Squelch!
Itachi closed his eyes, allowing tears of blood to stream down his cheeks.
"After he wakes up, tell him to use these eyes to pursue me."
Itachi casually threw his own eyes to Lee. "Your companions should have Medical Ninjutsu users. Give these eyes to them. Have him use the power of these eyes to find me."
"I'll be waiting for him."
...
After completing the mission to capture the Bikochu, Takumi and his team, including Hinata, finally returned to Konoha.
However, before Takumi could enjoy Konoha's leisurely atmosphere, a group of people rushed up to him.
"Hurry, Takumi! Please, you have to save Sasuke!"
A female Genin from his year wailed loudly.
"Sasuke? What happened to him?"
Takumi frowned, a strong feeling that something was off.
But the others all started shouting in his ears at once, making it impossible for him to understand the whole story.
"Everyone, be quiet!"
He shouted. After everyone stopped in surprise, he randomly pointed at one person and said, "Tell me exactly what happened. Tell me everything you know."
After listening to this person's excited account, Takumi understood the sequence of events.
'Earlier, Kakuzu said the members of Akatsuki are all working hard to improve their strength.'
Takumi was inwardly shocked. 'Could this be the method Uchiha Itachi thought of? He's actually willing to hurt his own brother to obtain Sasuke's Mangekyo?'
'But has Sasuke already awakened the Mangekyo? How could it be so fast?'
Not many people had witnessed the act Itachi and Obito put on at the training ground.
Otherwise, he would have understood that Itachi was acting under compulsion.
"Quick, take me to him."
Takumi decided immediately, planning to treat Sasuke's injuries first.
An eye transplant surgery was not a difficult problem for him.
In just a short while, Takumi completed the surgery and left the ward.
Sasuke, under the effects of the anesthetic, was sound asleep.
'Since Uchiha Itachi took Sasuke's eyes, it must mean Sasuke also awakened the Mangekyo.'
Takumi walked to a corner, stroking his chin in thought. 'In that case, Uchiha Itachi, with his greatly increased power, will definitely come for me.'
"No! I must see what happens!"
"System, use Targeted Simulation! Confirm Uchiha Itachi's future movements."
[Simulation Starting!]
[Sasuke's plight immediately makes you realize the enemy's target is still you.]
[Itachi's power is formidable, and Amaterasu is hailed as the strongest Fire Release Ninjutsu.]
[You are extremely cautious, always keeping yourself within the sight of the public.]
[However, a day passes without any sign of someone resembling Itachi.]
[On the second day, you remain vigilant, but after a whole day of anxiety, you find Itachi still hasn't appeared.]
[The third day is the same.]
[On the fourth day, you relax your guard somewhat and begin following patrol teams outside Konoha.]
[Still no trace of Itachi.]
[Fifth day, nothing happens.]
[Sixth day, same as above.]
[On the seventh day, while you are on patrol, Itachi finally appears.]
[You are startled but quickly engage Itachi in battle.]
[Itachi manifests the Complete Body Susano'o, incredibly powerful, and the Totsuka Blade in the Susano'o's hand fills you with apprehension.]
[During the battle, the Totsuka Blade in the Susano'o's hand touches your body, and Itachi immediately seals you within it.]
'Sealed away!'
Looking at the simulation result, Takumi was filled with a sense of absurdity.
'The Complete Body Susano'o's power is actually that formidable!'
Takumi's frown deepened.
'In that case, in seven days, it's my death sentence!'
Takumi certainly didn't want to die.
But Itachi's Totsuka Blade was simply too powerful.
It didn't even need to injure the target, just touching the target allowed the Totsuka Blade to seal the target within its blade.
It was an invincible, god-like weapon.
"If I don't find a way to counter it, I'll undoubtedly die!"
Takumi's expression turned extremely grave.
At this moment, the only method he could think of was to rely on the simulator.
But before that, he needed some assistance.
Incredible Luck!
Activate!
'System, start simulation!'
[Ding! Drawing talents for you!]
The system's roulette wheel spun.
Three seconds later.
The pointer stopped.
[Ding! Draw successful!]
[You have drawn the talents: You Have a Dad (Black), Fist Emperor (Black), Poker Face (Black)]
'A black-tier family background, paired with a black-tier Fist Emperor... but what's with this Poker Face?'
'This is the talent I get with Incredible Luck activated?'
'What kind of abilities can I even get from a simulation with these talents?'
'Can they really counter Uchiha Itachi's Totsuka Blade?'
Takumi was utterly baffled, his heart filled with even more worry.
And what's the effect of this black-tier Poker Face?
Poker Face, as the name suggests, should just mean keeping a straight face, right?
What's the point of that?
Scare the enemy to death with your expression?
That's too fantastical, isn't it?
He couldn't understand.
Although Takumi couldn't comprehend it, the simulation quietly began.
[Simulation Starting!]
[Talents Carried: You Have a Daddy, Fist Emperor, Poker Face]
[A small stream gurgles, water flows gently, a glimmer of light appears in the haze.]
[The light suddenly brightens, noise rises all around, a face emerges from the blur.]
[You are born into this miraculous Shinobi World.]
[As soon as your vision clears, you quickly recognize your parents' identities.]
[They are none other than Uchiha Fugaku and Uchiha Mikoto.]
'This time I'm in the Uchiha Clan!'
Takumi's eyes lit up.
And as the child of Fugaku and Mikoto, no less.
Though it wasn't clear yet if he was Itachi's older or younger brother.
But regardless, it offered a chance for close contact with Itachi.
[You are the couple's first child. Fugaku holds great expectations for you.]
["He will be the future of our Uchiha Clan!" Fugaku says to his wife.]
[You show him absolutely no mercy, gifting him with a stream of baby urine.]
'So I'm the older brother.'
Takumi nodded, feeling anticipation for the upcoming events.
He had obtained the Fist Emperor talent before.
And had gained immense strength from it.
He just didn't know what rewards this Fist Emperor would bring this time.
At least being born into Fugaku's family, and having a black-tier Fist Emperor...
As long as he could survive the night of the clan's massacre, his future achievements would be unpredictable.
["Look how lively he is!" Fugaku isn't angry, instead, he laughs heartily.]
[Time passes quickly amid your mischievous antics.]
[In the second year, Mikoto gives birth to a brother for you. You know Itachi has been born.]
[You are already able to walk, and you always stay around Itachi, prompting Mikoto to tease you about it.]
[You, however, are simply trying to proactively build a bond, so that Itachi might listen to you in the future.]
'So scheming!'
Takumi mentally gave a thumbs-up.
'If I can win over Itachi's allegiance from the very beginning, the night of the massacre might not even happen.'
'He might even join the radical faction and actively work to overthrow Sarutobi Hiruzen.'
'With Itachi's help and Shisui's power, defeating Sarutobi Hiruzen would be more than easy.'
["Husband, look at our child. Why doesn't he ever smile?" Mikoto is worried about your constant poker face, fearing there might be something wrong with you physically.]
["Please rest assured, Mother. I am perfectly fine." You proactively state that there is no physical issue.]
["What's wrong with him being like this? Is it better to be grinning all the time? Having this dignity will allow him to lead the entire Uchiha Clan in my place in the future." Fugaku, on the contrary, is very satisfied with your demeanor.]
[Mikoto remains very concerned, but she soon discovers that you are only expressionless. In daily life, you show great respect both to Itachi and to her.]
[Only towards Fugaku do you seem somewhat indifferent.]
'Of course. An old man, possessing great power but not knowing how to use it, arguably the main person responsible for the Uchiha Clan's decline. How could I possibly respect him?'
Takumi clearly understood the thought process of his simulation self.
If it were him, he definitely wouldn't give Fugaku a pleasant expression either.