Itachi Uchiha's Request

Compared with the reactions of the major ninja villages, the Akatsuki reacted faster. Pain immediately summoned the members to a meeting using the Phantom Lantern Technique.

"Itachi, can you handle this?" Pain got straight to the point.

"I'll deal with it personally," Itachi responded calmly.

"Meeting adjourned," Pain announced.

"Itachi-senpai, I'd like to ask you about Kekkei Genkai," Neji suddenly said happily.

"Fine." Itachi's answer was as concise as ever. After telling Neji his location, he dispelled the Phantom Lantern Technique. Pain, Konan, Kisame, Tobi, and Zetsu were all briefly stunned by Sake's words before returning to normal and dispelling the Phantom Lantern Technique.

After receiving Itachi's location, Neji hurried there at full speed. Sure enough, Itachi was at the Uchiha Clan's shrine—Naka Shrine. It seemed Itachi had already prepared himself for death.

Itachi was quite surprised by Neji's arrival. Neji greeted Itachi and Kisame. "Itachi-senpai, Kisame-senpai, hello!"

"Sake, you got here awfully fast," Kisame said, clearly surprised by Neji's arrival. Itachi's expression remained utterly calm.

"Itachi-senpai, I'd like to privately consult you about the Sharingan's Kekkei Genkai," Neji said, inviting him to a private conversation.

Itachi paused, then said to Kisame, "Kisame, go outside and see whether there are any traces of Sasuke. Keep an eye on the direction of Konoha. If you find Sasuke, tell me immediately."

As expected, Itachi still could not stop worrying about his younger brother and was preparing a way out for Sasuke. But Naruto definitely would not come looking for Sasuke now—Lady Tsunade would never allow it, Neji muttered inwardly.

After Kisame left, Neji swiftly set up a barrier that isolated sound and light. Itachi said nothing, but the hand hidden within his black cloak patterned with red clouds had already begun forming hand seals. Neji did not waste words either. He immediately removed his human-skin mask and lenses, revealing the face of Neji Hyuga.

Itachi's expression finally changed. "A brat from the Hyuga Clan?"

"Yes, Itachi-senpai. My name is Neji Hyuga. I'm one year older than Sasuke, and I took the Chunin Ninja Exams in the same class as him. When Sasuke defected to Orochimaru, I infiltrated Orochimaru's side as part of the pursuit team. Then, through Orochimaru's connections, I entered the Akatsuki and have been helping Konoha pass along intelligence on the Akatsuki." Neji gave a simple explanation.

"Orochimaru does not accept people so casually. And you're telling me all this—aren't you afraid I'll clean house for the organization?" Itachi clearly was not so easily convinced.

Neji thought that Itachi would not believe him unless he gave him something substantial. "During the Chunin Ninja Exams, Orochimaru became interested in my Caged Bird Seal, so he also planted his Curse Mark on me." As he spoke, he showed Itachi the mark. In truth, he had used the Yin Seal on himself before meeting Itachi; it merely looked exactly like Orochimaru's Curse Mark. "But after researching it for a month, Orochimaru said he had no way to break it either. He suggested that evolving the Byakugan might perhaps remove the Caged Bird Seal, so later, I implanted Hashirama Cells to stimulate the Byakugan's evolution." He showed Itachi the Hashirama face growing over his chest. "The Hashirama Cells did cause the Byakugan to evolve, but the evolution stagnated not long afterward. So Orochimaru sent me into the Akatsuki to seek the secrets of the Rinnegan, and to see whether it could further evolve the Byakugan." Nine parts of Neji's story were true and one part false, but Itachi should accept it.

"I'm a rogue ninja of Konoha. Why are you telling me this?" Itachi still had his doubts.

"Konoha has never forgotten its promise to you. I am also a hidden piece, silently protecting Sasuke. Sasuke and I are both Orochimaru's vessels. I originally wanted to replace Sasuke as Orochimaru's vessel, but because of the Caged Bird Seal, Orochimaru chose Sasuke instead. But I knew Orochimaru's failure was inevitable. So after Sasuke devoured Orochimaru, I arranged companions for him—Jugo, Suigetsu, and Karin."

"How did you know Orochimaru would fail?" Itachi asked with interest.

"Because Orochimaru's spiritual energy is not stronger than Sasuke's, and Sasuke's will for revenge would not allow him to fall halfway through," Neji responded truthfully.

"Then is your Kekkei Genkai, Petrifying Touch, also the result of implanting Hashirama Cells?" Itachi pressed on. "That's right. And I've also mastered Wood Release." As he spoke, he casually grew a small sapling in his hand.

Itachi stared blankly at the sapling in Neji's hand, then asked solemnly, "What information did you come to me for?"

Neji began probing. "Based on the intelligence you previously gave Konoha, you suspected Madara Uchiha was behind the night of the Uchiha Clan massacre. Has that information been confirmed?"

Itachi paused. "Although he calls himself Madara Uchiha, there has been no way to confirm it. By the way, he is the Akatsuki's trainee—Tobi. Even I have difficulty seeing through his strength." Neji thought inwardly, Tobi is Obito Uchiha. I know because I have the god's-eye view. But I can't write that in the intelligence sent to Konoha. It still has to come from Itachi's mouth.

"Then do you know the Akatsuki's ultimate purpose in collecting the tailed beasts?" Neji asked again.

"Based on my investigation and analysis, Pain's goal is to gather the tailed beasts and create a peaceful Shinobi World without oppression through war. Tobi's goal seems to be creating an ideal nation through the Eye of the Moon Plan. This is all deduced from the clues I collected; there is no way to verify it yet." Neji was shaken again. I only knew these things because I had the god's-eye view, yet Itachi deduced all of it from the clues he collected. The value of the saying 'wisdom sharpens into sorrow' just keeps rising.

The conversation should have ended there. Yet Itachi suddenly said to Neji, "Neji, may I ask you for something?"

"What is it?"

"Watch over Sasuke for me. If he tries to do anything that would harm Konoha, you must stop him..." The moment Neji heard that, he suddenly remembered that in the original story, Itachi would make Naruto swallow the Kotoamatsukami Crow. Would it end up with him instead? No. A bird as sinister as a crow was something his modern soul still could not accept, even in the Shinobi World. Better give it to Naruto.

"Itachi-senpai, I will not refuse this duty. But my current identity is still that of an Akatsuki member. Without orders from Lady Tsunade, I cannot act openly. Still, I will protect Sasuke as soon as possible." Itachi did not waste words. He took out the Kotoamatsukami Crow and explained how to use it. Neji accepted it as instructed, then put his human-skin mask and lenses back on, returning to Sake.

Still unable to resist asking, he said, "Itachi-senpai, is this battle between you and Sasuke truly unavoidable?"

Itachi looked in the direction of Konoha. "My body is already at the end of its rope. I must do something more for Sasuke..." Hearing those words, Neji understood. Itachi intended to completely remove Orochimaru's Curse Mark from Sasuke. Suddenly, Neji felt a little miserable. Itachi's nearly obsessive love for Sasuke made him jealous.

Itachi Uchiha looked at Neji Hyuga, who had put on his human-skin mask again and returned to "Sake." Extremely complicated emotions flashed through his Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan.

Surprise, vigilance, scrutiny, relief... in the end, they became a deep, tranquil calm.

"So," Itachi slowly began. His voice was still steady, but it carried less distance than before. "You are Konoha's deepest nail buried within the Akatsuki. And... you know far more than I imagined."

Neji's voice was calm. "I know the truth behind the Uchiha Clan massacre. I know you are Konoha's double agent. I know of your nearly obsessive protection of Sasuke. But what I did not know... was that your body had deteriorated to this extent."

He paused, then added, "When you said 'at the end of its rope' just now, that was not a metaphor. It was the truth, wasn't it?"

Itachi did not deny it. He coughed softly, and a faint dark-red stain showed through the cuff of his black-and-red clouded robe.

"The Uchiha Clan's Sharingan... every use of Mangekyo Sharingan power weakens one's vision. These eyes of mine are already close to blindness." Itachi's voice was soft. "And over these years, maintaining Susanoo, Tsukuyomi, Amaterasu... my body has long since been overdrawn."

Neji fell silent. He knew the original plot. He knew Itachi would die of illness during the brothers' confrontation. But hearing the man himself calmly say that he was close to losing his sight had an entirely different impact.

"So your duel with Sasuke is not only to help him remove Orochimaru's Curse Mark, but also to..." Neji did not finish.

"To give him my eyes," Itachi finished for him. "The secret of the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan is known by only a very small number within the Uchiha Clan. When Mangekyo Sharingan are transplanted between blood brothers, the eyes evolve into the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan. They no longer go blind, and their power increases greatly."

He looked at Neji. "I hope you will keep this secret. Sasuke... needs this power if he is to survive the coming storm in the Shinobi World."

Neji pressed his lips together. He knew Itachi was right. According to the original story, Sasuke truly needed the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan to fight Obito, the Akatsuki, and eventually even Kaguya. But knowing it was one thing; witnessing this nearly self-destructive love with his own eyes still left his heart feeling stifled.

"Itachi-senpai," Neji suddenly asked, "have you ever considered... that there might be another way? That perhaps Sasuke could grow stronger without you dying? That perhaps you brothers could..."

"Could do what?" Itachi interrupted. His voice remained calm, but a trace of bitterness entered it. "Reconcile? Fight side by side? Neji, you too are from a great clan. You should understand that once certain things are done, there is no going back."

"I slaughtered the entire clan. I planted the seed of hatred in Sasuke's heart and made him live in hell for seven years. What right do I have to reconcile with him? What face do I have to stand at his side?"

Itachi raised his head. His Sharingan, soon to go blind, seemed to stare through the mask and into Neji's soul. "Sometimes, death is not an end. It is... a new beginning. For Sasuke, killing me, his 'enemy,' is a necessary part of growing up. Only then can he sever the shackles of the past and truly look forward."

Neji had nothing to say. He knew Itachi's logic formed a complete loop—seven years of hatred had to be paid for in blood. And judging from the outcome, Sasuke had indeed begun truly considering the meaning of the Uchiha Clan and the Shinobi World only after killing Itachi.

Yet this love, cold to the extreme, still sent chills through him.

"Then," Neji changed the subject, "regarding the Akatsuki and Tobi, is there anything else you need to tell me? Or... any intelligence you need me to pass to Konoha?"

Itachi thought for a moment before slowly saying, "Tobi... I suspect he is not simply 'Madara Uchiha.' His mastery of space-time ninjutsu is extremely high, and he knows the Uchiha Clan's history inside out. If possible, investigate Obito Uchiha—he was the Fourth Hokage's disciple. He supposedly 'died' during the Battle of Kannabi Bridge, but his body was never found."

Neji's heart jolted. Itachi had guessed it after all! Though he had no conclusive evidence, he had already pointed toward the correct answer!

"As for Pain," Itachi continued, "the true body controlling the Six Paths Puppets must be somewhere in the Hidden Rain Village. Konan is the key, but she is absolutely loyal to Pain and will be difficult to turn. If you act, you must kill in one blow. Otherwise, the consequences will be endless."

He paused, then added, "Also, be careful of Zetsu. That yin-yang face... is far more dangerous than he appears. His scouting ability covers the entire Shinobi World. Your identity may be well concealed, but there is no guarantee he will not notice."

"I understand." Neji nodded. He knew Zetsu's reconnaissance abilities all too well. In the original story, almost nothing could be hidden from that guy.

A brief silence fell within the barrier.

After a long while, Itachi took a specially made scroll from his robes and handed it to Neji. "This contains all the intelligence I have gathered in the Akatsuki over the years, including analyses of the members' abilities, the locations of their bases, the flow of funds, and... partial information about the Eye of the Moon Plan. I originally intended to send it to Konoha at the right time, but now... I will give it to you."

Neji solemnly accepted the scroll. He could feel its weight—not merely physical weight, but the weight of responsibility.

"I will ensure it reaches Lady Tsunade," Neji promised.

Itachi nodded, then slowly rose to his feet. His movements were slower than before, clearly showing just how poor his condition was.

"Then let us end this conversation here," Itachi said. "You may remove the barrier. Remember, do not let Kisame notice anything unusual when you leave. He may be rough, but he is not stupid."

"I know." Neji formed hand seals, preparing to release the barrier, but his hands paused. "Itachi-senpai... are there any final words you need me to convey to Sasuke? Or... to Konoha?"

Itachi's back stiffened.

"Tell Sasuke..." His voice was soft, so soft it was nearly inaudible. "His brother... has always loved him."

"As for Konoha," Itachi turned his head, his soon-to-be-blind eyes looking at Neji one last time. "Tell the Hokage... Itachi Uchiha never betrayed it."

Neji felt his throat tighten. He nodded forcefully. "I will deliver your words."

The barrier dispersed.

Light once again streamed into the ancient main hall of Naka Shrine.

Kisame leaned against the doorway with Samehada in his arms. When he saw the two emerge, he grinned. "Finished talking? Itachi-san, that private chat of yours took quite a while."

Itachi resumed his usual calm expression. "It was an academic discussion regarding the Uchiha Clan's unique Kekkei Genkai. 'Sake' is very interested in the Sharingan."

"Oh?" Kisame looked at Neji with a probing gaze. "I didn't expect there to be such a scholarly person in the Akatsuki, huh?"

Neji's voice was calm. "I was merely curious. The Sharingan is one of the strongest ocular techniques in the Shinobi World. As a researcher, it is natural for me to be interested."

The explanation was perfectly reasonable. The Akatsuki was full of strange people, so someone interested in the Sharingan was nothing unusual.

"Then I'll take my leave first." Neji gave Itachi a slight nod. "Regarding the matter we discussed earlier, I will continue researching it and report back when there is progress."

"Much appreciated," Itachi replied with a nod.

Kisame watched Neji's departing figure until it completely vanished into the woods, then turned to Itachi. "Itachi-san, you seem to think highly of that newcomer."

"He has great potential," Itachi said faintly. "And... his Kekkei Genkai is interesting. Perhaps it will be useful in the future."

Kisame shrugged and did not ask further. He hoisted Samehada onto his shoulder. "What do we do next? Keep waiting for Sasuke here?"

"Yes." Itachi looked toward the depths of the shrine, where a stone tablet passed down through generations of the Uchiha Clan stood. "He will certainly come here. Before he arrives... I want to be alone for a while."

Kisame tactfully withdrew outside the shrine. "Then I'll patrol outside. Give the signal if anything happens."

After Kisame left, Itachi slowly walked to the stone tablet. His Sharingan could no longer clearly make out the words carved upon it, but their contents had long since been etched into his mind.

"Infinite Tsukuyomi... true peace..." Itachi murmured, his fingers lightly touching the cold surface of the tablet.

His thoughts drifted back to years ago, when Father brought him and Shisui Uchiha here. Back then, he had still been the Uchiha Clan's genius youth. Shisui was both mentor and friend, almost like an older brother. Sasuke had still been a little child who chased after him all day, calling out, "Nii-san."

Everything was gone beyond return.

"Sasuke... soon, we will meet again."

Itachi closed his eyes and began adjusting his condition. He knew the final battle had to be perfect. He had to force out all of Sasuke's potential, remove Orochimaru's Curse Mark, and... let Sasuke kill him with his own hands.

This was a play whose script had been written long ago.

And he was both its protagonist and its director.

A Look Back from the Woods

Only after leaving Naka Shrine by several kilometers did Neji stop in a concealed thicket.

He let out a long breath.

That conversation had consumed an enormous amount of mental energy. When dealing with someone like Itachi Uchiha, every word had to be weighed and every expression controlled. One small mistake could expose even more secrets.

But he had done it. Not only had he gained Itachi's trust and obtained the key intelligence scroll, he had also... received the Kotoamatsukami Crow.

"If he tries to do anything that would harm Konoha, you must stop him..."

Itachi's request echoed in his ears. Neji knew that in the original story, this Kotoamatsukami was meant to stop Sasuke from destroying Konoha. Now, that responsibility had fallen onto his shoulders.

"Itachi, Itachi... you really did calculate everything," Neji said with a bitter smile.

He carefully put away the scroll and the crow.

Next, he needed to master the Flying Thunder God Technique as soon as possible and send the intelligence obtained from Itachi back to Konoha.

But before leaving, Neji looked back one last time in the direction of Naka Shrine.

The sun was setting, and the outline of the shrine seemed somewhat lonely beneath the afterglow. There, an older brother was waiting for his younger brother's arrival, preparing to complete his final protection with his life.

And he, an observer who knew everything, could do nothing.

No, it was not that he could do nothing. Rather... he should not do anything.

"The wheels of history..." Neji murmured, "sometimes, knowing too much is also a kind of pain."

He knew Itachi would die. He knew Sasuke would collapse and then grow stronger. He knew of the chain reaction that would follow the brothers' confrontation. But he could not interfere, because this was the necessary path for Sasuke to become "Sasuke Uchiha," and it was also a crucial turning point on the Shinobi World's path toward its final outcome.

All he could do was make arrangements in the shadows, push events at critical moments, ensure the outcome benefited himself, and incidentally benefited Konoha.

"I'm sorry, Itachi-senpai." Facing the direction of the shrine, Neji spoke in a voice only he could hear. "But I will definitely keep the promise I made to you. Sasuke... I will watch over him."

With that, he turned around and activated the Body Flicker Technique, his figure vanishing into the steadily descending night.

In the distance, the lights of Naka Shrine came on.

As though awaiting the arrival of destiny.

The brothers' duel was about to begin.