"You…"
Itachi's eyes were filled with disbelief. He wanted to turn his head, weakly reaching a hand behind him.
But in the end, his hand fell, and his head drooped along with it, his eyes wide open in death.
The Susano'o also dissipated as a result.
"Although you were a spy, your corpse is extremely valuable. It can't be left here."
Obito said, using his Mangekyo Sharingan to take Itachi's body away.
"Ignorant brat, be grateful you're still alive."
Obito said to the stupefied Sasuke, then his entire body turned into a spiral and vanished on the spot.
"How was it?"
In the shadows, Itachi asked the returned Obito.
"There was a change. He seems to be processing the fact that you died before his eyes."
Obito said with a light laugh. "But that was really a convincing substitution technique, almost indistinguishable from the real thing."
"Only this way could he believe I am dead."
Itachi watched the still-stunned Sasuke in the field with an expressionless face. "Otherwise, it might have been exposed."
"Hmm? He seems to be reacting now."
Obito looked carefully, Sasuke was finally responding.
Sasuke's hands trembled as they covered his face. Through the gaps in his fingers, one could see his pupils shaking violently.
"Ah…"
He let out a cry, his voice containing fear, confusion, and pain.
Sasuke had never imagined that seeing the Itachi he longed to kill day and night die before him would fill him not with joy.
But with pain.
Only now did he realize.
Watching your enemy be killed by someone else… how painful that was!
Finally.
The complex emotions transformed into negative energy, converging in his pupils, causing a change within them.
"It's taking effect."
Obito nodded with satisfaction. "Let's withdraw for now. Obtaining his eyes isn't urgent at this moment."
"You mean we've been discovered, right?"
Itachi's gaze drifted towards where Kakashi and Guy were hiding.
"Those two aren't opponents to be trifled with. There's no need to complicate things at this time."
Obito said, using Kamui to leave the spot.
Itachi gave Sasuke a deep look, then also turned into crows and disappeared from the spot.
"Sasuke!"
Kakashi and Guy only came out from their hiding place after seeing the two leave.
Although they didn't know their purpose, they were certain it was related to Sasuke.
Now their top priority was to get Sasuke to safety.
"Kakashi-sensei?"
Sasuke's bewildered gaze turned to Kakashi. The change in his pupils made Kakashi's brow furrow deeply.
Kakashi's Sharingan also possessed a Mangekyo ability.
Although the patterns were different, he still recognized the change that had occurred in Sasuke's eyes.
But now he had no time to ponder it, he just wanted Sasuke to leave immediately.
On the other side, after a quick check confirming that Lee only had light injuries and was suffering from excessive exhaustion, Guy breathed a sigh of relief.
He carried Lee on his back and said to Kakashi, "It's not safe here. Let's get out quickly."
"Alright."
Kakashi nodded, also carrying the weakened Sasuke who couldn't stand, and left.
While leaping through the trees on the way back to the village, Sasuke suddenly spoke.
"That person said… Itachi was a spy."
Sasuke said this somewhat blankly. "What did he mean by that?"
"Spy?!"
Kakashi's expression changed drastically, instantly connecting many things. "He really said that?"
"Yes."
Sasuke nodded slowly. "But… Itachi is a Missing-nin, not a spy."
"This matter might be more complicated than it seems."
Kakashi said with a frown. "If anyone knows the specific details of this, it's probably only that person."
"That person?"
Sasuke's mind was currently very chaotic and couldn't understand who Kakashi was referring to.
"We're going there now."
Kakashi's eyes narrowed. He changed direction, heading towards the Hokage Tower.
Bang!
Kakashi barged in through the door, uncharacteristically rude.
He startled Hiruzen, who quickly shut off the crystal ball he was using to peep at the women's bathhouse.
"Cough! Kakashi, why are you so flustered?"
Hiruzen said with some displeasure. "Don't you know you should knock before entering?"
At this moment, Kakashi couldn't care less about that. "Hokage-sama, I have some things I want to ask about Uchiha Itachi."
"Uchiha Itachi?"
Now Hiruzen felt panicked. "Why suddenly talk about him?"
"Because he appeared!"
Kakashi said with a grave expression. "He appeared at the training ground and displayed extremely powerful strength. Sasuke was almost killed by him."
"But the key isn't that. It's what happened next."
Kakashi paused, carefully observing Hiruzen's expression.
Clearly, Hiruzen was panicked, and very much so!
"What happened next?"
Hiruzen hurriedly pressed.
"A person wearing a spiral mask suddenly appeared, then killed Uchiha Itachi from behind, saying he was a spy who had infiltrated their organization."
As Kakashi said this, his gaze didn't leave Hiruzen's face. "Hokage-sama, could it be that Uchiha Itachi really was a spy sent out by the village?"
"If that's the case, then the tragedy a few years ago…"
Hearing Kakashi's unfinished words, Sasuke couldn't help but perk up his ears, listening intently.
'Could it be… Itachi didn't kill the clan?'
A sliver of hope couldn't help but arise in Sasuke's heart.
"Of course not!"
Hiruzen said decisively. "Uchiha Itachi is the culprit who killed the Uchiha clan. The village would certainly not let him be any spy, nor would he help the village with anything anymore."
"Think about it carefully. If he were still a part of the village, why would he create that tragedy?"
Hiruzen's expression didn't change in the slightest.
But inside, he was extremely anxious.
'Itachi was killed?'
'This is too sudden!'
Although one should theoretically feel relieved that such a formidable problem was eliminated, at the same time, the flow of information about the Akatsuki was cut off. How should they defend against this mysterious organization now?
'But it's okay, Takumi is still here.'
'As long as Takumi is here, there is still hope.'
Thinking this, Hiruzen's chaotic thoughts gradually calmed.
"Is that so?"
Seeing Hiruzen's expression gradually become calm, Kakashi sighed inwardly, then took two steps back and said, "I apologize. Because the matter was too shocking, I was somewhat disrespectful this time."
After hearing the conversation between the two, the light in Sasuke's eyes dimmed once more.
'So that guy really was the murderer.'
'Just to test my so-called capacity, he actually killed the entire clan.'
'Uchiha Itachi!'
'I will definitely kill... uh...'
Sasuke suddenly realized, remembering that Itachi had already been killed before his eyes.
Suddenly, Sasuke lost the goal of his struggle.
He seemed somewhat lost all of a sudden.
"It's fine. You're only so flustered because you care about the village."
Hiruzen secretly breathed a sigh of relief, a serious expression appearing on his face. "But the fact that the village was infiltrated so silently is extremely dangerous. Could there be a flaw in the village's barrier?"
"Kakashi, go check the barrier. If there really is a loophole, it must be repaired immediately. Otherwise, the enemy might take the opportunity to cause unimaginable damage to the village at any time!"
Hiruzen decisively gave Kakashi the order.
"Yes, Hokage-sama."
Kakashi nodded, then carried the weakened Sasuke out of the office.
However, the moment Kakashi left, Danzo followed closely into the Hokage's Office.
"Danzo? Since you're here, your Root must have gotten the news, right?"
Hiruzen frowned the moment he saw Danzo. "Why didn't you tell me about this? If I hadn't reacted quickly, Kakashi might have seen through it."
"Just deny it. After all, apart from Uchiha Itachi and us, no one else knows."
Danzo said indifferently. "Now the problem before us is another one: how should we deal with the remaining Uchiha?"
"You want to eliminate Sasuke?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes widened. "He's just a child! Don't even think about eliminating him. If I find out you attempt an assassination in secret, I will not forgive you!"
"Hmph, you are as indecisive as ever."
Danzo snorted coldly and turned to leave.
Only a sentence floated into Hiruzen's ears:
"The Uchiha have always been a troublesome clan. You will regret this sooner or later."
"I don't need your concern."
Hiruzen said coldly. "I am the Hokage of Konoha, not you."
Danzo's figure paused, his cheek twitching involuntarily.
He suppressed the urge to turn around and curse, and continued walking out of the Hokage's Office.
...
"Sasuke, your injuries aren't serious. Rest at home for now."
Kakashi took the weakened Sasuke back to his home and earnestly advised him. "You've experienced enough today. Don't overthink things. Rest and recover properly first. We can think carefully about everything else later."
"Understood, Kakashi-sensei."
Sasuke nodded, his expression very detached.
It was precisely this detachment that worried Kakashi even more.
Unfortunately, he ultimately wasn't good at comforting others.
Itachi being killed right before Sasuke's eyes… this impact was far too great for Sasuke!
Kakashi could imagine what kind of torment Sasuke's heart was going through right now.
Just like when he himself had killed Rin with his own hands.
Fortunately.
Now, thanks to Takumi, Rin had been revived, and he had a chance to make up for his regret.
At least one of his comrades had returned.
'In a year, perhaps even Obito could return to our side.'
Thinking of this, Kakashi's heart was filled with warmth.
But he also secretly regretted.
'If only Takumi's resurrection of others didn't have so many restrictions.'
'If it could be like Orochimaru's Impure World Reincarnation…'
'No!'
'Impure World Reincarnation is a forbidden technique!'
'What am I thinking?!'
Kakashi left the Uchiha Clan's compound with somewhat chaotic thoughts.
Leaving Sasuke alone to face the empty mansion.