly at his brother's conviction before replying, "Then let me show you the entire truth."
The next moment, Itachi activated his visual powers, pulling Sasuke into his memories.
The First Memory: Uchiha Shisui's Farewell
On a cliff overlooking the southern river, Uchiha Shisui stood with his back to Itachi.
Sasuke, immersed in Itachi's perspective, recognized this as a memory and murmured in surprise, "This is... Itachi's memory."
From Itachi's point of view, Sasuke saw Shisui speaking gravely.
"It seems there's no stopping the Uchiha clan's coup."
"If this continues, the Leaf Village will plunge into civil war, and other nations will seize the opportunity to invade. A full-scale war is inevitable."
Shisui turned slightly, his right eye missing, dried blood streaking his cheek.
"I wanted to use Kotoamatsukami to stop the coup, but Danzo took my right eye. That man doesn't trust me."
Shisui turned fully to face Itachi, his expression a mix of pain and resolve.
"It's clear he intends to protect the village by any means, no matter the cost."
Taking a deep breath, Shisui continued, "I suspect he has his sights set on my remaining eye too. To prevent that, I'm entrusting this one to you."
As he spoke, Shisui gouged out his left eye and handed it to Itachi.
"You're the only one I can rely on, my dear friend."
"Please, protect the village... and the honor of the Uchiha name."
The Second Memory: The Council Meeting
The memory shifted, showing Itachi standing inside the Hokage's office before the four members of the Leaf Village's leadership.
Koharu Utatane spoke first, her tone stern, "If the Uchiha clan plans to rebel and seize power, we'll have no choice but to label them traitors and eliminate them."
The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, interrupted her, "Koharu, wait."
"Don't rush to conclusions."
Danzo Shimura, with his typical cold disinterest, argued, "But Hiruzen, the Uchiha won't stop. To prevent chaos, we need to act swiftly."
Turning to Itachi, Danzo added, "Not even the children can be spared."
Hiruzen glared at Danzo, his voice firm, "That's not something you should say in front of Itachi."
"Furthermore, if the Uchiha do rise against us, it won't be an easy conflict to resolve. They've likely prepared thoroughly."
Danzo, unfazed, countered, "The situation is urgent. Before they strike, we must act preemptively."
"With your forces and mine, along with our respective ANBU teams, we could launch a swift and decisive strike."
Hiruzen closed his eyes briefly, then responded, "The Uchiha are also our companions. This is not a problem to be solved through force, but through negotiation."
"I'll find a way. Itachi, do whatever you can, even if only to buy me a little more time."
The Third Memory: Danzo's Ultimatum
The memory shifted again, this time to a private meeting between Danzo and Itachi.
Danzo's tone was measured but laced with manipulation, "Hiruzen may speak of negotiation, but when the time comes, he'll act to protect the village."
"That's the kind of man he is. When it comes down to it..."
Danzo paused, his words hanging ominously in the air.