"AHHHHHH!", Uchiha Obito continuously let out painful howls.
At this moment, his hands powerlessly hung down, his entire body turned black and purple, with intermittent sensations of fiery burning pain.
He could feel it, he could no longer use these hands, even using more White Zetsu clones couldn't change this reality.
Because this was a defect of the soul.
The last desperate blow before death by Sarutobi Hiruzen could only allow the Reaper to swing once, sealing a part of Uchiha Obito's soul. As for which part was sealed, he couldn't control it.
It was just a coincidence, just like when he dealt with Orochimaru, both hands were rendered useless.
If there had been enough time to choose, Sarutobi Hiruzen still hoped to seal his eyes too.
———
"Trash!", Black Zetsu, who had returned underground to observe, cursed again. He was completely tilted.
He risked exposing his own intel to save Uchiha Obito, and as a result, this guy didn't choose to escape after being rescued but actually stayed to taunt others face to face.
He had never seen such a brainless Uchiha.
Black Zetsu's already coal-like face darkened even more.
However, a millennium of turtle-like patience soon calmed him down.
'The current situation isn't without a chance for redemption, as long as Uchiha Obito can retrieve the other eye...'
———
Uchiha Obito was still howling in pain.
Uchiha Fugaku looked at the fallen Sarutobi Hiruzen, feeling a wave of emotion in his heart.
A generation of ninja heroes had fallen.
He stood up and looked at Uchiha Obito. As long as he took care of this one too, his plan would be considered complete.
With Sarutobi Hiruzen no longer suppressing, and with the reputation of a hero, even producing a Hokage from the Uchiha in the future wouldn't be impossible.
"Crying? Crying still takes time!"
Hearing this, Uchiha Obito's howls abruptly stopped.
Looking at Uchiha Fugaku's pair of Mangekyō Sharingan, a wave of powerlessness suddenly rose in his heart.
Just then, the Four Purple Flame Formation disappeared.
Ssshh—
The rustling of leaves was heard, and Uchiha Itachi walked out from the darkness.
"Itachi, you're just in time. As long as we take this guy down, our Uchiha clan will surely rise again," Seeing it was Uchiha Itachi, a look of joy appeared on Uchiha Fugaku's face.
However, Uchiha Itachi who walked over said nothing. He looked at the Mangekyō in Uchiha Fugaku's eyes, and his heart grew even heavier with bitterness.
His original plan was to use his own Mangekyō to control the other, then take him out of the Leaf Village and fabricate a scene of death.
But... although he had long suspected it, seeing Uchiha Fugaku's Mangekyō with his own eyes now, his feelings were undoubtedly very complicated.
Same-tier Mangekyō eye techniques were very hard to control another of the same tier.
Uchiha Fugaku possessing the Mangekyō meant that his plan was out of control.
A Mangekyō holder like Uchiha Fugaku would never leave with him willingly.
But a Mangekyō Sharingan, with Danzo's assistance, and the Uchiha clan at their peak, was that truly a good thing for the current Konoha?
Now, only one way remained...
Uchiha Itachi nodded slightly and walked to Uchiha Fugaku's side.
Just as Uchiha Fugaku felt he had already won—
Pshhh!
A short blade pierced into his heart.
Another backstab.
"Itachi..."
Uchiha Fugaku turned his head in disbelief to look at Uchiha Itachi.
He subconsciously believed his son in front of him was an imposter, but his eyes couldn't detect any flaws.
"I'm sorry," Uchiha Itachi's tone was calm, but his eyes carried deep bitterness, "Father, your power is too strong."
"If you continue to remain in Konoha, it's too dangerous."
Uchiha Fugaku's eyes widened. He gradually understood everything.
Uchiha Itachi had never truly changed, although he had begun considering things from the clan's perspective, he had always stood with the village.
Between the clan and the village, Uchiha Itachi always put the village first.
Now, possessing Mangekyō Sharingan, he became the next potential threat to the village.
Uchiha Fugaku's consciousness began to fade. He didn't have the strong resolve of Sarutobi Hiruzen.
With his heart pierced, even Izanagi couldn't be used.
He could only quietly await death.
"Father, you no longer need to worry about the Uchiha clan," Uchiha Itachi said softly.
"Danzo has been dealt with, the Third Hokage is dead, and I am still alive. From now on, no one in Konoha will dare to move against the Uchiha."
"Rest in peace..."
Uchiha Fugaku's pupils moved slightly, trying to say something.
"Take care of...", But before he could finish, he closed his eyes and leaned against Uchiha Itachi, completely falling into darkness.
Although Uchiha Fugaku didn't finish, Uchiha Itachi had already guessed what he wanted to say.
He gently placed Uchiha Fugaku's body down, "Don't worry, Father. Mother and Sasuke will be fine."
After hesitating for a moment, he still removed Uchiha Fugaku's eyes.
Then he looked toward the disheveled and stray-dog-like Uchiha Obito.
"You want to kill me?", Uchiha Obito sensed the killing intent in Uchiha Itachi's eyes.
"Why would you think I don't want to kill you?", Uchiha Itachi's expression was extremely calm, as if talking about something insignificant.
"You..."
"Tsukuyomi!"
Before Uchiha Obito could finish his sentence, the scene before his eyes suddenly flipped upside down.
He was already in a black and white space.
But he quickly broke free from it.
Against similar-tier pupil power, Tsukuyomi was greatly weakened.
However, at that moment, a shuriken flew straight through his forehead.
"So even within genjutsu, your eye techniques still take effect."
What followed was a flurry of shuriken.
Uchiha Itachi waited for the moment Uchiha Obito materialized, then activated his pupil techniques.
"Damn it!", Uchiha Obito panted heavily and cursed, 'I can't move my hands. At this rate, I am doomed!'
And now that he knew Uchiha Itachi's other pupil ability, he couldn't make eye contact.
'If I can't phase in time, I'll be done for!'
'But Amaterasu...'
With Black Zetsu's earlier failure as a lesson, he might try it.
Uchiha Obito's gaze turned vicious. He couldn't count on Black Zetsu to save him a second time.
'I have to gamble!'
Uchiha Obito suddenly turned and ran with all his might.
Uchiha Itachi kept pursuing and attacking from behind.
Finally, a shuriken hit Uchiha Obito in the back.
"Amaterasu!", Uchiha Itachi immediately used his pupil technique.
Uchiha Obito's entire body was engulfed in black flames, falling to the ground, rolling and howling in pain.
Just when Uchiha Itachi thought the opponent would be burned to death, space suddenly distorted. Uchiha Itachi was shocked and released Amaterasu again.
The flames surged more violently, but Uchiha Obito still disappeared while wrapped in the black fire.
Uchiha Itachi immediately rushed to the place where Uchiha Obito vanished, his brows nearly twisted into a knot.
He didn't expect the opponent to still be able to use eye techniques while hit by Amaterasu.
But Amaterasu was already his strongest attack, legendary inextinguishable black flames, the strongest fire-style. Even if the opponent escaped, taking two direct hits should've left him ashes.
But without seeing it for himself, he couldn't feel completely at ease.
"The Akatsuki, huh..."
———
The fireworks faded.
Villagers at the festival began to head home in small groups.
These fireworks had made them all uneasy.
Aoba talked his mouth dry, almost wore his lips out, just to satisfy a few girls.
The festival ended.
.
.
.
[Senju ancestral home.]
"Aoba, big sis will come see you in a few days!", Before leaving, Uzuki Yugao patted Aoba's hair.
"Mm, see you, Sister Yugao."
Watching Uzuki Yugao leave, Tsunade yawned and walked home, "I'm so sleepy, going to bed first."
Seeing the two leave, Shizune couldn't help teasing, "Aoba, it's the first day of the new year, want to sleep with big sis?"
"Uh... no need!", Aoba replied, then opened the door and entered the house, showing just half his head, "Sister Shizune, you should go sleep soon too, staying up late is bad for your health."
"Good night!"
"Good night!", Shizune smiled helplessly and also left.
Aoba returned home, planning to wash up quickly and go to sleep.
Suddenly, a small box that had appeared on the table in the bedroom caught his attention.
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