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Chapter 2: The Entire Clan is Annihilated, and a Single Tomoe Sharingan is Awakened in Anguish
Orochimaru: "So, this is what happens when the Uchiha clan is nearly exterminated? Fascinating."
Kushina Uzumaki: "Did Itachi really kill you, Mikoto, along with the entire clan? How could that be?"
Kushina was in complete shock.
In her lifetime, she had been close friends with Mikoto Uchiha and knew Itachi Uchiha quite well.
He didn't seem capable of such an atrocity!
Mikoto Uchiha: "Yes, it's the truth. The circumstances are complex, and I can't explain them entirely."
Tobirama Senju: "This Uchiha Sasuke seems on the verge of awakening his Sharingan. His brother wiped out their family; I wonder how this will affect his abilities."
Hashirama Senju: "Could it be the Mangekyō Sharingan directly? Considering the intensity of his situation."
Madara Uchiha: "Impossible, Hashirama. Do you think the Mangekyō Sharingan is as common as cabbages? He's only seven years old; how could he have the chakra necessary to awaken and sustain the Mangekyō!"
Tobirama Senju: "Still, given such a powerful emotional trigger, it's assured that he would awaken at least one tomoe, and two tomoes would be unsurprising."
In the Pure Land, Fugaku Uchiha gazed expectantly at the silver-framed screen.
He, too, was eager to witness his youngest son's Sharingan awakening.
At the Akatsuki base.
Itachi Uchiha was silent.
He alone knew the truth.
[Uchiha Sasuke's breathing grew more labored, and his eyes slowly turned red.]
[Suddenly!]
[Both eyes shifted from black to a deep scarlet!]
[Each eye bore a single black tomoe!]
[Yet, the vivid red of the Sharingan was but a fleeting glimpse; Sasuke panted heavily, as though all his strength had been sapped.]
Fugaku Uchiha: "..."
Orochimaru: "..."
Madara Uchiha: "..."
Kakashi Hatake: "..."
Silence reigned in the chat room.
They had eagerly speculated on the extent to which Uchiha Sasuke would unlock his Sharingan.
So, it was just a single tomoe in the end?
His entire clan was destroyed, and in his rage, a single tomoe was awakened!
What's more, this single tomoe was transient. If not for their keen observation, they might have missed it.
Back in the real world, Uchiha Sasuke's face flushed with shame.
His personal history being displayed to the Ninja Interface left him feeling humiliated and enraged.
Tobirama Senju: "The entire clan is annihilated and he awakens only a single tomoe. His talent appears quite ordinary. What's the interest here? Why broadcast his life in the live show?"
Hashirama Senju: "Ahem, the boy is quite young after all. It's normal that he lacks sufficient chakra to achieve a higher level of awakening."
Orochimaru: "Sasuke was raised in a time of peace. He hasn't felt much strain as a youth and is missing rigorous guidance. This is to be expected."
He had already assessed Uchiha Sasuke's potential during the second part of the Chunin Exams.
Orochimaru is convinced that if Sasuke sought his instruction, he would quickly attain strength on par with that of a Kage.
The live stream continued.
[Right after Sasuke's eyes had awoken, the ward's door swung open.]
[Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, entered.]
[With a gentle tone, Hiruzen spoke:]
"Sasuke, I never imagined Itachi would do such a thing."
"I have labeled Uchiha Itachi a Class-S criminal of Konoha. Our shinobi will exhaust all resources to bring him to justice.
"You need not worry about your own well-being. The village will look after you."
"The current environment at your home... If you continue to live there, it may leave a psychological shadow on you."
"I have arranged a house for you in the core area of the village where you can live from now on."
"You can tell me anything. As the Hokage of Konoha, I will do my best to take care of every Konoha Village citizen."
These words, coupled with Hiruzen Sarutobi's kind and gentle voice, made Sasuke feel much better.
Sasuke said gratefully, "Thank you, Hokage-sama."
It turned out he didn't want to go back to that home anymore.
The Uchiha clan was covered in blood and corpses, and... my parents were also killed at home...
The vast Uchiha clan land had become an empty dead zone!
He dared not go back there now.
After that, Sasuke didn't go back and moved directly into the new residence.
Sasuke returned to the ninja school after recuperating in Konoha Hospital for some time.
Since then, Sasuke had practiced even harder every day.
He set a goal in his heart: to become stronger and then kill Uchiha Itachi!
Tobirama Senju: "The monkey handled it well. Although it was the Uchiha's own internal strife, it's exceedingly benevolent to take care of a 7-year-old orphan."
Hiruzen Sarutobi: "I'm not worthy of praise, Sensei. This is what I, the Hokage, should do."
Sarutobi couldn't help but sigh with relief.
Fortunately, his image had been preserved in this live broadcast.
However, others in the ninja world were not so forgiving.
Ohnoki: "Is it believable that the 13-year-old Uchiha Itachi suddenly went mad and slaughtered his whole family?"
Fourth Raikage: "I don't believe it, that's for sure!"
Mei Terumi: "And to think, the Third Hokage only found out about such a big event after it happened?"
At the Root organization's base.
Danzo was also stirring the pot.
"Regardless, Sarutobi is the Hokage, and it's his responsibility that this happened on his watch!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi was furious upon hearing this.
He could tolerate criticism from others, but for Danzo to criticize him so openly?
"Danzo, what nonsense are you spouting? As the Hokage of Konoha, you, a ninja of Konoha, are slandering the shadow of your own village. What are your intentions!"
Boom!
Danzo slapped the table in anger.
Being lectured about Hokage duties again!
After so many years, he had heard these arguments countless times.
Yet, they were impossible to counter.
Because he was not the Hokage.
"Hiruzen, you will regret this," Danzo muttered bitterly in his heart.
In the movie viewing room.
The silver-framed screen gradually dimmed.
Images began to appear on the gold-framed screen.
Orochimaru: "Is this Uchiha Sasuke from a parallel world? I wonder if there will be more surprises."
Uchiha Sasuke was also curious.
Myself in another world!
Will the life be any different?
At Konoha Hospital.
Uchiha Sasuke, seven years old, sat on the hospital bed, frowning and deep in thought.
The difference was that this Sasuke's eyes showed no fluctuations, indicating no sign of awakening them.