Chapter 74
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In the dimly lit room, a dozen Sharingan eyes gleamed like the most exquisite red gems, radiating dazzling light.
Sasuke stared at the scene, dumbfounded. He had countless things he wanted to say, but when he opened his mouth, he somehow forgot them all.
After fleeing the village, he had imagined many scenarios he might encounter.
Some good, some bad.
But he had never imagined that the scene he dreamed about every night for five years would one day appear so vividly before him.
"Uchiha... Uchiha..."
Unconsciously, Sasuke's three-tomoe Sharingan had activated, and tears flowed from eyes that had only shed blood, never tears.
At other times, he might have felt embarrassed.
But at this moment, his entire being was filled with joy, and he paid no attention to such things.
As Hanare had said, this was indeed a tremendous surprise.
"Good child!"
Seeing Sasuke's tears of joy and his three-tomoe Sharingan on display, the elderly woman, once known as Uchiha Anki and now Hagoromo Anki, nodded with satisfaction: "Welcome home, Sasuke. This may not be the Uchiha clan's territory, but wherever there are clan members, it is home, isn't it?"
"You... you are..." Finally recovering, Sasuke tried to hold back his tears, but his voice was still choked.
"As you see, we are also Uchiha, transferred out of the clan before the night of the massacre," said a gentle female voice beside him.
Sasuke turned to see a young woman with three-tomoe Sharingan, a striking and familiar face. She walked over, offering him some tissues.
Sasuke took them, about to say "thank you," when a less polite voice, tinged with a hint of killing intent, suddenly spoke from the other side.
"Uchiha Sasuke! Who is your enemy now?"
Sasuke turned to see a cold-looking Uchiha man with his arms crossed, questioning him with a stern tone.
Without hesitation, Sasuke clenched his fists and declared firmly: "Uchiha Itachi! That man!! I will kill him with my own hands!!"
Hearing this, the Uchiha man stared at Sasuke for a while, then suddenly smirked, a sinister smile forming on his lips: "Good! That's the true Uchiha spirit! I look forward to the day of revenge."
"So, Sasuke, welcome back to the Uchiha clan. My name is Uchiha Zanki."
Initially, Zanki had the biggest issue with Sasuke, the younger brother of their enemy and the sole survivor of the Konoha Uchiha clan.
However, seeing the unbridled flames of revenge in Sasuke's eyes, he immediately changed his attitude and accepted him.
With Anki and Zanki taking the lead, the other Uchiha clan members also began to speak, and the room became lively.
"I am Uchiha Yuka. Sasuke, it must have been hard for you all these years in Konoha."
"That's right, Sasuke! Unlike Itachi, who never considered us his own. I see the pride of the Uchiha in you. I, Uchiha Hiroshi, acknowledge you!"
"Sasuke, train hard. One day, we will kill Itachi together and avenge our innocent clan members!"
"…"
One by one, the Uchiha clan members warmly patted Sasuke on the shoulder, showing the true affection of the Uchiha.
Sasuke was moved, looking at his kind-hearted clan members.
For so many years, he thought he was the only Uchiha left.
Loneliness, isolation, even despair.
These feelings had connected him with Naruto, forming a bond.
But at this moment! Sasuke realized he had found his home again.
A warm, kind, blood-bound home.
He was immensely grateful for his choice to leave the village that night.
"Sasuke, don't put too much pressure on yourself. Besides revenge, you should also have your own life," the young woman who had handed him the tissues advised with concern.
Sasuke looked at the young woman again.
She smiled gently and introduced herself, "I am Uchiha Izumi. Sasuke, do you remember me?"
"...I remember."
Sasuke nodded with a complicated expression.
He remembered now.
The woman before him, Izumi, was the one Itachi had liked before everything changed.
"You..." Sasuke wanted to ask but didn't know how to start.
Understanding his thoughts, Izumi explained, "Elder Setsuna realized the escalating conflicts within the village and the clan. Regardless of success, to ensure the Uchiha clan's continuity, he secretly arranged for some young Uchiha to leave the village and come to our traditional ally, the Hagoromo clan, before the coup.
We were the chosen ones. Looking back, Elder Setsuna's decision was correct. Itachi..."
She paused.
After a moment, she looked at Sasuke, her eyes firm, "Itachi is Itachi, and you are you. Don't worry about being blamed by the Uchiha clan members for being his brother. You, like us, are a true Uchiha, a true avenger."
"My grandmother, who raised me, and my mother both died on the night of the massacre, killed by Itachi. I will avenge them! I will!"
"I understand."
Sasuke nodded heavily.
"By the way, can I still call you Izumi-nee?"
"Of course!"
Seeing Izumi's familiar smile, just as it had been in the past.
Feeling the real pain, sorrow, and anger from the surviving clan members.
At this moment, Sasuke's hatred for Itachi deepened, realizing not only his parents but many others' parents had also died horribly.
"I will avenge the Uchiha clan! I will kill Itachi! I swear!"
Sasuke clenched his fists, engraving the warm, lively scene of his clan members into his heart.
Such pain must never befall them again! The Uchiha clan's welcome feast lasted a long time.
Late at night.
Sasuke, smiling more than he had in years, pushed open the door, planning to find a quiet place to relax his stiff face.
Sensing something, he looked up.
Under the crescent moon, on the eaves, Gensou stood silently, back facing him.
"After the warmth, do you still have the will to fight?" Gensou asked without turning.
Sasuke's eyes narrowed, "Of course!"
"Then let the test begin."
Gensou's figure flashed, disappearing into the night.
Without hesitation, Sasuke followed immediately.
(End of Chapter)