Outside the Uchiha Hideout, Natsuro and Kisame Hoshigaki stood silently.
At first, Kisame had been wary, suspecting that Natsuro might take advantage of his distraction and sneak into the hideout using his incredible abilities.
But as time passed, he realized, Natsuro truly had no intention of entering.
Ever since they had made their wager, Natsuro had merely closed his eyes, standing still as if meditating.
After a long time, Kisame sensed the battle's movements from within the hideout, it had begun and had now spilled into the open.
If Natsuro weren't here, Kisame would have wanted to watch the fight himself.
But since he wasn't moving, Kisame also refrained from going.
Then, he saw it.
A colossal Susanoo, towering dozens of meters high.
"Sasuke actually forced Itachi to this extent?"
Kisame was shocked when he saw Itachi's Susanoo manifest.
He knew Itachi's body condition, it was barely capable of using Susanoo anymore.
Forcing himself to use it could very well kill him!
"There are many things you still can't predict."
Natsuro finally opened his eyes, smiling as he spoke.
He had been using his sensory abilities to monitor the battle from the start.
From the initial genjutsu exchange to the escalation into a full-scale ninjutsu duel, he had anticipated their moves.
But now, with Itachi using Susanoo…
Sasuke should also start using Sage Mode.
Yet, at that moment... A second Susanoo appeared and this one was even larger than Itachi's.
For the first time, Natsuro was momentarily speechless.
This meant, Sasuke had awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan.
But when?
If he had just awakened it, he shouldn't have been able to use Susanoo so easily, let alone skip its first form. So, did Sasuke awaken his Mangekyō after receiving that letter?
Natsuro was surprised.
Then, he smiled. He was happy for Sasuke because it meant that Sasuke had chosen his own path. A path not dictated by Itachi, one not filled with pain and despair.
After a long silence, Kisame sighed. He had lost hope for Itachi's victory. Knowing Itachi's physical condition, Kisame understood. If Itachi used Susanoo and didn't win quickly, he would lose no matter what.
Then, he saw it, the final clash.
Yasaka Magatama versus Sasuke's violet arrow.
The sheer force of their impact left Kisame in awe, neither of these were attacks he could have survived.
But in the end, Sasuke's arrow broke through.
Pierced through Itachi's Susanoo. And struck Itachi himself. Kisame fell silent.
"Looks like I won." Natsuro stretched lazily, his tone relaxed.
"Yeah… I'll honor our wager. But remember, no harming anyone."
Kisame sighed in defeat. "Got it."
Natsuro nodded and then vanished, disappearing into thin air.
Kisame didn't argue because Sasuke was the one most suited to collect Itachi's body.
Even though Sasuke had killed him, he was still Itachi's younger brother and perhaps, deep down, this was Itachi's wish.
Kisame glanced at the darkening sky. It looked like it was going to rain soon.
With his massive sword strapped to his back, Kisame turned and walked away. He had done what he promised Itachi, there was no reason to stay any longer.
...
At the Battlefield
"I won, Itachi."
Sasuke stood before his fallen brother. But there was no joy in his heart. No satisfaction from revenge.
Only emptiness.
"Cough… cough…!" Itachi coughed violently, blood dripping from his lips, his body trembling.
His condition was worse than ever.
"Ah… yes… You won, Sasuke." After recovering from his coughing fit, Itachi spoke.
"Itachi, I have one last question." Sasuke's voice was quiet.
"That night… When you killed our clan, did you ever hesitate?"
Itachi paused. Then, he answered. "Hesitation? Sasuke… Hesitation is meaningless. So is regret."
"I chose this path… and I will not regret it. Even if I could do it all over again… the result would be the same." His voice was weak, but his resolve was firm.
There was no need to earn Sasuke's sympathy, that would only make Sasuke question his own actions. Itachi would rather bear all the hatred, just as he had always done.
"I see." Sasuke nodded silently, falling into thoughtful silence.
Looking at Itachi now, he couldn't help but remember his older brother from childhood. The gentle and kind brother he once idolized. Even at the end, when Itachi pretended to want his eyes, it was just to make Sasuke hate him more. Just to erase Sasuke's lingering love for him.
But Sasuke… Didn't think that was necessary.
The Itachi he admired had died long ago. This Itachi…
Even if he still cared for Sasuke, his hands were stained with the blood of their clan. Sasuke could never see him the same way again. And he would not regret killing him.
For his family. For his parents. For the goal he had pursued his whole life...
Itachi had to die.
Then..
"Sasuke…" Itachi suddenly spoke again.
"What I told you before about the Eternal Mangekyō… It's true."
Sasuke narrowed his eyes. "Hmm. I suppose you want me to take your eyes and awaken it myself?"
"That's right." Itachi smiled weakly.
"But I doubt you want to use the eyes of an Uchiha traitor, do you?"
Sasuke remained silent for a moment.
Then, he simply nodded. He had never once considered taking Itachi's eyes. Even after learning about the Eternal Mangekyō, the idea of using his brother's power to gain new vision had never even crossed his mind.
"I figured as much." Itachi's expression darkened slightly.
"..."
"But… don't you want to help Natsuro?"
Sasuke's expression shifted slightly. Why was Itachi bringing up Natsuro now?
"In the future, Konoha's enemies will be far stronger than you think." Itachi's voice was heavy.
"Even the Sixth Hokage might not be able to defeat them." Sasuke frowned.
"That's impossible. Natsuro is far stronger than you realize."
"Heh… I know exactly how strong the Sixth Hokage is." Itachi laughed bitterly.
"After all… my wounds are thanks to him." Then, his voice turned grim.
"But even so, it's not enough."
"I can only tell you this... The enemies you'll face in the future… are far beyond anything you've encountered before."
"Sasuke, you're strong now, but you're still far from the Sixth Hokage's level. Right now, you still wouldn't be able to help him, would you?"
Sasuke fell silent. Thinking back on Natsuro's strength, he knew. Even if he chose to aid Natsuro, as Itachi said, if there were enemies that even Natsuro struggled to defeat, then Sasuke would likely stand no chance against them.
"If you want to be of help to the Sixth Hokage, then unlocking the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan should be one of your choices."
Itachi continued, "Power itself is neither right nor wrong. What matters is how the wielder chooses to use it."
Sasuke still did not answer. He was thinking, would there truly be enemies of that caliber in the future?
Then, Itachi spoke again. "And also, take this."
As he spoke, a crow emerged from his body.
Its eye bore a Mangekyō Sharingan, but it was different from Itachi's own.
"What is this?" Sasuke was surprised at the sight of the crow.
"This is Shisui's Mangekyō Sharingan." Itachi explained.
"Inside it resides Kotoamatsukami, an ability that can forcibly alter a person's will."
Sasuke was shocked. "A genjutsu that can force someone to change their will?"
"That's right," Itachi confirmed.
"If you don't want to use Shisui's Mangekyō yourself, you can give it to the Sixth Hokage."
"I believe he will use it for the right purpose."
Itachi recalled the changes in Sasuke, and the one who had caused those changes: Natsuro.
Every time Itachi had encountered him, the results had been unpleasant. Every time, he had been injured, and nearly killed more than once.
Itachi could feel Natsuro's disapproval toward him. That disapproval likely stemmed from Sasuke. Which meant, Natsuro truly saw Sasuke as a friend.
And for that, Itachi was grateful.
Sasuke hesitated for a moment. Then, he took the crow containing Shisui's eye.
"I'll give it to Natsuro."
This time, he did not refuse.
Seeing this, Itachi smiled faintly.
If Sasuke could accept Shisui's Mangekyō…
Maybe, one day, he would accept Itachi's as well.
Then, in a weak voice, Itachi spoke again.
"Sasuke… In the end… Can I make one last request?"
His vision was beginning to blur.
Sasuke gazed at him.
Before Itachi could even say the words, he had already stepped closer, allowing Itachi to see him clearly.
"Heh… Hehehe…"
A faint chuckle escaped Itachi's lips.
He tried to lift his hand, but he no longer had the strength.
Seeing this, Sasuke gently took Itachi's hand, guiding it to press against his forehead.
Just like when they were children.
Sasuke could see through Itachi's final intention. There was no need to torment him further.
He would grant him this moment, as atonement for the stubbornness of his childhood.
"Sasuke… You've really grown up." Itachi murmured weakly.
"You are stronger than I ever was."
At last, he saw Sasuke clearly.
Just as he remembered..
Still handsome, still with traces of the little brother he once knew.
And this failure of an older brother, had been completely seen through.
What a failure of a life.
Yet, at this moment, Itachi was content.
Slowly, he closed his eyes. The hand Sasuke had lifted fell limp.
Striking the ground.
At last,
Itachi Uchiha was dead.
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