A Heart-to-Heart Talk with Sasuke

Neji led Sasuke to the basement, found a place to sit, and gestured for Sasuke to sit as well.

Once they were both seated, Neji said to Sasuke in a deep voice, "Sasuke, you're nearly ten years old, aren't you? You should have some understanding of this world, of Konoha, of ninja, and of the current situation, right?"

Seeing Sasuke remain silent, Neji continued, "You're not an idiot, are you? You have your own judgment instead of believing whatever others say, right?"

The previous sentence was fine, but the next one made Sasuke's blood pressure rise again. Still, Sasuke restrained himself and did not make a move.

Neji nodded to himself. The kid had improved. He stopped teasing Sasuke and said seriously, "A year ago, the Uchiha Clan was exterminated. On the surface, Itachi Uchiha did it. But as long as someone isn't an idiot, they should know that the strongest clan in Konoha, a massive force with dozens of Jonin, over a hundred Chunin, and hundreds of Genin—could a clan with such power truly be slaughtered by a thirteen-year-old ninja alone?"

Sasuke instantly raised his head and stared fixedly at Neji. His eyes had unconsciously turned blood-red! In a low voice, he said, "Tell me the truth!"

Neji did not rush to answer Sasuke's question. Instead, he tempted him, saying, "The truth behind the Uchiha Clan's extermination, the secret of the Mangekyō Sharingan, and the method for learning the S-rank Ninjutsu I used against you at the end today—I can tell you all of it!!"

Seeing Sasuke's eyes grow even redder and sensing his impatience, Neji continued, "Three hundred million ryo, friendship price!!"

Hearing Neji talk about money, Sasuke felt like stabbing Neji to death. Without any hesitation, Sasuke said directly, "You'll get the money. Tell me the truth, now!"

Seeing Sasuke be so straightforward and treat money like dirt, Neji did not drag things out any longer. He said in a deep voice, "Strictly speaking, four forces were involved in the extermination of your Uchiha Clan: Itachi Uchiha, Konoha's Root, Konoha's Anbu, and the mysterious organization outside the village, 'Akatsuki.'"

Without waiting for Sasuke to ask, Neji continued, "Of the four forces, Itachi Uchiha, Konoha's Root, and the mysterious organization Akatsuki actually took part in slaughtering the Uchiha Clan. Konoha's Anbu was responsible for blocking information and preventing the village's other forces and civilians from finding out. Don't ask me how I know. I possess the Hyuga Clan's strongest Byakugan."

Sasuke fell even deeper into silence. Just as Neji had said, he was not an idiot. He knew what kind of power the Uchiha Clan had possessed, and he knew that Itachi Uchiha alone could never have exterminated an entire clan. He had simply never wanted to think about such things. He had been deceiving himself all along!

But after hearing Neji's words and learning that the village's two core organizations, Root and Anbu, had both participated in the extermination, Sasuke understood that it was also a lie to say the village's other organizations and forces had known nothing. Yet they had truly stood by and watched, never lifting a hand to help the Uchiha Clan as it was destroyed.

A deep chill rose in his heart. A Uchiha Clan of nearly a thousand people had been slaughtered overnight within the village. This was the so-called Konoha, the so-called Will of Fire, the so-called unity, the so-called comrades!!

But why hadn't they killed me too? Why did they leave me alive alone?! Sasuke muttered in a low voice, looking as though he had gone mad.

Neji's voice came at just the right moment. "Because of Itachi Uchiha. He wanted to protect you. He was willing to kill everyone, including his parents and clansmen, but he alone could not bring himself to kill you! He wanted you to live."

Sasuke immediately fell silent, unsure what he was thinking. Neji did not disturb him. About fifteen minutes passed before Sasuke, having calmed himself, spoke. "I understand. Before I become stronger, I won't act rashly. Tell me the secret of the Mangekyō Sharingan."

Looking at Sasuke, who had regained his calm but whose eyes had already become Two-Tomoe Sharingan, Neji silently cursed him for being a cheat and answered, "The Mangekyō Sharingan is an advanced form of the ordinary Three-Tomoe Sharingan. Only those with exceptional talent can awaken it after receiving extreme stimulation—for example, by personally killing the person closest to them!"

Upon hearing how the Mangekyō Sharingan was awakened,

Sasuke found it unbelievably evil and utterly insane! Recalling Itachi Uchiha's actions, he instantly understood everything. He deeply rejected and loathed this method of seeking power. Blood had already seeped from his clenched fists from gripping them too tightly, yet he was unaware of it. This showed just how violently Sasuke's emotions were churning.

Neji was genuinely afraid Sasuke would be pushed too hard and awaken all three tomoe at once! Otherwise, there would be one more person whose mentality had collapsed.

Fortunately, that did not happen. Once Sasuke calmed down, his desire for power rose to another level. He said urgently, "Any price is fine. Teach me the strongest ninjutsu!"

Sasuke was a rather obsessive person, though it seemed that Uchiha were all rather obsessive. Not to mention Sasuke, who had suffered such a drastic upheaval. The fact that he had not directly awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan already showed how well Sasuke could endure.

Still, Neji was quite happy inside. Three hundred million ryo had arrived!

Over the next period of time, Neji kept his word and taught Sasuke the Lightning Release Chakra Stimulation Method, Chidori, Chidori Stream, Lightning Cutter, and several ideas for developing ninjutsu, all at once.

After receiving so many training methods, Sasuke once again became so absorbed in training that he forgot to eat and sleep. Neji could only helplessly instruct Haku to keep a close watch on Sasuke and not let him train himself into ruin!

After more than a year together, Haku had become very familiar with both Sasuke and Neji. There was no longer any talk of hostages.

However, the quiet Haku remained as inconspicuous as ever, always silently watching Neji and Sasuke train diligently. From time to time, he would step in to help.

Meanwhile, intelligence about the tremendous commotion caused by Sasuke and Neji's sparring was reported layer by layer until it finally reached the hands of Konoha's two leaders, one in the light and one in the dark: the Hokage and Danzo.

The two had different thoughts on the matter, but neither took immediate action. Instead, they ordered increased surveillance and intelligence gathering on Sasuke and Neji, especially Second Pillar.

Neji's name also appeared in Shimura Danzō's hands for the first time, drawing his attention.

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