Success? Death?

Itachi fell silent.

He stood where he was, moonlight outlining his hard profile. His Mangekyō Sharingan drooped slightly, as if he were trying to process the earth-shattering information.

Only the howling of the cold wind remained in the alley. Each second dragged on like a century.

Seeing Itachi begin to waver, Genki felt a faint spark of hope flare in his heart. He hurried to press his advantage, speaking even faster. "There's also Naruto Uzumaki! You must know about him!

"The Uzumaki Clan and Senju Clan are close relatives. They're both descendants of Hagoromo Otsutsuki's second son, Asura Otsutsuki, and inherited the Sage of Six Paths' Sage Body!"

"The Senju Clan has long since dwindled away, so Asura's reincarnation in this era is one of the Uzumaki Clan's last descendants—the son of the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze: Naruto Uzumaki!"

He stared straight into Itachi's eyes, afraid to miss even the slightest change in his expression. "The conflict between the Senju and Uchiha is, at its heart, a continuation of the fated struggle between Asura and Indra!"

That finally shattered Itachi's composure.

He jerked his head up, the light in his Mangekyō Sharingan sharpening as he fixed his gaze on Genki. "What are you trying to say?"

"I'm saying that the so-called Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan isn't the true end point at all!" Genki drew a deep breath and revealed an even more crucial secret. "It's just a flaw caused by the dilution of our Uchiha bloodline! Indra himself had only one pair of 'Indra's Eyes' from beginning to end. That's the Sharingan's ultimate form!"

"Madara Uchiha seemed to awaken the Eternal Mangekyō by fusing with his younger brother Izuna's Mangekyō, but in reality, it was because Indra's chakra and will awakened within him! That's also one of the reasons he was so obsessed with fighting Hashirama!"

Genki's voice grew louder, touched by the desperation of someone with everything to lose. "And after a thousand years of passing down his will, Indra has grown extremely weak. If he doesn't find a suitable reincarnation to possess soon, he'll disappear completely—and Sasuke is the vessel he's chosen!"

Silence.

The air in the alley seemed to freeze. Even the howling wind fell still.

Itachi stood motionless, the pressure radiating from him rising and falling. He was clearly torn by an intense inner struggle.

Sasuke was the person he cared about most, and Genki's words had struck him right in his weakest spot.

After a moment, he finally spoke again. His voice remained cold, but now held a faint urgency. "Do you know how to stop it?"

At those words, the tension in Genki's nerves abruptly eased. At last, joy like that of someone who had survived disaster appeared on his face, and his eyes reddened slightly. "I know a lot of the Shinobi World's secrets! If you spare my mother and sister, I'll work with you! With your strength and my information, we can completely erase Indra's soul from Sasuke!"

Afraid Itachi wouldn't believe him, he hurriedly added, his tone carrying the desperate resolve of someone with no other choice. "Don't even think about using Tsukuyomi or Kotoamatsukami to search my soul!

"I'll be frank: I was possessed too!

"My soul and my memories from my past life are sealed away separately. You could search my entire soul and still find nothing useful!

"Only if I tell you myself can you learn more!"

"No! Genki! We can't let you do this!"

Uchiha Hazuki rushed forward and grabbed Genki's arm. Her eyes were red, and her voice caught with tears. "If you're going, then we're going together. I can't let you stay by his side and risk your life alone!"

Izumi also lifted her face from behind Hazuki. Tears had soaked her cheeks, but she stubbornly shook her head. "Little brother, let's escape together. We'll find a way. I won't let you trade yourself for our lives like this!"

Genki turned and looked at their worried yet resolute faces. His heart felt as if it had been seized and squeezed hard, leaving him unable to breathe.

He gripped Hazuki's hand tightly, his gaze unshakable. "Mother, Sister, it's too late. I can't escape!"

"The moment I revealed Indra's secret, I was bound up in this for good.

"Only Itachi can protect me. And no one else can protect Sasuke."

His voice carried a barely perceptible catch. "If you survive, then my life will mean something."

Itachi's expression changed abruptly at those words.

He looked at the three of them standing protectively together, his eyes impossible to read. After a long silence, he finally nodded. "Fine. I accept your terms."

The light of hope seemed within reach. Genki's eyes brightened at once, and even his breathing grew easier.

But at that critical moment—

"Thwack!"

Several dull sounds of earth being pierced suddenly rang out. Then a series of strange, deathly pale figures burst from the ground. Their bodies were hunched, their skin as white as paper, and each gripped a sharp wooden spike. They lunged straight for the unguarded Genki!

"White Zetsu?!" Genki's pupils contracted. His heart sank into an icy abyss.

How could he have forgotten? To ensure Kaguya Otsutsuki's reincarnation plan succeeded, Black Zetsu would never allow any unexpected variables!

"Stop!"

Itachi reacted in an instant. Seeing this, he flew into a rage, his scarlet Mangekyō Sharingan opening to its limit. The patterns in his pupils spun rapidly, and the chakra around him surged!

"Amaterasu!"

His low cry rang out, and pitch-black flames erupted from his eyes, carrying an intense heat that could incinerate all things as they swept toward the White Zetsu.

Wherever the Amaterasu Fire passed, the air warped from the heat, hissing and crackling.

But the White Zetsu charged forward without hesitation, like puppets incapable of feeling pain, using their bodies to block the Amaterasu Fire.

The black flames engulfed them in an instant, and they let out agonized cries as they burned. Yet they still held their ground, buying time for their companions!

"Damn it!" Itachi's eyes were bloodshot, murderous intent nearly solid enough to touch.

He lunged toward Genki, several Kunai instantly forming in his hand, and hurled them at the remaining White Zetsu.

Genki's words had lacked direct proof, but the White Zetsu's willingness to do anything to kill him only convinced Itachi that he had been telling the truth!

This boy's existence really did threaten some hidden conspiracy—and that conspiracy concerned Sasuke's life!

But he was still too slow!

The White Zetsu had emerged too close to Genki, and the ones blocking Itachi were fearless, buying time with their lives.

The two remaining White Zetsu had already broken through the Amaterasu's barrier. The wooden spikes in their hands whistled through the air, already closing in on Genki's face!

He was too far away... There was no way he could make it in time!

For the first time, panic seized Itachi's heart. He stared at the wooden spikes about to pierce Genki's body. His gaze was razor-sharp, yet he still couldn't overcome the distance between them.

Genki stared at the spikes inches away. His mind went blank as terror surged over him like a tide.

He wanted to dodge, but his body felt nailed to the spot. He couldn't move at all.