Naruto: Cultivating to Immortality

Chapter 472 The Illusory Truth (Part 2)

"You must know, Uchiha Itachi was a true genius! His talent and strength are beyond your imagination! Moreover, he possessed the most powerful ultimate power of the Uchiha clan—the Mangekyou Sharingan! How could such a powerful character be so easily killed by you?" The masked man continued with a light laugh. Although his voice was not loud, every word struck Uchiha Sasuke's heart like a heavy hammer.

However, the masked man seemed unwilling to stop his incessant chatter. He narrowed his eyes slightly, staring intently at the person before him through the gaps in the mysterious mask, and then slowly continued, "Your victory is entirely thanks to him! You see, even in the face of life and death, he was still preoccupied with paving the perfect path for your growth. He spared no expense, just so you could go further and become stronger on this path. It can be said that without his painstaking planning and schemes, how could you have achieved what you have today?"

"Absolutely impossible!" Uchiha Sasuke roared furiously, his voice echoing through the heavens, as if venting all the injustice and anger in the world. "He's that cruel demon who wiped out his entire clan! He could kill even his own parents without mercy, so how could he possibly have any compassion for me? He spared me only because of my eyes; he wants to use me to obtain the legendary Eternal Mangekyou Sharingan!"

Sasuke's eyes were bloodshot, veins bulging on his forehead, and his anger erupted like a volcano. He couldn't accept this cruel reality—that such a cold-blooded and ruthless person had done everything for him. All those beautiful memories were shattered at this moment, leaving only endless pain and hatred.

"Uchiha Itachi..." Sasuke muttered the name through gritted teeth, each word filled with deep resentment. He clenched his fists so tightly that his nails dug deep into his palms, and blood slowly trickled down his fingertips, but he felt no pain. At this moment, he had only one thought in his mind: the other party couldn't possibly be as the masked man described.

"Heh!" The masked man chuckled, his laughter filled with mockery and ridicule, as if he were mocking Uchiha Sasuke's naivety and ignorance. "Is that really what you think?" His voice echoed in the air, carrying a chilling undertone.

However, this teasing did not calm Uchiha Sasuke down; instead, it ignited the long-suppressed anger within him. His eyes widened, burning with fierce flames, his fists clenched, and his body trembled slightly with rage.

"You're saying everything he did was for me?" Sasuke Uchiha roared furiously. "Then, slaughtering the entire clan, was that also for me? Making me lose my family and friends, burdened with a blood feud, living in endless pain and the nightmare of revenge, can that be considered for me?"

His voice boomed through the air like thunder, each word filled with deep resentment and pain. The surrounding air seemed to be infected by his anger, becoming heavy and oppressive.

Sasuke Uchiha couldn't accept this explanation. He felt nothing but hatred and rage towards the person who had destroyed everything he had. At this moment, he unleashed all his emotions, roaring at the masked man and questioning this absurd claim.

"Back then, the Uchiha clan's situation in Konoha was incredibly complex and treacherous. The hardships, dangers, and power struggles they faced are probably beyond your current understanding and experience!" The masked man narrowed his eyes slightly, his tone as calm as still water, but his gaze seemed to penetrate the heart, sending chills down one's spine.

He slowly raised his head, his gaze fixed on the person before him, and continued calmly, "And you must be familiar with the name Uchiha Itachi, right? The one who personally slaughtered his entire clan, and from then on, walked the world burdened with heavy sins. So, have you ever considered what reason could have driven him to such a cruel heart, to so brutally murder his own people?" After saying this, the masked man fell silent, simply standing there, awaiting the other's answer. The surrounding air seemed to thicken with his words, so oppressive that it was almost suffocating.

Sasuke Uchiha's face flushed crimson, veins bulging on his forehead, his eyes wide and seemingly spitting fire. He roared, "How could he possibly have any noble reasons? He simply wanted to gain more power! He admitted it himself! He even shamelessly claimed it was 'to test his own limits,' cruelly slaughtering his entire clan! This behavior is utterly heinous! He's a complete madman, a madman consumed by a frenzied thirst for power!" His voice was hoarse with extreme anger and agitation, but he didn't stop, continuing, "I absolutely refuse to believe he has any reason to be pitied or forgiven! Such a demon deserves the harshest punishment!" As he spoke, he waved his arms, as if trying to vent all his rage. His urgent manner revealed the deep hatred and loathing he felt for the so-called murderer.

The masked man slightly raised his head, his gaze piercing through the mysterious mask and landing directly on Uchiha Sasuke. His tone was unusually calm, as if he were stating something utterly ordinary: “Sasuke, you really should try to understand that person more. Only by delving into his growth trajectory, personally experiencing the hardships he endured, and those unknown past events hidden behind the years, can you cut through the fog and clearly and accurately understand the real him. Every detail could be a key clue to solving the mystery; every memory might hide a crucial opportunity to change the situation. So, please don't ignore these seemingly insignificant parts, because they often bring you unexpected gains and insights.” After saying this, the masked man fell silent, simply standing there quietly, waiting for Uchiha Sasuke's response.

"Didn't I ever truly understand him?" Uchiha Sasuke murmured, as if asking himself, or perhaps questioning the capriciousness of fate. His deep, night-like eyes narrowed slightly, and his thoughts drifted back to the distant past.

The person in my memory always had a warm smile on their face, like the gentle sunshine of spring, softly falling on them. That care and protection was so meticulous that even now, when I think back, I can still feel that warmth penetrating the barriers of time and flowing straight into my heart.

However, in my youthful arrogance, my heart was consumed by a raging fire of hatred. I was oblivious to the love and care he offered; I was utterly indifferent to his suffering and helplessness. My mind was consumed by thoughts of how to hate him and how to gather strength to avenge this blood feud.

Sasuke slowly closed his eyes, and scenes from the past played out in his mind like a movie. Those details that he had once overlooked became incredibly clear at this moment—the occasional sadness in that person's eyes, the weariness hidden behind his smile... It turned out that he had never truly understood his heart.

“Tell me everything about him! From the smallest details to the most earth-shattering events, I want to know everything. I crave to know what he went through all those years, what difficult choices he faced, and what hardships he endured. In particular, I want to understand why he made that incomprehensible decision back then, and how he resolved to bear that mountain of sin!” Uchiha Sasuke’s eyes no longer held any hesitation or confusion, but instead shone with an unwavering light.

At that moment, Sasuke Uchiha abruptly turned his head, staring intently at the man wearing the mysterious mask, as if trying to pierce through the man's disguise with his sharp gaze and reach the core of the truth. He desperately hoped to obtain enough accurate information from this seemingly omniscient person so that he could deeply analyze the reasons and inside story and unravel the confusion that was currently troubling him.

"Are you really determined to know everything about him? I must solemnly remind you that once you learn all this, your peaceful and stable life may be completely shattered, and your entire life trajectory may even be drastically changed! Itachi's actions and decisions were all intended to protect you, to allow you to avoid these complex, dangerous, and conspiratorial issues, so that you could survive safely in this turbulent world." The masked man was expressionless, his eyes as cold as frost, staring straight at Uchiha Sasuke before him, and spoke these words without any emotion.

"That's right, I've made up my mind! My life path should be in my own hands, and I don't need anyone else to plan it for me! I must see through all the truth and then choose my direction based on my own thinking and judgment. I absolutely cannot tolerate him sacrificing himself just to pave a so-called smooth road for me!"