Itachi Uchiha's intentions weren't wrong.
At the very least, he didn't want his brother entangled with dangerous individuals.
But the one mistake was this: the war marked the end of the shinobi world's chaos, and many unexpected changes occurred throughout.
For example…
His brother, Sasuke Uchiha.
—
In Konoha.
A gathering of former classmates was underway.
The twelve most outstanding young shinobi of Konoha's new generation sat inside a yakiniku restaurant. Among them, having been forcefully brought back by Naruto Uzumaki after returning from the Sage of Six Paths, was Sasuke Uchiha. This was their first reunion in years.
Sasuke sat uneasily beside Naruto, but his classmates and friends showed no prejudice. All of them listened intently as Naruto recounted the final battle between Kaguya Ōtsutsuki and Lord Shigen.
At that time…
They had all fallen under Infinite Tsukuyomi.
Only Naruto and Sasuke had witnessed the end of that battle, and naturally, were bombarded with questions.
But…
Sasuke appeared uninterested.
Both he and Naruto were, in the end, losers of that war. Unlike the Sage of Six Paths, neither of them managed to save the world.
"It's truly unbelievable…"
Shikamaru Nara muttered in awe as Naruto described the clash of two Ten-Tails.
"That Lord Shigen could possess such terrifying power…"
It was something far beyond their comprehension.
"Seems like we're truly… powerless."
Shikamaru glanced at the drink on the table, wishing it were sake instead. Not that they could be served alcohol underage, but he didn't really care anymore.
"The daimyō have already announced their abdications…"
"All the nations of the shinobi world are about to merge…"
Looking out the restaurant window at the bustling crowd, Shikamaru sighed.
"I wonder how much longer our village will even exist."
"Surely it'll always be here, right?"
"Lord Shigen doesn't seem to have any intention of attacking Konoha again…"
The younger shinobi didn't understand Shikamaru's pessimism. They'd already heard about the agreement signed between the Five Kage and Lord Shigen.
All five great villages…
Would be preserved.
In fact, their strength might even grow.
After all, the smaller hidden villages were to be disbanded, and their ninja would join the major ones—Konoha had already gained several such allies.
Shikamaru didn't argue. He'd analyzed that agreement with his father, Shikaku, in the presence of Lady Tsunade, the Fifth Hokage.
And that agreement?
Was a countdown to the dissolution of the Five Great Villages.
Still—
It was a mercy.
At least Lord Shigen hadn't slaughtered tens of thousands of ninja after the war.
—
The reunion dispersed in melancholy.
No one knew how to imagine a future as losers—especially after hearing more about Lord Shigen's terrifying might from Naruto and Sasuke.
—
Afterward.
Naruto wandered the village with Sasuke, arms behind his head. Only the two of them had any power to even marginally resist Lord Shigen. They bore the Sage of Six Paths' so-called hope and shared many things privately.
"Seems like…"
Naruto spoke of what they'd witnessed since returning to the ninja world.
"Sasuke, nobody wants to fight Shigen anymore."
"They don't have the power to."
Sasuke reminded him, voice low.
"Not just them. Even if we wanted to act… we'd only be causing him minor trouble at best."
"And maybe that's okay."
"The system has always been ruled by the strong…"
"But still…"
Naruto's heart wavered.
He didn't think what Lord Shigen had done was right, but he couldn't articulate exactly why it was wrong either.
"Naruto."
"Don't think so much for now."
"If one day Konoha and Lord Shigen clash again…"
Sasuke spoke earnestly.
"Even if you want to protect the village, we need to fully master the power the Sage gave us. Only by becoming stronger… can we even hope to resist him."
"Sasuke…"
"You'll stay with me, right?"
Naruto's eyes lit up.
"Hmph."
Sasuke scoffed, but his gaze drifted to the roadside.
This was where he'd grown up.
The Uchiha district…
Naka River…
Naka Shrine…
—
Truthfully…
Sasuke didn't know where to go.
But since Naruto brought him back, he decided to remain here, restoring his family's ancestral grounds. Konoha's leadership hadn't objected, and his teacher, Kakashi, had shared old stories about Itachi.
That brother who had protected him…
Sasuke felt it wouldn't be bad to stay here.
He had no intention of returning to the dangerous Akatsuki under Lord Shigen. Compared to Shigen and Uchiha Madara, he much preferred being around Naruto and the others.
—
Yet…
Unexpectedly…
While restoring Naka Shrine, Sasuke encountered a strange black ninja crow, and something stirred within him.
A ninja crow.
Used by Shisui and Itachi, a rare breed skilled in genjutsu—high-level summoning beasts.
Sasuke thought to form a contract with it.
But then he saw its eye—and his face changed.
The crow… had a Sharingan.
How could a crow possess a Uchiha's eye?!
Sasuke immediately attempted to investigate its secrets.
But just as he met its gaze, that Sharingan morphed—
Into a Mangekyō Sharingan.
"Impossible!"
He was stunned.
Mangekyō Sharingan—so rare, so powerful. To have it implanted into a crow—what secret could be behind this?
Then it hit him.
He felt the eye's effect.
A genjutsu… encoded with a will-altering command.
Its effect?
To make him protect Konoha.
Before awakening the Rinnegan and mastering Yin Power, he might have been unable to resist this technique.
"Protect Konoha…"
His expression grew cold.
The Rinnegan emerged in his eyes as he stared at the crow.
—
In truth…
He didn't mind protecting Konoha.
His friends were here.
And he wasn't sure what else to do right now.
But—
To want something on your own…
Was different from someone forcing that decision on you.
No one—
Could accept their will being altered.
No one—
Could tolerate another's thoughts being implanted into their mind.
Beyond the genjutsu…
The crow also carried Itachi's memories.
Sasuke absorbed them all, face grim, as the crow turned to ash, its mission fulfilled.
"Nii-san…"
He clenched his fist and struck the stone tablet at the shrine.
His chest ached.
"I almost really believed…"
Standing in darkness, his eyes locked onto the glowing lights of Konoha.
"…that all you did… was just to save me."