Uchiha Sasuke's Request!

In truth, Uchiha Shunichi's exhaustion was not entirely an act. He really was tired—not physically, but mentally.

In just one day, he had first dragged Shimura Danzō to death, dying more than ten times in the process. Then he had carefully kept watch over Konoha's situation.

After that, he had fought Shukaku and even used the Susanoo he had always been reluctant to use.

Regression could erase physical exhaustion and ease some of the mental strain.

However, those memories would not disappear.

So Uchiha Shunichi was genuinely exhausted and desperately wanted to lie down on the ground and sleep. Still, he restrained that urge, merely putting on a tired and weakened expression as he headed home.

Perhaps because of Jiraiya, many Anbu patrols ignored Uchiha Shunichi as he returned home...

After returning home, Uchiha Shunichi first drank a large bottle of nutrient solution, then collapsed onto his bed and fell unconscious.

This time, he slept peacefully—the most peaceful sleep he had had since coming to this world.

The two obstacles in Konoha were gone. From now on, Uchiha Shunichi no longer needed to hide anything or cautiously maintain a disguise.

Sometimes, a leader's unreasonable policies could make all of their subordinates uneasy. Perhaps Sarutobi Hiruzen was not as sinister as he had been in the memories of his previous life.

But that man would definitely abandon the lives of people from the same village for certain things.

Uchiha Shunichi would not judge whether such a choice was right or wrong, but he absolutely would not live in a village where he could be betrayed at any moment.

Fortunately, he had arrived at a later point in the timeline. Otherwise... he really would have had to become a rogue ninja.

He slept dreamlessly and comfortably. When Uchiha Shunichi opened his eyes, he found Uchiha Sasuke standing by his window, his two-tomoe Sharingan staring directly at him.

"What's this? Do you want to kill me to gain the power of the Mangekyō Sharingan?" Uchiha Shunichi asked calmly, as if he did not care about his own life or death.

"Yeah..." To his surprise, Uchiha Sasuke nodded.

"Heh, do you remember the conditions I mentioned? First, you need to understand love. Then, only after losing that love can you awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan. Do you think your feelings for me have reached that level?" Uchiha Shunichi looked at Uchiha Sasuke with some amusement.

Although Uchiha Shunichi appeared to be about the same age as Uchiha Sasuke, he had always regarded Sasuke as a brat.

Since they had lived together for so many years, Uchiha Shunichi might lend him a hand when convenient. But if Uchiha Sasuke truly failed to appreciate his kindness, Uchiha Shunichi would not show mercy either.

"Boring..." Uchiha Sasuke was left speechless by those words. After a long silence, he finally said,

"You... were using a Shadow Clone in the arena, weren't you?"

Uchiha Sasuke hesitated as he asked. He seemed to know he should not be asking, yet he could not suppress his curiosity.

"You figured that out?" Uchiha Shunichi was somewhat surprised. Even Kaguya Ōtsutsuki's Byakugan could not see through a Shadow Clone. He did not believe Uchiha Sasuke could have discovered it.

"No, I only guessed. You kept using ninja tools, never used any ninjutsu, and tried your best to avoid getting hit." Uchiha Sasuke spoke with a smug expression, as if he had uncovered some great secret.

"There's nothing I can't admit about that. I did use a Shadow Clone. But my real body wasn't too far away..." Uchiha Shunichi had already prepared for this possibility when he made that decision.

After all, he had not initially sent out one Shadow Clone, but two. If something happened to one of them, the other could take its place as the real body.

"You... how did that matter you mentioned before turn out?" Uchiha Sasuke hesitated for a while before finally asking.

Hearing Uchiha Sasuke's question, Uchiha Shunichi hesitated as well. He did not want to hide anything, but he would put what Danzo had done out of his mind for now.

Letting a dead man affect the living was simply not worth it.

"What I mentioned before was what everyone encountered this time. I had a few premonitions, but I couldn't confirm exactly what would happen."

"In any case, just remember that everything is over."

In the end, Uchiha Shunichi still gave a vague explanation. It was neither the truth nor exactly a lie.

After receiving this answer, Uchiha Sasuke did not leave. He kept his head lowered, as though he were studying something interesting.

"Sasuke? Do you still have something to say?" Uchiha Shunichi asked curiously.

"How... how can I become as strong as you? That guy Naruto... that guy Naruto has already mastered such powerful strength, while I..." Uchiha Sasuke clenched his fists tightly, his entire body trembling uncontrollably.

As an avenger—or so Uchiha Sasuke saw himself—his current strength was far too weak. If he continued drifting along like this, when would he ever be able to face that man...

"I understand. Is it because of the power Naruto and I displayed?" Uchiha Shunichi said thoughtfully.

"Please, I want to become stronger. Shunichi, you can definitely do it, can't you?" Uchiha Sasuke bent at the waist in a solemn bow.

When Uchiha Shunichi had used Susanoo before, that overwhelming power had been burned directly into Uchiha Sasuke's eyes. Though he knew it was the power of the Mangekyō Sharingan, Uchiha Sasuke stubbornly believed that Uchiha Shunichi could make him stronger.

In fact, apart from the battle he had witnessed earlier, there was another reason for Uchiha Sasuke's current behavior.

Not long ago, Kakashi had told him that, with his current ability, he could no longer teach Uchiha Sasuke anything more.

As a result, Uchiha Sasuke's path to becoming stronger had become uncertain.

"Is this the influence of the Cursed Seal, or is this what you truly want? Think carefully. Even if I could help you awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan, do you think you could control it?" Uchiha Shunichi's tone was icy.

Hearing that, Uchiha Sasuke answered without hesitation, "I don't need that kind of power! I'll become stronger through my own efforts, then... kill that man."

"Three years. I can give you the strength to fight Uchiha Itachi in three years. As for the outcome of that battle, I don't know."