The Strategist's Grand Design, Brothers Reunited!

After Yugao left, Sasuke Uchiha stood alone in Ninggu Pagoda, leaning against the wall. His injured body had healed, but his wounded heart had nowhere to rest.

He felt like a ship lost at sea, with a crowd fighting over the helm without ever considering where he himself wanted to go. He loathed that feeling!

"You all treat me like a child! You all treat me like an idiot!"

Bang! Sasuke punched the wall.

"You all have bright eyes and silver tongues! Every one of you knows the truth and understands righteousness, making it seem like everything is my fault!"

Bang! Bang! Bang! Sasuke struck the wall again and again!

"Why did I have to suffer this torment! Why was it that every time I merely did what I thought was right, a group of people came to lecture me!"

"Why was it that all those so-called truths only came out to point fingers after I had been kept in the dark and was unhappy with the outcome? If that was the case, why did no one tell me what I should have done from the very beginning! Damn it! Damn it!"

Crack!

Dark red blood ran down the crimson wooden wall, and Sasuke suddenly fell silent.

"I see, I see, I understand now... So my thoughts never mattered at all. I was merely a tool for you to flaunt your superiority."

Sasuke covered his face with his bloodied hand, blood slipping through the gaps between his fingers.

Whoosh!

In the dim, empty tower, the candle flame flickered violently. Sasuke raised his head and burst into wild laughter. "Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha...!"

Whoosh!

The Rinnegan relief above the tower wall released that familiar vortex once more!

"Who is it this time... Enough, I've had enough! To hell with the truth—whoever comes, I'll kill