"Sasuke?!" Itachi's shout echoed along the edge of the Genjutsu World, but his target—the figure named Liuli—had vanished without a trace.
His voice held boundless astonishment and a hint of disappointment, as if he were calling out a distant name that was nevertheless deeply etched in his heart.
"She's gone..." Itachi murmured. He looked around at the empty space before him, where Liuli's presence seemed to linger.
He searched the void for something—the traces of Liuli's presence, or perhaps some clue she might have left behind.
But apart from faint ripples in the air, he found nothing.
Itachi couldn't help recalling the wonderful stories Liuli had made up about the Uchiha Clan. They were filled with such beauty that it was hard to tear himself away.
Every detail and every twist had captivated him, making him feel as though he were right there.
Itachi silently savored the memories of his departed clansmen's lives, as if doing so might let him meet Liuli again.
He had always believed that "Uchiha Sasuke" had truly come from another world.
Such immense strength, such unyielding resolve, such profound eyes—all of it had left a deep impression on him.
He couldn't imagine how such a powerful figure could have been invented if he weren't real.
He had taken down both Itachi and Pain in an instant. Itachi suspected even Madara Uchiha would lose to the Sasuke before him.
"Did Sasuke from another world come to this one? If only I could cross over and save myself... the Uchiha Clan..." Itachi looked up at the backs of his clansmen in the other world.
He didn't know why he was thinking this, but he couldn't suppress the excitement rising within him.
If that powerful Sasuke had really come to this world, would Itachi have a chance to go back and undo his decision to exterminate the clan?
As Itachi's thoughts slowly drifted, fond memories of the Uchiha clansmen began to surface. The scene shifted, and an image appeared before him within the illusion.
"Sasuke, to use Fire Style, you need to control your chakra. Don't rush. That's right, slowly... breathe it out... and don't rush through the Hand Seals." Itachi gently taught young Sasuke, deftly forming the seals with his fingers to demonstrate the technique.
Sasuke's little face was taut with concentration as he watched every one of Itachi's movements, then copied him.
His little hands weren't very nimble yet, but he practiced with great seriousness, over and over.
"Oh, oh, Nii-san, is this right?" Sasuke finally formed a complete seal. He looked up at Itachi with excitement, hoping for his brother's approval.
Itachi smiled warmly and gently flicked Sasuke on the forehead. "Well done, Sasuke. You've mastered the basics of Fire Style. With a little more practice, you'll be able to use it with ease."
Hearing his brother's praise, Sasuke jumped for joy. He pursed his little lips and blew out a tiny fireball. It was small, but this was the first time he had successfully used Fire Style. He felt immensely proud and excited.
The scene shifted again, this time to a hazy moonlit night. A gentle breeze stirred, and leaves rustled softly.
Sasuke and Itachi stood beneath a large tree, their shadows overlapping in the faint moonlight.
"Sasuke, the Lord Third said this mission is extremely dangerous." Itachi's voice was low and serious. His eyes fixed on Sasuke as if trying to see into his heart.
Sasuke looked up and met Itachi's gaze, defiance glimmering in his eyes. "I won't do it. I want to stay with you, Nii-san. Father has a Mangekyo Sharingan, and I can fight too."
Itachi frowned, a complicated mix of emotions welling inside him. He knew how stubborn and talented Sasuke was, but this mission really was too dangerous for him.
He sighed softly, trying to persuade Sasuke more gently. "Sasuke, you're still young. You need more time to grow. The villagers need you, and Father and Mother are waiting for you too."
"But what about you, Nii-san? You're going on a mission too, so why can't I?" Sasuke's question left Itachi speechless.
Itachi fell silent for a moment. He knew he couldn't avoid Sasuke's question. He drew a deep breath and gazed into Sasuke's eyes. "Sasuke, as members of the Uchiha Clan, we're all responsible for protecting the village. But some missions require greater strength and experience. You're not ready for a challenge like this yet."
"Then what do I have to do to get stronger?" Sasuke stared at Itachi, his eyes full of longing.
Itachi looked at Sasuke, and something stirred inside him. Sasuke needed more than just strength; he needed to understand how to use it. He reached out and gently rested a hand on Sasuke's shoulder. "Sasuke, strength isn't everything. You need to learn to control your emotions and understand the true meaning of being a shinobi. Only then can you become truly strong."
Sasuke listened quietly, a flicker of understanding passing through his eyes. He clenched his fists, as if making a decision deep within himself.
Weak again... Strength... I need strength so badly...
" Nii-san, I understand. I'll work hard to get stronger, then I'll protect the village with you." Sasuke's voice was firm and strong, and his eyes shone with deep resolve.
"Sasuke, where are you going? Are you abandoning the village? What kind of foolish decision are you making?" Itachi's voice echoed through the woods, his Mangekyo Sharingan fixed on Sasuke's back.
Sasuke stopped, but didn't turn around. He answered coldly, "Itachi, I've made up my mind. I'm going to follow Madara Uchiha and gain even greater power."
Itachi's heart tightened. He hurried in front of Sasuke, both hands clenched into fists. "Sasuke, do you know what you're saying? Madara Uchiha is dangerous. He'll only use you!"
Sasuke lifted his head and looked straight into Itachi's eyes. "Even if he's using me, I don't care. This is the only way I can get stronger quickly and avenge my clan."
A flash of shock and disappointment crossed Itachi's eyes. "Avenge them? You'd betray the village and your own family just for revenge?"
"Family?" Sasuke's lips curled into a bitter smile. "My family died long ago. All I have left now is my desire for revenge."
Itachi clenched his fists, fighting to suppress his anger. "Sasuke, you're wrong. Revenge won't bring you true release. And if you do this, you'll only destroy yourself."
"So what?" Sasuke's eyes were resolute. "As long as I get revenge, I don't care about anything else."
Itachi drew a deep breath, trying to calm himself. "Sasuke, listen to me. Revenge isn't the only path, nor is it the way to solve your problems. You need to let go of your hatred and look at the world with a broader perspective."
But Sasuke shook his head. "Itachi, stop trying to talk me out of it. I've made up my mind. I'm going to follow Madara Uchiha, gain power, and avenge my clan."
With that, Sasuke turned and left, leaving Itachi alone in the woods, watching him disappear into the distance with a heart full of helplessness and pain.
He knew he could no longer bring Sasuke back. All he could do was watch him walk down the wrong path.
In the Genjutsu World, Itachi stood motionless, his eyes closed as if sensing the air currents around him.
Suddenly, his brow furrowed slightly, as though he'd noticed something amiss.
He slowly opened his eyes, and three different scenes appeared before him. Each one filled him with an inexplicable sense of shock.
In the first scene, he saw his younger self and Sasuke training relentlessly at the Uchiha Clan's training ground. Though they were still young, they had already shown astonishing talent and perseverance. They fell again and again, then picked themselves back up each time, never giving up their pursuit of strength.
Watching this scene, Itachi felt an inexplicable warmth well up inside him. He remembered the happy times he and Sasuke had shared.
In the second scene, he saw Sasuke walking alone through the darkness.
His gaze was firm and resolute, as if he had already made some important decision.
Itachi knew Sasuke would keep striving for strength, wanting to avenge his clan. It was a decision Itachi himself had made, one that had shaped Sasuke's entire life.
But he could also clearly see that Sasuke's heart was filled with pain and confusion.
It seemed he was searching for something, yet didn't know what he truly wanted. Watching this scene, Itachi couldn't help feeling worried. He knew the Sasuke in the scene was walking a road full of danger and hardship, and he needed more guidance and support.
In the third scene, he saw himself and Sasuke standing amid ruins, facing a powerful enemy.
Their eyes were full of resolve and determination, as if they were ready for the final battle.
Itachi knew this was a moment in their future. They would fight to the bitter end to protect their beliefs and the people they loved. But he could also see that the battle would be exceptionally difficult and brutal. They would need greater strength and wisdom to defeat their powerful enemy.
Watching this scene, Itachi couldn't help feeling tense. The future was full of uncertainty and challenges; they would need to prepare and be ready to face whatever came.
Itachi looked away, his brows tightly furrowed. He didn't know what Liuli had meant by her gift, but these three scenes left him feeling uneasy.
"Madara Uchiha..." Itachi murmured the name, a tangle of emotions in his eyes.
He saw Sasuke in the scene following behind Madara Uchiha, and an inexplicable panic and helplessness welled up inside him.
He knew the Sasuke in the image had already made his decision, and that he too was now being swept along in Madara Uchiha's wake.
"Is he trying to hint at something?" Itachi murmured. The Mangekyo Sharingan in his eyes slowly turned as he watched the version of himself in the scene.
His expression was complicated, regret, pain, and helplessness all mingling together, as if he were enduring an inner torment.
Itachi had always been meticulous and levelheaded, but at that moment he couldn't control his emotions. He saw his past, the mistakes and decisions he had made, and those images pierced his heart like a sharp blade.
He watched the version of himself in the scene: the young Itachi, once a boy full of passion and ideals.
But the twists of fate and his clan's expectations had forced him to shoulder a crushing burden.
To protect the clan and the village, he had been forced to make difficult decisions, even killing his own family and friends with his own hands.
Those images lingered in Itachi's mind, and he could almost feel the helplessness and despair he'd experienced at the time.
Suddenly, the Itachi in the scene slowly turned toward Itachi Uchiha. Their gazes met, one Mangekyo Sharingan facing another, as if time and space had frozen in that instant.
Itachi felt an inexplicable shock. His heart raced, and his breathing grew ragged.
He saw his past and his future, the two intertwined in that instant to form a complex and profound vision.
The Itachi in the scene looked firm and resolute, as if he had already made some important decision.
Itachi Uchiha met his gaze without flinching, his eyes filled with defiance and resolve, as if to say, I'm ready. Whatever you bring, I'll face it. I'll make sure Sasuke's future is taken care of too.
Their gazes met, as if they were locked in a silent contest.
Itachi felt something deep inside him stir. It was as if he could see his own soul, the desires and pursuits buried in the depths of his heart.
At that moment, an unprecedented understanding welled up deep within him. It was as if he had pierced through layer after layer of fog and reached the heart of the matter.
Was Liuli's gift—that image—meant to remind him to protect Sasuke? Or had his decision to exterminate the clan two days ago really been wrong?
Itachi's heart trembled, his thoughts surging like turbulent waves, impossible to calm.
He remembered that terrible night, when he had taken the lives of his own family with his own hands. For the village's peace, for Sasuke's future, he had chosen a blood-soaked path.
But as he watched the Itachi in the scene slowly disappear, he began to question his choice.
"Was I really wrong?" Itachi murmured. His gaze fell on his right hand, the hand he had once used to exterminate the clan, and the hand with which he had given Sasuke his "path to growth."
Those hands bore the weight of his sins, but also carried his hopes for Sasuke.
At that moment, the Itachi in the scene disappeared completely, leaving Itachi Uchiha standing alone in the empty space.
The corners of his mouth lifted slightly in a bitter smile. Was he laughing at his own foolishness, or at the cruel tricks of fate?
Itachi's heart was filled with confusion and uncertainty. He didn't know how to face any of it.
His choices, his sacrifices, his pain—what had it all been for? The village's peace? Sasuke's future? But if he had made the wrong choice, what meaning did any of it have?
These were the questions Itachi was pondering. They had nothing to do with Liuli, because in the end, she was an outsider.
Liuli withdrew the energy shell of her Susanoo and slowly returned from the Genjutsu World to her own body.
Her body trembled slightly, as if she had just endured a fierce battle.
Yet a satisfied smile touched her face. She knew the "little gift" she had just given Itachi Uchiha had successfully left him deep in thought.
"I bet Itachi Uchiha is pondering some of life's big questions right now. Was exterminating the clan right or wrong? At least this little gift made this body's effort worthwhile."
Liuli murmured to herself. Blood tears flowed from her right Eternal Mangekyo, as if it empathized with something deep and complicated.
Liuli had always had mixed feelings about the anime character Itachi Uchiha.
She knew Itachi was a man burdened by a heavy fate. His choices and sacrifices had all been made to protect the people he loved and his village.
Yet exterminating the clan had brought him profound pain and regret.
That pain and regret came not only from taking the lives of his own family with his own hands, but also from beginning to question his choices and beliefs.
But was his conduct right? Liuli didn't approve of it, especially after crossing over, when it held a special meaning for her.
Blood tears streamed from Liuli's right Eternal Mangekyo, their crimson drops seeming to hold boundless sorrow and pain. She reached out and gently wiped the blood tears from the corner of her eye, her movements revealing deep helplessness and grief.
"Ah, every family has its own troubles. Now even colored contacts can express emotions." Liuli sighed helplessly.
She knew this wasn't just the body's pain. It was Itachi Uchiha's pain too.
Itachi, the man who had always carried a crushing burden, was probably lost in confusion right now as well.
"Well then, next I'll go have a good talk with Lord Madara." Liuli smiled cheerfully.
Before you continue