Shrine Secret Stele, Truth of Extermination, and a Bloody Choice

The Uchiha shrine in the old district was shrouded in twilight, its rotting wooden doors creaking as they were buffeted by the wind. Itachi's Sharingan were scarlet as blood, the three tomoe spinning rapidly as he locked eyes with three masked Akatsuki members. They wore black cloaks, and their masks were inscribed with the characters for "Wind," "Thunder," and "Earth"—the very elite squad that had once served under Kisame.

"Uchiha Itachi, abandon your resistance." The one with the "Wind" mask spoke, their voice distorted by a modulator, carrying a mechanical coldness. "Lord Obito gave orders long ago: if you persist in investigating the secrets of the stone tablet, you are to be erased on the spot."

Itachi's kunai rotated slightly in his hand as chakra condensed at his fingertips. "The answer I seek lies upon this very tablet. You cannot stop me." Before the words had even faded, his figure vanished, leaving only a lingering afterimage as his true self appeared deep within the shrine. However, the "Thunder" masked figure reacted with lightning speed, weaving hand signs: "Lightning Style: Thunderbolt!" Blue currents surged along the ground, striking toward Itachi's feet.

Itachi tapped his toes against the floor, leaping up to gain momentum while simultaneously unleashing a genjutsu: "Genjutsu: Crow Clone Technique!" Countless black crows erupted from his body, obscuring the vision of the three masked figures. Taking advantage of the gap, he reached out to touch the dust-covered stone tablet. The moment his chakra was injected, the ancient characters on the tablet flared to life, casting a golden radiance that illuminated the entire shrine.

"So that is how it is..." Itachi's pupils contracted violently. The text on the tablet was like a blade, piercing through the facade he had maintained for years. The Uchiha clan had not been planning a simple rebellion; they had discovered a secret deal between the Konoha high command and Uchiha Madara. To cover up the truth, the high command had used "rebellion" as a pretext, forcing Itachi to exterminate his own kin. And Obito was the very architect of this conspiracy, exploiting Itachi's protective love for his younger brother, Sasuke, to turn Itachi into a "rogue ninja" burdened by infamy.

Just as Itachi was immersed in shock, the "Earth" masked figure silently circled behind him, their ninja blade gathering Earth Style chakra: "Earth Style: Earth Flow Split!" The ground suddenly cracked open, and the earth beneath Itachi's feet collapsed instantly. At the critical moment, a pale purple chakra tore through the air, yanking Itachi from the fissure. Su Ye appeared at the entrance of the shrine, his Rinne Sharingan glowing with a cold light.

"Su Ye?" A flicker of surprise crossed Itachi's eyes; he had not expected Su Ye to arrive so quickly.

Su Ye did not look back, his Rinne chakra forming a barrier around them to block the "Wind" masked figure's wind-style attack. "You have seen the truth on the tablet?" His gaze fell upon the stone, his Rinne Sharingan effortlessly breaking the seal on the text, and all the secrets instantly flooded his mind.

Seeing Su Ye's arrival, the three masked figures' expressions shifted—though hidden by masks, their panic was palpable in their aura. The "Wind" masked figure made a split-second decision: "Execute Plan B, destroy the tablet!" The three simultaneously wove hand signs, and three different attributes of chakra converged in the center of the shrine, forming a massive energy sphere that blasted toward the tablet.

"Don't even think about it!" Su Ye and Itachi spoke in unison. Su Ye activated Heavenly Hand Power, instantly shifting the tablet behind him while simultaneously releasing Samsara: Banshō Ten'in, forcibly pulling the energy sphere toward himself. Itachi activated his Susanoo, pale red skeletal arms extending from behind Su Ye to form a dual barrier with his Rinne chakra.

"BOOM—!" The energy sphere exploded against the barrier, the massive shockwave tearing the roof off the shrine and filling the air with smoke and dust. When the haze cleared, the three masked figures were nowhere to be found, leaving behind only a black slip of paper that read: "Uchiha Itachi, your brother Sasuke is now in our hands."

Itachi's body shuddered violently, a flash of panic crossing his Sharingan. "Sasuke!" He turned to rush out of the shrine, only to be blocked by Su Ye.

"Calm down." Su Ye's Rinne Sharingan rotated slightly, sensing the chakra fluctuations in the distance. "This is Obito's trap. He knows you care about Sasuke and wants to lure you into his game." He paused, then continued, "Besides, I can sense Sasuke's chakra. He is safe and is currently heading toward Konoha."

Itachi's tense body relaxed slightly, but the resolve in his eyes remained undiminished. "Trap or not, I must go. Sasuke is my only weakness, and the reason I continue to live." He looked at Su Ye, his tone carrying a hint of pleading. "Su Ye, help me. I know you have the power to oppose Obito. As long as Sasuke is protected, I am willing to pay any price."

Su Ye was silent for a moment, his Rinne Sharingan fixed on the tablet. "Obito's goal is not just you, but the secret on this tablet. He wants to use you and Sasuke to fully control the power of the Uchiha clan and prepare for the resurrection of the Ten-Tails." He shifted his tone. "To save Sasuke, we must join forces. Furthermore, Nagato is waiting for us in Konoha; he knows more about the conspiracy involving Obito and Madara."

Just then, footsteps echoed outside the shrine as Naruto, Kakashi, and Han appeared at the entrance. Seeing Itachi, Naruto immediately clenched his fists. "Uchiha Itachi! You..." Before he could finish, Kakashi stopped him.

Kakashi looked at Itachi's pale complexion and the lingering glow on the stone tablet, saying softly, "We have already seen the truth on the tablet through Su Ye's shared perception. Perhaps it is time for the past to be settled."

Han stepped forward, steam chakra swirling around his body. "Since Obito dared to use Sasuke as bait, he must have set an ambush. We will act together and look out for one another."

Itachi looked at the group before him, a flicker of warmth crossing his eyes. For years, he had carried the truth and the infamy alone; now, he finally had allies to fight alongside. He took a deep breath and tightened his grip on his kunai. "Let's go. Let's meet Obito. This time, I will not let him control my fate."

The group sped off in the direction indicated by the note Obito had left behind, the setting sun stretching their shadows long. No one noticed that deep within the shrine, the stone tablet began to glow with a faint light once more after they departed. On the back of the tablet, a line of hidden text slowly emerged: "The day the Ten-Tails is resurrected is the day the ninja world shall perish; only the union of the Rinne Sharingan and the Uchiha bloodline can prevent the catastrophe."