The Uchiha clan massacre, originally intended to prevent Uchiha's rebellion, did not occur for certain reasons.
The river of fate has shown signs of diversion.
Even so, the coup d'etat that the Uchiha clan was planning wouldn't have made much of a ripple, as Konoha was already prepared. Uchiha would not be able to resist Konoha's full force. After the baptism of war, the diverted fate would still return to its rightful path.
The outcome wouldn't change just because of different means.
What truly caused fate to flow into the unpredictable abyss was the will that first diverted the river of fate appearing once more. It delivered the news of Uchiha's impending rebellion to the hands of the clan head, Fugaku, in the form of a note.
The coup could have succeeded if Uchiha had used a surprise attack to take down Hiruzen, Danzo, and the other top officials of Konoha. But now, they were facing all the prepared and ready Konoha ninjas, a battle Uchiha could never win.
The mission of the clan is to continue, not self-destruct.
Especially on this night when Itachi has yet to appear.
Uchiha Fugaku no longer needed to bear a father's responsibility; he only needed to fully execute his role as the head of the Uchiha clan.
Thus, releasing the Nine-Tails became his only choice.The fate of the Uchiha clan and Konoha, under the manipulation of the invisible hand, was heading towards a stormy and treacherous future.
Compared to their counterparts in another timeline, they were about to bring the pain, originally limited to the Uchiha clan, to everyone in Konoha.
…
"You've crossed the line, Neiki, now step aside!"
"I refuse," Neiki said with a gentle smile under the terrifying glare of the Sharingan. The Uchiha themselves should decide the fate of the Uchiha clan."
"I am going to decide the fate of the Uchiha clan," Itachi replied coldly.
He wasn't the coward Fugaku spoke of; Neiki merely stopped him on his way to find assistance.
Neiki shook his head, "You are not deciding the fate of the Uchiha clan. You are merely executing Konoha's orders."
The evening breeze rustled the branches.
Their gazes clashed in midair.
One had the misty Byakugan.
The other had the three-tomoe Sharingan.
"I always thought you were Danzo's man," Itachi slowly drew the standard long sword from his back. "After all, you've done so many bad things."
"It's not surprising; everyone thinks so," Neiki's short blade was unsheathed. "He is the best umbrella for all the darkness in Konoha."
Itachi pondered deeply, frowning. "So, who do you represent?"
"I represent myself," Neiki beckoned Itachi with a finger. "Come, it's been a month since our last fight. Let me see how much you've improved."
"Bang!"
The sound of short weapons clashing.
Two figures flickered at high speed between the trees, their forms indistinguishable. Only the sparks from their clashing weapons marked this as an extremely dangerous battle.
The Twin Prodigies of Konoha.
Enemies and friends since childhood, deeply familiar with each other’s fighting styles. Each move was countered by the other, resulting in a fierce and even close-combat fight. Itachi quickly realized something:
"You fought someone before blocking my way?"
"No, I've been waiting for you here. I just split my chakra earlier," Neiki said casually.
In close combat, the Byakugan's dynamic vision surpasses the Sharingan's, and Neiki's swordsmanship is superior to Itachi's. Even with half his chakra spent, he wouldn’t be disadvantaged in close combat with Itachi.
"You are overconfident."
"I can still easily handle you." Neiki boasted arrogantly.
After a clash of blades, Itachi leaped back and hurled three kunai at Neiki, who deflected them with a single sweep of his sword.
"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"
Blazing flames illuminated the night as Neiki’s short blade moved back.
"Water Sword Technique: Flowing Water Slash!"
Blue chakra enveloped the blade, cutting through the entire fireball.
Amidst the rising steam, a white light descended from above, aiming straight at Neiki.
Though the steam obscured their vision, it did not affect Neiki or Itachi.
Neiki parried horizontally, reigniting the intense close-combat battle.
"Even if you stop me, they will still fail tomorrow!" Itachi stared at Neiki during their blade lock. "All it will do is expose Konoha's internal chaos, giving other ninja villages an opportunity."
"You underestimate your clan’s initiative," Neiki chuckled softly.
Exposing severe internal strife, prompting other ninja villages to initiate war?
No.
The price is too light.
That’s not what Neiki wanted.
"You told the Uchiha clan the information?!" Itachi's eyes widened, and he almost lost his grip on his sword.
His eyes turned serious as the three-tomoe Sharingan morphed into the shuriken-shaped Mangekyo Sharingan.
"Tsukuyomi!"
In the illusionary realm, the sky was blood red, everything else black and white. Crosses were everywhere, each bound with a version of Neiki. Neiki looked at Itachi and shook his head.
"You know this technique doesn’t work on me."
Itachi stabbed a long needle into Neiki, but Neiki remained unresponsive.
"Illusion Substitute…"
Neiki might lack genjutsu prowess compared to Itachi, but he possessed an unparalleled talent for developing new techniques. The Illusion Substitute was such a technique, specifically to counter genjutsu.
It is a B-rank genjutsu designed to help Neiki resist mental damage from other genjutsu. It's an extremely rare defensive ninjutsu, but it's highly practical.
Its inspiration came from the common Substitution Jutsu. The principle of the illusion was simple: collecting scattered mental energy and storing it as a "substitute," which would then bear the mental damage in place of the main body at critical moments.
The creation of this technique aimed to prevent being instantly defeated by genjutsu like Tsukuyomi.
Being one of Konoha's Twin Prodigies, he couldn't fail to block even one of Itachi’s moves, right?
"How many substitutes do you have?" Itachi took a deep breath.
"How many times can you use Tsukuyomi?" Neiki retorted.
Creating a substitute took about a week of collecting scattered mental energy, and each could only withstand one genjutsu.
But for Neiki, that was enough.
Regardless of whether Itachi could bear the burden of using Tsukuyomi multiple times, Neiki, once alert after losing a substitute, wouldn't fall for Tsukuyomi again.
Itachi ceased his futile stabbing and asked, "What do you intend to do by stopping me?"
"You've already said it," Neiki smiled, bound to the cross, his lips red and teeth white.
"I want Konoha in chaos."
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