"Sasuke, this is your brother's Dōjutsu."
Hyuga Sho explained it to Sasuke.
"As for what exactly happened, you can ask your brother..."
Hyuga Sho hinted.
"..."
A trace of unease flashed through Sasuke's eyes.
Uchiha Itachi was indeed a doting older brother.
Second Pillar was also a brother complex.
If he spoke ill of Uchiha Itachi to his face, Sasuke would certainly refuse to believe him.
So he had to use this roundabout method.
Hyuga Sho also believed that Second Pillar could become obsessed with Naruko.
Once Sasuke gradually realized the bond he shared with Naruko...
Hyuga Sho could slowly turn him into the victim of a tragedy.
At the same time, he would direct the blame toward Uchiha Itachi.
Sasuke had lost the mood to fight Naruko, and when he was about to go home.
Hyuga Sho made arrangements for Naruko.
He had Naruko escort Sasuke home.
This was Naruko's first time visiting a friend's house.
So she seemed a little excited.
Perhaps Sasuke's family would ask her to stay for dinner, further increasing their bond.
However, Hyuga Sho believed that the somewhat slow-witted Naruko would at most regard Sasuke as a friend.
Everything... had been arranged just like that.
Afterward.
Hyuga Sho left.
He also instructed the others not to approach that mass of black flames and to see how long it could burn.
Very soon.
Hyuga Sho arrived at the branch where the Torture Department was located in Konoha's Back Mountain.
This place...
Had already been occupied by a group of children.
The youngest among them were about the same age as Sasuke and Naruko.
The older ones.
Were thirteen or fourteen years old.
These children were all reserve members of "Root."
They had not yet been branded with the Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal.
In other