"Uchiha Itachi, I want to talk to you."
Naruto didn't waste time. He went straight to the point, his voice clear and direct.
Uchiha Itachi raised an eyebrow in mild surprise.Naruto had come to him—on purpose?
"You want to talk to me?" Itachi asked, studying him carefully.
Naruto nodded. "If you didn't want to talk, then why did you come looking for me?"
Itachi's expression tensed.
He had, in fact, come seeking Naruto. Just moments earlier, he'd been tracking Naruto's chakra signature. Yet somehow, Naruto had found him first.
And not only that—Naruto knew he wanted to talk.How?
Itachi's tone turned curious. "What do you want to talk about? And how did you know I was searching for you?"
Naruto looked straight at him—at this man who had once slaughtered his entire clan with his own hands, not out of hatred, but out of loyalty to Konoha and love for his brother.He had borne the weight of unimaginable guilt and lived in darkness, branded a traitor. All while secretly protecting the village.
It wasn't easy.
After becoming Hokage in his past life, Naruto had learned the truth:Itachi was a victim of political power plays—someone who had made impossible choices to protect both Konoha and Sasuke.
Even now, Itachi had come to find him—before facing Sasuke—to make sure that both his brother and the village would be safe.
And that's why Naruto wanted to try to change fate.
He took a step forward, his voice steady. "Itachi, I admire you—truly. I won't beat around the bush. I want to ask you to abandon your fight with Sasuke. Live. Let me help you change your future."
Itachi stared at him, momentarily stunned.Admiration? From Naruto?
Seeing the surprise on his face, Naruto continued:"I already know the truth behind the Uchiha massacre. I also know you came here to observe how I treat Sasuke."
His tone was calm, even gentle. But to Itachi, it felt as if Naruto had seen straight through him.
Without warning, his Sharingan flared—transforming into the Mangekyō Sharingan.
Itachi was shaken. Naruto had just laid bare his thoughts—exactly what he had come here for. How was that possible?
For a brief moment, an impulse surged through him—should he silence Naruto here and now?
The thought passed almost as quickly as it came.
Naruto noticed the shift and smiled faintly. Itachi's reaction made sense. Anyone else would have panicked or lashed out.
But Itachi had already mastered his emotions again in just seconds.As expected of a true Konoha genius.
After a long pause, Itachi let out a quiet, bitter laugh. "Naruto… you always manage to surprise me. Since you already know why I came, I want to hear your answer."
Naruto didn't hesitate."Sasuke is my brother for life. No matter what happens—even if he turns against Konoha—I will stand by him. I'll bring him back. I believe in him."
Itachi looked at him in silence, his gaze unreadable.
After a moment, he asked, "Are you really that confident? What if Sasuke decides to destroy Konoha?"
Naruto answered without blinking, "I swear on my life—I'll bring Sasuke back to the village. I promise you, I will."
Itachi's lips curved into a faint smile. That was the answer he had hoped for.As long as Naruto saw Sasuke that way, Itachi no longer cared about the methods.
After all, he had left something behind… a final trump card.
Naruto saw the smile and knew: just like in his previous life, Itachi believed him.
So he pressed forward."Then what about my suggestion? Will you consider it?"
Itachi went quiet, lost in thought for several seconds. Then he spoke:
"…I'm sorry, Naruto. I can't accept it. I still have to fight Sasuke."
Naruto's tone grew urgent."Why? Why do you insist on dying? Why not just tell him the truth? He's your only family left in this world!"
Itachi met his eyes. "Because I'm a sinner. From the moment I slaughtered my clan with my own hands, my fate was sealed. If I live, the shame of the Uchiha will never fade. Someone will always use that stain to drive a wedge between Konoha's clans. That instability would hurt the village."
Naruto's eyes darkened."So you decided to die by Sasuke's hand. That way, he becomes the hero who avenges the Uchiha, and your own death brings you peace... Is that it, Itachi?"
Itachi looked at Naruto again—and for a moment, it felt like he was looking into a mirror.
How could this boy understand him so well?
How could Naruto, of all people, carry that same pain, same empathy… same conviction?
Itachi said nothing. But deep in his heart, he knew—Naruto wasn't just some reckless, loud-mouthed kid anymore.
He was someone who understood.
Someone who had already seen the weight of the world.