At Konoha's main gate, Izumo Kamizuki and Kotetsu Hagane were carrying out their dull gate-duty assignment.
Usually, it was just a formality.
After all, no ninja could normally slip past Konoha's defensive barrier and sneak up to the gate without a sound.
But today, the two of them sensed an overwhelming threat from a boy walking slowly toward them.
As ninjas, they all trusted their instincts completely. It was their combat instincts that had let them skirt the edge of death countless times.
Kotetsu Hagane quietly signaled to his partner, preparing to go forward and buy time while Izumo Kamizuki fetched reinforcements.
But just then, a warm, gentle voice sounded beside him.
"Hello. I'm Special Jōnin Ensei Uchiha, returning to Konoha. Do I need to register or anything?"
Looking at the other boy's pale blue eyes, Kotetsu Hagane couldn't help wondering if he'd heard right. Had the boy just said "Uchiha"?
Everyone knew the Uchiha Clan usually had black eyes. When they awakened the Sharingan, their eyes turned red and gained Tomoe. Blue eyes had nothing to do with it.
Still, even if he was lying, there was no need to make up such an absurd story.
"Wait... are you that Konoha hero who disappeared near the Land of Lightning border? Ensei Uchiha, the eleven-year-old?"
Seeing Ensei Uchiha's familiar face, Izumo Kamizuki suddenly seemed to remember something. He spoke in shock.
A Konoha hero, huh? Hiruzen Sarutobi really knew how to put on a good show.
"Um, I'm thirteen now. Anyway, do you need me to register or not? If there's nothing else, I still have to go home."
Ensei Uchiha reminded them, and the two men looked at him in confusion.
"Sorry, since your identity is uncertain, I need to—"
Before Kotetsu Hagane could finish, a familiar figure appeared beside him.
"No need. I can confirm his identity."
Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at Ensei Uchiha with a complicated expression. He studied Ensei's eyes for two seconds, then spoke with obvious concern:
"As long as you're safe. It's good to have you back."
Clearly, the moment Ensei Uchiha entered Konoha's barrier, the Sensory Ninjutsu detected him and alerted Hiruzen Sarutobi, who came in person to verify his identity.
"Right. If that's all, I'll head home. As for what happened during this time... I don't want to talk about it."
Ensei Uchiha said this calmly, then headed toward the Uchiha Clan's district.
Only then did Izumo Kamizuki and Kotetsu Hagane wear expressions that said, "Just as we thought."
He really was that unruly Uchiha brat.
That polite manner earlier had to have been their imagination. After all, this was the ruthless kid who could suppress the entire Uchiha Clan and dare to mock the Hokage to his face.
Not to mention how he'd once taken on the Fourth Raikage and two Tailed Beasts by himself at the border...
As Hiruzen Sarutobi watched Ensei Uchiha walk away, he couldn't help giving a wry smile and shaking his head.
He'd had things go his way for over two years, to the point that he'd almost forgotten what it felt like to be ignored.
Before long, news of Ensei Uchiha's return spread through Konoha.
Never underestimate how quickly ninjas can pass on information. Before Ensei had even made it back to the Uchiha Clan's district, a little boy came rushing out to meet him.
"You're Ensei Uchiha, right? Hurry and save my brother! They said you're the only one who can cure him..."
"Those damn Ninja Cats won't even help me pass on a message, even though..."
Listening to the boy babble on, Ensei Uchiha realized he was the Sasuke Uchiha he remembered—the one who was always acting cool before getting beaten up.
"Uh, your brother? Itachi Uchiha? What happened to him now? Did Black Zetsu rip his heart out?"
Ensei Uchiha spoke with an even expression. His nerves were strong now. Itachi Uchiha being badly injured was no big deal; even if Black Zetsu killed him, it wouldn't matter much.
After all, he'd never liked Itachi Uchiha. He'd only helped him awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan because he didn't want a pair of Mangekyō Sharingan to go to waste.
Fugaku Uchiha, who had followed Sasuke Uchiha, heard every word of Ensei Uchiha's remark. He paused slightly, but still stepped forward to explain:
"The Mangekyō Sharingan awakening experiment failed. Itachi... Itachi still hasn't woken up."
Hearing this, Ensei Uchiha suddenly realized there was a small problem.
"Uh, Clan Head... do you think the Mangekyō Sharingan could possibly break free of Izanami's illusion?"
Fugaku Uchiha immediately refuted him. "Of course not. Izanami is—"
At that point, Fugaku Uchiha realized what Ensei meant, and his heart sank.
He had never imagined that Ensei Uchiha had used that kind of ocular technique on his son right under his nose.
"You mean... Itachi..."
Ensei Uchiha nodded, feeling a little embarrassed. He didn't like Itachi Uchiha, but he'd never meant to leave him trapped in Izanami for so long.
For over two years, Itachi had constantly relived the scenes of slaughtering his own clan, killing his parents, and watching Sasuke Uchiha die before his eyes...
"Um... are you sure you'll still want Itachi Uchiha after he wakes up?"
Ensei Uchiha asked cautiously, nearly telling Fugaku Uchiha outright that his son was already insane.
Fugaku Uchiha was indeed shocked by his son's miserable ordeal, but as Clan Head, he quickly collected himself.
"It's fine. Izanami isn't an illusion meant to torment people. Once the person caught in it recognizes their true feelings, Izanami will automatically end."
Fugaku Uchiha's words only made Ensei Uchiha feel more awkward.
"Um... I think I accidentally made some changes to Izanami..."
Fugaku Uchiha fell silent once more.
After a long while, he finally spoke:
"Go and try. Our ancestors suffered enough trying to awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan through shortcuts. This was our own choice, so we should bear the consequences ourselves."
Sasuke Uchiha didn't understand what they were talking about, but he could tell it was serious, so he didn't dare interrupt.
But when he heard them say to go and try, Sasuke Uchiha realized that his brother might wake up after all.
Ensei Uchiha didn't argue with Fugaku Uchiha's decision. He did feel awkward now; he'd made such a basic mistake.
Believe me, I really didn't mean to do this to Itachi Uchiha.
I hated the White-eyed wolf from the original story, not this fool, who hadn't even had the chance to do anything yet and was merely a little stupid.
After shouting that to himself a few times, Ensei Uchiha finally eased his embarrassment. He walked up to Itachi Uchiha and fed a trace of Chakra into his eyes.
As the person who had cast Izanami, Ensei Uchiha's Chakra could naturally undo the forbidden technique. After all, Izanami had been invented to save people, not to kill.
As Izanami's ocular power faded, Itachi Uchiha slowly opened his eyes. But there was no light in them.
Just as Ensei Uchiha thought he'd gone stupid, Itachi Uchiha suddenly turned his head, his Mangekyō Sharingan staring straight at him.
As Ensei Uchiha grew wary, Itachi Uchiha suddenly spoke. "Ensei... thank you!"
In response to readers' requests, we're now offering an ad-free feature for VIP members.
Click to view
Before you continue