Itachi knelt on the straw, staring at the spot where Yongye's arm had vanished. Golden, brilliant, dazzling. Worlds apart from his own Kurenai Susanoo.
His lips pressed into a thin line, confusion flickering in his eyes.
After a moment of silence, Uchiha Itachi spoke slowly.
"You're not killing me outright because you want me to admit I wiped out the Danzo Clan?"
Yongye looked at him, his smile slowly widening.
"Good. You're finally starting to look like someone with a brain."
"Instead of a stupid dog taken in by someone else."
He took half a step forward, the toe of his shoe touching the bottom bar of the Iron gate.
"I'm going to cut you down. That's certain."
"But I've always been generous and merciful, so I'll give you three choices."
"First, admit you wiped out the Danzo Clan, then get cut down for it."
"Second, admit you tried to assassinate me, then get cut down for it."
"Third, admit nothing. Say I framed you and fight for a chance to live."
"Think carefully. Choose carefully. I'm looking forward to your... performance!"
Itachi knelt on the straw, head lowered, staring at a broken stalk on the floor.
Yongye did not wait for an answer. He withdrew his hand, slipped it back into his pocket, turned, and walked toward the other end of the corridor.
His footsteps faded down the corridor, his soles clicking softly against the stone floor, then disappeared around the corner.
The cell fell quiet.
Itachi knelt on the straw, head lowered, staring at the broken stalk as he sank into thought.
The first choice: admit he had wiped out the Danzo Clan. The crime was exterminating an entire clan. He would die and bear a terrible stain on his name.
The second choice: admit he had tried