Izanami That Lasted Two Years

At Konoha's gate, Izumo Kamizuki and Kotetsu Hagane were listlessly carrying out their gate-guarding duty.

Normally, this kind of mission was little more than a formality.

After all, generally speaking, no ninja could bypass Konoha's defensive barrier and silently infiltrate the area near the gate.

Yet today, the two of them sensed an immense threat from a youth slowly approaching them.

As ninja, everyone placed absolute faith in their instincts. It was precisely this battle intuition that allowed ninja to repeatedly walk the line between life and death.

Izumo Kamizuki quietly gestured to his companion, preparing to step forward and stall for time while Kotetsu Hagane went to call for reinforcements.

But at that moment, a gentle, mellow voice rang out beside him.

"Hello. Special Jonin Uchiha Ensei has returned to Konoha. Do I need to register or anything?"

Staring at the other party's pale blue eyes, Izumo Kamizuki could not help doubting his own ears. Had he really heard the word "Uchiha" just now?

As everyone knew, the Uchiha Clan normally had black eyes, which became red with tomoe after activating the Sharingan. They had absolutely nothing to do with blue eyes.

Still, even if he was lying, there was no need to make up such an absurd lie, right?

"Wait... You, you're the Konoha hero who disappeared at the Land of Lightning border? The eleven-year-old Uchiha Ensei?"

Kotetsu Hagane looked at Uchiha Ensei's familiar face, as though he had suddenly remembered something, and spoke in shock.

A Konoha hero? Hiruzen Sarutobi really did put on a good show.

"Well, I'm thirteen now. Also, are you going to register me or not? If there's nothing else, I still need to go home."

Uchiha Ensei's reminder immediately drew puzzled looks from the two men.

"My apologies, but because your identity has not been confirmed, I need to..."

Before Izumo Kamizuki could finish, a familiar figure appeared beside him.

"That won't be necessary. I can verify his identity."

Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at Uchiha Ensei with a complicated expression, focusing on his eyes for two seconds before speaking with concern.

"It's good that you're all right. It's good that you're back."

Clearly, the moment Uchiha Ensei entered the range of Konoha's barrier, he had been detected by sensory ninjutsu, and Hiruzen Sarutobi had been notified so he could personally confirm Uchiha Ensei's identity.

"Mm. If there's nothing else, I'll head home first. As for what I experienced during this time... I don't want to talk about it."

After saying this calmly, Uchiha Ensei headed toward the Uchiha Clan compound.

Only then did Izumo Kamizuki and Kotetsu Hagane reveal expressions that said they had known it all along.

Sure enough, he was still that arrogant little brat from the Uchiha Clan.

That courteous image from before had definitely been their illusion. After all, this was the ruthless man who could suppress the entire Uchiha Clan and dared to mock the Hokage to his face.

Not to mention that he had once fought the Fourth Raikage and two Tailed Beasts by himself at the border...

Watching Uchiha Ensei's departing back, Hiruzen Sarutobi could only smile bitterly and shake his head.

The past two years had gone too smoothly for him, to the point that he had nearly forgotten what it felt like to be ignored.

Before long, news of Uchiha Ensei's return spread throughout Konoha.

Never underestimate how quickly ninja could pass along intelligence. Before he had even made it back to the Uchiha Clan grounds, a little kid came darting out.

"Are you Uchiha Ensei? Hurry and save my brother! They said only you can cure my brother's condition..."

"Those damn ninja cats wouldn't even help me pass along a message, even though..."

Listening to the child's endless rambling, Uchiha Ensei realized that this was Sasuke Uchiha, the boy from his memories who acted cool every day and then got beaten up.

"Uh, your brother? Itachi Uchiha? What happened to him now? Did Black Zetsu rip out his heart?"

Uchiha Ensei spoke as if nothing were unusual. His mental resilience was strong now. Even if Itachi Uchiha had only been seriously injured—or even if Black Zetsu had killed him—it was no big deal.

After all, he had never liked Itachi Uchiha. He had only helped him awaken his eyes because he did not want to waste a pair of Mangekyō Sharingan.

Fugaku Uchiha, who had followed behind Sasuke Uchiha, heard every word of Uchiha Ensei's jab. His steps paused slightly, but he still walked forward and explained.

"The experiment to awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan failed. Itachi... Itachi has never woken up."

Hearing this, Uchiha Ensei suddenly realized a small problem.

"Uh, Clan Head... do you think the Mangekyō Sharingan could possibly break free from Izanami's genjutsu?"

At his words, Fugaku Uchiha immediately retorted, "Of course not. Izanami is..."

At this point, Fugaku Uchiha realized something as well, and his heart sank.

He had never imagined that right under his nose, Uchiha Ensei had used such an ocular technique on his son.

"You mean... Itachi..."

Uchiha Ensei nodded somewhat awkwardly. Although he did not like Itachi Uchiha, he really had not intended to leave him in Izanami for so long.

For more than two years, Itachi had constantly experienced the scenes of personally slaughtering his clansmen, killing his parents, and watching Sasuke Uchiha die before his eyes...

"Um... after Itachi Uchiha wakes up, are you sure you'll still want him?"

Uchiha Ensei asked cautiously, only a step away from telling Fugaku Uchiha that Itachi Uchiha was already a madman.

Fugaku Uchiha was indeed shocked by his son's tragic experience, but as the clan head, he quickly calmed down.

"It's fine. Izanami is not a genjutsu meant to torment people. As long as the target recognizes his true heart, Izanami will automatically be released."

Hearing Fugaku Uchiha's words, Uchiha Ensei felt even more awkward.

"Well... I seem to have accidentally made some modifications to Izanami..."

Upon hearing that, Fugaku Uchiha fell silent once more.

After a long while, he finally said,

"Go ahead and try. Those who wished to awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan through shortcuts have caused our ancestors untold suffering throughout the generations. This was our own choice, and whatever price must be paid should be borne by us."

Sasuke Uchiha, standing nearby, did not understand what they were talking about, but he could tell it was something serious and did not dare interrupt.

But when he heard the words "go ahead and try," Sasuke Uchiha understood that his brother might wake up.

Uchiha Ensei did not object to Fugaku Uchiha's decision. He truly felt somewhat awkward now. He had actually made such a basic mistake.

Believe me, I really didn't mean to do anything to Itachi Uchiha.

What I hate is the ungrateful bastard from the original plot, not this idiot who hasn't had time to do anything yet and is merely a little stupid.

After shouting a few times in his heart, Uchiha Ensei finally eased his inner awkwardness. He walked up to Itachi Uchiha and injected a thread of chakra into Itachi Uchiha's eyes.

As the one who had cast Izanami, Uchiha Ensei's chakra could naturally undo the forbidden technique. After all, Izanami had not been created for slaughter, but to save people.

As Izanami's ocular power faded, Itachi Uchiha slowly opened his eyes. Yet there was not the slightest trace of life in them.

Just as Uchiha Ensei thought the other man had become an idiot, he suddenly saw Itachi Uchiha turn his head, his Mangekyō Sharingan staring directly at him.

Just as Uchiha Ensei became wary, he suddenly heard Itachi Uchiha say, "Ensei... thank you!"