Chapter 381: Itachi's Shock

"Is this... Tsukuyomi?"

After entering the mysterious Genjutsu space, Yu looked around with great interest at the surroundings and the countless appearances of Itachi before him.

Tsukuyomi—a Dojutsu residing in Itachi's left eye, is one of the ultimate Dojutsu powers of the Mangekyo Sharingan, the "hypnotic eye." It is a visual-based Genjutsu that can only be activated through eye contact.

This technique transfers the target's mind into a world created by the user, the world of Tsukuyomi. In this world, everything—time, matter, and all other factors—are entirely under the user's control, and the person trapped in the Genjutsu is bound and unable to resist. 

It can be used to torture the opponent or make them witness any kind of illusion. While it cannot cause physical damage, it can inflict severe mental harm. Additionally, it can be used to release others from their Genjutsu.

No matter how much time passes in the Tsukuyomi world, it is only an instant in the real world, making it theoretically impossible to break. H

owever, its weaknesses are its short range, which doesn't exceed five meters, and the immense mental strain it places on the user.

In the anime, the first time Itachi appeared, he used this technique, defeating Konoha's top Jonin, Hatake Kakashi, with just a glance, leaving him in a miserable state.

"This is the space of Tsukuyomi…"

"In this world, everything is completely under my control."

As Yu found himself successfully drawn into the Tsukuyomi Genjutsu space, countless deep voices of Itachi echoed around him.

"Enough with the nonsense, I know this is a Genjutsu space."

"I have seen Shisui's ultimate Genjutsu, Kotoamatsukami: Beams of Light."

At this moment, Yu, a little impatient, directly interrupted Itachi's chatter, turning the situation from passive to active. His deep amber eyes met Itachi's eerie, blood-red Mangekyo Sharingan without hesitation. "So... your purpose in returning to Konoha this time is for the Nine-Tails, isn't it?"

"How do you know?!"

Hearing Yu's interruption and then his next words, Itachi's expression changed instantly.

"As for your other purpose... it should be to come back and check if Sasuke's situation is safe, right?"

Ignoring Itachi's shocked expression, Yu, standing alone among countless Itachi clones, continued.

"Why would you...?"

With the secrets of the Akatsuki Organization and his own secrets exposed by Yu, Itachi could no longer hide his astonishment.

"And infiltrating the Akatsuki as a spy to gather information for Konoha... that must have been the task entrusted to you by Sarutobi-sensei, right?"

Disregarding Itachi's shocked expression, Yu continued with his relentless questioning.

"Did all of this... come from what Third Hokage told you?"

After taking a deep breath, Itachi finally regained his composure and asked Yu, "How do you know about all this?"

"I have ways of finding out what I want to know."

Looking at the emotionless Itachi, Yu's gaze became somewhat complicated. He knew Itachi's heart was not at peace. "I've just always wanted to ask you, Itachi... is all this really worth it?"

In the anime, Itachi is a highly contradictory character. He can be cold-blooded and merciless, personally slaughtering his entire clan, yet he can also shoulder such a heavy burden alone for the sake of Konoha and Sasuke.

"To be honest, I completely cannot understand your and Shisui's thoughts…"

"Konoha is the object of your protection, but isn't your family also something you should protect?"

Staring at Itachi, who had fallen into silence, Yu couldn't help but recall Shisui and asked persistently, "And Sasuke? Sasuke is your family. Aren't your parents and all the members of the Uchiha Clan also your family?"

As the words fell, silence spread everywhere. What Yu said was like a series of sharp shuriken, deeply piercing Itachi's heart.

Yes...

How could he forget?

Listening silently to Yu's words, Itachi's hands clenched tightly. He could never forget that blood-soaked night. Since that day, the curses and wails of his clan had never ceased in his mind.

"Is Sasuke really that special to you?"

Looking at the silent Itachi, Yu's eyes showed more confusion. "I really don't understand you guys who are obsessed with your younger siblings…"

Itachi feels this way about Uchiha Sasuke, Uchiha Madara felt this way about Uchiha Izuna, and Senju Hashirama felt this way about Senju Tobirama. Yu found himself completely unable to understand their obsessive feelings for their younger siblings.

"Sasuke…"

Hearing Yu mention Sasuke, Itachi's silent gaze trembled, and he finally spoke in a strained voice. "If Konoha were a ship, I would see Sasuke as a plank on this ship… Even if one day the ship of Konoha were to sink, Sasuke, this plank, would still be able to drift on."

After listening to Itachi, Yu's heart was stirred. Although he still could not agree with Itachi's actions, he could clearly sense the heavy love Itachi had for his younger brother from his words.

"So, Yu, even though I don't know how you learned so many secrets…"

"But the Akatsuki is backed by a power even you cannot stop... For Shisui's sake, I hope you won't interfere with our mission this time."

After saying this, Itachi's eyes glowed as he activated Tsukuyomi again, causing the Genjutsu space to change once more. Yu was immediately fixed onto a crucifix.

"A power even I cannot stop?"

Seeing Itachi fix him to the crucifix and silently draw a sharp blade, attempting to torture him into a breakdown like Kakashi in the anime, Yu smirked derisively. "Are you referring to Six Paths Pain? Or the masked man who called himself 'Uchiha Madara' and had one of his arms severed by me last time?"

Conqueror's Haki!!

Ignoring Itachi's shocked gaze, as Yu spoke, his entire body erupted with indescribable spiritual energy. His will and aura intertwined into a black-red, lightning-like force that surged wildly around him. The entire Tsukuyomi world began to collapse instantly.

...

In the Tsukuyomi world, ten minutes had passed, but in the outside world, less than a second had gone by.

"Huff… ha… huff…"

Itachi suddenly knelt on one knee in front of Yu, gasping for breath. He covered his left eye with one hand, his face full of disbelief. "How is this possible… My Tsukuyomi was… defeated by you?!"

"Itachi? Are you okay?!"

Seeing Itachi's condition, Kisame, who was nearby, quickly struggled to get up from the ground.

"Let's call it a day…"

"Well then, I won't interfere with your mission any longer…"

Facing the incredulous expressions of Itachi and Kisame, Yu opened a portal to another dimension and stepped through, disappearing from their view.

Just as the Akatsuki's Deidara practiced his left eye to enhance his resistance to Genjutsu after his defeat by Itachi, Yu's Conqueror's Haki is a rare, "chosen" power possessed by one in a million.

Moreover, having personally experienced the ultimate Genjutsu techniques of the Sound-based Sage Art: Illusion: Toad Confrontation Chant and the visual-based ultimate Genjutsu Kotoamatsukami: Beams of Light, he has developed a strong resistance to Genjutsu. So now, with his spiritual energy as stable as a rock, he is immune to the vast majority of Genjutsu.

Akatsuki… you still have some value left…

Whether it's Uchiha Obito, Uchiha Madara, or Black Zetsu, the Ten-Tails is not solely your objective…

As Yu left, Itachi finally could no longer hold on and collapsed beside Kisame. His once blood-red, eerie Mangekyo Sharingan had reverted to normal black eyes. The fact that Tsukuyomi was broken by Yu clearly inflicted a severe mental burden on him.

"Truly an unfathomable guy…"

"Yu, how did you come to know all those secrets?"

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