Brother Complexes Are Terrifying

Itachi walked step by step toward Hiruko and said in a deep voice, "If you want the Sharingan that badly, then let me show you the Sharingan's true power!"

"Tsukuyomi!"

As the others watched in confusion, Itachi met Hiruko's gaze. Hiruko froze blankly.

The next second, Hiruko dropped to his knees, clutching his eyes and screaming, "Aah... my eyes... my eyes..."

"What happened?" Sakura asked instinctively.

"Probably some kind of powerful genjutsu." Thinking of his own eye, Kakashi guessed that it might be a special ability of the Sharingan.

"This is a genjutsu of the Mangekyo Sharingan. His mind has spent seventy-two continuous hours in my Tsukuyomi realm, enduring the pain of having his eyes repeatedly taken from him."

Itachi looked somewhat exhausted as well. However long passed in the Tsukuyomi realm was equivalent to however long he had sustained the genjutsu, and the mental fatigue was very real.

"Now, for the finale..." Itachi refocused his gaze on Hiruko. "Amaterasu!"

Black flames ignited out of thin air over Hiruko's body, burning ever more fiercely.

"Aaahhh..." Hiruko, whose mind had just suffered a crushing blow, screamed miserably and instinctively rolled across the ground, trying to put out the flames. But the black flames of Amaterasu clung to him like parasites in his bones; no matter how desperately he struggled, it was useless.

Only then did Hiruko remember he had ninjutsu. "Dark Release! Dark Release! Why can't I absorb it? Aaahhh... Steel Release! Steel Release! Why can't I defend against it?!"

Covering one eye, Itachi said coldly, "These are the flames of Amaterasu, which will never go out until they burn their target to ash. This is the power of the Sharingan you wanted!"

The flames of Amaterasu burned brighter and brighter, while Hiruko's voice grew weaker and weaker until it vanished completely, leaving nothing behind.

Itachi let out a breath, wiped the bloody tears from the corners of his eyes, and staggered.

Naruto caught him and called back, "Sakura Bro!"

"Got it!" Sakura hurried over to examine Itachi.

While Sakura checked him over, Naruto asked, "Itachi, you didn't feel like yourself in that fight today."

The unusually cold Itachi had returned to his usual gentle demeanor. "Is that so?"

"Yeah." Naruto nodded and said,

"Going by how my dad described you, your fighting style is the calm and rational type. Normally, you'd use shuriken or taijutsu to probe first, analyze his abilities, find his weaknesses, then defeat him with the most suitable method.

But today, you used Susanoo, Tsukuyomi, Amaterasu, and all that. There was no need for any of it, was there?"

A kind smile appeared on Itachi's face. "That's true. If I were Uchiha Itachi, an Anbu ninja, I should have defeated him at the lowest possible cost.

But today, I came here as Sasuke's older brother. My only purpose was to deal with someone who plotted against my Younger Brother. Nothing more."

Naruto was speechless. So he had let Hiruko display every Kekkei Genkai and ninjutsu he was proud of, then crushed his confidence piece by piece before burning him so thoroughly that not even ashes remained?

Just because he touched your Younger Brother? Brother complexes are terrifying. Naruto shuddered. I think I bullied Sasuke from childhood all the way into adulthood... I'm in danger!

The Green Light in Sakura's hand faded. She said worriedly, "His body is overexerted. He'll recover after resting properly for a while.

But his eyes have suffered slight damage, which may affect his vision. It can only be eased gradually, and I'm afraid it can't be completely cured.

And if he keeps using that kind of ninjutsu in the future, I can't predict what will happen."

"It's fine. Thank you." Itachi had already been mentally prepared. Such a powerful ability having side effects was only to be expected. A slight loss of vision was worth it.

Itachi was now eighteen, and his body was relatively mature. Compared with opening the Mangekyo at twelve or thirteen in the Original Work, he was in far better condition and would not be burdened so heavily that it left lasting illness.

Seeing that Itachi was all right, Kakashi pointed at the remaining Amaterasu flames and asked, "Is there any way to take those flames back?"

"Sorry, I can't control that." Itachi answered apologetically. His eyes could only release fire, not absorb it. "If left alone, they might go out after seven days."

"I can handle it." Naruto took out a blank scroll, skillfully drew the formula for the Fire Sealing Formation, and sealed the black flames on the ground into it.

"Well, that works too." Kakashi had just been thinking that if there was no other way, he would have to try transferring the flames into another dimension.

After all, flames this powerful could not really be left burning here for days, even if this was not Konoha territory.

"Since everything's settled, I'll go check whether Sasuke's cursed seal has been released." Naruto took out the scroll containing pots, pans, bowls, and utensils and handed it to Kakashi. "Teacher Kakashi, I think you should start preparing lunch. None of us has eaten properly these past two days."

Kakashi accepted the things on reflex. Only after Naruto vanished did he mutter to himself, "Why do I feel like making him a meal makes him happier than defeating an enemy?"

"Hehe, Teacher Kakashi, you finally noticed." Sakura said with a giggle. "For an enemy like before, if Naruto wanted to defeat her quickly, he could have settled it with one slap after transforming. Unlike you, dragging things out for so long just because she was pretty."

"What does her being pretty have to do with anything? You two weren't saying that when you were standing off to the side watching the show..." Kakashi helplessly opened the scroll and took out the various tools.

In Sasuke's room, Sasuke was tightly bound with rope and lay obediently on the bed.

Mikoto sat beside him. Seeing that Sasuke had finally stopped struggling, she let out a sigh of relief.

Naruto suddenly appeared, and Mikoto asked with concern, "Naruto? How did it go?"

"The enemy has been dealt with. I came to check on Sasuke."

"Sasuke seems to be all right now. Were any of you hurt?" Mikoto did not forget to worry about Naruto and the others, pulling Naruto over to inspect him from head to toe.

"Don't worry, I'm completely fine. Itachi's just a little tired. He'll be fine after some rest." After reassuring her, Naruto moved to the bedside.

Seeing that Sasuke was still unconscious, he stretched out his troublesome left hand, intending to pull Sasuke's face.

Just then, Sasuke opened his eyes. He looked at Naruto's hand hanging in midair, then silently met those familiar blue eyes.

Naruto: "..."

Sasuke: "..."

"Hehe~" Mikoto covered her mouth and chuckled, completely unconcerned by Naruto's attempt to tease Sasuke.

Naruto's movement stiffened for a moment. Then he naturally placed his hand on Sasuke's forehead, pretending to check the cursed seal.

Sasuke glared at him. "What are you doing?"

Naruto put on a serious act. "I'm checking whether the cursed seal is still there."

Sasuke did not believe him at all. "Couldn't you not sense it before?"

Naruto nodded solemnly. "Yeah, I still can't sense it now."

"Then why haven't you taken your hand off?!"

"Why are you yelling so loudly?!"