You can't protect Sasuke

After so many years as a shinobi, Itachi did not need to turn around to know that Sasuke lay on the ground behind him, while the other version of himself standing before him was unleashing an ocular technique exclusive to the Mangekyō Sharingan.

There was no doubt that Tsukuyomi could not be used again inside its own world, but that did not mean the other Mangekyō Sharingan's ocular technique could not be used.

He had clearly not awakened Amaterasu when he massacred his clan, yet he knew with absolute certainty that the other him was using it now, because he had already seen bloody tears streaming from the corners of his eyes.

Sasuke's agonized screams rang out behind him.

Tsukuyomi was, of course, maddening torture. For three days and nights, it did not stop for even a single second. The suffering inflicted by such a Genjutsu truly earned it a place among the most powerful illusions.

Even Kakashi, who possessed a Three Tomoe Sharingan, had lain in a hospital bed for some time before regaining consciousness. Sasuke, who had faced this Ninjutsu directly back then, had spent far, far longer in Konoha Hospital before finally returning home.

Yet however powerful it was, Tsukuyomi had its own limitation: it could not kill.

Most Genjutsu could not kill. Only against exceptionally weak opponents could an illusion potentially kill someone outright. Against those with strong minds, a Genjutsu cast on its own had to be paired with other means of attack.

Knowing this, he had used Tsukuyomi on Sasuke before leaving Konoha, putting him in Konoha Hospital.

It would grievously injure Sasuke without killing him outright, while also provoking him into awakening his Sharingan and spurring his growth. That had been Itachi's intention back then.

But that could not bring him down, and