Chapter 98: The Death of Uchiha Itachi
Hearing Jiraiya's words, Uchiha Itachi froze on the spot.
Meanwhile, in the office watching the battlefield, Uchiha Fugaku—though he knew Itachi had committed an unforgivable act—couldn't help but feel a father's instinct. Even now, he wished to pull his son back from the edge, if only to prevent him from going too far to return.
"Lord Third, may I ask you for a small favor?" Fugaku spoke.
Hiruzen Sarutobi raised his head, and saw Fugaku exchange a glance with Aburame Shikai. A buzzing communications insect flew over to Hiruzen.
"Please... say something to the boy. He's always listened to you," Fugaku pleaded.
"...Fine." Hiruzen sighed and nodded. The insect flew to his ear.
On the front lines, the Aburame clan released a cluster of communication insects that joined together to create a resonant channel.
Soon, the Third Hokage's voice echoed through the battlefield.
"Stop, Itachi."
"Lord Third...?" Itachi looked up, stunned, at the chorus of bugs now speaking with Hiruzen's voice.
"It's over now, Itachi. Let it go," Hiruzen said heavily.
"But why, Lord Third?!" Itachi cried out in anguish.
His only answer was a long, deep sigh.
After a moment of silence, Itachi lowered his arms. His sword fell from his hand, clattering to the ground.
Surrounded by stunned silence, Uchiha Itachi felt a cold chill crawling up his spine.
Apart from Uchiha Douguang's battle with the masked man in the distance, everything else tonight had settled.
Still bleeding from his left eye, Kakashi waved off the approaching medic, instead wrapping a quick bandage around his head and calling out, "Let's wrap this up. We need to go assist Douguang."
Uchiha police members moved in, cuffing those Itachi had brought with him—Team Pig-Deer-Butterfly included. None resisted.
When it came time for Itachi, the recently unconscious Shisui stood up, swaying. He pushed aside his carers and stumbled toward his childhood friend.
"Itachi... that masked man... you didn't know him, right?" Shisui said weakly.
"I didn't..." Itachi stared at him, dazed.
"I believe you." Shisui patted Itachi's shoulder and turned to the others.
"Everyone, I believe Itachi was used. Please... once everything is clarified, give him another chance. That's all I ask."
Everyone looked at one another. No one spoke. Only Kakashi replied with a warning: "Shisui, don't make promises you can't keep. Only Douguang can make that decision."
"Captain Kakashi, I'll take responsibility with our clan head," Shisui bowed. "Just... don't charge him yet with colluding with an enemy. Please."
A few older Uchiha, those who had watched Itachi grow up, stepped forward.
"This kid's dumb, yeah. But I still don't think he'd betray the village."
"Right. We can't just believe that imposter Madara's words at face value."
Even some of the neutral shinobi stayed silent, tacitly allowing it.
Itachi looked around in disbelief at those speaking up for him.
"What're you staring at?" one gruff elder barked. "You might not've betrayed the village, but you sure as hell betrayed your clan. When this is all over, you better kneel and apologize at the clan shrine."
Despite his harsh tone, the concern in his words was evident.
"Itachi... let's go. We'll clear everything up, then you'll apologize properly. I'll be with you," Shisui said gently.
Itachi lowered his head. Then he laughed.
He laughed louder.
He laughed until his eyes bled.
This laughter was hollow, bitter.
Everything he believed in—Sarutobi's trust, the Will of Fire—had abandoned him. And those he had looked down upon, the clan he'd distanced himself from... were the only ones still standing with him.
He had never felt more like a joke.
"Itachi?" Shisui called, concerned.
Itachi threw his head back, howling with laughter.
Then power surged from his body.
Red tears flowed as the chakra pressure exploded outward, forcing everyone to step back.
"Is he... awakening it?" Shisui murmured.
"The Mangekyou...?" someone gasped.
Everyone tensed. Just moments ago, they had seen what Mangekyou Sharingan could do.
Some moved to stop him, but the wave of chakra repelled them.
In the center of the storm, Itachi continued to laugh as his three-tomoe spun wildly, transforming—sharpening into a trisected shuriken pattern.
But the chakra surge didn't stop.
It intensified.
"No! Itachi, STOP!" Shisui screamed. He could see Itachi's hair bleaching white. His vitality was bleeding away.
Then... it stopped.
Itachi collapsed, hair pale, skin gaunt.
But he smiled through the pain.
"Heh... heh-heh..."
"ITACHI!" Shisui caught him.
"Sorry..." Itachi whispered, Mangekyou fading from his dying eyes. "I was... wrong..."
A medic examined him and shook their head.
Even if Tsunade were here, it wouldn't help. His body was spent. Chakra pathways shattered. Life extinguished.
"Why...?" Shisui sobbed.
Just then, a commotion arose nearby.
"Second young master! Stop! You can't go that way!"
Uchiha Sasuke had been uneasy all night. His friend Naruto had vanished with a weird white-haired man. His clan felt tense. His mother had locked him in.
But unease gnawed at him.
He escaped, using his newly learned Tapping Thunder Body Technique. The guards, recognizing him, didn't dare restrain him forcefully.
Now he arrived—just in time to see his brother collapse.
"Sasuke?" people turned. Some rushed to stop him.
But Sasuke had already seen Itachi.
He struggled past the crowd.
"BROTHER?!"
Itachi heard the voice.
"Sasuke... is that you?"
Shisui nodded, letting him know.
"Can I... see him?" Itachi asked.
They let Sasuke through.
"Brother, what happened?! Why... why are you like this?!" Sasuke cried, kneeling beside him.
"I made mistakes... I deserve this," Itachi whispered.
"Shisui... can I give him my eyes?"
"No! I don't want them! I just want you!" Sasuke sobbed.
"Don't cry. You have a good teacher. Listen to him. Don't end up like me..." Itachi lifted two fingers and tapped Sasuke's forehead.
"Sorry... little brother. Just one last time..."
His hand fell.
"BROTHER!"
Sasuke screamed, his cry echoing through the Uchiha district.
And in his eyes—two tomoe slowly spun. Bloodline awakened.
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