Within the genjutsu, Uchiha Itachi jolted awake, his clothes already soaked with sweat.
Oto and Shisui were nowhere to be seen, but nothing about the Shrine's interior had changed.
Yet he clearly remembered Oto and Shisui bringing him here to study the Memorial Stone, then seeing Shisui cast genjutsu on him just before he regained consciousness.
Oto and Shisui were the two people he trusted most in the clan, yet they had attacked him with genjutsu.
Had they betrayed the clan, or were they trying to stimulate me into awakening the Mangekyō Sharingan?
Countless thoughts surfaced in Uchiha Itachi's mind. He analyzed them as he followed the passage toward the surface, hearing shouts of battle.
"Has Akatsuki started the Shinobi World War ahead of time and attacked the village?"
That thought occurred to Uchiha Itachi when he heard the fighting, but he immediately shook his head.
All their strongest fighters were currently in the village. Never mind attacking the village-even attacking the Uchiha Clan would be extremely difficult for Akatsuki. Oto had driven off Akatsuki's Madara more than once.
This must be genjutsu meant to stimulate me into awakening the Mangekyo Sharingan... Itachi thought, though he quickened his pace.
Soon, Itachi reached the surface. He could now hear the fighting clearly and see the brutal battle unfolding ahead.
More precisely, it was an uneven battle, a one-sided massacre.
A single young ninja dressed in black had caused it all. The moment Itachi saw the young ninja's face, he froze.
That young ninja was none other than himself. Even his sword was identical.
Someone used the Transformation Technique to impersonate me, infiltrated the Clan Grounds, and started killing?
After making that quick assessment, Itachi drew his sword. Several kunai flew from between his fingers toward the impostor, their attached steel wires