The truth about the Uchiha

Konoha Hospital, intensive care ward.

When Lin Ye woke, everything before him was dark. But he could "see"-through chakra perception, he sensed the room's outlines, where people stood, and even the leaves swaying outside the window.

"The mind's eye system..." he murmured.

"Brother Ye, you're awake?" It was Naruto's voice.

"Yeah. How are the others?"

"Sasuke awakened his Mangekyo, but he's emotionally unstable. He's at the Uchiha Cemetery. Sakura's looking after Uncle Killer B. He lost half of the Eight-Tails, but he survived. Uncle Raikage is getting Kumogakure back in order. He said he wants to thank you properly."

"What about Itachi?"

"The Anbu took him away and locked him in a special cell. He said he wants to see you. He has something to tell you."

Lin Ye fell silent for a moment. "Take me to him."

The special cell was three floors underground, under heavy guard. With Naruto supporting him, Lin Ye entered and saw Itachi sitting in a corner, his hands and feet bound by sealing formulas.

"You came," Itachi said.

"What did you want to say?"

"It's about the Uchiha's curse, about Kāma, and the truth about the Otsutsuki," Itachi said. "What Tsukuyomi transmitted to Sasuke was only fragments. Now I'll tell you the whole story."

He paused, then began:

"Indra, the ancestor of the Uchiha, was the Sage of Six Paths' eldest son. He was born with the sage's eye, the precursor to the Sharingan. But he didn't know that Ōtsutsuki Isshiki had inscribed Kāma in his eyes."

"Isshiki?" Lin Ye asked.

"An elder of the Ōtsutsuki Clan and Kaguya's companion. He came to Earth with Kaguya to plant the God Tree, but Kaguya betrayed him and sealed him away. Before he was sealed, Isshiki inscribed his Kāma in Indra's eyes, hoping to resurrect himself through Indra's descendants."

"So every reincarnation of Indra is influenced by Kāma, trapped in a fate of brothers fighting each other to the death. This is how the Otsutsuki select a vessel-only the strongest reincarnation of Indra can withstand Isshiki's power."

Lin Ye understood. "Madara and Hashirama, Sasuke and Naruto-they were all candidates."

"Exactly. But in Madara's generation, Isshiki didn't choose him because his will was too strong and might turn against him. So Isshiki chose a more distant future-now," Itachi said. "On the surface, Obito and Black Zetsu are carrying out the Eye of the Moon Plan. In reality, Black Zetsu is paving the way for Isshiki's resurrection. Collecting the tailed beasts and reviving the Ten-Tails are all meant to provide the chakra Isshiki needs to return."

"And you? Why did you massacre the clan?"

"To delay Kāma's awakening," Itachi said. "The Uchiha's Sharingan are carriers for Kāma. The more clan members there are, the stronger Kāma's resonance becomes, and the sooner Isshiki awakens. I slaughtered the clan to sever the chain of carriers and buy Sasuke time. But I was wrong. The true carrier isn't the eyes-it's the bloodline. As long as Sasuke lives, Kāma won't disappear."

"So what do you intend to do now?"

"Help you," Itachi said. "My Mangekyo has a special ability-Izanami. It can create a looping illusion that forces someone to recognize their true self and change their fate. I want to use it to temporarily seal the Kāma inside Sasuke and buy you time to complete the wish system."

"What's the price?"

"My eyes. My life," Itachi said calmly. "But I owe this to the Uchiha. To Sasuke. Ye, you can hate me, but please help me complete this jutsu. This is the last thing I can do for my clan and my little brother."

Lin Ye was silent for a long time before finally nodding. "Does Sasuke know?"

"He doesn't. And he doesn't need to. Let him hate me. Hatred can make him stronger and help him survive these troubled times."

"I'll tell him the truth."

"As you wish. But before that, we need to complete the formula. It will take three days to prepare, and we'll perform it in the Uchiha Forbidden Grounds. Will you help me?"

"Yes."

Three days later, in a secret chamber within the Forbidden Grounds beneath the Underground Naka Shrine.

Sasuke was brought there, still unaware of what they intended to do. Itachi stood in the center of the altar, while Lin Ye, Naruto, Sakura, Kakashi, the Third Hokage, and the others stood guard around its perimeter.

"Brother, what exactly are you doing?" Sasuke asked.

"Giving you freedom," Itachi said. "Sasuke, look into my eyes."

The Mangekyo spun, and Izanami activated. Sasuke fell into an illusion loop, experiencing countless possibilities within it-the truth behind the massacre, Itachi's painful reasons, the Uchiha's curse, and the Otsutsuki's plot.

"Recognize yourself and choose your own path," Itachi's voice echoed through the illusion. "You aren't anyone's vessel. You aren't Indra's reincarnation. You are Sasuke Uchiha."

Within the illusion, Sasuke saw Itachi's memories: their childhood promise, the agony of the Night of the Massacre, his surveillance after joining the Akatsuki, and his protection of his little brother. He also saw Lin Ye's memories: the confusion of someone transported to another world, the wish system's mission, and his determination to break the curse.

"I..." Tears streamed down Sasuke's face. "I understand now. Brother, I won't hate you anymore, but I won't forgive you either. I'll walk my own path with my companions and break through all of this."

"That's all I needed."

In the real world, Itachi's eyes began to bleed, then closed-permanently blind. Izanami was complete, and the Kāma inside Sasuke was temporarily sealed. The seal would last at least a year.

Sasuke woke and saw the blinded Itachi, then the blinded Lin Ye. He clenched his fists.

"Brother Ye, Brother... I'll become stronger. Strong enough to protect everyone. Strong enough to break Kāma."

"Good." Lin Ye nodded.

Itachi collapsed, and Kakashi caught him. Though blind, he was still alive. The Third Hokage ordered Itachi placed under house arrest at the Uchiha Old Residence, under Anbu surveillance, but he would no longer be treated as a criminal.

As they left the Forbidden Grounds, Lin Ye heard his system's notification:

[Special event "Uchiha's Redemption" completed. Obtained Rinnegan Fragment ×100]

[Current Rinnegan Fragments: 300/1000]

[Wishes completed: 311/1344]

[Sasuke's Kāma has entered dormancy. Time remaining: 365 days]

[New mission: Collect 1,000 fragments within one year to form the Rinnegan and break Kāma completely]

He had one year to obtain 700 fragments-an average of two per day. It would be extremely difficult, but he had to do it.

"We'll have to pick up the pace now," Lin Ye told Naruto and Sasuke. "Before the Akatsuki collect all the tailed beasts, before I lose my sight, and before Sasuke's Kāma awakens, we have to become stronger."

"How?" Naruto asked.

"We split up," Lin Ye said. "I'll go to the Uzushio Village Ruins, fulfill Mito Uzumaki's unfulfilled wish, and obtain the complete Adamantine Sealing Chains. Sasuke, go to Mount Myōboku and find Jiraiya. Learn Senjutsu from him and master a way to control your Mangekyo. Naruto, go to the Valley of Clouds and Lightning. Learn to control your tailed beast from Killer B and master perfect jinchuriki mode. Sakura, stay in Konoha and continue studying Medical Ninjutsu and Monster Strength Fist under Tsunade."

"But Brother Ye, your eyes..."

"I have the mind's eye system. That's enough for now. Besides, I have a feeling I can find a way to restore my sight in Uzushio Village."

With their plan settled, the four went their separate ways. Before leaving, Lin Ye visited Karin. She was still asleep, but her complexion was healthy and her vital signs were stable.

"Wait for me, Karin. Once I've fulfilled all the wishes, I'll come back and wake you."

He turned and left, his departing figure resolute.

What he failed to notice was a small white snake in the tree outside the ward's window, watching him, an eerie gleam flashing in its eyes.

Orochimaru was still watching from the shadows.