At this time, Uchiha Itachi could no longer think—his mind was consumed by endless pain and fear.
He couldn't understand the purpose behind what was happening, but his body's reaction told him it was unbearable torture.
The torturer, now revealed as Gecko, continued to ask, "What is 1000 minus 7?"
Each question felt like a sharp dagger piercing deep into Itachi's soul. This phrase became the only thing he could cling to, keeping his mind in a constant state of high tension. He had to answer the question at all times to avoid even more severe pain.
This continuous torture caused him to gradually lose awareness of his surroundings. Only endless pain and despair remained.
As time went on, Itachi's face became paler, his lips chapped, and his eyes hollow. His body shook, as if he might collapse at any moment. But he persisted in answering that dreadful question, knowing that if he stopped, even crueler punishments would await him.
During a long week, Itachi experienced countless instances of having his hands and feet cut off, his fingers pierced, and even borers inserted into his brain. Each torture was worse than death. His body was numb, and having not eaten for a week, his consciousness was beginning to blur.
*Crunch—*
The door opened, and a figure walked in. Itachi initially thought it was Gecko until he heard a familiar voice.
"Itachi, are you okay?"
Uchiha Shisui's concerned voice reached him, causing Itachi to raise his head. Shisui could clearly see Itachi's tortured state—the severed hands and feet. He knew instantly what Danzo had done to his beloved friend.
Anger surged in Shisui's heart, but he knew that his priority was to rescue Itachi. He stepped forward, intending to free him from his shackles.
But what Shisui didn't realize was that Itachi, now transformed into a ghoul and starved for a week, was dangerously drawn to the scent of human flesh. As Shisui was untying the shackles, he reassured Itachi, "Itachi, don't be afraid. I'll get you out of here. We'll leave this place together."
However, Itachi did not respond. His eyes were hollow, lifeless, as though his soul had left him. Shisui felt a chill run down his spine but continued to work on the shackles.
As soon as the last shackle was released, Itachi let out a low growl. He suddenly opened his mouth, revealing sharp teeth, and lunged at Shisui. Shocked, Shisui didn't have time to react before Itachi bit down hard on his throat, causing blood to spurt out.
Shisui struggled, but Itachi, now a ghoul, had far greater strength. Even in his malnourished state, Itachi was more powerful than Shisui. Shisui's eyes widened, filled with disbelief.
"Itachi... why?" Shisui asked with difficulty.
Itachi didn't answer, his eyes filled with madness and hunger. He devoured Shisui, completely forgetting who he was. Shisui's eyes, once filled with disbelief, slowly dimmed as life left him.
When Itachi had eaten enough, his clarity of mind returned. But when he saw the person beneath him, his eyes widened in horror.
This is... Shisui?!
Did I kill Shisui?!
No! This is impossible!
How could I have eaten Shisui?!
Shisui was not only a mentor and friend to Itachi but also a guiding light in his life. Itachi could not accept that he had devoured Shisui, but the undeniable truth lay before him—he had indeed consumed his friend.
*Clap! Clap! Clap!*
At that moment, applause echoed from nearby. Itachi turned his head and saw a man wearing a tiger-patterned mask—the same person he had seen before transforming into a ghoul.
"Who are you?" Itachi demanded, his voice cold.
"Is it because of you that I'm like this?!" He roared, his voice laced with desperation and anger, trying to shift the blame for Shisui's death onto this man, as though doing so might ease his own pain.
But self-deception wouldn't change reality.
Hearing this, the man behind the mask laughed sarcastically. "So, how does Uchiha Shisui's flesh taste?" His tone was full of mockery and contempt for Itachi.
These words were like a sharp blade, cutting deep into Itachi's heart. His anger exploded, and he charged at the masked man, attempting to use force to solve the problem. But his speed was no match for the man's, who swiftly kicked Itachi away.
Itachi fell heavily to the ground, pain written all over his face. The man, tired of this game, decided to end this illusionary world.
But before that, he wanted Itachi to experience one last horror—the "human rolling" form from Kaneki. So, he grabbed Itachi's body and, without hesitation, slashed at him three times with a knife, cutting Itachi's limbs off and leaving only his torso intact, like a stick.
Itachi's eyes widened in shock, unable to accept what he was seeing. The man looked at the "artwork" he had created and nodded with satisfaction. There was an indifferent light in his eyes, knowing that this would be an indelible memory for Itachi.
Satisfied with his work, the man smiled evilly and snapped his fingers.
Suddenly, a group of Uchiha clan members appeared in front of Itachi—people he had once killed. They rushed at him, devouring him bit by bit.
Itachi closed his eyes, accepting his fate as they consumed him.
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