Naruto World.
Konoha Village, Hot Spring District.
Naruto's home was filled with fragrant aromas and a lively atmosphere.
Naruto, completely unconcerned with his image, devoured the top-grade Wagyu beef, his mouth full of sizzling, oily meat. He praised it unreservedly, "As expected of high-grade Wagyu, it's expensive for a reason!"
Currently, the activated Underground Cities include Goblin Slayer World, Demon Slayer World, Kōtetsujō World, and One-Punch World.
Among them, only One-Punch World had the highest quality ingredients.
Although Naruto World also had high-grade beef, it still couldn't compare to One-Punch World, with its modern urban background.
Kurama lay on his dedicated high chair nearby, a large plate of specially prepared grilled meat in front of him. He daintily picked up a piece of steak larger than his head with his small paw, munching on it with oil dripping from his mouth, grunting, "Hmph, it's alright, just so-so—hey, you brat, save that most beautifully marbled piece for me!"
"Heh heh, dream on," Naruto sneered.
Hyuga Hinata sat beside Naruto, delicately eating grilled vegetables, occasionally using shared chopsticks to gently place meat onto Naruto's plate. Watching him wolf down his food, a faint blush and smile appeared on her face.
Ino Yamanaka and Kurenai-sensei were also eating with great enjoyment.
Karin pushed up her glasses, complaining about Naruto's table manners while expertly flipping the meat slices, ensuring each one reached optimal doneness.
The entire room was filled with laughter, the sizzling sound of grilling meat, and a warm, lively ambiance.
However, Sasuke was a stark contrast to this cozy atmosphere.
After he brought Kurama back, he didn't leave but waited for Naruto's main body to return.
Uchiha Sasuke leaned against the wall, arms crossed, his expression cold.
But as he watched the joyful scene, especially Naruto, surrounded by everyone and eating heartily, his face grew complex. The emotions hidden beneath his mask included envy and jealousy, making him feel particularly isolated.
Naruto seemed to sense something. He swallowed a piece of meat and looked back, meeting Uchiha Sasuke's eyes.
Naruto paused, then swallowed the meat, calling out indistinctly, "Hey, Sasuke! Why are you standing there sneaking around? Come eat with us! This meat is good, hard to find in Konoha Village!"
Everyone's gaze was instantly drawn to him.
Sasuke's body stiffened, a flicker of embarrassment at being discovered, and his usual tsundere attitude crossed his face. He snorted coldly and turned his head away, "Hmph, boring. I'm just—"
"Just what?!"
Naruto interrupted him directly, activating his telekinesis and pulling him in. "Sit down and eat!"
Sasuke was forcibly seated. Looking at the platter piled with food and the gazes directed at him, he felt completely uncomfortable.
"You promised—"
Sasuke lowered his head, his voice suppressed, "To teach me to become stronger."
"I'm not here to watch you eat."
Hearing this, Naruto put down his chopsticks, wiped his mouth, and his smile faded slightly. He looked at Sasuke, his clear blue eyes seemingly able to see through people's hearts.
"Becoming stronger, huh..." Naruto stroked his chin, then suddenly chuckled, "What's the rush? You need a full stomach to have the energy to train."
"Besides, the strongest power often comes from here." Naruto pointed to his heart.
"Not here."
He then pointed to his head.
"I don't need your empty platitudes!" Sasuke suddenly looked up, his Three-Tomoe Sharingan staring directly at Naruto. "I only need power! Power enough for revenge!"
The atmosphere in the room instantly solidified.
Naruto met his gaze for a few seconds, then suddenly sighed, "Alright, alright, you're such an impatient guy... Since that's the case, I'll make you stronger now."
Before he finished speaking, Naruto extended his finger. It wasn't fast, but it moved with a strange rhythm, gently tapping Sasuke's forehead.
Sasuke instinctively wanted to dodge, but his body seemed to be restrained by an invisible force, allowing him to only watch as the finger approached. The moment his fingertip touched Sasuke's forehead, Naruto activated his Mangekyo Sharingan in an instant.
Boom!!!
Sasuke felt his consciousness violently dragged into an incredibly real, incredibly familiar, yet nightmarish fictional space.
Tsukuyomi World!
Over three years, in addition to developing sealing Ninjutsu and Ninjutsu, and cultivating his Bloodline Limit, Naruto had, through his own abilities, developed a genjutsu space similar to Tsukuyomi.
It was still that familiar night, that familiar place.
A blood-red moon hung in the sky.
Sasuke stood in the Uchiha clan compound, where bodies lay strewn about.
A figure dressed in the Akatsuki Organization's red cloud black robe stood silently before him, those familiar, cold Mangekyo Sharingan eyes watching him.
Uchiha Itachi!
"My foolish little brother."
A cold voice rang out, filled with endless mockery and killing intent.
"Itachi!!!"
Sasuke's reason was instantly consumed by hatred!
His Three-Tomoe Sharingan spun wildly. He roared, drawing his ninja sword, and charged forward like a madman.
In the illusion, an intensely fierce, fratricidal battle erupted!
Sasuke poured out his full power—Lightning Release, Fire Release, shurikenjutsu, taijutsu—
He unleashed everything he had learned without reservation!
And the illusory Itachi "perfectly" played the role of the powerful, cold killer who constantly provoked him with words.
The battle was incredibly brutal. Sasuke was knocked down again and again, only to rise each time, fueled by intense hatred!
Finally, he seemed to seize an opportunity. A Chidori erupted with unprecedented dazzling light, piercing fiercely through "Itachi's" chest!
"Puh-ha—"
"Itachi" spat out a mouthful of blood, the coldness on his face gradually fading, replaced by a complex, inexpressible—relief and a hint of sadness?
He looked at the disbelieving Sasuke, and with a "dying" tone, slowly and clearly began to tell the buried truth—the Konoha High-Level Executives' orders, the Uchiha coup, the clan's despair, the sin he bore alone, his twisted yet true love for Sasuke...
And his final request, "Forgive me, Sasuke, this is the last time—"
"No—impossible! You're lying to me! You're lying to me again!!!"
Sasuke clutched his head, letting out a heart-wrenching roar!
He couldn't accept it!
All the hatred that sustained his life, his sole reason for living, was actually a massive lie?!
The person he hated most had actually borne everything to protect him?!
Extreme anger, collapse, sadness, confusion, and a sense of emptiness from being completely negated—countless intense emotions crashed into Sasuke's soul like a tsunami!
His brain felt like it was about to explode, and his eyes were in excruciating, tearing pain!
Naruto World, inside Naruto's house.
Sasuke, who had been sitting quietly at the table, suddenly began to tremble violently. Veins bulged on his forehead, cold sweat streamed down his face, and unconscious groans of pain escaped his lips.
Especially Sasuke's scarlet Sharingan, the three tomoe spun wildly at an unprecedented speed.
The tomoe seemed to melt, beginning to deform and connect with each other.