Naruto World, Akatsuki Organization.
"That's...!" Konan looked at the masked man in the video with surprise. She naturally knew he called himself 'Madara'.
What surprised Konan was that he actively approached Sasuke and claimed Sasuke knew nothing about Itachi.
Does that mean Itachi had some ulterior motive?
Thinking of this, Konan looked at Pain nearby, only to find his expression as calm as ever, as if everything was within his plan.
"Who is this guy? A new member joining later?" Deidara frowned at the masked man in the video.
He was quite bothered by something the man had just said: that he didn't need to worry about the Deidara matter.
What, did I fight Sasuke before his battle with Itachi?
And from the masked man's tone, it sounded like I lost? Impossible!! How could Deidara lose to that guy?!
Though Deidara knew Lightning Release countered his Ninjutsu, and his art would fizzle out if touched by 'Lightning Release'...
However, Deidara surely had his own ways of dealing with Lightning Release users.
"..."
Pain remained silent.
"Perhaps. And from the looks of it, he seems to know many secrets."
Sasori looked at Itachi nearby and said raspily, "Itachi, do you still plan to stay and watch?"
As Sasori said this, the atmosphere grew tense. The appearance of this mysterious man implied that Itachi harbored an extremely important secret.
As for what secret, everyone was smart enough to guess. Itachi was a Ninja from Konoha Village.
If his ultimate goal wasn't to take his brother's eyes, then he must have had another purpose.
The Akatsuki was an organization composed entirely of Rogue Ninjas. Individually, they were significant enough for the Five Great Villages to take notice, and their leader, Pain, even more so.
If Pain, who possessed the Rinnegan, were exposed, the Akatsuki would likely become the target of all Five Great Villages.
Of course, the Akatsuki didn't fear the Five Great Villages, as their goal from the start was to collect the Tailed Beasts, which would inevitably draw hostility.
Fear aside, it was a different matter entirely if there was a mole within the organization.
"Why wouldn't I stay?"
Itachi looked at Sasori with his Three-Tomoe Sharingan and said calmly, "I can no longer go back."
"...True."
Sasori nodded in understanding. Indeed, Itachi couldn't go back. Whether he was a mole or not didn't matter anymore, as his past actions made returning to Konoha Village impossible.
Even if he had joined the Akatsuki with ulterior motives, there was no place left for him in this wide world.
Kisame wore a helpless expression, but secretly felt relieved. If Mr. Itachi had planned to 'defect'...
...he would likely have been the first to fight him.
Kisame wasn't confident he could defeat Mr. Itachi; the man was truly powerful.
He wasn't sure he could block Amaterasu or Tsukuyomi, let alone a god-like Ninjutsu like Susanoo.
After all, Kisame wasn't Sasuke. If they really fought, Itachi likely wouldn't hold back.
Kisame felt that, at most, Mr. Itachi would only ensure he didn't die.
Naruto World, Hidden Rain Village.
"What is going on?"
Nagato looked at Obito nearby and said calmly, "I think you owe me an explanation now."
Madara appeared immediately after the battle between Sasuke and Itachi, which meant he had been closely monitoring it.
And perhaps from the very beginning, he knew Itachi fought with the intention to die.
"Just keep watching," Obito said calmly. "You'll understand the matter regarding Itachi in a moment."
"..."
Nagato frowned slightly, dissatisfied with Obito's cryptic attitude.
Sensing Nagato's dissatisfaction, Obito explained further, "If I told you now, you might still be confused. The creator of this multiverse projection will likely expose the 'truth' about Itachi."
"I'm just looking forward to seeing how Konoha reacts when the time comes."
Thinking of this, Obito smiled, truly anticipating the reactions of those in Konoha.
Especially Hiruzen Sarutobi, Danzo Shimura, and... the expression on Uchiha Sasuke's face when he learns the truth about Itachi.
And... what measures would they take against Sasuke?
At the same time, Obito was wary of Itachi. That guy was indeed difficult to deal with. Even though he was careful in the video, he still ended up taking a direct hit from Amaterasu.
He would have to be careful every moment he met him from now on, and he'd need to prepare more spare Sharingan.
Inside the video.
After Obito was hit by Amaterasu and retreated into the shadows, he couldn't help but scream in Pain.
Sasuke also clutched his left eye as blood dripped down, feeling an unimaginable Pain.
Soon, Obito's screams ceased.
As Sasuke gasped for breath, the Mangekyo Sharingan in his eye slowly faded, returning to a Three-Tomoe Sharingan.
"Wh-what happened? That just now was..."
Sasuke seemed quite confused, unable to grasp the situation, yet he still stared into the darkness.
Is that man dead?
But soon, footsteps rang out again, and Obito spoke slowly, "That was the Amaterasu that Itachi implanted in you."
"!!!"
Sasuke's eyes widened. He was shocked that someone could survive being hit by Amaterasu.
Obito picked up the mask from the ground, put it back on, and remarked, "As expected of Itachi. Even in death, he manages to surprise me. To think he planned even for this."
"What are you talking about?" Sasuke looked at Obito, completely perplexed.
What is with this guy?
"He placed a technique on you." Obito stood before Sasuke and said indifferently, "To kill me... no, rather, to keep me away from you."
A flash of confusion crossed Sasuke's eyes.
Obito continued, "It was likely set to automatically trigger Amaterasu the moment you saw my Sharingan."
At the same time, Obito thought to himself fortunately, 'It seems even Itachi didn't know everything about me; otherwise, I'd be dead.'
With that thought, Obito looked at Sasuke and said with a smile, "This was probably Itachi's last-ditch effort, though it was useless against me."
"So what are you actually talking about?" From the moment he woke up, Sasuke had been in a state of bewilderment. This man appeared out of nowhere, he himself had somehow released Amaterasu, and the man had withstood it unscathed.
Moreover, this guy had been mentioning Itachi since the beginning, which left Sasuke feeling exceptionally confused.
"Itachi must have done something to you before he died."
Obito said calmly.
Naruto World, Konoha Village.
"What he did at the end..."
Sasuke's Three-Tomoe Sharingan spun slowly, and then his pupils constricted as if he had remembered something.
In the final moment, Itachi hadn't gouged out Sasuke's eyeballs; instead, he had gently poked Sasuke's forehead.
"That moment."
Kakashi also narrowed his eyes slightly. He understood; it was at that moment that Itachi infused his final ocular power into Sasuke's eyes.
Besides that, Kakashi had an inexplicable feeling that he had heard this masked man's voice somewhere before.
It sounded familiar, as if it were the voice of a comrade from the past.
But soon, Kakashi shook his head vigorously, stopping that train of thought. This guy was 'Madara'; how could he be someone he knew from the past?
At this time, Sasuke stared at the multiverse projection screen, his focus becoming intensely sharp.
Inside the video.
The Sasuke in the video also wore a look of disbelief; clearly, he had guessed it too.
Obito spoke slowly, "In the end, he infused his ocular power into your body for your sake."
"What are you saying... What exactly are you trying to say? Why would Itachi do such a thing?" Sasuke questioned Uchiha Obito, unable to understand why Itachi would do this.
"You don't understand?" Uchiha Obito looked at Sasuke and said calmly, "It was to protect you."
"Thump—!!!"
At that moment, Sasuke's pupils shook violently. He said in disbelief, "Protect... You actually said it was to protect me? Are you joking?"
Sasuke didn't believe it; he didn't believe Uchiha Obito's words. How could Itachi possibly protect him? He had wanted nothing more than to kill him and take his eyes.
"I'll say it again."
Uchiha Obito looked at Sasuke and said in a calm tone, "You think you know your brother, but in fact, you know nothing at all."
"...Tch." Sasuke turned his head away, his voice carrying killing intent as he said, "If you continue to talk nonsense, I'll kill you!"
"It seems I can't convince you using normal methods." Uchiha Obito looked at Sasuke's'stubborn' appearance and said calmly, "But it's understandable, given that a suspicious guy is suddenly telling you such things."
"However! Everything I've said is the truth!"
At this time, Sasuke looked at Uchiha Obito again.
And Uchiha Obito looked at Sasuke and said indifferently, "You've heard from Itachi as well, haven't you? About the collaborator from that night. I am that Uchiha Madara."
Sasuke lowered his head, his pupils trembling slightly.
"I know everything about Itachi, but Itachi died without noticing that."
Uchiha Obito continued, but Sasuke suddenly exploded, "Shut up! I don't care about any of that! Get out of my sight right now!!!"
"No, please listen." Uchiha Obito indicated that whether Sasuke wanted to or not, he had to listen. He continued, "You must listen; this is your obligation."
Sasuke gripped the bedsheets, his face filled with struggle and pain. Clearly, he didn't want to hear any more.
Along with Uchiha Obito's words, the scene shifted slightly, and Uchiha Itachi appeared.
"For the sake of the Ninja world, for the sake of Konoha, and also for the sake of the younger brother he entrusted everything to—this was Uchiha Itachi's way of life."
Sasuke stopped struggling, and seeing this, Uchiha Obito continued, "Do you know why Itachi implanted Amaterasu in your eyes? Because Itachi didn't want you and me to meet, no matter what."
"As for the reason, you'll understand once you listen to what I have to say."
"The only people who know the truth about Itachi are Danzo Shimura of Konoha, the Third Hokage, and the two Advisors, Homura and Utatane Koharu. Only those four."
"After the Third's death, there are now only three elderly people who know about this."
"Those guys will surely keep their mouths shut about that nauseating truth from now on as well."
"The truth about Itachi would have vanished into the darkness forever, and that was also what Itachi desired."
Saying this, Uchiha Obito took a step forward and looked at Sasuke with a faint smile. "But I also know the truth about Itachi. As I said before, Itachi died without noticing that."
"However, as cautious as he was, Itachi didn't seem to fully trust me. Just in case I found out the truth, he intended to use Amaterasu to seal my mouth."
"He probably even predicted that I would show you my Sharingan in order to talk to you."
Sasuke's breathing became rapid.
In fact, it wasn't just this Sasuke; the Sasuke outside the video also began to breathe rapidly.
At this moment, the states of the Sasuke outside the video and the one inside seemed to overlap.
"What is this guy saying? To protect me? Protect... He actually called it the truth!"
Uchiha Obito looked at this Sasuke and said in a calm tone, "Think back. Try to slowly recall things about Itachi."
"Huff! Huff! Huff!!!"
At this time, Sasuke's breathing became very rapid, and his vision gradually blurred.
Uchiha Obito revealed his Sharingan and said calmly, "Your once gentle brother."
The scene switched again to a childhood memory. Sasuke was being carried on Itachi's back. At that time, Itachi was still that very gentle older brother.
"No! That guy... Didn't that guy want to kill me? It was to take my eyes!!"
Various memories—happy, sad, and desperate—emerged.
Sasuke's breathing became extremely rapid. Seeing this, Uchiha Obito immediately grabbed his chin and said, "Breathe slowly."
"Don't touch me!!!" Sasuke pushed Uchiha Obito away. He lay on the ground, his pupils continuing to contract.
Words Itachi had once said flashed through his mind.
'Even if you hate me, this is the responsibility of an older brother.'
'Forgive me, Sasuke. Maybe next time.'
Various fragments flashed through Sasuke's mind, and finally, he lost consciousness.
When he woke up again, he had been tied up by Uchiha Obito.
After a brief conversation, Sasuke looked at Uchiha Obito and said, "That guy... Itachi is an enemy. He killed Father and Mother, and wiped out the entire clan. He's not just a Rogue Ninja, but a member of the Akatsuki. That guy should be hated. My goal..."
Before Sasuke could finish, Uchiha Obito said calmly, "That night, he wiped out the Uchiha Clan. That is a fact. Then he defected from Konoha."
"So..." Sasuke wanted to say something more.
But Uchiha Obito said calmly, "And he did that because he received a mission assigned by Konoha."
"!!!!!!"
Hearing these words from Uchiha Obito, Sasuke raised his head and looked at Uchiha Obito in shock.
Not just Uchiha Obito, but everyone else was equally shocked upon hearing this. A mission assigned by Konoha?!! What was going on?!!