"Shinji!"
Shinji stood dumbfounded with his arms spread and his eyes wide, bewildered by Uchiha Mikoto suddenly throwing herself into his embrace.
Wait...
Didn't you hug the wrong person?
Uchiha Itachi froze as well. At a loss, he turned to look around and spotted Uchiha Fugaku wearing a relieved smile.
But...
Dad.
Why are you looking at Big Brother Shinji?
"Mm..." Just then, Sasuke, who had been resting in Shusui's arms, stirred and slowly opened his eyes.
The first thing he saw was Mikoto's back.
"Mom... Big Brother Shinji?!"
The next moment, he saw who Mikoto was hugging. His eyes lit up, and he rushed toward Shinji.
Uchiha Itachi: "...?"
Shinji patted Mikoto's shoulder and whispered, "Aunt Mikoto, Itachi's still here... Don't make this too awkward for him."
"Oh, right, right!"
Mikoto released Shinji and wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes. Turning, she took Itachi's hand. "As long as you're back. As long as you're back..."
Uchiha Itachi gave an awkward yet polite smile. He felt completely out of place in this world...
There was clearly no hidden meaning in the looks everyone around him gave him.
Yet he still felt as though needles were pricking his back.
Even his mother, as gentle as ever, seemed unreal now, like an illusion shattering before him.
Could it be...
Am I still trapped in Izumi's genjutsu?
Izanami really is terrifying...
Sasuke, who had been eagerly about to speak to Shinji, suddenly froze. Remembering what had happened before, he shot Uchiha Itachi a vicious glare.
"You murderer!!!"
"Why do you get to come back, when Izumi..."
"Mmph! Mmph!"
Shinji scooped Sasuke up and covered his mouth. Under Sasuke's bewildered gaze, he quietly spoke to him for a while.
He patted Sasuke's head. "Understand?"
Sasuke's little face stiffened, and he clenched