Naruto: Manipulation-Chapter 232: Itachi, You Did Well (FINALE)

1 extra Chapter coming tomorrow, then the end.

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The story was repeating itself.

Fate seemed to move in cycles.

Just as Madara Uchiha had attacked Konoha in the village's early days, now, years later, Sasuke Uchiha launched an assault on Konoha that very night.

And this time...

Sasuke's power exceeded even that of the Madara of old!

Fortunately, Konoha had Naruto Uzumaki—someone even stronger than the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju, who had once repelled Madara. Though Naruto couldn't understand Sasuke's sudden intent to destroy Konoha, he had no choice but to step in and stop him.

"Sasuke!"

"What are you doing!"

Golden chakra flared around Naruto, forming the massive figure of a golden Nine-Tails humanoid, clashing with Sasuke's full-body Susanoo.

What was going on?

Just a few days ago, they had agreed to protect Konoha together. Why was Sasuke now bent on destroying it?

"Have you been controlled by Lord Shigen?"

Naruto could make no sense of it and offered the only explanation he could.

Given Sasuke's current power, not even Madara's Infinite Tsukuyomi could control him. So maybe—just maybe—it was Lord Shigen's doing.

"Out of my way!"

At the mention of control, Sasuke's face twisted with fury, a flash of hatred revealing the rage burning within.

His brother...

Had tried to overwrite his will with Kotoamatsukami.

He could never forgive that.

He could never forgive a life manipulated by his brother. This village had to be destroyed!

"What happened!"

Naruto's voice grew desperate. He tried to reason with his friend.

"Did Shigen do something? Sasuke, don't trust him!"

"I never trusted him..."

Sasuke ground his teeth. His heart was engulfed in fury and sorrow, but he couldn't bring himself to reveal that his brother had tried to alter his very will.

It was too absurd!

Everyone who knew the truth always said Itachi loved him—but all he ever felt was an unbearable, icy cold.

"Step aside, Naruto."

"This has nothing to do with you."

Sasuke drew the great katana of his Susanoo, and his chakra exploded outward.

"Let me destroy Konoha..."

"I won't let that happen."

Naruto shook his head, his expression turning steely. He began gathering chakra.

There was no turning back.

Who would've thought—

That after the war of Infinite Tsukuyomi, believed to be the final conflict, another war would erupt—even if it was only between two people.

—

In the Hokage's office, Tsunade was deeply uneasy.

Luckily, Naruto was here. Otherwise, she couldn't imagine whether Konoha could even survive Sasuke's wrath...

But still—

What in the world had happened?

Tsunade couldn't understand it.

After Naruto brought Sasuke back, Konoha had treated him with unexpected leniency. Though he had never been officially declared a missing-nin, there was still uncertainty. Even so, Tsunade had overruled all objections and reinstated Sasuke's status.

She had even joked about Sasuke joining Naruto in the upcoming Chūnin Exams hosted by Lord Shigen.

Truth be told...

Tsunade believed she had been more than fair.

She didn't want a Six Paths-level ninja wandering unchecked. She'd even issued a gag order prohibiting any talk of Sasuke's past ties to Akatsuki.

So...

Why was Konoha being attacked?

A familiar voice suddenly echoed beside her.

"..."

Tsunade froze.

That voice—Uchiha Madara's!

No... why was he here?

Could this whole thing be his doing?

"Alert!"

The ANBU were thrown into disarray at Madara's presence!

"Alert for what?"

Madara blinked at the ANBU, mildly amused.

"We're not enemies anymore. Konoha is just one of our subordinate villages."

"..."

The Konoha shinobi's faces twisted with humiliation.

"..."

Tsunade's own face darkened.

"Is Sasuke attacking because of some plan of yours?"

"Perhaps..."

Madara furrowed his brows. He recalled Lord Shigen had made some arrangements—but even he didn't fully understand what.

That man...

Truly accounted for everything.

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But what exactly had he done?

Obviously...

Blame was about to fall on Shigen's shoulders.

As the most powerful being in the ninja world, Shigen often bore the weight of many things—especially as the only one capable of manipulating Sasuke.

A black space-time portal opened atop the Hokage Tower.

"I didn't do it."

Shigen's voice rang out as he emerged, followed by several figures—as though escorting prisoners.

Among them—

Orochimaru.

And beside him: Edo Tensei-revived Itachi Uchiha.

Orochimaru had been hiding from Kabuto since the war, keeping Itachi with him, hoping to find allies against Shigen.

What else could he do?

Obito had died after the war.

Though Orochimaru had no grand ambitions left, he doubted Akatsuki would let him live in peace, so he sought support to resist Shigen.

But his luck ran out.

Kabuto, now too powerful, with his Dragon Sage Mode, relentlessly tracked him down. Every escape route mysteriously sealed...

"It wasn't me..."

When Shigen denied involvement, Tsunade believed him immediately.

He had no reason to lie—not anymore. And he never liked to lie anyway.

So...

That left one likely culprit.

"Orochimaru?"

Tsunade stared unhappily at her old acquaintance.

If someone had provoked Sasuke, Orochimaru was a prime suspect. His silver tongue could certainly do it...

"I didn't even get the chance to..."

Orochimaru chuckled darkly, casting a sideways glance at Kabuto.

"I've spent all this time running from him."

"My apologies..."

Kabuto smiled politely but kept his eyes on Edo Itachi.

"I was ordered to retrieve Itachi's corpse. But Orochimaru revived him first, so I had no choice but to bring him in instead."

"..."

Itachi ignored them both.

He watched as his younger brother attempted to destroy Konoha—and unease stirred in his heart.

Hadn't the Kotoamatsukami crow altered Sasuke's will yet?

"Are you wondering..."

Shigen's voice drifted to Itachi's ears as he stared up at the battle in the sky.

"Why Sasuke hasn't been changed by Shisui's Kotoamatsukami?"

"!!!"

Itachi's expression changed instantly.

He knows about Kotoamatsukami?

He knows I used it on Sasuke?

"I got a Kotoamatsukami from Danzō once."

Shigen noticed Itachi's alarm.

"I studied it. It's powerful, yes—but useless against someone like Sasuke, who now wields Yin Power and the Rinnegan."

"You even guessed I would use it on him..."

Itachi was speechless—utterly shaken.

This man...

Had he also guessed about Edo Tensei?

"Some tools... never go to waste."

"That Sharingan eye was too valuable. With your nature, you'd never let it rot—you'd save it for something crucial. Like using it to ensure the boy who gained such power... would protect Konoha."

"..."

Itachi's chest tightened.

Every guess—spot on.

And the next words made it even worse.

"Originally, I worried about Sasuke and Naruto joining forces to take down Madara after I left this world. Their combined strength could've done it. But it looks like... your attempt to overwrite his will only enraged him instead."

"Itachi, you did well."

Shigen smiled, patting his shoulder.

"Now Sasuke has nowhere to go. He'll never want to return to Konoha again."