After appearing, Shin Uchiha settled squarely into the Stone Chair. Seeing Uchiha Itachi greet him with such deference, he frowned slightly and said in a somber tone:
"Itachi, it seems you've made your preparations!"
At Shin Uchiha's words, Uchiha Itachi lowered his head even further. Only after coughing twice did he reply in a strained voice:
"Lord Clan Leader, I know my body very well. I probably don't have much time left.
In that case, I might as well give my life for Sasuke. That way, his Mangekyō Sharingan can become the eternal Mangekyō Sharingan, and I'll have paved the way for his future."
Uchiha Itachi knew perfectly well that there were two ways to evolve the Mangekyō Sharingan into the eternal Mangekyō Sharingan.
But no one besides the Clan Leader himself had ever succeeded with the other method he had developed.
Even a genius like Shisui Uchiha had yet to see any hope of success.
As for his younger brother, although he had some talent, the idea that he could succeed was little more than a pipe dream.
So, to evolve Sasuke Uchiha's Sharingan into the eternal Mangekyō Sharingan, Uchiha Itachi could only use the old method.
Hearing Uchiha Itachi's words, Shin Uchiha's gaze shifted slightly. He looked at Itachi's increasingly gaunt figure and finally nodded.
"All right, I understand.
You should prepare yourself, too. Unless something unexpected happens, Sasuke should arrive here tomorrow."
After saying this, Shin Uchiha rose to his feet. He surveyed the former Uchiha District once more, then vanished from where he stood.
Still kneeling on one knee, Uchiha Itachi trembled ever so slightly when he sensed Shin Uchiha leave, but he still said quietly:
"Thank you for granting my wish, Lord Clan Leader."
In a dim underground chamber, Orochimaru slumped in a chair