Naruto's words made Itachi's pupils contract sharply, his Sharingan trembling.
His earlier glance at Naruto had been meant to tell him not to expose him—that everything was for Sasuke's sake. Naruto had understood his look, but he had not joined Itachi in deceiving Sasuke.
Naruto felt that Sasuke was already twelve, nearly thirteen. He was practically an adult and deserved to know all of this.
Even if Sasuke could not bear the consequences of knowing, Naruto was still there. Just as Sasuke had said, Naruto was his family. As family, he would bear it together with Sasuke.
Hearing Naruto's words and seeing Itachi's sudden change in expression, Sasuke was no fool. He instantly guessed at a possibility, and the faint hope he had held for Itachi flared up again. He stared fixedly at Itachi. "Itachi, is what Naruto said true? Do you really have your reasons? Were all the things you said before lies? You were deceiving me, weren't you?"
Faced with Sasuke's string of questions, Itachi fell silent.
This was not the outcome he had wanted at all. What he had wanted was for Sasuke to learn the truth only after obtaining his Sharingan.
If he revealed everything to Sasuke now, Sasuke would be even less willing to accept his eyes.
"Itachi, say something... Do you really want me to kill you with my own hands? Is that truly the outcome you want? Yes, I hate you. I want nothing more than to kill you and avenge Father and Mother, but I also have to know the truth about what happened back then..."
Itachi's silence made Sasuke visibly agitated.
"Itachi, do you know? Even though I want to kill you with my own hands, killing you would hurt me too... Because you are still my brother. How I wish