Chapter 229 : Brother's Reunion!

At the conclusion of the episode, the audience in each world wore expressions of profound complexity.

He betrays his clan and exterminates his own clan members? It seemed an incontrovertible truth. 

Is it wrong? 

Yes. It's an unforgivable act.

Especially when considering the multitude of children within the clan, many of whom were Sasuke's peers, and even infants who were denied the chance of survival.

As the executor of clan, Uchiha Itachi's actions were deemed an irrevocable mistake!

Yet, upon scrutinizing the chain of events, many began to discern that the true blame did not solely lie with Itachi!

The true perpetrators were none other than Konoha and the Uchiha clan!

These two colossal entities had cornered Itachi, leaving him with no avenue of escape, no recourse!

He was faced with a dire ultimatum: either join the cause of the Uchiha, precipitating a blood-drenched uprising within the village, ultimately resulting in failure and the severing of the Uchiha lineage.

Or accept the current predicament!

Itachi was akin to a small cog ensnared within the machinations of a colossal cog of destiny.

At that juncture, he was merely a pawn, propelled forward by forces beyond his control.

The trajectory of the world was beyond his reckoning!

In the river, Sasuke succumbed to tears.

Itachi had sacrificed everything for him, yet in return, all he had to offer was resentment!

The brother who once shared sweet treats now bore the weight of a lifetime's suffering!

Suddenly, the sound of approaching footsteps echoed from the forest.

Sasuke swiftly composed himself, submerging deeper into the river.

His heart raced with anxiety, dreading the possibility of discovery by patrolling ninjas. Yet, in the ensuing moment, a voice, familiar from countless late nights, resonated from the shore.

"Sasuke, I've returned."

Sasuke slowly emerged from the water, gazing vacantly at the figure on the bank, its contours blurring with memories. His face bore traces of river water mingled with tears, indiscernible.

There were no cries of joy, no impulsive rushes to embrace, and simultaneously, no probing inquiries.

All was silent.

At that moment, a mystical voice resonated within each person's heart.

[Reward Distribution,

[Rewards: Bodily Function Recovery, Mangekyō Upgrade: Eternal Mangekyō!)]

On the riverbank, as the sound echoed, Itachi's body ascended, enveloped in a radiant golden glow.

After a brief moment, the spectacle faded, leaving Itachi reborn.

Initially, his Sharingan, once shrouded in darkness, now gleamed with restored clarity.

His countenance, no longer marked by weariness, regained its vitality, the once prominent creases of fatigue appearing softened.

Kisame Hoshigaki observed intently, then burst into laughter:

"Hehe, Mr. Itachi, only now do I recall, you're barely twenty, aren't you?"

"Previously, you emanated the aura of a man in his forties."

At that instant, Itachi too felt a tinge of surprise, the absence of pain and anguish from his being incredibly liberating.

At what age did he lose this sensation?

Five, perhaps six?

It eluded his memory.

But there was more; his Mangekyō had ascended to Eternal Mangekyō, rendering concerns of blindness obsolete.

Simultaneously, a new ability manifested within his eyes.

Flame Manipulation!

Capable of morphing Amaterasu's infernal flames at will, extinguishing the abyssal darkness, or forging them into myriad weapons to equip Susanoo, boasting both offensive and defensive prowess.

A formidable skill indeed!

Itachi glanced at Sasuke, deducing that this newfound ability likely belonged to Sasuke's Mangekyō.

A weighty silence enveloped the atmosphere.

Once, Itachi entertained nightly fantasies of his reunion with Sasuke.

Would he provoke his weakened enemy with venomous words?

Or unleash the same murderous intent witnessed in their previous encounters?

Yet now, such notions seemed futile; he hadn't returned for such purposes.

With a thump, Itachi plunged into the river, abstaining from traversing its surface with Chakra.

Wading through the water, Itachi approached Sasuke with his head hung low.

"Sasuke, I apologize."

A thousand words churned within him, yet he managed only this sentence.

Sasuke's body suddenly convulsed, and after a few moments, he jerked his head up, tears and mucus staining his face.

(afah)

In the next instant, Sasuke lunged towards Itachi's arm, sinking his teeth in with such force, nearly grinding them!

"This is for Mother and Father!" he exclaimed between bites.

Sasuke didn't release his grip until blood coated his teeth, trickling into the river, its metallic tang reaching his tongue.

Then he collapsed, sobbing heartbrokenly.

Itachi's expression softened, a smile gracing his face after many years.

On the shore, the corner of Kisame's mouth unconsciously curved into a smile.

Born amidst a fog of blood, desire had long abandoned him.

Perhaps, merely witnessing sweetness wasn't so bad after all.

After a while, Sasuke's tears subsided into soft sobs, though his body still trembled.

At that moment, Itachi pondered and spoke:

"Over the years, I've come to realize that if I could return to that moment, I wouldn't do it."

"But though the past cannot be altered, yet..."

A pause, then Itachi's tone turned icy:

"To hell with Danzo, the Third Hokage must pay!"

In the past, he would never have dared such a thing!

Even after that fateful night, his heart still harbored love for Konoha!

But now, things were different.

After witnessing countless revelations and uncovering Konoha's deeper darkness, Itachi's perspective had entirely shifted.

Moreover, in Uchiha Madara's revelations, Sasuke's future appeared bleak!

He couldn't bear to see his brother succumb to such a fate.

Seeking vengeance against Danzo and the Third Hokage would undoubtedly unleash unknown havoc upon Konoha!

But now, it was a necessity.

However, what Itachi didn't anticipate was Sasuke's refusal!

"Brother, let's leave, let's get away from here entirely. It's better to hide away like Naruto," Sasuke implored, clutching Itachi's sleeve like a desperate cub.

Unlike the future depicted in the original storyline, where extreme hatred fuels Sasuke's desire for revenge against Konoha, at this moment, Sasuke is still young and hasn't yet faced the harsh realities that would shape his personality into something more extreme.

But those aren't the primary reasons behind his decision.

The real reason is simple.

He doesn't want to lose his beloved brother once again!

Having been favored by fate to uncover the truth, Sasuke sees no need to continue internalizing his suffering, nurturing hatred in his heart, and seeking retribution against those who wronged him. Instead, he just wants his brother to live a good life.

Itachi didn't argue. Instead, he smiled.

He didn't utter the usual reassurances to Sasuke about protecting him next time. Instead, he simply said:

"I'll follow your lead this time...

"My dear little brother."

****

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