Chapter 744: Sasuke: Itachi Can Call Me Brother

"Are you okay, Grandpa?"

Boruto rushed over and shouted worriedly when he saw Minato Namikaze fall to the ground.

"Grandpa?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi, who was urgently checking Minato's condition, turned to Boruto with a puzzled expression upon hearing this address.

Minato had not yet told anyone about the parallel world traveler; currently, only Kushina and he knew.

"I'm fine, just overused my chakra."

Minato forced himself to sit up, drawing everyone's attention.

"Fifth Hokage, what exactly happened? Why did such a powerful enemy suddenly attack Konoha?"

Homura Mitokado expressed his confusion to Minato.

He was completely in the dark.

He had been working in the Hokage building when suddenly an explosion sounded. By the time he and Koharu Utatane ran to the Hokage's office, it was empty.

Then, before they could analyze the battle traces, Minato's signal flare appeared in the distance, so they had to rush to support.

Then they encountered Urashiki Ōtsutsuki, who was as strong as a monster; even with all their effort, they could not harm him in the slightest.

"And who is he?"

Homura Mitokado looked at Sasuke.

He could not possibly be unfamiliar with every Konoha ninja, but he knew all of Konoha's strong ones. He was sure he had never seen this person before.

"The enemy is named Urashiki Ōtsutsuki, a member of the Ōtsutsuki clan."

Minato briefly introduced.

The matter of Kaguya Ōtsutsuki was no longer a secret among the upper echelons of the ninja world; just mentioning the word Ōtsutsuki was enough to show the severity of the problem.

"The Ōtsutsuki clan!"

As Minato expected, both Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatane's expressions changed.

"As for Shuiyue, he is someone sent by Muyue."

Minato explained for Sasuke.

Although it was strange that a strong person suddenly appeared, as long as Muyue's name was brought up, there would be no problem.

Sure enough, Homura Mitokado and the others all showed expressions of understanding. Since it was Muyue, it was not strange.

"Let's go back to the Hokage building. This is not a place to talk."

Hiruzen Sarutobi said after looking around.

Because of the signal flare, Konoha ninjas were still converging from all directions, and the residential area might have fallen into chaos as a result.

They had to calm the situation first, then discuss the matter of Urashiki Ōtsutsuki.

Fortunately, Urashiki only wanted to take back the "Plow" and did not cause much damage. Only some ninjas were injured, and no one died.

Therefore, handling it was simple. Before some Konoha residents even realized something was wrong, Konoha had already returned to its usual peace.

Only the ninjas who knew the truth were somewhat uneasy.

"Fifth Hokage, does Leader Muyue know about this? What arrangements does he have?"

In the meeting room, Homura Mitokado kept asking Minato various questions.

Minato also had a headache. Muyue was not even in the ninja world right now; it would be strange if he knew.

But he had already used Muyue's authority as a cover for Sasuke, so he had to grit his teeth and say some vague things.

"Don't ask too many questions. Muyue must have carefully considered these arrangements. He is the one who understands the Ōtsutsuki best and is also the strongest."

"Perhaps, to deal with the Ōtsutsuki, Muyue has made many efforts in places we cannot see."

Hiruzen Sarutobi said with emotion.

After fighting Urashiki Ōtsutsuki, Hiruzen realized the horror of the Ōtsutsuki.

The Ōtsutsuki simply did not regard them as humans.

When fighting Urashiki Ōtsutsuki, Hiruzen Sarutobi could clearly feel his playful and mischievous attitude.

It was as if a bored person saw a few interesting little animals and was suddenly struck by the urge to play.

If one day an Ōtsutsuki with a personality like that of a person who likes to pour hot water on ants for fun appeared, even if his strength were inferior to Urashiki Ōtsutsuki's, he could still bring tremendous destruction to the shinobi world.

Even the powerful Konoha, under Urashiki Ōtsutsuki's surprise attack, could only repel the strong enemy by relying on the Immortal Technique Scroll left behind by Muyue, not to mention other ninja villages or even ordinary cities.

Homura Mitokado nodded and did not ask further.

It wasn't that he had any objection to Minato; he was just a bit panicked just now.

Suddenly facing a monster like an Ōtsutsuki, Homura Mitokado truly felt as if he had taken a stroll in front of the Gates of Hell.

"Mr. Sasuke, is there any way for me to get stronger quickly?"

Boruto asked Sasuke.

He felt so frustrated, being unable to do anything in the battle, only able to watch Sasuke and the others fight.

"Becoming stronger is never something achieved overnight; you need to train persistently."

Sasuke shook his head.

He didn't want to see Boruto follow the same path he had taken. That path might be one that leads to strength, but the cost was too great, and it was too rough.

"Don't think too much. You're still young; you don't need to blame yourself for this."

Sasuke comforted him.

"But after Urashiki Ōtsutsuki's wounds heal, he will definitely come back, right?"

Boruto said worriedly.

"Once my chakra has mostly recovered, I will first take the 'Plow' and leave Konoha alone. After it finishes charging, I'll come back to find you. That way, it won't affect this world's Konoha."

Sasuke thought for a moment and said.

This was the best plan he had come up with after analyzing the current situation.

From Urashiki Ōtsutsuki's actions today, it could be seen that his highest priority target was the 'Plow'.

As long as Sasuke left Konoha with the 'Plow', Urashiki Ōtsutsuki would most likely choose to chase Sasuke instead of continuing to attack Konoha.

All Sasuke had to do was stall for time until the 'Plow' finished charging, and then the problem would be solved.

Although this would disrupt Sasuke's plan to teach Itachi Uchiha swordsmanship, it was the best choice.

If they and the 'Plow' remained in Konoha, it would bring crisis to Itachi Uchiha and to this world's Konoha.

"How can I let you, Mr. Sasuke, face Urashiki Ōtsutsuki alone? If we're leaving, then let's leave together."

Boruto said seriously.

Even if he couldn't help much in battle, at least he could keep Sasuke company and chat with him, so Sasuke wouldn't be so bored.

"If you insist on leaving with me, that's acceptable too."

Sasuke did not refuse.

With his strength at his peak, he still had enough leeway to protect one person.

After confirming the plan to leave, Sasuke took Boruto to find Minato Namikaze, who had finished his meeting and was about to go home, and explained their thoughts.

"If by the time Sasuke's condition recovers to its peak, Muyue still hasn't returned, whether you stay in Konoha or leave, it's up to you.

If Muyue has already returned by then, you can rest assured and stay in Konoha."

Minato Namikaze said after a moment's deliberation.

Without sufficient power, keeping Sasuke in Konoha was quite dangerous. Since Sasuke had this resolve, Minato Namikaze certainly wouldn't insist on keeping him.

But if Muyue were here, that would be a different situation.

Whether Muyue could deal with Kaguya Ōtsutsuki was unknown, but Urashiki Ōtsutsuki should be manageable.

After all, even the scroll left by Mu Yue could injure Ōtsutsuki Urashiki, so if Mu Yue's main body were here, that goes without saying.

"That scroll that injured Ōtsutsuki Urashiki was given to me by Mu Yue."

To boost Sasuke's and the others' confidence, Minato Namikaze added an explanation.

"Since he has such good stuff, why doesn't he give a few more?"

Boruto complained.

"Probably because it's very hard to make."

Minato Namikaze speculated.

Not to mention Mu Yue's Six Paths Sage Art—even trying to create a scroll that can achieve the power of a Hokage-level jutsu is extremely difficult.

The maker must not only master the technique but also be a Hokage-level powerhouse themselves, and then spend a great deal of time and effort to produce a single Hokage-level ninjutsu scroll.

"Then it's settled."

Sasuke agreed with Minato Namikaze's proposal.

He was curious about Mu Yue, a ninja who had absorbed the Six Paths Sage's chakra, and wanted to exchange information about the Ōtsutsuki with him.

…

The next day.

After finishing breakfast, Sasuke headed to the Uchiha clan grounds.

Yesterday he had agreed with Itachi Uchiha to train again today, but unlike the all-day session yesterday, it would only be for the morning.

"Good morning, Mr. Suigetsu."

Itachi Uchiha, who had arrived a bit early, greeted him.

"Mm, good morning."

Sasuke replied.

Neither of them were especially talkative; after the greeting, they began their formal training and only rested two hours later.

"Mr. Suigetsu, will you tell me your story today?"

Itachi Uchiha asked, leaning against a tree.

Yesterday Sasuke had said "next time" rather than "definitely next time," so it was possible he wouldn't tell the story.

"Why do you want to hear my story?"

Instead of giving an answer, Sasuke looked into Itachi Uchiha's eyes and asked a question.

"Shisui says that learning from the experiences of predecessors is very useful—studying their strengths can make you better, and their mistakes can serve as warnings."

Itachi Uchiha replied.

"I feel that Mr. Suigetsu is a remarkable person; learning from your experience should be very helpful."

Sasuke was silent for a moment, then said:

"Then let me tell the story of someone even more remarkable than me."

Itachi Uchiha assumed a listening posture.

"That person was a genius. Everyone who knew him believed he was an incredibly talented genius ninja—whether the elders of his clan or the most famous ninja."

Sasuke recalled the past as he spoke slowly.

"What exactly did they think of him?"

Itachi Uchiha asked curiously.

"If you changed the setting to Konoha, it would probably be like a Hokage praising that you can now think like a Hokage."

Sasuke glanced at Itachi Uchiha and replied.

"That really is impressive."

Itachi Uchiha said in surprise.

He remembered that Mu Yue was the Hokage, and to receive praise like that from Mu Yue would probably get even Shisui excited.

"But even geniuses aren't omnipotent. Despite his extraordinary strength and superhuman intelligence, he still suffered under the dual pressure from the village and his clan."

"Due to some lingering issues, his clan and the village had an irreconcilable conflict. The clan hoped he would help them oppose the village, while the village leader hoped he would solve the clan's problems. And so, he was caught between two great mountains."

Recalling his brother's tragic fate, Sasuke's expression darkened.

"It sounds so hard. Did he resolve the conflict in the end?"

Uchiha Itachi gradually became immersed in the story Sasuke was telling, as if he himself had turned into a character in the tale.

"He resolved it. To keep the clan from bearing the infamy of a coup, and to protect the village from the suffering of war, he ultimately agreed with a radical higher-up's opinion and killed all clan members except his younger brother, thereby solving the problem of the clan's coup."

"He bore all the infamy and hatred on his shoulders, carrying the heavy burden alone until his death."

Sasuke said in a deep voice.

"Huh?"

Uchiha Itachi instantly snapped out of his immersion, stared wide-eyed at Sasuke, and stood up instinctively.

"Doesn't seem very impressive to me. Even if the clan avoided the infamy of a coup, all its members died leaving only one younger brother. Is the clan's reputation still that important?"

Uchiha Itachi couldn't help saying.

Sasuke's gaze sharpened, but quickly softened.

His mental process just now was roughly: Who dares to speak ill of my brother Uchiha Itachi? Oh, it's Uchiha Itachi himself saying it. Then it's nothing.

"The situation was more complicated and difficult than you imagine. In hindsight, of course one can calmly analyze everything in detail, but for someone at the center of the vortex, it's hard."

Sasuke sighed and said.

"I feel that if it were Shisui-nii, he could have done better."

Uchiha Itachi still thought that person wasn't good enough.

Sasuke: …

It was precisely because Shisui couldn't bear it that the burden fell on his brother.

"This timeline's Shisui might be different."

Sasuke thought about the differences between the two worlds.

Although names and appearances are the same, the people in the two worlds are not completely identical.

So there also exists the possibility that this world's Shisui is stronger.

Thinking of this, Sasuke started to want to meet this world's Shisui.

Too bad this world's Shisui seemed to have left the village on a mission and wasn't in Konoha.

"Thank you for your story, Mr. Shuiyue. I will absorb his experience and not let your efforts go to waste."

Uchiha Itachi thanked him politely.

"That would be for the best."

Sasuke said seriously.

If Uchiha Itachi really learned from the experience and became better, then his journey here wouldn't have been in vain.

After that, they trained until noon.

"Mr. Shuiyue, why did you stop?"

Uchiha Itachi asked curiously.

"A promise with my younger brother is also a very important matter."

Sasuke lightly tapped Uchiha Itachi's head and said.

Yesterday, Uchiha Itachi and little Sasuke had made a promise.

"Oh, right. Goodbye, Mr. Shuiyue."

Uchiha Itachi thanked Sasuke and left, quickly running back home.

Sasuke watched Itachi Uchiha leave, and thinking about the warmth and joy that awaited the Fugaku household, a faint smile appeared on his face.

Then Sasuke went to find Boruto, and they had lunch together.

Just as Sasuke was about to begin intensive training with Boruto, Minato Namikaze sent a ninja to find them, bringing good news.

Mu Yue is back!

Sasuke immediately took Boruto and quickly headed to the Hokage Building.