Brothers

From the moment he stopped Sakura Haruno and her group until now, Uchiha Itachi has finally turned his gaze to the boy beside Sakura for the first time.

His cold gaze showed no emotion whatsoever; his icy, indifferent blood-red eyes were as deep and calm as the sea.

"Sasuke..." The crimson and icy Mangekyō Sharingan fixed its gaze on Sasuke's face.

You've grown up.

A simple, unassuming sentence announced the reunion of these two brothers, once close and loving but now bitter enemies, after many years.

His emotionless words concealed all of Itachi's thoughts beneath his cold mask.

Will he be agitated? Will he feel guilty?

Or perhaps all he felt for Sasuke was hatred and disgust?

Looking at this man who kept all his emotions hidden deep inside, Sakura Haruno realized that she found it difficult to understand him.

Who is he? What is his purpose?

Everything Sakura Haruno had access to, including what she had heard and seen in her past life and the top-secret intelligence she had reviewed in this life, all pointed to Itachi's identity—he was a member of Konoha. However, when she actually faced Uchiha Itachi, she couldn't see any trace of him being Konoha spy.

His Chakra and his killing intent were displayed openly and boldly.

No matter how you look at it, the itachi in front of her is her enemy.

That's true. If she could see through it so easily, Itachi's spy identity would have been exposed long ago.

However, Sakura Haruno couldn't guarantee which side Itachi was currently on. Could a so-called spy who hadn't been in contact with Konoha for years really be trusted? Even if he still remembered his identity as Konoha Ninja, this battle was already unavoidable.

Two pairs of Sharingan met in mid-air.

"Uchiha Itachi..."

Sasuke's voice was more youthful than Itachi's, with a hoarse quality reminiscent of the end of puberty.

Compared to Itachi's cold words, when Sasuke spoke, Sakura Haruno could hear the hatred and confusion in his heart.

On one hand, he still considered Itachi his target for revenge; on the other hand, he also had doubts about what happened back then...

"According to you, I've lived on, hating you all along," Sasuke coldly, taking a deep breath. "That's why I'm standing before you now..."

"You're stronger than before," Itachi's voice came from beneath the high collar of the black trench coat, "But... it's not enough."

Sasuke raised his head and let out a cold laugh.

"Indeed... my current strength is insufficient to contend with you." He looked into Itachi's calm, unwavering eyes and said, "But sooner or later, I will surpass you, defeat you, and then uncover the truth and complete my revenge!"

When he said this, Sasuke finally realized that he couldn't be an ostrich forever, ignoring the doubts behind the massacre of his clan and blindly listing Itachi as the object of his hatred, blindly pursuing revenge!

However, compared to simply killing Itachi to achieve revenge, this path might be more arduous and painful... even so heavy that it would prevent him from thinking.

"The truth...?" For the first time Uchiha Itachi's expression flickered.

His eyes flickered almost imperceptibly for a few moments, his pupils contracted, his eyes narrowed, and his gaze grew increasingly cold.

The truth is no longer important.

Sasuke embarks on a path to seek the truth, thus deviating from the life path he had designed for Sasuke.

Even if he knew the truth, what good would it do? Would he end up discovering that the parents and clan he was so proud of were so despicable, and then live in the pain of reality? Such pain is enough for him to bear alone.

Sasuke deserves a happy future, with glory, family, and a peaceful life.

The eagle's lips twitched slightly, but he ultimately uttered no more words.

The wind was blowing at the end of June, and the air was hot and noisy, making the atmosphere restless.

Sunlight streamed down from the sky at an angle, casting a shadow in front of Itachi and shrouding his face in darkness.

He remained silent for a moment before coldly saying, "Then let me see your resolve..."

In the world of ninjas, strength is the foundation that determines everything. Without sufficient strength, one doesn't even have the right to pursue the truth!

They can only accept the fate imposed upon them by others...

Therefore, Itachi will not hold back.

Itachi certainly wouldn't kill Sasuke, but he would leave Sasuke with a profound lesson: to make Sasuke hate him firmly so that he could kill him one day and become a hero who eliminates the traitor of Konoha!

While the two brothers were facing off, Kisame nearby, did not remain silent either.

"Hmph, a one-on-one duel? Sharingan duel... Interesting!" Kisame's gaze swept over Sasuke, then landed on the girl's face. "Konoha Ninja has clashed with Akatsuki multiple times and even killed Deidara? It's been a long time since I've seen a female ninja this strong! Well then, I'd like to have a go with you, Sakura Haruno!"

Unlike Itachi's somber expression, his face revealed more of a bloodthirsty excitement.

"Kisame Hoshigaki, one of the original Seven Swordsmen of the Mist Ninja, the highest-ranking ninja to defect in the history of the Mist Ninja Village..." Sakura said coldly, "Your deeds from back then are still talked about in the Kirigakure. Should I feel honored to be able to fight against a legendary defector from that era?"

"Defect? No," Kisame's face showed no trace of reminiscence or regret for the Mist Ninja; he simply said disdainfully, "I merely abandoned that village filled with lies and falsehoods!"

Sakura Haruno's lips curled into a mocking smile.

"And then? You found your true self and your place in the Akatsuki?" She was looking up at Kisame, but her tone carried a condescending air. "The Fourth Mizukage was controlled by Madara Uchiha with his Sharingan. And you? You can be controlled without even needing your Sharingan?"

In her view, he was simply hurt and went to the other extreme, nothing more.

Kisame's eyes narrowed dangerously, his killing intent growing stronger.

"You haven't killed your own comrade, have you? Without experiencing darkness, you have no right to judge our path." He sneered. "Let me make an interesting assumption. If Sasuke defected, and you were ordered by the village to kill Sasuke, what would you do? Perhaps then, having killed your own comrade, you would become a new member of Akatsuki..."

Sasuke defected? In the original story, he had already done so once.

And what about Sasuke in this world?

Although he has built a strong bond with everyone, the situation between the Uchiha and the village is too complicated... Sasuke still has the possibility of defecting.

If that day really comes, how will Sakura Haruno cope?

This is an exceptionally serious problem...

"I don't believe that judging you heinous criminals requires any special qualifications. Especially the logic of needing to commit equivalent crimes to judge you is laughable..." The girl took a deep breath, avoiding the question, and retorted, "Besides, the order to kill your comrades was issued when the Fourth Mizukage was being manipulated by Akatsuki. If you truly felt anger and disgust towards the current state of the village, you should have sought revenge against Akatsuki, not joined forces with them."

"Sharp-tongued girl, yet another pathetic wretch brainwashed by the village..." Kisame raised his broadsword, pointing it at the girl, and sneered, "Is your only skill being your mouth?"

"Then let's use fists to increase the persuasiveness of our arguments... However, I'm not interested in persuading a dying man."

Sakura Haruno stretched her hand to her chest and clenched her fist.

Truth should exist objectively.

However, in the end, there is no absolute truth in this world, only absolute power! The most effective way to convince others of your reasoning is to defeat them first!

Kisame stared at her for a few moments, then pointed to a spot not far away and said, "Well then, let's go somewhere else... how about we leave this place for the two brothers?"

Sakura Haruno looked in the direction the large sword was pointing. Not far away on the other side of the rocky mountain, a winding stream of clear water flowed leisurely.

The Land of Waterfalls is rich in water, as can be seen from its name; this river is one of the downstream tributaries of the Waterfall of Takigakure.

Countries with abundant water are perfect for Water Release ninjas to fight in.

However, Sakura Haruno and Kisame are both Water Release ninjas, so the advantages of the environment should have canceled each other out. Kisame's choice of this location suggests he's very confident in his Water Release...

"No problem..."

Sakura nodded. She saw through his intention, but she was equally unafraid to compete with any ninja in Water Release.

Sakura Haruno is probably more confident in her Ninjutsu!

With absolute confidence in their own strength, the Akatsuki and Konoha ninjas simply decided on the battle assignments: Uchiha Itachi against Sasuke, Kisame Hoshigaki against Sakura Haruno.

Just before the battle, Sakura squeezed Sasuke's hand.

Cold. Tense.

"I'm fine." Sasuke paused slightly, then said calmly.

The complex emotions he felt were hard to describe.

Sasuke understood perfectly well that the difference in strength between him and Uchiha Itachi was like heaven and earth. He had always regarded Sakura as the benchmark for Itachi's strength—if he couldn't beat her, then he was still far from being Itachi. He had just been utterly defeated by the girl's Mutually Multiplying Ice Clone Explosive Jutsu a few days ago, and he knew that he was still a long way from Kage Level, so this was a battle he had no chance of winning.

As long as Sasuke's mind isn't clouded by that crazy emotion, and as long as he doesn't disregard everything and try to kill Itachi like a mad dog, he will still feel somewhat uneasy when facing a powerful enemy he absolutely cannot defeat.

Sakura Haruno keenly sensed this.

Holding the girl's warm, soft hand felt like a warm current flowing into his heart, Sasuke immediately felt his tense thoughts calm down a lot.

"Let me give you some advice, Sasuke," the girl said calmly, releasing her grip.

"Um?"

"Don't die."

"Hmph..." He had no choice in the matter.

Before Sasuke could finish his sentence, Sakura Haruno and Kisame left one after the other.

"A very good piece of advice, Sasuke." Itachi ignored Kisame Sakura Haruno's departure, only staring at Sasuke, and said coldly, "However, if you want to save your life, the best way is to leave the fight to Sakura Haruno, and you seize the opportunity to escape the battlefield."

"Someone like you who slaughters his own people can never understand the feeling of protecting your comrades..." Sasuke said, clasping his hands together in front of his chest, his Chakra surging wildly as he slowly formed Hand Seals.

"It seems you've already resolved to protect your comrades even at the cost of your life," Itachi said slowly, watching him Hand Seals. "Then, I hope you also have the resolve to face death..."

Sasuke's Chakra had reached its peak.

"Although I'm no match for you right now," he gritted his teeth, glaring at Itachi and shouting, "Don't underestimate me! Defeating me won't be that easy!"

Although he was far inferior to the other three present, Sasuke's aura was equally formidable!

The young man standing atop the rocky mountain remained unmoved.

"You haven't changed. You're still as stubborn as ever, you foolish little brother." Itachi said expressionlessly. "Just take that as a fact."

Let me see just how much your strength has grown, aside from your temperament, Sasuke...!

Sasuke said nothing more, but instantly unleashed his Chakra, which had been boiling to its limit.

Lightning Release: Chidori Demon Body Form!

(Why am I so conflicted while writing this chapter?!)