Chapter 25

His Mangekyo Sharingan had been shaped like a five-pointed star, with two tomoe linked end to end along its points. When it later evolved into the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan, the five-pointed star pattern remained unchanged, but an additional ring appeared at its center. The original two tomoe became three, embedded around that ring. "You mean the Mangekyo? I suppose it barely counts."

Uchiha Yi's current eyes were already beyond comparison with any ordinary Mangekyo Sharingan. The corner of his mouth curled slightly. He did not take it seriously at all.

At those words, Itachi's brow furrowed, but he did not press the matter. He stared at Uchiha Yi, his voice turning heavier. "According to the terms we discussed before, you are responsible for protecting Sasuke. But Orochimaru has his eyes on him now, and he has already planted a Cursed Seal on him. You need to give me an explanation."

Itachi's gaze sharpened at once.

So that was it. No wonder Itachi had hurried back before the Third Hokage was even dead. It was probably all because of Sasuke. "Ah, it's really not that big a deal."

He shrugged. Only when Itachi's gaze grew colder and colder did he chuckle and add, "Don't get worked up, don't get worked up. Actually, I specifically found Sasuke a teacher!"

Uchiha Yi said it without the slightest change in expression. "Think about it, Itachi. If Sasuke were left to Kakashi, do you really think that would be reliable?"

Itachi did not answer. "Even if you don't say it, I know you wouldn't be at ease. No matter what, Kakashi isn't from the Uchiha Clan. Even if his Sharingan has evolved into a Mangekyo, he has no idea how to use it. Am I wrong? There's a good chance you came back this time to give him a little push, to let him feel out the path of the Mangekyo."

Before he had transmigrated, Uchiha Yi had read plenty of analyses online. When Itachi returned to Konoha and fought Kakashi, Tsukuyomi had seemingly defeated him in an instant. But in truth, Itachi wanted Kakashi to experience the power of the Mangekyo and force him to start thinking in that direction.

Kakashi had awakened the Mangekyo together with Obito on the day Rin died. Yet all these years, he had only ever used the three-tomoe Sharingan. He had never used the Mangekyo's Kamui at all. More accurately, Kakashi did not even know he possessed that ability, much less how to use it.

It was only after this incident that Kakashi gradually began to figure out Kamui.

Uchiha Yi's earlier words had been meant to test that guess. Seeing the tacit acknowledgment on Itachi's face, he had his answer. "So, having Kakashi guide Sasuke early on is fine, but later, he really won't be enough."

"So you set your sights on Orochimaru? You want him to be Sasuke's teacher?"

Itachi's voice was calm, betraying no emotion. "But do you understand what kind of person Orochimaru is? He has coveted the Uchiha Clan's bloodline limit for more than a day or two."

"Don't worry!"

Uchiha Yi stepped forward, intending to pat Itachi on the shoulder. Itachi shifted aside and avoided him outright.

He did not mind and continued, "It's just that forbidden technique, Living Corpse Reincarnation. I know all about it. That thing can only be used once every three years. When Orochimaru fled Konoha before, I fought him and beat that body of his half to ruin. He's desperately looking for a new body now."

"By the time Sasuke actually goes to find him, he'll definitely have already switched bodies. Within those three years, Sasuke won't be in any danger. Not only that, Orochimaru will absolutely train him well for the sake of that body."

"With that guy's abilities and insight, three years will be enough to completely transform Sasuke. Don't you think?"

After saying that, Uchiha Yi smiled at Itachi and waited for his answer.

Itachi raised his eyes and stared at Uchiha Yi. His lips moved, as if he wanted to speak.

But Uchiha Yi gave him no chance to open his mouth and cut him off. "You don't need to say it. I understand—you're worried about Sasuke, right?"

"Don't worry. At worst, I'll definitely bring him back within three years. One of my Mangekyo Sharingan's ocular techniques works basically like Flying Raijin. As long as I leave a mark on Sasuke, I'll be able to sense where he is anytime, anywhere."

"An ocular technique similar to the Flying Raijin formula?"

For the first time, obvious shock appeared in Itachi's eyes.

Uchiha Yi did not explain further. His figure flickered, vanished, then reappeared.

The person hanging from his hand was Kisame, who had been caught in Tsukuyomi: Illusion Realm.

He tossed Kisame at Itachi's feet, curled his lips, and asked, "Not bad, right?"

Itachi did not respond, but he was anything but calm inside.

That kick had sent Kisame flying at least a thousand meters from where they stood.

Yet Uchiha Yi's trip there and back had taken less than a fraction of a second.

So Itachi believed him.

But he still could not put his mind at ease.

Seriously, this guy was a terminal little-brother addict. Hopeless.

Seeing that Itachi still looked unconvinced, Uchiha Yi was completely out of patience. "Fine, fine. Let me ask another way. Itachi, do you have the Totsuka Blade?"

"The Totsuka Blade?"

Itachi frowned. "That is a type of Kusanagi Sword. Why are you suddenly asking about it?"

He had not obtained it yet?

The moment he heard that, Uchiha Yi understood—Itachi did not possess the Totsuka Blade at this point. "That sword possesses a special sealing ability. Once it pierces someone, it can drag them into an illusion space like a drunken dream. Its sealing power is extremely powerful, enough to imprison a target almost permanently."

"More importantly, it has no physical form. It is a purely spiritual artifact. It can deal not only with mental power, but directly with the soul itself. So..."

"So even if Orochimaru uses Living Corpse Reincarnation on Sasuke, the Totsuka Blade can forcibly strip that old bastard out of him?"

Itachi's mind moved quickly. Before Uchiha Yi had even finished, he had already grasped his meaning. "Where is that Totsuka Blade now?"

"I honestly don't know."

Uchiha Yi sighed at Itachi's worried expression. "Forget it. Itachi, do you have the Totsuka Blade?"

"The Totsuka Blade?" Itachi's brow creased. "One of the Kusanagi Swords, right? Why are you suddenly asking about that?"

He had not gotten it yet.

Hearing Itachi's tone, Uchiha Yi immediately understood—at this stage, Itachi had not obtained the Totsuka Blade at all. "That thing comes with a special sealing technique. It can drag anyone it pierces into the drunken dream world of an illusion, even seal them away permanently."

"And it has no physical form, so it can act directly on mental power and the soul. So—"

"So even if Orochimaru uses Living Corpse Reincarnation on Sasuke, the Totsuka Blade can strip that technique away?"

Itachi's mind was quick, and he seized the key point almost immediately. "Where is the Totsuka Blade hidden?"

"I really can't say." Uchiha Yi waved a hand. "But there's a **."

"They say that thing is a sacred artifact of the Uchiha Clan, hidden within the Sharingan's Susanoo. It belongs to the bloodline limit category. If you want to obtain it, the only route is through the Sharingan."

"Some have even said there was precedent in our clan—an ancestor's awakened Susanoo came with the Totsuka Blade."

"As for whether that's true, I can't guarantee it. Anyway, my own Susanoo doesn't have that thing."

After saying that, Uchiha Yi simply stood there and watched Itachi's reaction.

After a long silence, Itachi finally spoke, his voice very low. "You had better not be lying to me."

"Tch. There's nothing in it for me if I lie to you."

Itachi did not respond again.

Honestly, this conversation with Uchiha Yi had brought him far too many surprises.

But he had an instinctive feeling—Uchiha Yi did not seem to be trying to deceive him, nor did he bear any ill will toward Sasuke.

His gaze shifted to Kisame, who was still unconscious beside them. "This guy?" Uchiha Yi snorted. "I taught him a lesson so he'll remember it. Next time he sees me, he'd better stop calling me 'brat' the moment he opens his mouth!"

Itachi did not reply. He simply picked up Kisame and left.

Watching the direction in which Itachi vanished, Uchiha Yi muttered under his breath, "Ultimate little-brother addict... no, super ultimate little-brother addict."

"Oh, and one more thing. Uchiha Itachi, I acknowledge you. When it comes to doting on little brothers, Uchiha Yi gives you the highest score."

Not going to lie, this kind of joke was pretty addictive.

But it felt damn good!

In high spirits, Uchiha Yi took off running back toward Konoha.

Not long after, by a lake, Kisame finally woke up.

He opened his eyes, swept his gaze around, and growled at Itachi, "Itachi, where is that damn brat?"

Though it was a growl, Itachi could clearly sense Kisame's weakness.

Not physical weakness, but mental.

An illusionary ocular technique comparable to my Tsukuyomi?

Itachi's eyes flickered. He spoke to Kisame, "Kisame, listen to me. If you encounter Uchiha Yi again, you'd better not provoke him. Stay as far away from him as you can."

"Itachi, what do you mean by that?"

"He is dangerous."

Itachi's tone was calm, but there was unmistakable gravity in his voice as he said it.

Kisame's heart tightened.

He knew Itachi too well. Even when they had infiltrated Konoha, Itachi had remained absurdly calm from beginning to end. Even when they had been discovered and encountered Konoha's legendary Sannin, Jiraiya, he had never seemed nervous.

But this time, when speaking of Uchiha Yi, Itachi had shown such caution.

He had even used the words "very dangerous."

Did that mean that brat-like Uchiha Yi was even stronger than Jiraiya?

Konoha Village.

Uchiha Yi had returned.

The moment he pushed open the Hokage's office door, Uchiha Yi froze.

The Third Hokage before him had aged far more than when he had seen him last. Though he was only sixty-nine, at a glance he looked like an old man who had lived for more than a hundred years. Deep wrinkles layered his face, and even his eye sockets had sunk in.

He knew exactly why—although the Third had not died from the Dead Demon Consuming Seal because Uchiha Yi had intervened last time, the backlash had likely drained his foundations. At this rate, he probably would not last more than a few years. "Heh, the kid is back." The Third held a pipe between his teeth, smiling. "I received news from the Land of Snow. You handled the mission beautifully, even better than expected."

That was not mere politeness. A mission involving another country's daimyo had truly been completed beyond his expectations. "Yes, because this involved the Land of Snow's daimyo himself, the mission rating has been raised directly to S-rank."

The Third tapped his pipe ash onto the desk, satisfaction in his tone. "You had already passed your promotion assessment. I made an additional decision and promoted you directly to Special Jonin."

Special Jonin?

Uchiha Yi paused for a moment, but quickly stopped caring. That title did not mean much to him. "Thank you, Lord Third."

"Mm." The Third nodded. The smile gradually faded from his face, replaced by a serious expression. "Now then, tell me. That extremely important matter you mentioned before—why did you insist on telling me in person?"