The pitch-black night sky hung low, the deep darkness illuminated by a full silver moon casting gentle rays over the land.
Outside the Country of Rain, across an expanse of vast terrain, two figures—one tall and one short—stood facing each other in conversation.
Naruto and Elder Fukasaku, who had been traveling through the area, noticed their presence.
"It's Sasuke... but the other one is..."
Naruto recognized Sasuke dressed in his usual deep-blue Uchiha outfit. As for the second figure, he wasn't sure.
Since leaving the village, most of what Naruto knew came from Jiraiya and Mount Myoboku. He'd sometimes hear them mention names or events, but rarely matched them to actual faces.
"It's a member of the Akatsuki Organization, and also Sasuke's older brother—Itachi Uchiha," Elder Fukasaku explained.
"Uchiha... Itachi? You mean the one who wiped out the entire Uchiha Clan (one of Konoha's most powerful ninja families)?"
"That's right," Elder Fukasaku nodded solemnly.
"Should we go help then..." Naruto asked.
Fukasaku shook his head, stopping Naruto before he could move forward. "Not yet… Let's watch first."
At that moment, seemingly discussing something important, Sasuke's eyes burned with determination. "Itachi Uchiha! Those eyes belong to me now!"
Underneath his high collar, Itachi tilted his lips into a faint smirk, his signature eyebrow-connector markings subtly pronounced in the moonlight. His tone remained cool and emotionless as always.
"My foolish little brother, where exactly does this confidence of yours come from?"
As they spoke, both men instinctively stepped backward simultaneously, increasing the distance between them while drawing weapons from the ninja tool pouches at their sides.
"I said, just how long are you two planning on dragging things out? I've already been waiting here for ages! I've been looking for you too, Itachi Uchiha!"
Just then, an untimely female voice interrupted.
"Izumi..." Itachi immediately recognized the approaching figure.
Bathed in moonlight, Izumi Uchiha strode forward toward the Uchiha brothers.
Her face grew clearer in the moonlight—forehead bandages gone, her eyes like icy water. She looked at the two brothers with sharp sarcasm.
"What a sweet little family reunion you've got going on. So touching. Have you hesitated for so long because you can't bring yourselves to strike? Well then, maybe I should help send you both on your way together..."
"Hmph!" Sasuke snorted coldly, arrogance flashing across his face. "Perfect timing. Your eyes will be mine too!"
Izumi wore an expression of contempt. "I mean, how does someone who isn't even a jonin think they've got the right to act that arrogant? The sight of it is actually far more unpleasant than watching your murderous older brother butcher people like cutting melons!"
Itachi stood silently, eyes darkening slightly.
"Itachi... Itachi Uchiha, let's settle this beginning with y—"
Before Izumi could finish speaking, her voice abruptly cut off mid-sentence.
It was as if she'd been struck by some binding jutsu—her expression froze completely.
Under the hazy moonlight, the ambient glow began changing colors, much like a single drop of red dye spreading across a canvas of milk-white.
"In the sky... What is that..."
Naruto's voice rang out filled with surprise and shock.
Sasuke quickly looked up along with him.
When had the crescent moon in the sky transformed into a blood-red full moon?
"[Infinite Tsukuyomi]? Could it be that Madara has already become the Jinchuriki of the Ten-Tails and even controlled its power? How is that possible?"
Sasuke wore an expression of utter disbelief, his shock evident.
The surrounding redness deepened, no longer subtle like just moments ago.
It was as if they were all inside a vast red curtain.
Pak!
A sound like something collapsing echoed.
"Elder Fukasaku... what's wrong with you, Elder Fukasaku..."
Naruto squatted down and picked up the suddenly collapsed Elder Fukasaku.
Only silence responded.
Muttering to himself, Naruto said, "He's clearly still breathing. Why won't Elder Fukasaku wake up?"
"Infinite Tsukuyomi... The Sage of Six Paths once spoke of this jutsu. It traps people in an eternal dream from which they'll never awaken..."
"Even Elder Fukasaku, who possesses natural energy, couldn't withstand its effects?"
Taking a deep breath, Sasuke stepped forward to check on Itachi Uchiha.
His eyes had already lost focus, showing no reaction at all to Sasuke's approach.
Sasuke sighed deeply, his emotions mixed. "Itachi..."
"Sasuke, what should we do? How will they wake up? And why are we two unaffected?" Naruto anxiously ran over.
"It should be the power of the Six Paths protecting us..."
Sasuke opened his palm, revealing the faintly glowing lunar pattern. He tried to calm himself and speculated,
"He once fought against Kaguya otsutsuki and defeated her, so he must have become immune to her Infinite Tsukuyomi."
"If that's true, then to save these people, we need to find the Sage of Six Paths." Naruto frowned tightly, starting to recall.
"I remember now! The old Sage of Six Paths once said that only when the chakra of Indra, Ashura, and the Nine-Tails are gathered together could one meet him. Sasuke, let's give it a try."
Naruto stretched his hand toward Sasuke.
"..."
Footsteps could be heard approaching.
Then, in an instant, the red light and crimson moon vanished, and the night returned to normal, as if nothing had ever occurred.
From appearance to disappearance, the entire phenomenon lasted less than two minutes.
Following the end of the anomaly came a cold yet steady male voice.
"Huh? You two actually weren't affected?"
Madara Uchiha observed Naruto and Sasuke carefully with scrutinizing eyes.
So, what Sasuke mentioned earlier—the story about Kaguya otsutsuki—and their mission of Naruto Uzumaki—were really true?
Madara thought inwardly.
"Madara! You're the one who released the Infinite Tsukuyomi!" Sasuke immediately confronted.
Madara casually smiled. "I did release it, but it wasn't Infinite Tsukuyomi. Its range only covered the Country of Rain."
"And besides," he smirked slightly and continued, "these people aren't dead yet."
Before his words ended, Itachi Uchiha and Izumi Uchiha—who had been frozen in place—suddenly regained mobility, stepping beside Madara Uchiha and bowing slightly.
"Master!"
"Master?" Seeing that both Madara and Itachi were wearing the same Akatsuki Organization cloaks, Naruto felt a strange unease creeping up inside him.
Sasuke eyed the quiet Itachi and Izumi with a furrowed brow. "What exactly did you do to them?"
"I simply gave them a new purpose in life," Madara Uchiha raised an eyebrow, then erupted into laughter.
"Listen, Sasuke, Naruto Uzumaki," Madara continued. "If you want to save the people of the Country of Rain, defeat Kaguya otsutsuki. Do this for me, and I'll restore them all to their former selves."
"What exactly is wrong with them now?" Naruto interrupted.
Madara fell silent for a moment before erupting into laughter. "That's right, nothing's wrong with them at all. Everything is perfectly normal. I made them believe whatever I wanted them to believe."
"I see," Naruto muttered. "Dreams replayed endlessly can reshape a person's mind."
Sasuke thought of something else. "You're asking us to fight Kaguya otsutsuki. Does that mean you've accepted my version of history?"
If so, why haven't you killed Zetsu yet!
Sasuke didn't voice this last question.
He quickly scanned the area, uncertain if Zetsu was nearby.
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