Tsukuyomi, Overestimating Himself, the Traitor Gets Instantly Defeated

Being called a beast made Itachi Uchiha's expression turn exceedingly ugly in an instant. His body trembled slightly, bitterness on his face and utter helplessness in his heart. His lips parted as if he wanted to argue, yet he had no strength to refute anything. An indescribably complicated look filled his entire face.

He could not refute Uchiha Shadian, because he truly had slaughtered countless members of the Uchiha Clan with his own hands.

He wanted to say that Uchiha Shadian had also killed Fugaku Uchiha, Uchiha Mikoto, and Uchiha Sasuke, so what right did he have to criticize him?

But...

When he saw Rin Nohara beside Uchiha Shadian, the words he wanted to say caught in his throat. He thought that perhaps all of this had been part of Uchiha Shadian's plan. Perhaps he had never truly wanted to kill his family; perhaps it had all been calculated.

Whether it was killing Fugaku Uchiha, Uchiha Mikoto, or Uchiha Sasuke, it had all been within Uchiha Shadian's calculations.

Uchiha Shadian could resurrect others, and he cherished his brother and sister-in-law so deeply. How could he possibly watch their souls remain alone in the underworld?

Itachi Uchiha's gaze toward Uchiha Shadian grew increasingly deep and complicated, seemingly filled with endless emotions and contradictions. He was not certain whether Uchiha Shadian could still resurrect his father, mother, and younger brother.

If he could confirm it, then he could make his decision without hesitation.

But he was not sure whether Uchiha Shadian could resurrect them.

That was why he hesitated so greatly.

On one side was Konoha. Since childhood, he had been taught to protect Konoha, safeguard Konoha, and keep it from suffering harm.

On the other side was his younger brother, the brother he loved and doted on most.

For the stability of Konoha, the reputation of the Uchiha Clan, and his younger brother's life, he could wipe out the entire clan, including his own parents.

Now, he saw that his younger brother might still have a chance to be resurrected, but that would require him to do something that went against Konoha.

Thus, his heart was deeply conflicted. He hesitated, unable to decide what choice he should make.

His heart seemed to have been torn in half. One half was loyalty to Konoha, while the other was attachment to and hope for his younger brother. He wanted Konoha to remain peaceful, and he wanted his younger brother to grow up and become accomplished.

Two choices.

First, he could stand completely on Konoha's side and resist Uchiha Shadian's revenge.

Second, he could stand with Uchiha Shadian and protect him, securing his younger brother a chance at resurrection in the future.

As for himself, whether he lived or died no longer mattered.

His sins were grave. Perhaps death would be a kind of release.

But before dying, he had to at least confirm a few things.

Itachi Uchiha stared at Uchiha Shadian. His Three-Tomoe Sharingan spun, and in the next moment, his pupils changed as his Mangekyo Sharingan opened instantly.

"Tsukuyomi."

As Itachi Uchiha spoke, Uchiha Shadian immediately felt an invisible force pulling at his consciousness.

"You dare use Tsukuyomi on me? You're overestimating yourself." Uchiha Shadian sneered and gave up resisting, allowing his consciousness to be pulled away.

In the next instant, Uchiha Shadian's consciousness appeared within Itachi Uchiha's Tsukuyomi Space.

"Uncle, welcome to my Tsukuyomi world."

"Here, I control everything."

"Whether it is time or matter, everything is under my control."

Countless figures of Itachi Uchiha appeared, surrounding Uchiha Shadian from all sides.

Uchiha Shadian swept his gaze indifferently over Itachi Uchiha's figures.

"It's nothing more than a mental attack. What's there to brag about?" Uchiha Shadian said disdainfully. He folded his arms across his chest and stared coldly at one of Itachi Uchiha's figures. "I'll give you one chance. You can attack first."

"Uncle, tell me, can you still resurrect Sasuke?" Itachi Uchiha asked, a trace of expectation in his eyes.

"No comment."

"If you don't make a move now, you won't get another chance." Uchiha Shadian said coldly.

"Then I'll have no choice but to torture the answer out of you. Forgive me, Uncle." With a thought from Itachi Uchiha, Uchiha Shadian was tied to a cross in the next instant.

"Uncle, every time I stab you here, you will truly feel the same pain as if a sharp sword had pierced your body in reality. I will keep stabbing you until you give me the answer I want." As Itachi Uchiha spoke, a sharp sword stabbed toward Uchiha Shadian's body.

Squelch!

The sharp sword pierced Uchiha Shadian's body.

As the sword entered Uchiha Shadian's body—

Pfft!

Itachi Uchiha suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood.

In the next moment, Itachi Uchiha abruptly discovered that, at some unknown point, he and Uchiha Shadian had switched places.

He was now the one tied to the cross, while Uchiha Shadian held the sharp sword and pierced his body.

"How is this possible?"

"This Tsukuyomi world is under my control. Why can you counter me, Uncle?" Itachi Uchiha's eyes filled with shock as he stared at Uchiha Shadian in utter disbelief.

"Who knows?" Uchiha Shadian mercilessly drove his sword into Itachi Uchiha's chest.

"You dared to slaughter your clansmen. Have a proper taste of what it feels like to have ten thousand swords pierce your heart!" Uchiha Shadian's expression remained cold. Sword after sword appeared in his hand and stabbed into Itachi Uchiha's chest. Once his chest was filled, he began stabbing other parts of his body.

Itachi Uchiha let out agonized screams.

Though each stab caused no physical harm, the pain was felt with perfect clarity.

Hearing Itachi Uchiha's screams, Uchiha Shadian showed not the slightest mercy. With an expressionless face, he continued driving swords into Itachi Uchiha's body.

Soon, Itachi Uchiha's body was covered in swords, making him look like a hedgehog.

Once there was nowhere left to stab, Uchiha Shadian willed it, and every sword embedded in Itachi Uchiha's body vanished. Then he raised another sharp sword and stabbed it into Itachi Uchiha's chest again.

This repeated over and over, until the entire space was filled with Itachi Uchiha's unending screams.

And so, three days and three nights passed.

Itachi Uchiha was barely alive, his spirit completely withered.

"Competing with me in mental strength? You're overestimating yourself." Uchiha Shadian snorted coldly and stomped his foot. The Tsukuyomi Space immediately crumbled and dispersed.

Although three days and three nights had passed within the Tsukuyomi Space, less than a second had passed outside.

From the outside, everyone saw only Uchiha Shadian open his eyes, followed by Itachi Uchiha collapsing to the ground in agony.

"Itachi!" Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes widened as he stared at the scene in disbelief. "What happened, Itachi?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi was frantic. Itachi Uchiha was the strongest person under his command; he absolutely could not fall like this.

"Get up, Itachi! What happened?"

Everyone present was dumbfounded. Less than a second had passed?

The Konoha ninja from several clans were stunned!

Their eyes were full of suspicion and disbelief.

Their side's strongest combatant had been instantly defeated just like that?

Was Itachi Uchiha putting on an act for them?