Withering, Uchiha

Though the searing agony in his soul was receding with agonizing slowness as the cutting was completed, leaving behind numbness.

The moment the thought What just happened? crossed his mind, however, a terrifying sensation known as phantom pain immediately coiled around him like an icy venomous snake, suffocating him as though that boundless agony might return at any moment.

Time passed soundlessly amid deathly silence and ragged breathing.

After an unknown amount of time, Minamoto Takuya finally struggled to prop himself up.

Thanks to his constitution and recovery ability, both far beyond those of ordinary people, the bruises and injuries across his skin were fading at a visible rate.

He took another deep breath, forcibly suppressing the lingering palpitations in the depths of his soul and the trembling of his body. His hands steadily formed a complex seal before his chest.

Release!

The Memory Seal concerning "Sasuke Uchiha" was undone.

Sure enough, just as expected.

The core of those memories had been completely excised. Beneath the released seal, every experience connected to that name had become nothing more than a cold, lifeless blank.

Minamoto Takuya stared at that void. The corner of his mouth twitched upward almost imperceptibly, and weary yet icy satisfaction flashed through his eyes.

However, this was only the beginning.

There were still four more memories that needed to undergo this hellish cycle of cutting...

As that thought arose, Minamoto Takuya's gaze fell upon his hands.

Those hands had once formed seals to unleash powerful ninjutsu and gripped blades to cut down formidable enemies. Now, they were trembling uncontrollably—slightly, yet violently.

He silently watched those hands that had betrayed his will. A moment later, an exceedingly faint, cold smile filled with mockery appeared on his face.

Heh. Was his body's instinct afraid, fiercely protesting and resisting another