Naruto: Cultivating to Immortality

Chapter 473 The Illusory Truth (Part 2)

Sasuke Uchiha's eyes blazed, and his expression resolute as he shouted again. His determined attitude seemed to pierce the clouds, proclaiming to the world his deepest, truest thoughts.

He simply couldn't accept that Itachi Uchiha had vanished from his life so completely, leaving behind a heart full of hatred. How could his brother, who had given him warmth, love, and strength, leave so easily? Sasuke knew that if he didn't understand the whole story, he would forever live in confusion and pain. Therefore, no matter what hardships and obstacles awaited him, he would never back down. Only by bravely pursuing the truth could he truly control his own destiny and make Itachi Uchiha's sacrifices meaningful.

The masked man narrowed his eyes slightly, a fleeting glint of light flashing within them, which he quickly concealed. He took a deep breath, seemingly struggling to suppress the joy welling up within him. However, despite this, when he spoke again, his voice still betrayed a barely suppressed excitement: "Since you've made this decision, then very well, I will tell you everything about him without reservation. But ultimately, the choice is yours. After all, it's a matter of great importance, and only you can weigh the pros and cons. So, whatever decision you make is your own business and has nothing to do with anyone else." With that, the masked man gazed silently at the person before him, awaiting their next reaction.

Uchiha Sasuke stood there quietly, his expression focused, as if afraid of missing a single word. His attentive listening pleased the masked man greatly. He nodded slightly, cleared his throat, and without further delay, began his narration.

"Once, in that turbulent era of frequent wars, the Uchiha and Senju clans, two powerful ninja clans, clashed countless times. However, as time passed, both sides realized that endless fighting would only bring more pain and loss. So, at a crucial moment, they finally decided to put aside their hatred and prejudices and cooperate." The masked man's voice was deep and magnetic, as if transporting people back to that magnificent period of history.

"With the combined strength and exceptional leadership of their two clans, they successfully quelled the endless wars and ended the long Warring States period. Afterwards, they joined hands and built a village called Konoha. This village not only became a sanctuary for many ninjas but also ushered in a new era for ninja villages throughout the ninja world." At this point, the masked man paused slightly, his gaze sweeping over Uchiha Sasuke's slightly youthful yet resolute face.

"During this process, Hashirama Senju of the Senju clan displayed extraordinary leadership qualities and formidable strength. With unparalleled power and wisdom, he won the respect and trust of everyone and ultimately became the first Hokage of Konoha. From then on, Hashirama began to implement sweeping reforms and develop Konoha, gradually making it stronger. At the same time, his decisions had a profound impact on the entire ninja world, completely changing the original landscape." The masked man's words were like a magnificent painting, vividly depicting the scene of that time.

In that turbulent era of constant warfare, most members of the Uchiha clan were deeply weary and disgusted by the endless conflict. They longed to escape the flames of war and live a peaceful and tranquil life. Fortunately, the Uchiha clan, who had once co-founded Konoha with the Senju clan, finally achieved the peace and stability they had always dreamed of.

After a period of rest and recuperation, Konoha Village gradually prospered. People worked diligently on this land, and children ran and played happily; everything was so beautiful. However, this idyllic period was short-lived, and a sudden change shattered this hard-won peace.

Madara Uchiha and Hashirama Senju, two former comrades-in-arms, clashed fiercely due to their vast differences in ideology. Madara firmly believed that power was the key to solving problems, and that only with absolute strength could he protect his clan and realize his ideal world. Hashirama, on the other hand, advocated resolving conflicts with love and tolerance, building a harmonious society through cooperation and communication.

Faced with such an irreconcilable conflict, Madara Uchiha made a startling decision—he would lead the Uchiha clan away from Konoha to pursue their own path. However, the Uchiha clan was now immersed in the comfort of a brief period of peace, blinded by the cruelty of war. Most clan members opposed Madara's proposal; they were unwilling to abandon their current stable life to pursue an uncertain future.

Ultimately, Madara Uchiha was forced to leave Konoha alone. From then on, he embarked on a long journey, traveling throughout the vast ninja world. Along the way, he encountered all sorts of people and events, constantly reflecting on and exploring whether his ideals were correct. Meanwhile, the Uchiha clan who remained in Konoha continued to write their own story…

After a long period of time, Madara Uchiha, who had disappeared without a trace, finally returned to Konoha. He and Hashirama Senju, two close friends who once fought side by side and co-founded Konoha, now stood on opposite sides due to their completely different ideologies, and an earth-shattering battle ensued.

On the battlefield, both sides unleashed their ultimate techniques, the light of their ninjutsu flashing and clashing, seemingly tearing the world apart. However, in the end, Madara Uchiha was no match for Hashirama Senju's overwhelming power and was forced to retreat. But Hashirama himself was not unscathed; he was severely injured, the severity of his wounds far beyond imagination. Despite everyone's best efforts to heal him, it was ultimately futile, and this legendary leader of Konoha passed away prematurely.

With the passing of Hashirama Senju, Konoha entered the era of the Second Hokage—Tobirama Senju. Unlike the gentle and kind Hashirama, Tobirama was resolute and decisive, and always harbored a deep sense of wariness towards the Uchiha clan. Under his leadership, Konoha implemented a series of strict regulations and restrictions against the Uchiha clan, gradually marginalizing them and making it difficult for them to truly integrate into the Konoha family.

Time passed, and Konoha Village experienced the change of its third Hokage. Regrettably, the Third Hokage inherited the Second Hokage's views and attitudes towards the Uchiha clan, continuing to maintain a high degree of vigilance towards them. This long-term estrangement and prejudice caused the Uchiha clan's dissatisfaction to accumulate, sowing the seeds for future internal conflicts within Konoha Village.

Once a vital force in Konoha, the Uchiha clan fought bravely and selflessly in numerous thrilling and brutal Shinobi World Wars, defending the village's honor and peace with their blood and lives. However, it is heartbreaking that such a valiant and decorated clan was ruthlessly ostracized by the Third Hokage and other high-ranking officials of Konoha.

These leaders of Konoha completely disregarded the enormous sacrifices and contributions made by the Uchiha clan, shutting them out of the upper echelons of Konoha's power structure. Furthermore, they were stingy in granting the Uchiha clan the fair treatment they deserved, as if they were merely a dispensable group.

This blatant policy of discrimination was like a sharp dagger, deeply wounding the hearts of the Uchiha clan. As time passed, this wound worsened, the rift between the Uchiha clan and Konoha deepened, and mutual trust gradually crumbled. What was once a close-knit relationship had become irreconcilable enmity.

Itachi Uchiha grew up in this somber and oppressive atmosphere. As a young child, he tragically witnessed firsthand the horrific, blood-soaked scenes of war. The battlefield reeked of thick, acrid gunpowder smoke, littered with mangled corpses and shattered limbs, and the agonizing groans of the wounded echoed everywhere. These bloody and cruel images were deeply etched into Itachi's young mind, quietly planting a seed of profound aversion to war within him.

However, fate seemed unwilling to let this poor child go. As time passed, the tension between the Uchiha clan and the Konoha leadership grew increasingly volatile, like a bowstring stretched to its limit, ready to snap at the slightest disturbance. The conflict escalated, and mutual suspicion and distrust spread like wildfire, the entire situation resembling a volcano about to erupt. At this time, Uchiha Itachi, despite his young age, had to confront this complex and precarious situation between his clan and the village, bearing immense pressure far beyond his years.

Itachi Uchiha understood all too well that if the situation continued to develop in this way, Konoha would inevitably descend into a brutal and bloody civil war. Faced with such a difficult choice, he ultimately stood firmly on the side of the Konoha ninjas, obeying without hesitation the orders given by the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, and Danzo Shimura, the leader of the Anbu organization "Root".

That night, the moonlight, like water, bathed the Uchiha clan's stronghold, yet it could not conceal the impending bloodshed. Uchiha Itachi, expressionless, gripped his blade and walked step by step into the familiar gates of his home. Though his heart was filled with pain and struggle, he knew that to protect the peace and tranquility of Konoha, he had to personally send his clansmen to their doom.