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CHAPTER
403 - Tears
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Naruto
has returned to Konoha with the rest of the team
after their failed mission. Looking depressed,
Naruto lies on his bed and remembers the events that have
transpired. He recalls his meeting with Itachi in the forest
and the conversation they had. Itachi
asked
Naruto why he cares about Sasuke, a renegade ninja who abandoned him
and his village, so much. Naruto’s response was
that Sasuke is like a brother to him. Itachi offered no reply
but a faint smile did appear on his face.
As Naruto made his charge, Itachi opened his
cloak to unleash a flock of black crows which surrounded
Naruto. Naruto realized that he was already caught in
Itachi’s genjutsu. Itachi then began testing Naruto
by asking him what he would do if Sasuke refused to come home with
him. Naruto answer was that he’d do whatever it
takes. Itachi pointed out  that
Naruto’s way of thinking would be fine assuming Sasuke would
return to Konoha peacefully, but then raised the possibility to Naruto
that Sasuke might only return to Konoha to attack it. He explained that
Sasuke is still like a blank slate right now, meaning he is easily
susceptible to being manipulated by others. He asked Naruto
how far he would go to stop Sasuke if he did attack the Leaf.
Itachi questioned if Naruto would be willing to kill Sasuke to save his
village. Naruto remained defiant and said that he would find
a way to save Konoha without killing Sasuke.
Itachi called Naruto’s response childlike and
stated that a true shinobi must be ready to make impossibly difficult
decisions like this. Itachi’s words
reminded Naruto of a similar talk Jiraiya gave to him while he was
recovering in the hospital after his fight with Sasuke at the Valley of
the End. Jiraiya told Naruto to forget about Sasuke because
there was nothing he could have done to stop him. He told
Naruto that a shinobi must rely on his intelligence and wisdom to make
the right decisions in order to survive, and that sometimes
sacrifices needed to be made. Naruto responded that if being
smart meant abandoning your friends, then he will live the rest of his
life as an idiot.
Naruto’s response to Itachi was that he
had already made up his mind about saving Sasuke and
he won’t go back on his word because that is his way
of the ninja. Itachi
seemed pleased by Naruto’s answer. Suddenly, one of
his illusionary crows flew directly into Naruto’s mouth and
entered his body. Itachi told Naruto that he had transferred
a part of his power into him, but hoped that Naruto would never have to
use it. Naruto is then released from the genjutsu.
Naruto again challenged Itachi to fight him, but Itachi only told him
that he must leave to deal with an important matter.
At a mysterious location, Sasuke is quietly watching the
moon while sitting on top of an odd structure made from bone at the
bottom in a large pit. Madara approaches from below and asks
what Sasuke is up to because they have already finished
preparations. Sasuke says that staring at the moon brings
back memories of the
repressed memories he has of the night the Uchiha clan was wiped out.
Sasuke remembers facing his brother in the
streets. Itachi told Sasuke to only come after him again once
he had achieved the same “eyes” as
himself. Sasuke felt like he was about to collapse from fear,
but he regained his footing. Sasuke was able to
activate his Sharingan and stared at his brother with a hateful
gaze. Itachi made his escape, but Sasuke chased after
him. He picked up some kunai lodged into the ceiling nearby
and threw them at Itachi. His accuracy was dead on.
Itachi was still able to dodge them, but dropped his head
protector. Sasuke had overexerted himself and collapsed to
his knees. Itachi remained silent and only picked up his
headband.
But as he turned around to look at Sasuke for a
final time, Sasuke was sure that his brother was crying.
Sasuke fainted after that and until he heard Madara’s story,
he was sure he had just been seeing things. But now he
realizes that Itachi was genuinely crying and believes that Madara has
been telling him the truth. Madara asks Sasuke if he plans on
taking Itachi’s eyes for his own. Sasuke says he
will not. He tells Madara that the outcome Itachi wanted to
see is exactly the opposite of what his eyes are about to
witness. He can’t fulfill Itachi’s
wishes, but he will resurrect the Uchiha clan in his own way.
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