"What's going on?" Naruto asked, turning toward Sasuke. The serious look on Sasuke's face only deepened his curiosity.
"After defeating Itachi," Sasuke said after a pause, "I started remembering more about that night."
Naruto's eyes narrowed slightly. That night… when he'd finally reached the Uchiha compound, it was already drenched in blood. The entire clan had been wiped out. Only two people remained Itachi and Sasuke.
Sasuke's voice dropped low, his eyes distant. "The Uchiha were the most powerful clan in the Leaf. There were dozens of jonin who had already awakened the three-tomoe Sharingan. Even with Itachi's Mangekyō Sharingan, killing all of them in such a short time should've been impossible."
Naruto frowned, silently nodding. It made sense. Even for someone like Itachi, the timeline didn't add up.
"And before he left," Sasuke continued, his Mangekyō eyes swirling open as he spoke, "he told me something strange. I'll show you."
The six-pointed stars in Sasuke's eyes spun, and the world around them dissolved into darkness. In an instant, Naruto found himself inside an illusion a memory from the night of the massacre.
It was the same street where the young Sasuke had once stood before his brother.
"If you awaken these eyes," Itachi's voice echoed through the night, "then you will be the third to possess them."
"You're not even worth killing. Foolish little brother… if you want to defeat me, then live in hatred. Despise me, loathe me, and survive in disgrace. Run… run, and when you have eyes like mine, come and face me again."
After those chilling words, Itachi turned away.
The young Sasuke, tears burning in his eyes, activated his Sharingan and hurled shuriken with furious precision. Blades struck walls, cut through air, and one managed to knock off Itachi's forehead protector.
Itachi picked it up silently, placing it back on. He looked over his shoulder one last time and a single tear rolled down his cheek.
"Wait a minute!" Naruto shouted, eyes wide. "He cried?"
The illusion froze.
"Yes," Sasuke said quietly, his expression complicated. "That's the part I had forgotten. Back then, I thought I imagined it… but he really did cry."
Naruto stared, stunned. Itachi's tears… that single moment upended everything he thought he knew.
In Sasuke's mind, another fragment surfaced Itachi's voice, soft but resolute: "When I die, you may take my eyes. That way, you'll never fear blindness again."
Was Itachi planning all along to give his eyes to Sasuke? What was this twisted love and guilt that drove him to such an end?
What did vengeance even mean, if the man he hated had orchestrated everything to protect him?
Naruto exhaled deeply. "Wait, Sasuke. You said Itachi told you the Akatsuki were after the Tailed Beasts and he said that in front of Leaf shinobi?"
Sasuke nodded. "He said it clearly. To Asuma, even."
Naruto scratched his head, frowning. "That doesn't make sense… saying the organization's purpose so openly? Either Itachi was taunting them, or he wanted someone to know."
His gut told him something was off something far deeper than what either of them had seen.
"So, what will you do now?" Naruto finally asked.
"I'll find him again," Sasuke said through clenched teeth. "When I defeat him this time, I'll use Shinra Link to force my way into his memories. I'll see the truth for myself."
Naruto nodded solemnly. "Then I'll handle Kisame when the time comes."
The two returned to their inn.
Inside, Kimimaro had already awakened. After Tsunade's treatment, his complexion looked far healthier; the deathly pallor of his face had given way to a faint flush of life. For the first time, the stiffness in his expression eased.
Tsunade sat back in her chair, facing Orochimaru. "To be honest, his illness isn't fully cured."
Orochimaru's golden eyes narrowed. "Even you can't heal him completely?"
Tsunade shook her head. "I eliminated the infections, but the cellular collapse I can't stop it. I tried infusing his cells with medical chakra to restore vitality, but it barely worked. The conversion rate is too low to sustain regeneration."
Her expression softened a little. "Still, there's one thing we've confirmed if we can replenish his life energy in sufficient quantity, the cellular breakdown will stop. That means the disease is curable."
Life energy… Orochimaru thought, a faint glint flashing in his eyes. He already had an idea something that could be perfect for Kimimaro's body.
"I see," he said slowly. "Tsunade, thank you. Truly."
She waved a hand. "It was an equal exchange, that's all."
Orochimaru's lips curved faintly. "Then, Tsunade… would you like to see Nawaki and Dan again? This time, I'll make it free of charge."
Her pupils trembled. For a moment, her hands clenched into fists. Then she lowered her gaze and murmured, "The things that come free are always the most expensive. No, thank you."
Orochimaru smiled thinly, then rose to leave. "Kimimaro, call Kabuto. We're heading back."
"Yes, Lord Orochimaru."
Just as Orochimaru turned toward the door, Naruto's voice stopped him. "Orochimaru, wait there's something I want to ask you."
He turned back, intrigued. "Oh?"
"You used to be part of an organization called Akatsuki, didn't you? Itachi's one of them now."
At that name, Orochimaru's tongue flicked across his lips like a serpent's. "That's right. Why? Did he come for you?"
Naruto nodded. "Yeah. But Sasuke drove him off."
Orochimaru chuckled lowly, the sound dark and amused. "Impressive. To think even Itachi was forced to retreat… I suppose letting go of my plans for Sasuke was the right decision. Otherwise, I might not be standing here now."
He studied them both for a moment the next generation of monsters rising faster than anyone had imagined. Naruto, Sasuke, even Itachi… each one stronger than the last.
"So," Naruto said, stepping closer, "we've heard the Akatsuki are collecting the Tailed Beasts. Can you tell us anything about them?"
Orochimaru's smile sharpened. "Information, Naruto-kun, is the most precious thing in this world. People have traded their lives just to obtain a single truth."
Naruto's eyes narrowed.
"But," Orochimaru continued, "since you helped Kimimaro, I'll share a secret as payment."
He leaned forward slightly, his voice dropping to a whisper.
"The leader of the Akatsuki… is a man named Pain. And he possesses the Rinnegan."
The room fell silent.
Naruto's breath hitched, Sasuke's eyes widened. That name that power sounded like something out of myth.
The Rinnegan… the eyes of the Sage of Six Paths.
And somewhere in the shadows, a storm began to stir.
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