Aftermath

After the meeting with Itachi, Yato quickly reached the Uchiha clan but didn't rush in. According to Riku, multiple Jonin and Chunin were surrounding the area. If he showed himself, he would be arrested and interrogated. Even though he was innocent, Konoha's higher-ups wouldn't allow information to leak before they had control.

"Can you tell how many of them are inside?" Yato asked.

Riku, floating nearby, turned around. "I don't know. You already know I can't go beyond 10 meters from you."

Yato sighed. Riku's limited range was a pity; otherwise, he could have sent Riku to collect the sealed book from the Hokage's office.

"I guess there's no other way than to use that," Yato said, calling up the exchange shop to buy an item he had seen earlier.

Yato navigated through the exchange shop until he found the item he had in mind: a stealth cloak that temporarily rendered the wearer invisible to both sight and sensory detection. He purchased it without hesitation.

It cost him 35,000 TP.

"Alright, this should do the trick," Yato muttered as he donned the cloak. The fabric shimmered briefly before blending seamlessly into the surroundings.

Riku watched with interest. "That's quite the item. Hopefully, it lasts long enough for you to get what you need."

Yato nodded. "Let's hope so. Stay close and alert me if anything changes."

With the cloak activated, Yato moved silently towards the Uchiha compound. The once-bustling area was eerily quiet. As he approached the perimeter, he saw Jonin and Chunin ninjas patrolling, their expressions grim.

Yato carefully went past them, making sure not to cause any noise as he slipped through the main entrance. Inside, the aftermath of the massacre was even more apparent. Dead bodies lay across the ground from different ages.

Even the cold-hearted Yato felt a chill run down his spine. Itachi was really ruthless. Yato couldn't imagine how he could even have the heart to kill little kids, younger than even his brother.

After sighing, Yato moved cautiously through the Uchiha compound before he came across a team of Root ninjas wearing masks, collecting bodies. He hid in the shadows, observing their actions.

One Root Ninja kneeled beside a corpse, carefully extracting a Sharingan from the body and placing it inside a sealed scroll. The others were engaged in similar tasks, efficiently removing and storing the coveted Sharingan.

Yato observed the root ninjas, knowing he had to act quickly. He glanced at Riku, who was invisible to everyone except him.

"Riku," Yato whispered, "we need to steal those scrolls. You're invisible to them, so you'll be the one to take them while I guide you."

Riku nodded. "I'll do my best. Let's move."

Riku floated silently toward the first root ninja, carefully grabbing the scroll containing the extracted Sharingan. As he pulled it away, the ninja noticed its absence.

"Where's the scroll?" The ninja exclaimed, his voice laced with panic. He looked around, bewildered, unable to see Riku.

"What's wrong?" another ninja asked, turning to face him.

"The scroll! It was right here, and now it's gone!" the first ninja replied, alarmed.

The other ninjas began to look around, their eyes darting suspiciously. "Everyone, check your scrolls!" the leader barked. "Someone might be here!"

Despite the tension, Riku continued his task, moving quickly to the next ninja. The ninjas, now on high alert, searched frantically for the missing scroll but couldn't see the invisible Riku.

"Stay calm and keep an eye out," the leader commanded. "We need to find out who's behind this."

Riku managed to steal another scroll, causing more panic among the root ninjas. "Another one is gone!" a ninja shouted. "This doesn't make sense!"

The Root Ninjas were now in complete disarray, frantically looking around but unable to identify the source of their problem. Yato watched from his hidden vantage point, noting their growing confusion and frustration.

"Riku, keep going. We need all of them," Yato whispered.

Riku continued his work, methodically stealing the remaining scrolls. The chaos among the Root Ninjas escalated with each disappearance. They were shouting orders, searching every corner, but finding nothing.

"Whoever's doing this, show yourself!" The leader yelled, his voice betraying his desperation.

Riku returned to Yato, the stolen scrolls securely in his possession. "Got them all," he whispered.

Yato nodded, a sense of grim satisfaction washing over him. "Let's get out of here before they figure out what's going on."

They retreated to a safe distance, where they could still hear the frantic voices of the Root Ninjas.

Inside the compound, chaos erupted as the root ninjas discovered the missing scrolls. 

"Where are the scrolls?" one of the ninjas demanded, panic evident in his voice. 

"They were right here! Who could have taken them?" Another shouted, looking around wildly. 

"Report this to Danzo-sama immediately. We can't afford to lose those Sharingans!" The leader of the group barked, frustrated and fearful in his tone.

With the stolen scrolls securely in their possession, Yato and Riku made their way out of the area, moving cautiously until they were out.

*****

A few days later, Sasuke finally woke up from his coma. The blow he suffered was severe. First, he witnessed the deaths of his parents, and then he was hit by Itachi's "Tsukuyomi." This caused him to stay in the hospital for three days before regaining consciousness.

Even after waking up, Sasuke still felt dizzy. After pulling out the infusion tube from his arm, he left the hospital in a gown and ran towards the Uchiha clan without looking back. He still couldn't accept what happened that night. He wished he was dreaming, and now that he was awake, his father, mother, and clansmen should be back.

However, when he arrived at the Uchiha clan's territory and saw the crossed seals, he could no longer deceive himself and wandered around the area like a ghost.

"Dad…Mom…" Looking at the Uchiha clan, which resembled a dead city, Sasuke could no longer control himself, and tears rolled down his cheeks.

"This look suits you very well, Uchiha Sasuke!" A mocking voice suddenly rang in his ears. He looked up to see the freak from his class.

"What are you doing here? You are not welcome here."

Sasuke quickly wiped away his tears, stood up, suppressed his sadness, and glared at Yato.

"I'm just passing by on my way home. It's very quiet here. I like it."

"Do you want to die?" Sasuke's anger ignited instantly. He was about to attack Yato when he saw the scroll in his hand. Recognizing it as the Fire Release Ninjutsu scroll Itachi had given him, Sasuke became furious.

"Why do you have this?" He demanded, ready to fight to the death if Yato couldn't explain.

Yato looked at the scroll and said calmly, "Your dearest brother gave it to me."

"That's nonsense!" Sasuke's eyes blazed with anger. "Why would he give you our Uchiha clan's ninjutsu scroll?"

"It's not for no reason. This was a deal between him and me. The price was that I would become a tool to measure your determination. For me, it was a good deal. All I need to do is show mercy and not beat you to death."

Yato's tone was calm, without revealing any extra expression. But Sasuke couldn't ignore it.

"Then you can die." With a roar, Sasuke charged at Yato, but even in his prime, he was no match for Yato. How could he defeat him in his current condition?

Bang! With a powerful kick, Yato sent Sasuke flying, hitting a wall hard before falling to the ground.

"You can come to me anytime in the future," Yato said, looking down at him. "But I suggest you don't."

Damn it! Damn it! Damn it! Sasuke's mouth bled, not from Yato's kick but from biting too hard. He looked up at Yato's departing figure and roared angrily. "Just wait for me, freak. I will defeat you, and then... then I will crush that man's heart with my bare hands." He lowered his head and cried again.

A breeze blew by, and in the vast Uchiha clan territory, only one person's cries echoed.

"Isn't this too harsh, even from you?" Riku watched from afar, feeling a bit sorry. No matter what, Sasuke was only seven years old when he experienced all this.

"The best way to forget the pain is to divert your attention. For now, let me be his target." Yato walked away without looking back.

****

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