"You would bear that stigma for life, feared, watched, and guarded against, unable to return to Konoha, forever living in the cracks of the darkness."
"But once you personally killed the 'rogue ninja Uchiha Itachi,' everything would change."
"You would become an avenger who slew his own wicked clansman, put righteousness above family, and washed away Konoha's shame."
"From then on, Konoha would have no grounds to hold you accountable, and no one in the Shinobi World could condemn you."
"He traded his life, his disgrace, his entire existence for a future you could face openly, with your head held high."
"I don't need it!!"
Sasuke suddenly roared, his eyes bloodshot. His emotions spiraled out of control, and he nearly broke down.
"I don't need any of that! I don't care what Konoha thinks! And I care even less about how the Shinobi World sees me!"
"I never wanted any of this nonsense! What I wanted was the truth!!"
"Uchiha Itachi! Who gave you the right to decide for me?! Who told you to arrange my entire life for me?!!"
He had hated for so many years, suffered for so many years, endured for so many years.
In the end, his enemy had been protecting him with his own life, paving his way, and preparing a safety net for him.
That tenderness, which overturned everything he knew, broke him more thoroughly than the deepest hatred ever could!
Sasuke Uchiha felt as though he was about to tear apart.
Uchiha Sen's expression did not change. He remained calm and detached.
"The third objective-secretly leave behind a lethal contingency to protect your life and keep every wolf coveting you in check."
With that, he turned toward Tobi, who had been watching silently all along, and said evenly, "You must have noticed, right?"