Chapter 50: A Lie Repeated a Thousand Times Becomes Truth

At the same time, a new Great Ball Rasengan had already formed on Rojie’s right hand, its rapidly spinning sphere radiating terrifying heat.

Sasuke Uchiha’s heart tightened; he cast a wary glance at the Great Ball Rasengan.

Then, he activated his left eye’s genjutsu.

Tsukuyomi!

In an instant, Naruto Uzumaki felt the scenery around him shift violently—he found himself trapped within a blood-soaked illusionary space.

He was bound to a wooden cross, unable to move.

Sasuke Uchiha approached him step by step, a long blade in hand.

“This is my world—time, space…”

Sasuke Uchiha’s voice, cold and low, echoed through the crimson space.

He began the classic villain mistake:

Reciting the skill description before unleashing it.

But Naruto Uzumaki had no interest in listening to a skill tutorial.

The next moment, Sasuke Uchiha’s face twisted in shock.

Naruto Uzumaki’s spiritual power erupted violently, effortlessly tearing apart the illusionary space Sasuke had meticulously constructed.

Seven worlds’ spiritual layers stacked together…

Could it be blocked?

Naruto Uzumaki was no Orochimaru—he had not undergone multiple reincarnations that left his soul severely weakened.

On the contrary, with the spiritual layers of seven worlds stacked together, his sheer spiritual power alone was already sufficient to resist most genjutsu.

Just before the illusionary space shattered completely, Naruto Uzumaki suddenly spoke to Sasuke Uchiha:

“The Third Hokage mentioned Itachi to me. I hope we can meet again.”

Before Sasuke Uchiha could react, the illusionary space collapsed with a roar—Naruto Uzumaki returned to reality.

At that moment, Sasuke Uchiha had already fled far away.

He suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood, his body trembling slightly, a trail of blood flowing from his left eye.

Even the Uchiha ancestral god—Susanoo—could no longer be maintained, gradually dissolving.

Naruto Uzumaki stood still, watching Sasuke Uchiha’s retreating back.

At that moment, Kakashi and Might Guy appeared swiftly before him.

“Fifth Hokage, what happened?”

Kakashi frowned, his eyes filled with caution.

Naruto Uzumaki said solemnly: “S-rank missing-nin Sasuke Uchiha has appeared. Take men and pursue him—be careful.”

Kakashi and Might Guy exchanged a glance, nodded without hesitation, then quickly gathered forces and chased after the direction Sasuke Uchiha had fled.

Though they knew they couldn’t catch him, the procedure had to be followed.

Even if Orochimaru was dead and Sasuke hadn’t defected.

The Hidden Leaf’s formalism award still had to be endured.

…

Nighttime, Hokage Office.

Rojie leaned lazily back in his chair, his back to the desk, gazing quietly out the window at the towering Hokage Rock.

His own carving on the Hokage Rock was about to begin.

He’d have to demand the sculptor work hard and fully showcase the charisma of this young leader!

Thinking of this, Rojie’s lips curled slightly upward.

At that moment, he suddenly laughed: “Itachi’re here?”

Unnoticed, the Anbu ninja in the office had fallen under genjutsu and were all asleep on duty.

Indeed, the Anbu assigned to protect the Hokage were the biggest slackers in the entire Hidden Leaf—they should all be fired.

Sasuke Uchiha appeared silently behind Rojie, standing before the desk.

Though not a ninja from the Nigeki, as a skilled shinobi, his figure blended perfectly with the darkness.

Rojie slowly turned his chair, gazing calmly at Sasuke Uchiha.

Sasuke Uchiha frowned slightly and asked: “Do Itachi know my identity?”

Rojie chuckled lightly: “Of course—I’m the Third Hokage’s successor.”

His tone carried undeniable certainty.

A lie repeated a thousand times becomes truth.

Rojie had reached the highest level of deception—deceiving others by first deceiving himself.

Though the Third had never explicitly said he was Rojie’s successor,

Rojie was utterly certain—he was the Third’s only heir.

He was also the Hidden Leaf’s new sun.

Sasuke Uchiha fell into brief silence.

His identity had always been a top secret in the Hidden Leaf, known only to a handful of high-ranking officials.

If the Third Hokage had truly revealed his identity to Rojie, then didn’t that mean Rojie was indeed the Third’s secretly trained successor?

Otherwise, who else could have told him?

Danzo Shimura?

That was impossible—Danzo had been killed by Rojie’s own hands; he could never have leaked this secret.

Then the two advisors?

That seemed possible.

Sasuke Uchiha could only temporarily suppress these thoughts and asked: “What do Itachi want?”

Rojie snorted coldly: “That question should be mine to ask Itachi.”

“Itachi’ve never once delivered intelligence to the Hidden Leaf—I doubt your loyalty.”

“Have Itachi already been turned by the enemy?”

Sasuke Uchiha remained silent.

Having spent more time as a spy than as a village shinobi, he too wondered: Was he still a Hidden Leaf ninja—or had he already become the shape of Akatsuki?

Compared to Akatsuki, a heartless organization that didn’t provide five insurances and one fund, and forced injured members to crawl back to base themselves,

The Hidden Leaf—with his little brother there—gave him a greater sense of belonging.

After a moment, Sasuke Uchiha slowly explained: “The organization is watching me closely—they still suspect me.”

Rojie merely sneered: “Your excuse won’t convince me.”

“I can only remind Itachi: don’t forget our original deal.”

Hearing this, Sasuke Uchiha’s gaze sharpened, his eyes instantly transforming into Mangekyo Sharingan.

But the next moment, he lowered his head slightly, and his eyes returned to normal.

“I understand. In half a month, I’ll send intelligence.”

Rojie shook his head: “No. I don’t want intelligence—I want your loyalty.”

“I only hope Itachi remember: even in darkness, Itachi are still a Hidden Leaf shinobi.”

Sasuke Uchiha’s gaze trembled slightly, a complex emotion surging within him.

Though it was night, he could still feel brilliant, dazzling sunlight pouring from Rojie, bathing him in its glow.

Perhaps it was due to overusing his Mangekyo Sharingan—or perhaps the light pollution was simply too severe.

Sasuke Uchiha felt he might temporarily go blind.

He slowly knelt, bowing respectfully: “Yes, Hokage-sama.”

Rojie nodded slightly: “Go think carefully. Don’t forget who Itachi are.”

Hearing this, Sasuke Uchiha dissolved into white smoke and vanished.

The one who came here was merely a Shadow Clone.

Hmph. Pretending to kneel and call me Hokage, while his real body is outside the village slurping color balls?

This Sasuke Uchiha still lacks loyalty.

(End of Chapter)