This Rain Could Not Have Come at a Worse Time

On the other side of the island, Sasuke stood alone in the storm, his clothes soaked through, his bangs wet and sticking to his cheeks.

Sasuke had been standing there for a while, seemingly waiting for something, or perhaps hesitant and unable to move forward.

Besides the sound of wind and rain, the faint sounds of battle could also be heard in the air—the sounds of Itachi Uchiha and Kisame Hoshigaki fighting against the Three-Tails.

The sound of wind and rain continued, but the sounds of fighting soon subsided.

"Finally..."

Sasuke placed his hand on the Kusanagi Sword and took a small step forward with his right leg.

The original Sasuke wouldn't have hesitated, because at that time Sasuke only wanted revenge. He wished he could rush to Itachi Uchiha immediately, either kill Itachi Uchiha or be killed by Itachi Uchiha, and then be free and end it all.

However, Sasuke at this moment was not revenge, but to save Itachi Uchiha and pull him out of the abyss of suffering.

Different purposes, different feelings.

Perhaps this is what they mean by feeling apprehensive as one approaches home!

Revenge is often easy; one only needs to be driven by impulse to move forward without being swayed by anything.

But when faced with his long-lost brother Itachi, who bore all the blame, Sasuke didn't know how to treat him.

In the distance, the battle with the Three-Tails had ended, and Sasuke had reached a point where he had to make a decision.

A row of clear footprints was imprinted on the muddy soil, the steps unhurried but determined to move forward.

'Rustle...'

A sound that wasn't raindrops hitting the leaves rang out.

Itachi Uchiha stopped in his tracks, looking behind him with a complicated expression. There was nothing there except for a dense forest, but Itachi Uchiha knew that Sasuke was waiting for him in that forest.

Itachi Uchiha was also waiting, and he had been waiting for many years.

"Kisame! You should go back now!" Itachi Uchiha's voice was unusually calm.

Kisame also sensed the strangeness in the forest. Hearing Itachi's words, Kisame grinned and said, "Tch! Be careful not to get killed!"

After saying that, Kisame manipulated the water flow to control the Three-Tails and continued forward, while Itachi Uchiha turned and walked into the depths of the forest.

'Rustle...'

Pushing aside the leaves that were obscuring him, Itachi Uchiha stepped into a clearing in the forest, Sasuke's previously calm eyes instantly became excited.

"Itachi Uchiha! As promised, I've come to find you!"

Sasuke's eyes instantly transformed into crimson Three Tomoe Sharingan, and he glared at Itachi Uchiha, roaring, "I have the same eyes as you!"

Unlike Sasuke, Itachi Uchiha appeared remarkably calm. Compared to Sasuke, who was still struggling to control his emotions, Itachi Uchiha maintained his composure at all times.

"I've been waiting for this day for so long!"

Itachi's eyes also transformed into Three Tomoe Sharingan, but the storm's obstruction, combined with his already blurred vision, meant that even with the Sharingan's perceptive power, Itachi couldn't clearly see Sasuke's face at that moment.

"This rain really couldn't have come at the worst possible time..."

Itachi knew that Sasuke had understood the truth about the massacre of his clan, and Hinata had also told him about the plan to awaken Sasuke.

The plan might succeed, but Itachi knew his own body well, and he couldn't guarantee he would survive. This might be the last time Itachi saw Sasuke, but he couldn't even clearly see his brother's face.

Perhaps we could get a little closer.

"Why!"

Sasuke angrily demanded, "Itachi! Why did you do that!"

"I do not understand!"

"You could have had better options back then, why did you have to go through with it!"

After learning the truth about the Uchiha Clan Extermination, this was the only question in Sasuke's mind.

Sasuke has discussed the matter of clans and villages with Hinata more than once, and Hinata has said more than once that if she had to choose between the village and her clan, she would definitely choose her Hinata.

Sasuke already had a pretty good understanding of the situation back then; Obito and Hinata had both told him about it.

But since Itachi and Shisui possessed that kind of Dojutsu power back then, why didn't they try it? Even if the coup failed, they could have led a portion of their clan to escape Konoha and live a secluded life.

Extermination of an entire clan... that's too cruel!

Itachi Uchiha said calmly, "It's all in the past now..."

"No!"

Sasuke said coldly, "This matter is not over yet. As long as I am here, it will never end!"

Sasuke was enveloped in killing intent, and his cold, evil chakra made the surrounding temperature extremely frigid.

Itachi Uchiha's eyes darkened. He knew Sasuke well, and if he couldn't give Sasuke a reasonable explanation today, Sasuke might do something even more extreme.

"Sasuke! Given the situation back then, I had no other choice!"

An unnatural flush crossed Itachi Uchiha's face. "It's only been seven years since the Nine-Tails' Rampage ended, and Konoha's strength has declined to its lowest point in history. If the Uchiha launch a coup, Konoha's strength will be further weakened, regardless of whether the coup succeeds or not."

"If that happens, the major Shinobi Village that are already eyeing Konoha will seize the opportunity to act, and the Land of Fire will immediately be engulfed in war."

"My brother Shisui and I wanted to change the family, but we were powerless to do so!"

Looking at Sasuke, Itachi's tone seemed somewhat weak. "The clansmen have been blinded by desire and violence, immersed in the past glory of the Uchiha, but they cannot see the changes of the times."

"Just like you right now... no matter what I say, you won't listen!"

Sasuke's angry expression suddenly calmed down, and he said indifferently, "Just because of that?"

Itachi Uchiha said slowly, "Sasuke, I was born a few years earlier than you and witnessed the cruelty of war with our father. Perhaps you will never understand the despair of civilians when the world is engulfed in war!"

"A village that was once peaceful, prosperous, and undisturbed by the world can be reduced to ruins in an instant simply because ninjas are fighting nearby. The survivors lose their relatives and friends, as well as their homes, and are forced to wander and roam the Shinobi World!"

"I cannot remain indifferent after witnessing such a tragic scene!"

Looking at Sasuke, Itachi Uchiha said firmly, "I did all this not just for Konoha, but also for the Land of Fire, and for other countries as well!"

Sasuke's previously cold and stern gaze softened. He wasn't a cruel person to begin with; he also had a tender side. Listening to Itachi's gentle narration, Sasuke seemed to be able to somewhat understand Itachi's feelings at the time.

Let's begin!

After a long while, a hint of fighting spirit appeared in Sasuke's eyes.

The battle with his brother was not motivated by any ulterior motive; he simply wanted to defeat his brother, whom he had never been able to defeat.

Sasuke slowly drew the Kusanagi Sword.

"We've been waiting for this battle for a long time!"