Chapter 141

"Don't kill them yet, I still have something to ask them," Sasuke interrupted, fearing that Kazuki might finish them off.

Kazuki took half a step back, shrugged, and said, "You can ask."

Sasuke turned to the two councillors, their faces twisted in fear. He felt no mercy. His voice was cold:

"Did you order Uchiha Itachi to carry out the Uchiha massacre?"

"Ridiculous! We didn't!" Homura shouted.

"Is Kazuki telling you this? He's deceiving you! He's using you!"

"Ah!"

"AHHHH!"

Kazuki swiftly sliced off Homura's left arm with his sword, making him scream in agony. Blood sprayed across Koharu's face, and she let out a terrified shriek.

"Apologies, but I can't stand being slandered. If you say such things again, I'll have to cut off your right hand as well. Hmm... not that it matters. Your fingers are already broken and useless. Care to try slandering me again?"

Homura glared, his pain-ridden face contorted with rage.

"You think we'll break that easily? Sasuke, don't listen to him! The Uchiha were destroyed because Uchiha Itachi betrayed the village. Kazuki and Uchiha Itachi are probably in cahoots!"

"Really?" Kazuki raised an eyebrow, then swiftly severed both Homura's and Koharu's hands.

"Why... why are you doing this to me?" Koharu gasped through the pain, unable to comprehend.

"Hmm? Didn't he say you wouldn't surrender? So naturally, you both lose a hand," Kazuki answered as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

Koharu was left speechless, her face drained of all color.

"Continue with the questions?" Kazuki asked Sasuke.

Sasuke shook his head. "There's no point. They're too tough to be swayed by pain."

Homura had only spoken in hopes of turning him against Kazuki, but Sasuke was far too sharp to fall for such a simple ploy.

"Perhaps if we threaten their families, we might get somewhere," Kazuki suggested casually.

Sasuke pondered this. It wasn't a bad idea. He glanced coldly at the two councillors.

"The first one of you to tell me the truth will spare their family."

"We aren't lying. Believe us or not, we've said all we can!" Koharu's tone hardened. She wasn't about to confess. If they admitted to anything, they were surely dead. But if they stayed silent, maybe there was a slim chance for survival.

As for their families? It didn't matter anymore. They were willing to sacrifice everything.

Kazuki saw through their thoughts and sighed. "Seems they're tougher than expected. How about we try genjutsu?"

Sasuke, now a master of the three-tomoe Sharingan, could use genjutsu but had no way to delve deep into someone's subconscious to extract truths. Kazuki's suggestion puzzled him, but the answer came quickly.

In an instant, Kazuki's eyes transformed into the three-tomoe Sharingan. He fixed his gaze on Mito Kadoyan and Koharu, casting a powerful genjutsu over them.

"Your eyes too!" Sasuke's eyes widened in surprise. He hadn't known Kazuki had awakened the Sharingan, let alone mastered it to this level. But with Kazuki's strength, it was almost expected.

Before the two could react, Homura and Koharu fell completely under Kazuki's control, their expressions now blank, the agony of their missing limbs no longer registering.

"You can ask your questions now, though it's up to you whether you trust their answers."

Kazuki hadn't initially resorted to genjutsu, knowing that any answers given under control could be tainted by his influence. Sasuke was aware of this but still chose to trust Kazuki. After all, Kazuki had been his guide for years, shaping him into the ninja he was today. Without Kazuki, his current strength and pursuit of vengeance wouldn't have been possible.

"Who ordered Uchiha Itachi to massacre the Uchiha clan?" Sasuke demanded.

"It was Shimura Danzo's order, with the tacit approval of Sarutobi Hiruzen and other Konoha councillors," they answered in unison, their voices dull.

Sasuke's fists clenched as he asked, "Why?"

"The Uchiha clan was planning a coup against Konoha. We had no choice. Either Konoha would be overrun, or Uchiha Itachi would handle it alone."

"Uchiha Itachi!" Sasuke's fists tightened, fury welling up inside him as he recalled his brother's betrayal. "I have no further questions. Kill them."

"Don't you want to ask why Uchiha Itachi did it?" Kazuki interjected.

"It doesn't matter. The moment he killed my clan and my parents, he sealed his fate. Whatever reason he had, he's already dead to me." Sasuke's voice was cold and final. He raised his sword and swiftly decapitated both advisors. Their heads hit the floor, and blood pooled across the office.

Kazuki sighed, shaking his head as he looked at the lifeless bodies. "What a shame. If only Jiraiya weren't in the village, we could've controlled them with the Sharingan and used them."

Kazuki's Sharingan was more than capable of long-term control over these weak councillors, but with Jiraiya present, there was a risk of him discovering the genjutsu. Jiraiya's keen eye, especially during Hiruzen's funeral, could jeopardize their plans.

No, it was better to let Danzo take over in the chaos that followed. Sasuke's revenge had aligned with Kazuki's goals perfectly.

"Why don't you go straight to the Daimyo's mansion and control the Fire Daimyo himself?" Kazuki mused aloud, but then quickly dismissed the thought.

He had no desire to control the world or be entangled in the ambitions of other powerful figures. His goal was simple: to live peacefully in Konoha, unhindered by anyone's rebellion.

As for the Daimyo? As long as they didn't interfere with his life, Kazuki had no interest in them. But should they cross him… well, killing them would be much simpler than controlling them.

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The fanfic is finished on p@treon/tambeerg