Body Snatching

The Land of Fire, Konoha.

"Why! Why! Why!..."

Rain poured down in sheets, and thunder rumbled overhead.

Young Sasuke dropped to his knees, clutching his head and sobbing.

He wanted to convince himself that everything he had just seen in Tsukuyomi was nothing but an illusion.

But the split in his lip, bitten open at some point, sent a constant, needle-like sting through him.

The pain, mingled with a coppery sweetness, seemed to remind him not to forget that unforgettable moment.

"Brother, you... why..."

"Sasuke, you saw correctly. I was the one who wiped out the entire Uchiha Clan. It was my way of testing my 'capacity.' I believe you'll follow the same path someday, so there's no need to be so surprised..."

"Is it hard to accept, my foolish little brother?"

"In truth, the only way for our Uchiha Clan to grow stronger is to kill the person most important to us."

"I didn't lie to you. Remember, it's the only way. Father, the clan head, did it. The other Uchiha you saw did it. I did it, and someday, so will you..."

"So we were destined to be born into this world, only for one of us to remain in the end."

"I see the anger and hatred in your eyes, but you're too weak, Sasuke..."

"Even as your older brother, I'll make you one final promise. Once you're as strong as I am, you can come find me. But when that time comes, I won't hold back..."

Uchiha Itachi's parting words remained vivid in Sasuke's mind.

They replayed in his head over and over, frame by frame, like a movie.

"I'm such a useless wretch!..."

With a furious shout, Sasuke slammed his fist into the rain-soaked ground.

The next moment, thin streams of crimson blood welled up from beneath his fist, just as expected.

Sasuke's knuckles turned white from clenching his fist, yet he seemed unable to feel the pain. His whole body trembled and shook with sobs, like a helpless child.

His heart felt as if it were being churned, filling him with a bitter, indescribable anguish.

Yet despite the overwhelming pain, the Uchiha Clan's Kekkei Genkai—the Sharingan—still hadn't awakened.

The sky was dark, just like Sasuke's lost and helpless heart.

But just then, a voice tinged with confusion suddenly reached young Sasuke's ears:

"Huh? This doesn't seem to be following the script."

"You suffered such a huge shock, and you still haven't awakened your eyes?"

"You're supposed to be the male lead's rival, but you're seriously lacking in presence, aren't you?..."

Sasuke had no idea what those words meant.

But the mocking tone instantly roused his defiant spirit!

"Shut up!"

Sasuke roared, then abruptly looked up toward the voice.

But the next second, he froze at the sight of the figure that had suddenly appeared before him!

The boy looked remarkably like him—almost eight-tenths identical.

The same clothes, the same expression.

Even recalling the way the boy had spoken, Sasuke suddenly realized that their voices were exactly alike!

It was as if they'd been copied from the same mold!

"Y-You... are you the little brother Mom secretly had?..."

For some reason, seeing the newcomer made young Sasuke blurt out this absurd question.

His tone even softened a little.

"Mom had me?... No, why does that sound so weird?..."

"Besides, you're the little brother!..."

The figure muttered to himself, then suddenly looked angry. Young Sasuke was utterly bewildered.

He had no idea what he'd said to make the boy standing before him, who looked so much like him, so angry.

It was just like how he couldn't understand why his own older brother had changed so completely overnight, slaughtered their whole clan, and killed their parents...

But as Sasuke stood there in a daze, the figure asked:

"Sasuke, tell me. Do you want revenge now? Do you want your parents to come back to life someday?..."

The voice was enticing, and every word was earth-shattering.

Sasuke was young, but he was quick-witted.

He immediately realized that the boy before him was trying to deceive him.

Yet he couldn't stop himself from nodding.

"I do."

Just two simple words, but they brimmed with boundless hatred.

The figure seemed pleased with Sasuke's answer. He nodded with a smile.

"Good. I can help you, but you'll have to pay a hefty price. Do you think you can agree to that?..."

"What price?"

Desperate enough to grasp at any straw, Sasuke asked without a second thought.

"Hand your body over to me. Perhaps, once I grow strong enough, I'll bring you back to life. What do you think?..."

To Sasuke, the offer sounded utterly fantastical.

Yet the figure delivered it casually, his face as still as a tranquil well.

Was he a madman—or a true expert?

Watching the raindrops patter against the figure's shoulders, as if held back by an invisible barrier, Sasuke hesitated.

Was this a Chakra Cloak?

Could this boy, who looked about the same age as him, really be a full-fledged Jonin?

At that thought, Sasuke gritted his teeth.

"I believe in your abilities, but how am I supposed to trust your promise?..."

"Heh. I think you already know how to awaken your Kekkei Genkai. But look at yourself. You've suffered such a huge shock, and there's been no response at all..."

"With your talent, revenge is still a long way off. I'll put it plainly: do you have any other choice right now?..."

Sasuke was suddenly at a loss for words.

"I see the anger and hatred in your eyes, but you're too weak, Sasuke..."

For some reason, Itachi's words suddenly echoed in Sasuke's mind.

His expression changed again and again. He clenched his fists, then suddenly looked up at the figure and said:

"I'll make a deal with you!"

"Just help me get revenge! Kill Uchiha Itachi, and I'll die without regrets!..."

While Sasuke's face was contorted with hatred, the figure simply nodded, remarkably calm.

"Don't worry. I'll do it better than anyone else. Someday, your name, Sasuke, will resound throughout the entire Shinobi World."

"If you get the chance to wake up again, you'll see your dead parents once more. Oh, and your beloved older brother, too..."

"Don't you dare mention him!"

"Remember! I want you to kill him! Kill him!..."

Before the figure could finish, Sasuke interrupted him with a furious roar.

"All right, all right. Close your eyes and relax your whole body. I'll take charge of everything from here..."

As if resigned to his fate, Sasuke did as he was told and slowly closed his eyes.

The next moment.

In the dark, rainy night, a streak of golden light suddenly shot into the forehead of Sasuke, who was kneeling in the rain.

It flashed once, then sank inside and disappeared.

A short while later.

Sasuke's wooden expression suddenly changed. The corner of his mouth curled into a sly smile far too knowing for someone his age.

Then,

He abruptly opened his eyes. A crimson glint flashed in his gaze, and he roared under his breath:

"Sharingan, awaken!..."