[Konoha, Year 60]
On the training ground, watching Naruto and Sakura comfort Sasuke, the three of them huddling together for support.
Kakashi's face showed nothing, but in his heart, he deeply approved of Naruto and Sakura's actions.
After all, the four of them were a team and had to help each other at all times.
However… Kakashi thought to himself.
How exactly had Sasuke survived? According to the information compiled from the Sky Screen, the Uchiha clan massacre involved so many parties that even fleeing the village and living under an assumed name wouldn't work—one would be hunted down and killed.
Itachi had even killed his own parents. Why had he spared his younger brother? It couldn't be that a younger brother was more important than parents, could it?
Or could it be because of the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan that the Sky Screen had mentioned earlier?
But although he hadn't known Itachi for very long, Itachi had earned his recognition in every way back when they were on the same team. Kakashi had never felt that Itachi was that kind of person.
Now that Itachi had long since defected. The reasons behind it were probably only known to the Third Hokage or Danzō.
Kakashi sighed inwardly. If not for the influence of his clan, that guy could have had a bright future.
It was truly a pity.
Meanwhile, with Naruto and Sakura's comfort, Sasuke's mood gradually calmed down.
However, he had carved the images of Danzō, Itachi, and Mr. Simp deep into his mind. One day, he would take revenge on all three of them!
Now, Sasuke was no longer lost. He now had a general understanding of the process of the massacre, a clear target for his revenge, and even knew, regarding his future development, that he needed to constantly evolve his Sharingan.
This feeling of knowing the path ahead was wonderful. He no longer had to run around like a headless fly, searching for ways to get revenge.
The Sky Screen—it truly was a good thing!
In the lull when the Sky Screen had gone quiet, the higher-ups of the various hidden villages were also chatting idly.
"The Uchiha still have one survivor, don't they?"
"Yeah, that's Uchiha Sasuke. He's going to form that 'Team Hebi' in the future."
"Tsk, Konoha is really lucky. That guy will even awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan in the future… And in the more distant future, the Uchiha seem to have descendants as well."
"Yeah, there's also that little girl who awakens the Mangekyō Sharingan in the future."
"A little girl who awakens her eyes through love… Tsk, can't help but envy that."
Just as the people across the different timelines of the Shinobi World were discussing among themselves, the Sky Screen lit up again.
But this time, it seemed to be just a scattered fragment.
A dense forest. Two people were leaping through the trees, chasing each other.
When the image cleared, it turned out to be a future Uchiha Sasuke chasing after Uchiha Itachi.
No—something was wrong!
In Konoha, Hiruzen, and in his hidden base, Orochimaru both noticed at the same time that Itachi's condition was abnormal. His face had cracks on it, and his eyes were hollow!
They quickly realized that this was the state of Edō Tensei.
Both of them were startled. In the future… Uchiha Itachi had actually died. Who had killed him? Who had the ability to kill someone with a pair of Mangekyō Sharingan and Kotoamatsukami in his possession?
Orochimaru felt even more bitter inside… He still hadn't gotten his hands on those eyes!
On the screen, Sasuke was wearing Uchiha clan attire, a long sword at his waist. His black hair fluttered in the wind. Even while pursuing, he didn't forget to question Itachi.
"I should have died. I should have been killed by you, together with our parents!"
"But… why me?"
"Why am I the only one who survived?!!"
By the end, Sasuke couldn't hold back and broke down, shouting in anguish. Unfortunately, Itachi did not answer him. He simply continued leaping forward. On his cracked face, there was no expression at all.
The scene on the Sky Screen shifted. The image changed to the night of the Uchiha clan massacre.
The moonlight was like blood, spilling over the streets of the Uchiha compound; there were corpses everywhere, blood everywhere.
Young Sasuke staggered home and saw Itachi, who had just killed his parents and the rest of the clan.
Sasuke's small figure froze in place. Instantly, terrified by Itachi's appearance, he burst into tears. Tears streamed down his face, mixing with snot. He turned and ran, shouting as he fled, his voice full of fear:
"Ah… don't kill me!"
"Don't kill me!"
He didn't dare look behind him.
But the scene did not continue. It faded out there.
Across the Shinobi World, a wave of murmurs and sighs arose.
No one looked down on the Sasuke in the image. After all, he was just a child of a few years old. Faced with a scene like that, a breakdown was perfectly normal.
"Poor child…" someone sighed.
"Anyone would have broken down."
"But the future Sasuke seems very arrogant and proud. Compared to this pathetic state as a child… that's interesting."
---
[Konoha, Year 60]
Sasuke stood in place, his face ashen.
This damn Sky Screen—how could it show the embarrassing state he was in as a child?!
If he hadn't already been reminded of the night of the massacre from before, he would have thought the Sky Screen was faking it.
Naruto leaned over, his face full of curiosity.
"Sasuke, you cried so miserably when you were little!"
"Shut up!!"
Sakura covered her mouth, trying hard not to laugh, while Kakashi couldn't help but curve his eyes, and Sasuke's face turned even darker.
---
[Team Hebi Era]
The always cool and composed Sasuke nearly broke down under the strange looks from Suigetsu and Jūgo.
---
[Konoha, Year One]
Madara watched the little brat crying his eyes out on the Sky Screen and curled his lips.
"The children of the future… their hearts are truly fragile."
Hashirama stood beside him, giving a wry smile: "Madara, he's only a few years old…"
"A few years old?" Madara looked at him, "In the Sengoku era, we went to the battlefield at four or five. When was there time to cry?"
Hashirama sighed: "Times are different. Doesn't this prove that our efforts have had an effect?"
Madara snorted coldly: "Even if times are different, it shouldn't be like this. Besides… even if I don't know the significance of it… he's the next generation's Indra. How disgraceful!"
---
[Konoha, Year 83]
The 32-year-old Sasuke stood in the middle of a devastated forest. The long sword in his hand was still faintly trembling. And the look of annoyance on his face lingered for a long time.
"This damn screen!!"
He gritted his teeth as he uttered those words. How dare it show the whole world what he looked like crying as a child?!
He took a deep breath and then swung his blade several times in furious slashes.
Blades of light flashed, and the surrounding trees fell in rows.
"Hmph."
Meanwhile, in Konoha of the same timeline.
Inside Sakura's house.
Sarada sat in the living room, her eyes wide open.
That was… Dad?
She turned to look at Sakura beside her and whispered: "Mom, Dad was a crybaby back then!"
Sakura looked at the Sky Screen and couldn't help but laugh.
"No, he wasn't. Your dad has always been very cool."
"That scene… it's my first time seeing it too."
A glint of mischief flickered in her eyes, and her eyebrows curved into crescents.
"But… it is kind of funny."
*****
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