Although he acknowledged Itachi's genius, it didn't change Uchiha Kiyo's deep-seated disdain for him.
No matter how prodigious one's talents may be, no one had the right to slaughter their entire clan.
"Did you know? Your brother, Uchiha Itachi… he exterminated the Uchiha clan—men, women, even the children. He didn't spare a single soul."
"Do you understand how many of them were innocent? Who gave him the right to decide the fate of others?"
"Why? Why did you survive? Was it just because you were his brother?"
"He even murdered his own parents… so why spare you?"
Uchiha Kiyo's voice rang with clear intensity, leaving Sasuke stunned and momentarily speechless.
Of course, maybe it wasn't just the words—perhaps Sasuke couldn't speak due to the blows...
As Uchiha Kiyo bellowed, he unleashed the Body Flicker Technique repeatedly, his figure vanishing and reappearing mid-attack as he pummelled Sasuke without mercy.
Boom!
Perhaps after releasing all his words, Uchiha Kiyo delivered one final devastating kick, launching Sasuke into the air and sending up a cloud of dust and debris.
As the haze settled, Sasuke rose from the ground shakily, his chest heaving violently as he struggled to breathe.
"Do you understand now?"
Kiyo didn't wait for an answer. His voice carried a sharp edge of sarcasm.
"Heh. You really are hopeless. I gave you all this time and still, you haven't figured it out? Fine. Here's another question for your dull little brain. I have the power to crush you. I even have the desire to kill you. So why haven't I? Why am I just beating you half to death—neither too soft nor too hard?"
There were spectators—silent ones—lurking in the shadows nearby. Their mouths twitched as they listened to Kiyo's mocking taunts.
For god's sake, isn't that obvious? He's giving the guy a chance! Misunderstood how hard the beatings are? Seriously?
This was the collective thought of those hiding in the darkness.
Behind a large tree near Uchiha Kiyo, Obito observed the situation with a mix of amusement and concern.
Thankfully, he thought, My strength is enough to handle that monster... for now. Otherwise, I'd be dead meat already.
Obito knew Uchiha Kiyo had uncovered the truth—how he manipulated Itachi, and how he had personally taken part in the Uchiha massacre. That first encounter between them made that crystal clear.
Kiyo knew Obito's weaknesses, and that was dangerous. Best to stay far away from him if possible.
Still talking to himself, Uchiha Kiyo showed no signs of stopping, his tone shifting between jest and grim insight.
"Some people… they're just born above others. Untouchable. Unkillable. Heh."
"As for why you were the only one spared… why not ask your brother? Let Itachi Uchiha answer that."
He turned his head to the dark space behind Sasuke. "Was it for you? Or was it for me, Itachi Uchiha?"
Sasuke whipped around, and there he was—Uchiha Itachi stepped out of the shadows in his Akatsuki cloak. Sasuke's Sharingan eyes burned red with hatred as he ground out through clenched teeth, "You… Itachi!"
But Itachi didn't look at his younger brother. His eyes were fixed squarely on Uchiha Kiyo.
Kiyo's strength was immense. From what Itachi understood—thanks to Obito—this man possessed a Mangekyō Sharingan. Why he hadn't killed Sasuke was a puzzle in itself.
But what Itachi didn't realize was that Uchiha Kiyo wasn't afraid of him—he feared someone else.
The Sage of Six Paths.
What if the Sage was watching even now?
Sasuke was the reincarnation of Indra. Who's to say the Sage wasn't guarding him as his "son"?
In previous generations, the Sage hadn't interfered even when Indra and Asura's reincarnations died—but this lifetime was different.
The Great Toad Sage, Gamamaru, had prophesied this generation. There was no doubt the Sage was paying close attention.
The reincarnations of Indra and Asura were his avatars in the world—there was no way he'd let them die here, not now.
"Uchiha Itachi," Kiyo's voice was almost calm, but the killing intent simmering beneath was palpable, "Tell us. Why did you let Sasuke live?"
"Why?!"
Sasuke shouted the same question with anguish.
Itachi's face remained impassive—his legendary acting skills never failed. He responded coldly:
"Because I need your eyes."
"What… what eyes? What are you talking about?" Sasuke was bewildered.
Itachi's eyes turned crimson as his Sharingan activated. The three tomoe spun before merging into the tri-bladed pinwheel of the Mangekyō Sharingan.
"Look closely. This is the evolution of the Sharingan—the Uchiha clan's ultimate power. But with that power comes a curse. The more you use these eyes… the more your vision fades."
"My own sight is nearly gone. And the only way to restore it is by taking the eyes of my kin. Your eyes, Sasuke."
"But not just any eyes. I need a Mangekyō like mine. Only then can I escape this curse… and awaken the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan."
He narrowed his eyes. "Unfortunately… after all these years, you still haven't opened them."
If one looked carefully, Itachi's eyes were indeed turning milky—fading. Even Sasuke, standing closest, appeared as a blur to him.
How ironic.
The Uchiha clan was known for their supreme visual prowess. Their dojutsu was feared. But the price? Inevitable blindness.
And Itachi… could feel that darkness creeping in, inch by inch.
Sasuke saw it too—the pale cloudiness in Itachi's eyes. And for the first time… he believed him.
His heart crumbled.
All these years, he had trained obsessively, pushing his limits, all to catch up with this man.
All to one day kill him.
Deep down, a part of him had longed for answers—had hoped there was some deeper reason behind the massacre. That maybe… just maybe, there was a hidden truth. After all, Itachi had spared his life.
But now?
Now Itachi claimed it was all to implant hatred, to drive him to awaken the Mangekyō—and then steal it for himself?
"Hahahaha! Hahahaha!"
Sasuke's laugh was hollow and unhinged, two rivers of blood-tears streaming from his eyes.
The moment his eyes opened again, the three tomoe were gone—replaced by a six-pointed star.
He had awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan.
Every onlooker, hidden and visible alike, turned their gaze to Sasuke. Those who knew the price of Mangekyō knew this moment was critical.
And there it was—the six-pointed star within his eyes. Confirming it.
Orochimaru's excitement surged. He stepped from the shadows, his serpentine eyes locked on Sasuke's Mangekyō, dripping with desire.
"Yun-kun," Orochimaru said with a grin, "as agreed, Sasuke is mine. You handle Uchiha Itachi."
But Kiyo wasn't listening.
The moment Sasuke's Mangekyō activated, Uchiha Kiyo made his move.
He knew Sasuke's potential—he was Indra's reincarnation, after all. Now that others focused on Sasuke, Kiyo struck.
Body Flicker Technique.
Uchiha Kiyo appeared in front of Itachi, molten spear in hand, slashing through the air.
His own eyes—already Mangekyō—swirled to life.
He didn't care to match wits with Itachi. No subtle strategies. Just brute force.
Itachi's physical body was deteriorating. His taijutsu was weak.
Kiyo wasn't concerned with honor. He had no intention of letting Itachi live—not when his mind was so sharp.
Itachi's Mangekyō caught the incoming blow.
Despite his fading vision, he could still track Kiyo's movements at close range. His years of battle wisdom allowed him to dodge at the last moment.
The spear missed.
"Lava Fireball!"
Kiyo's spear melted into a blazing orb of molten chakra, hurling toward Itachi as Kiyo flickered away with another Body Flicker.
Boom!
Itachi stumbled from the smoke, coughing and strained. This exchange had clearly favored Kiyo.
"Earth Clone."
Kiyo formed four clones from the earth around him, each bearing the compressed energy of a molten chakra spear.
Spear combat required strength—too much for simple clones to handle.
But numbers mattered.
Five versus one.
Itachi began to bleed.
On the other side of the battlefield, Sasuke now awakened
gripped a lightning-coated Chidori in his hand.
And then… he rushed forward.
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