Izanami That Lasted Two Years

At the gates of Konoha, Izumo Kamizuki and Kotetsu Hagane were performing their gate-guarding duties in a state of listless boredom.

Generally speaking, this kind of task was merely a formality.

After all, no ninja could typically bypass the village's defensive barrier and sneak near the gates without making a sound.

But today, the two of them sensed a tremendous sense of crisis from a youth who was slowly walking toward them.

As ninjas, everyone firmly believed in their intuition, for it was precisely this combat instinct that had allowed them to skirt the edges of life and death countless times.

Kotetsu Hagane quietly signaled his companion, preparing to step forward to stall for time while the other went to fetch reinforcements.

Yet at that very moment, a gentle and mild voice resonated in his ears.

"Hello, Special Jonin—Ensei Uchiha has returned to Konoha. Is there any registration or anything I need to do?"

Kotetsu Hagane looked at the other's pale blue pupils, unable to help but doubt his own ears; had he just heard the name Uchiha?

It was common knowledge that the Uchiha clan usually possessed black eyes, which turned red with tomoe upon activating the Sharingan—it had nothing to do with blue eyes.

But even if one were to lie, there was no need to tell such an outrageous one.

"Wait... you, are you that Konoha hero who went missing on the border of the Land of Lightning? The eleven-year-old Ensei Uchiha?"

Beside him, Izumo Kamizuki looked at the familiar face of Ensei Uchiha, and as if suddenly remembering something, spoke in shock.

A Konoha hero, huh? Hiruzen Sarutobi was truly excellent at putting on such superficial displays.

"Well, I'm thirteen now. Also, do you need me to register or not? If there's nothing else, I still have to go home."

Ensei Uchiha offered a reminder, which was immediately met with two pairs of bewildered eyes.

"Sorry, because your identity is unverified, I need to..."

Before Kotetsu Hagane could finish his sentence, a familiar figure appeared beside him.

"No need, I can verify his identity."

Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at Ensei Uchiha with a complex expression, focusing for two seconds on the youth's eyes before speaking with a face full of concern:

"It's good that you're safe. It's enough that you've returned."

Clearly, the moment Ensei Uchiha stepped into the range of the Konoha barrier, he had been detected by sensory ninjutsu, prompting Hiruzen Sarutobi to come and confirm his identity in person.

"Mm. If there's nothing else, I'm heading home. As for my experiences during this time... I don't want to talk about it."

After Ensei Uchiha spoke with indifference, he walked toward the Uchiha clan district.

Only then did the faces of Kotetsu Hagane and Izumo Kamizuki reveal an "as expected" expression.

Sure enough, he was still that unruly little brat of the Uchiha clan.

The polite image from before must have been their imagination; one had to remember that this was a ruthless person who could suppress the entire Uchiha clan and dare to mock the Hokage to his face.

Not to mention that he had once held off the Fourth Raikage and two Tailed Beasts all by himself on the front lines...

Seeing Ensei Uchiha's retreating back, Hiruzen Sarutobi couldn't help but shake his head with a bitter smile.

For the past two years, his life had been so smooth that he had almost forgotten what it felt like to be ignored.

Soon, news of Ensei Uchiha's return spread throughout Konoha.

Never underestimate the speed at which ninjas transmit information; before he had even walked back to the Uchiha clan grounds, he saw a small brat darting out toward him.

"Are you Ensei Uchiha? Please, go save my brother! They said only you can resolve my brother's condition..."

"Those damn Ninja Cats, they wouldn't even help me deliver a message, even though..."

Listening to the brat's incessant rambling, Ensei Uchiha realized that this was actually Sasuke Uchiha, the one he remembered as always trying to act cool before getting beaten up.

"Uh, your brother? You mean Itachi Uchiha? What happened to him this time? Did Black Zetsu stab him in the heart again?"

Ensei Uchiha spoke with a calm expression. His mental fortitude was quite strong now; even if Itachi Uchiha were only severely injured, it wouldn't be a big deal even if he had been killed by Black Zetsu.

After all, he had never liked Itachi Uchiha to begin with; awakening his eyes for him was simply to avoid wasting a pair of Mangekyo Sharingan.

Fugaku Uchiha, who was following behind Sasuke Uchiha, heard Ensei Uchiha's snide remark clearly. His footsteps faltered slightly, but he still stepped forward to explain:

"The experiment to awaken the Mangekyo Sharingan failed. Itachi... he hasn't woken up."

Hearing this, Ensei Uchiha suddenly realized a small problem.

"Uh, Clan Leader... do you think it's possible for a Mangekyo Sharingan to break free from the genjutsu of Izanami?"

Upon hearing this, Fugaku Uchiha retorted without hesitation: "Of course not. Izanami is..."

As he said this, Fugaku Uchiha realized something, and his heart sank.

He never imagined that right under his nose, Ensei Uchiha had actually used such a dojutsu on his son.

"Are you saying... Itachi, he..."

Ensei Uchiha nodded, feeling a bit awkward. Although he didn't like Itachi Uchiha, he really hadn't intended for him to be stuck in Izanami for such a long time.

For over two years, he had been experiencing the scene of slaughtering his own clansmen, killing his parents, and watching Sasuke Uchiha die before his eyes, every single moment...

"So... are you sure you'll even want Itachi Uchiha back once he wakes up?"

Ensei Uchiha asked cautiously, practically telling Fugaku Uchiha the reality that Itachi Uchiha was already a madman.

Fugaku Uchiha was indeed shocked by the tragic plight of his son, but as the clan head, he quickly regained his composure.

"It is fine. Izanami is not an illusion meant to torture people; as long as the subject recognizes their true heart, Izanami will automatically release."

Hearing Fugaku Uchiha's words, Ensei Uchiha felt even more awkward.

"About that... I seem to have accidentally made some changes to Izanami..."

Upon hearing this, Fugaku Uchiha fell silent once again.

After a long while, he finally spoke:

"Go and try it! Our ancestors have already suffered enough for trying to rely on shortcuts to awaken the Mangekyo Sharingan. All of this is our own choice, and any price must be borne by ourselves."

Sasuke Uchiha, standing to the side, could not understand what they were talking about, but he understood that it was a very serious matter, so he dared not interrupt.

However, upon hearing the words "go and try it," Sasuke Uchiha understood that there was a high possibility his brother would wake up.

Ensei Uchiha did not refute Fugaku Uchiha's decision; he was indeed feeling somewhat embarrassed right now for making such a low-level mistake.

Believe me, I really didn't intend to do anything to Itachi Uchiha.

What I hate is the white-eyed wolf from the original plot, not this current fool who hasn't had the chance to do anything yet, just a bit stupid.

After shouting a few times in his heart, Ensei Uchiha finally eased his inner embarrassment, walked up to Itachi Uchiha, and injected a trace of Chakra into Itachi Uchiha's eyes.

As the person who cast Izanami, Ensei Uchiha's Chakra could naturally undo this forbidden technique. After all, the reason this Izanami was invented was not for slaughter, but for saving people.

As the ocular power of Izanami dissipated, Itachi Uchiha slowly opened his eyes, but there was no brilliance to be seen within them.

Just as Ensei Uchiha thought the other party had been rendered foolish, he suddenly saw Itachi Uchiha turn his head, his Mangekyo Sharingan pupils staring straight at him.

Just as Ensei Uchiha grew wary, he suddenly heard Itachi Uchiha say: "Ensei... thank you!"