Chapter 226 : Everyone Shocked!!

The taste of victory lingered in the air, tantalizingly close, yet snatched away by death's cruel hand! 

This sudden turn of events left countless bystanders speechless, their minds reeling in disbelief. 

But amidst the shock, a deeper sense of bewilderment settled in. It defied all logic!

Itachi, in that critical moment, possessed the strength to defeat Sasuke, even at the cost of his own life. Yet, this ruthless individual, capable of wiping out entire clans, refrained from doing so. 

Why?

And then, in the blink of an eye, another twist unfolded!

[The scene suddenly rewinds ten seconds!]

[This time, viewed through Uchiha Sasuke's eyes!]

[Unlike the distant gaze before, now Itachi's face is clear, his eyes gentle as he utters silently:]

["Forgive me, Sasuke, this is the last time.]

The distance closes in, the words concise, yet every syllable carries weight, imprinting itself upon the minds of all who witness it.

But what does "the last time" signify?

Many are left pondering, lost in contemplation.

Yet, amidst the confusion, some astute individuals grasp the truth with lightning speed!

In the world of the Hokage!

Kushina remains deep in thought.

But Naruto, with his straightforward nature, suddenly experiences a revelation, his voice bursting with excitement:

"Ahhh!!"

"I get it now! But how... how could this be!? How!?"

Facing his mother's stern gaze, Naruto hurriedly clarified:

"Mom, it's a deception!"

"Uchiha Itachi was deceiving Sasuke from the very beginning!"

"He never intended to harm Sasuke!"

Luffy's words struck like lightning, not only reaching Kushina but also resonating with Namikaze Minato.

"I see!"

"Indeed, this sheds light on Itachi's superiority over Sasuke, yet it explains the perplexing dynamics of their entire confrontation!"

Namikaze Minato continued his analysis:

"Right from the onset, the Mangekyō Sharingan's illusion, Tsukuyomi, was shattered. Subsequently, the seemingly straightforward technique, Shadow Shuriken Jutsu, began to unravel!"

"It even managed to exhaust Sasuke's entire chakra, summoned Orochimaru, and effectively neutralized the threat, ensuring Sasuke's safety!"

Kushina, equally impressed, applauded:

"I comprehend now. This also elucidates why Itachi possessed the Yata Mirror and the Sword of Totsuka!"

"He must have been observing Sasuke, aware of his ties to Orochimaru, all for Sasuke's sake!"

"So, not only did he harbor no desire to harm his younger brother, but he harbored deep affection for him!"

Having arrived at this realization, the trio stood dumbfounded.

Meanwhile, within the depths of his underground lair, Orochimaru was equally taken aback.

Simultaneously, a revelation dawned upon him: perhaps Uchiha Madara didn't slay his brother solely for his eyes either.

There seemed to be a more profound secret at play.

While Naruto and others grasped the truth, nearly every ninja across the shinobi world began dissecting the events.

Yet, they found themselves at a loss once more.

What drove Uchiha Itachi, who matured prematurely, bore witness to the horrors of war, and understood the value of peace, to devolve into his current state?

And most agonizingly, what about Sasuke?

His pride in the Sharingan now shattered, realizing he had been living a fabricated reality, insulated by Itachi's illusions.

"My brother remains unchanged, his love unwavering!"

Yet, why did he perpetrate atrocities that shook both mortals and ninjas alike, annihilating his clan and slaying his parents with his own hands?

In this moment, a maelstrom of conflicting emotions engulfed Sasuke, threatening to tear him apart, leaving him on the brink of collapse.

After several moments, he regained his composure, gasping for breath.

And his eyes turned into three hooked jade!

Sasuke was unaware of his transformation, and in that moment, the scene shifted once more!

"The screen doesn't stop, but it rapidly rewinds through time!"

[Before long, the imagery transitions back to Uchiha Itachi's childhood.]

[Another blood moon rose, marking the onset of the Nine Tails rebellion!]

[As only the Sharingan of the Uchiha clan could control the power of the Nine Tails at that time, suspicions arose among the higher-ups of Konoha regarding the Uchiha clan. Consequently, the entire Uchiha clan relocated to the outskirts of the village, subjected to monitoring and isolation.]

"No one doubted this, but who would have anticipated that the deceased Uchiha Madara would return to exact revenge!

"It appears that the root of all this malevolence has resurfaced in Uchiha Madara!"

Within Iwagakure, the Tsuchikage wore an openly sarcastic expression!

Simultaneously, the majority of Konoha's populace revisited those days!

Those days of animosity, of resenting the Uchiha clan!

Many faces displayed remorse and shame, coupled with a hint of bewilderment as to why they had once believed the rumors...

In the underground, the expressions of the Third Hokage and Danzo shifted simultaneously.

[The screen continues its swift progression!]

["Due to the actions of Konoha's upper echelons and the rumors of Uchiha's control over the Nine Tails within the village, public indignation was stoked!"

[Uchiha's existence grew increasingly arduous, heightening the tensions with Konoha!]

"After resettling, Itachi's father began instructing Fire Release ninjutsu, only to be astonished by Itachi's ability to grasp it after a single observation!"

[Subsequently, Itachi resumed schooling. Whether in ninjutsu, taijutsu, or shurikenjutsu, he excelled above all others!]

"Becoming a paragon among his peers, he also crossed paths with a Uchiha girl of his age, and they shared a mutual fondness!"

[However, Itachi existed in a realm apart from his peers. He eschewed conventional schooling, instead utilizing Shadow Clones to disseminate knowledge!]

"Just then, he encountered another individual!"

[ Uchiha Shisui! ]

In the moonlight, Sasuke's thoughts drift to Shisui!

He often felt envious as Shisui was constantly by Itachi's side, leaving little time for his brother to be with him!

However, it appeared that Shisui vanished after some time!

Reflecting on it now, something feels amiss; it must have been an unfortunate demise!

[Soon, Itachi and Shisui grew close, forming a bond, as both mentors and companions!]

[Not long after, Itachi graduated ahead of schedule, only to encounter a fearsome masked figure during a mission!]

[The entire team fell victim, and consumed by grief and fury, Itachi awakened the Two Tomoe Sharingan!]

[Yet, upon returning home, Uchiha Fugaku, his father, not only failed to offer solace but celebrated the emergence of his ocular prowess!]

Staring incredulously at his father's retreating figure, from that moment onward, the youth's heart seemed to undergo a premature maturation.

[He begins to harbor disdain for Uchiha customs!]

[And henceforth, disdain for familial authority!]

[However, Itachi didn't rebuke or express indignation; instead, he offered a compliant smile and said:]

["I'll strive harder from now on!"]

[That pivotal moment marked the commencement of Itachi's... journey into the art of deception!]

****

Support me on my ko-fi account and read upto 15 early chapters,

https://ko-fi.com/aayume