Ch-178 Itachi was a good man.

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Jiryoku, who watched the entire battle, also departed without wasting any time since his purpose for coming here had been fulfilled.

Jiraiya, Kakashi, Naruto, and Sakura likewise departed from the location.

----

In a dimly lit room, Sasuke opened his eyes and glanced around, finding himself enveloped in snug white bandages.

As he adjusted the wrapping around his head, Sasuke asked, "Where am I? I recall losing consciousness due to my severe injuries."

"You were indeed severely injured. It required considerable effort on my part to save you," replied a voice, which belonged to none other than Obito.

Obito literally had to do his best to save Sasuke because the detonation of explosive tags inside the Kamui space further exacerbated Sasuke's injuries. In order to heal the exacerbated injuries and keep Sasuke alive, Obito had to exert himself.

Obito appeared, and as Sasuke gazed into Obito's eyes, their eyes met, prompting Sasuke to unleash 'Amaterasu' on Obito.

And Obito's entire body was engulfed in the black flames of 'Amaterasu'. Obito had no choice but to resort to using 'Izanagi' to save himself.

Upon reappearing, Obito exclaimed in a frustrated tone, "Damn it, Itachi, you will go to any length to protect your younger brother. I managed to avoid using 'Izanagi' even while battling Naruto and Kakashi, but now I've had to use 'Izanagi' even though I'm not engaged in combat."

"What are you talking about? Why the hell would that man protect me?" said Sasuke.

"You don't understand everything. Everything Itachi did until now was to protect you. He killed his own clan just so he could protect you," replied Obito.

"What nonsense are you talking about? No, this can never happen," said Sasuke. Mentally exhausted and already injured, Sasuke couldn't process this revelation and fainted.

Finally, after a few hours, Sasuke was able to regain consciousness, and then Obito explained everything to him. Obito detailed the entire history of the Uchiha clan to Sasuke, including how the higher-ups of Konoha coerced Itachi into a devastating decision. Itachi was given two options: either protect his younger brother, Sasuke, or exterminate the entire Uchiha clan. With a heavy heart, Itachi chose Sasuke and reluctantly agreed to the demands of the Konoha authorities to wipe out his own clan.

At first, obviously, Sasuke didn't believe everything Obito told him. However, when Sasuke visited the 'Howling Wolf Village' and learned from Keina and 'Reishi Kodon' how Itachi used to speak about Sasuke all the time to them, and from them, Sasuke also learned about Itachi's terminal illness, which Itachi had been suffering from for years. After all of this, Sasuke finally believed that his brother was indeed a good person, but due to circumstances created by the higher-ups of Konoha, Itachi had to do what he did.

Finally, when Sasuke returned from the 'Howling Wolf Village', he awakened his 'Mangekyo Sharingan', and on that day, he also renamed his established organization from "Hebi" to "Taka". The sole mission of Taka was to destroy Konoha.

"I will assist you in destroying Konoha, but first, you must help me kill someone," said Obito.

"Let me be clear: I only wish to eliminate the higher-ups of Konoha, not all of its people," said Sasuke. He then continued, "Who do you want me to kill?"

"Nagato, also known by the name Pain," replied Obito, his voice carrying a weight of significance.

"Isn't he the leader of the Akatsuki?" inquired Sasuke, his brow furrowing with curiosity.

"No, I am the leader of the Akatsuki," clarified Obito, his tone decisive. "Now, I have no use for Pain in my plan, and he also possesses something that belongs to me, something I must reclaim."

A thoughtful expression crossed Sasuke's face. He contemplated asking, "If that possession holds such value to you, why don't you retrieve it yourself?" Yet, he refrained, sensing there might be deeper reasons at play. Instead, he simply nodded, his agreement conveyed through a solemn gesture. "Okay, I will assist you in eliminating Nagato."

Obito returned Sasuke's nod, a sense of satisfaction emanating from his demeanor as he acknowledged Sasuke's commitment to their cause.

---

The entire process of Sasuke's journey to the 'Howling Wolf Village' and the subsequent awakening of his 'Mangekyo Sharingan' spanned nearly a week, filled with revelations and intense introspection.

Meanwhile, back in Konoha, a mere two days after the climactic showdown between Itachi and Sasuke, Jiraiya, accompanied by Team 7, returned to the safety of the village's walls.

Within the solemn confines of the Hokage's office, Jiraiya meticulously recounted the recent tumultuous events to Tsunade. "Regrettably, our attempts to capture Sasuke were in vain. We bore witness to the fierce clash between Itachi and Sasuke, which culminated in Itachi's demise. Furthermore, Orochimaru, in a desperate bid for power, sought to seize control of Sasuke's body, only to meet his own demise at the hands of Uchiha Itachi. It seems that Orochimaru's nefarious ambitions have finally met their end," he concluded, offering a comprehensive summary of the recent turmoil.

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