The Land of the Dying

When Sasuke woke up again, he found himself tied up.

"You're awake." Obito sat on a wooden crate, looking at the vacant-eyed Sasuke as he explained, "Sorry, but I tied you up first because you didn't look like someone who would patiently let me finish talking."

"That guy... Uchiha Itachi is an enemy. He killed my father and mother, slaughtered the entire clan. He wasn't just a rogue ninja; he was also a member of Akatsuki. Someone like him should be hated. My goal..." Sasuke lowered his head and spoke weakly.

"It is true that he killed everyone in the Uchiha Clan that night, then defected from Konoha." Obito acknowledged part of what Sasuke had said.

"So..."

"But he did it because Konoha gave him the order." Watching Sasuke lift his head in shock, Obito continued, "This is the doorway to the truth about Itachi."

"You're saying it was a mission?!" Sasuke could hardly believe it.

"Yes. That night, Itachi abandoned himself to carry out the mission." Obito rested both hands on his knees. Seeing Sasuke drawn in by his words, he said with satisfaction, "Looks like you've calmed down a little."

"What exactly happened?" Sasuke's eyes regained their light as he stared at Obito and asked.

"To understand Itachi's story further, I have to tell you about the era when Konoha was founded. Itachi became a sacrifice. Ancient grudges brought about his sacrifice. From the day Konoha was born, there had been a huge problem, and that decided Itachi's fate." Obito spoke calmly.

"A sacrifice... Why should I believe you? I can't believe you!" Sasuke had regained some spirit, and with it, some of his intelligence. He knew to question others now.

"I have no proof I can show you. Whether you believe me is up to you, but