But unlike what he saw in the Sasuke fantasy before, this ferret is an entity. He has flesh and blood, warmth, and even a heartbeat. But his eyes are closed tightly, like a sleeping, delicate doll.
Sasuke's breathing stopped at this moment.
"I analyzed all the data you had in the illusion, including your deepest memories and emotions towards him." Jhin's voice carried a devilish whisper, "Then, I used part of the life force of the Ten-Tails in Kamui Dimension to create a perfect 'container' for these data."
"He can now be said to be a more perfect "resurrectionist" than Impure World Reincarnation. There is no dusty body, no bound soul. Just a... blank program waiting to be awakened."
Jhin looked at Sasuke like a salesman showing off his most proud products.
"Now, I give you a choice, Uchiha Sasuke."
"Cut off the ridiculous "Bond" between you and Uzumaki Naruto. In exchange, I will write the data of "Uchiha Itachi" completely into this container. He will wake up with all the memories and all the emotions, just like he never left."
"Of course, he will become my loyal guard in maintaining the new world order. But to you, that's not important, is it? What's important is that your brother is back."
"A world with your brother, but absolutely peaceful and orderly. A world without your brother, but chaotic, full of strife, and may be destroyed at any time."
Jhin opened his arms like a benevolent savior.
"Come on, make your choice. Let me see, in your chaotic operating system, which one has higher data priority, "family" or "friendship"?"
The entire battlefield was deathly silent.
Everyone's eyes were focused on Sasuke. The wind stopped, the sand stopped, and even the meaningless roar of Ten-Tails's clone in the distance seemed to have been pressed by the Shizune button.
This is a choice thousands of times more cruel than when facing Lin's phantom just now.
It is an illusion, a lie, a bubble that can be exposed by reason.
And this one in front of me is real.
Sasuke's Rinnegan can clearly see the Life Energy flowing in that "container". Its majestic vitality is even far greater than that of Itachi back then. Jhin didn't lie, this is a perfect "body" that even surpasses the past.
With just a nod, as long as a choice, that figure that he has pursued, regretted, and loved all his life can open his eyes again.
Naruto feels it.
The firm and sharp will that was constantly coming from Sasuke fluctuated violently for the first time. It was like a taut string that was being plucked hard with fingers, and it made a buzzing sound on the verge of breaking.
A gap appeared in the torrent of energy flowing into "Bonds Rasengan". The golden sun's light dimmed instantly.
The curvature of the corners of Jhin's mouth became even wider.
He saw that the "system unstable" prompt he was expecting finally appeared.
"Sasuke..." Naruto spoke with difficulty, maintaining the confrontation with Jhin, making it impossible for him to even look back. He wanted to shout, to persuade, to tell Sasuke that it was a trap.
But he didn't say anything in the end.
He just tried his best to pass his will through the "Bond" line that was fluctuating violently.
No persuasion, no orders, just a simple word.
"Sasuke, if it were you, what would you do?"
No, this is not a question.
This is a declarative sentence.
I believe in you, Sasuke. Just like in Valley of the End, you believe that I will catch up with you.
Sasuke's body trembled slightly because of Naruto's meaningless words.
He raised his head and looked at Itachi who had his eyes tightly closed.
Yes, if it were you, what would you do?
If now, the person standing here is Uchiha Itachi, and in that "container" is Uchiha Sasuke.
What would my brother choose?
The answer... need I still ask?
That man would choose to protect the whole world without hesitation, and then said to him with a smile, "Forgive me, Sasuke, this is the last time."
He's always like this.
Take all the burdens off yourself, bear all the darkness on your own, and then leave yourself a false, hate-filled goal, just so that you can live and live in the sunshine.
What a... what a stupid and gentle brother.
Sasuke smiled.
The smile was very light, with a hint of self-mockery and an unprecedented sense of relief.
He took steps towards the sleeping "weasel".
Kakashi's heart was in his throat. He seemed to see Obito again, choosing to walk into the abyss in front of "Lin"'s tears. Is history going to repeat itself again?
Sakura clenched his fists nervously, his nails digging deeply into his flesh.
Sasuke walked up to "Weasel".
He stretched out his hand, just like he weakly stretched out his hand to his brother's back on that night of defection many years ago.
But this time, his hand did not stop in mid-air.
His fingers gently touched the "weasel"'s forehead.
It was exactly the same action as when Itachi clicked on him.
"Brother."
His voice was very soft, but it spread clearly throughout the battlefield.
"You have been carrying those things alone for too long and you are too tired."
"So, have a good rest."
"It's my turn to walk the rest of the way."
He retracted his hand, turned around, and faced Jin, whose smile began to freeze.
"My brother's love is not a cage used to trap me. It allows me to see the darkness of this world clearly and still choose to fly to the wings of light."
Sasuke's Kusanagi Sword reappeared in the hand. On the sword, purple thunder light and silver light of will were intertwined, making a crisp chirp.
"Besides, you got one thing wrong."
"What?" For the first time, there was a hint of real doubt in Jhin's voice.
"In my case, "family" and "friendship" are never two-choice questions." Rinnegan and Mangekyō Sharingan of Sasuke burst out with amazing light at the same time. "They are two indispensable parts that constitute the whole "Uchiha Sasuke"!"
"Naruto!" he yelled.
The "Bond" thread that was on the verge of breaking due to wavering, at this moment, not only did not break, but was reconnected in a tougher and brighter way, and became ten times stronger than before!
A huge and pure torrent of will crazily poured into Naruto's body.
The dimmed golden sun shone brightly in an instant, more than doubling in size. It even suppressed Jhin's "delete" command and was defeated!
"No... possibly..."
The smile on Jhin's face completely disappeared.