The Sage's Grand Design, Sasuke's Redemption!

Outside Feather Emperor City, atop a mountain to the west, stood Ninggu Pagoda, a prison for the gravest of criminals. Its forbidding walls were carved with reliefs of hell. The tower had no entrance and was completely sealed. Four wrathful stone statues stood around it, encircled by pitch-black chains.

Along the stone steps leading to the summit, a Gate of the Great God rose every five paces. From afar, they looked like a winding red dragon.

After Madara brought Sasuke Uchiha back, Yu locked him inside Ninggu Pagoda.

When Sasuke woke, he tried to escape. He failed, of course, and began hurling curses.

"Uchiha Riu! Demon! Butcher! Get out here! I have questions for you!!"

Roars like that echoed through the tower without end, but as time passed, agitation crept into his face.

"What the hell do you want from me?! Kill me or torture me, do whatever you like! I'm Sasuke Uchiha, and I'm not afraid of anything! Just don't leave me locked up here alone! Let me out!!"

Still, no answer came. Sasuke gradually broke down and screamed, "Anyone! I don't care who! Come out!!"

But no matter how loudly he shouted, nobody answered. The person he was waiting for never came to see him, either.

"Aaagh!" He started smashing the furnishings, but the tables and chairs he destroyed soon repaired themselves and returned to their original places.

At last, Sasuke shut down completely and slumped onto the cold floor.

Throughout those three days, Yu watched everything inside the tower through a Rinnegan relief high on its wall.

In Feather Emperor City, the Shadow Veil projected a live image of Ninggu Pagoda inside a dimly lit but exquisitely furnished room.

Yu sat in a chair on the south side. Itachi stood behind him, his eyes never leaving the