Being a rogue ninja is worse than being Hokage.

"Sasuke, didn't you just ask me why I took Kakashi-sensei's eyes?"

Chapter 36 Reason

Naruto, the Jinchūriki of the Tailed Beasts.

The Akatsuki organization that collects tailed beasts.

Naruto has an irreconcilable conflict with Akatsuki, so it's not surprising that he would be interested in members of the Akatsuki organization.

These are all Naruto's enemies. Understanding your enemies will increase your chances of winning.

What Sasuke found strange was the obvious special attention Naruto paid to Itachi Uchiha in his tone.

Just as Naruto might value something unique about Itachi Uchiha, or some information about him, that Naruto would highly regard, aside from the conflict between Naruto and the Akatsuki organization.

Sasuke had a feeling.

Even if intelligence were to arrive immediately indicating that the Akatsuki organization had suddenly been destroyed in the ninja world, Naruto's "high regard" for Itachi Uchiha would not disappear.

Naruto didn't start paying attention to Itachi Uchiha because Itachi joined Akatsuki.

Instead, they were focusing on Itachi Uchiha himself.

Just like Sasuke.

Sasuke's interest in Itachi stemmed from his desire for revenge against the Uchiha clan, who were killed by Itachi.

And... what about Naruto?

Why is he paying attention to Itachi Uchiha?

Sasuke regained his composure, but the myriad thoughts in his mind remained undiminished.

However, Sasuke doesn't need to seek answers to his inner confusion on his own.

Naruto brought up this topic because he was also prepared to have a proper discussion and explanation with Sasuke.

"Sasuke, you should know why I defected from Konoha, right?"

Naruto posed another question to Sasuke.

"Because you are the Jinchūriki of the Nine-Tails."

"That's right... You must have witnessed the power of a Jinchūriki and a Tailed Beast three years ago, right?"

Naruto again used rhetorical questions to steer the conversation between him and Sasuke.

This time, Sasuke didn't answer...

But Naruto's question still reminded Sasuke of the "answer" that was still clearly imprinted in the depths of his mind, even after three years.

Tailed Beasts...

It is a "natural disaster" that has existed since ancient times, and no one knows its origin.

The Tailed Beasts' wanton destruction will bring about a "man-made disaster" that is difficult to erase the pain.

Sasuke still vividly remembers the devastation Konoha suffered three years ago at the hands of the One-Tailed and Nine-Tailed.

"Naruto, what you did three years ago was too much..."

Sasuke hesitated for a moment before speaking, but then suddenly realized that he had no right to comment on Naruto in his current position, so he shut up again at the end of his sentence.

However, Naruto could guess what Sasuke originally wanted to say from the tone of his voice.

"...You mean to say that I went too far."

"Unimportant people should not be involved."

Sasuke glanced sideways at Naruto, offering no clear response to Naruto's "taking over the conversation."

Not denying it is sometimes a form of acknowledgment.

Sasuke is like that now; leaving Konoha to follow Orochimaru is just as unorthodox as Naruto's behavior.

However, he is not as decisive and ruthless as Naruto.

Sasuke is like a kid who stays out all night but somehow goes astray.

Other bad kids could do a lot of bad things if they stayed out all night.

But for Sasuke now, his staying out all night simply means not going home to sleep.

However, the time I haven't been home has been a little too long, three years in total.

...only kill those who deserve to die.

That's a really naive idea.

In the original work, Sasuke not only carried out this naive idea himself, but also restrained the killing behavior of the other three members of the "Hawk" squad.

However, Sasuke's naiveté only lasted until he learned the truth about Itachi Uchiha's massacre of his clan.

Sasuke ended his naiveté after the Five Kage Summit, abandoning the idea of ​​"only killing those who deserve to be killed".

In his revenge against Danzo Shimura, all the ideas Sasuke had built up over the past decade or so clashed with his Sharingan and his village-first ideology after witnessing Danzo's mastery of it.

Sasuke, having fallen into darkness, reached the peak of his madness.

But it was precisely Sasuke's naive thoughts that made him valued by Obito Uchiha, leading Sasuke down the path of the Uchiha clan's cursed fate—the darkness of the Uchiha.

Sasuke's innocence was shattered by Obito Uchiha's misguided guidance, and in return, Obito Uchiha craved the unique madness of the Uchiha clan that Sasuke possessed.

Obito Uchiha longed for Sasuke's innocence.

Naruto now also yearns for it.

"...Then why do you think I should have done that?"

Another question.

During Naruto and Sasuke's conversation, Naruto never explained directly, but instead repeatedly posed questions to Sasuke.

Naruto is forcing Sasuke to think.

“You witnessed the destructive power of the Tailed Beasts three years ago—that was the result of the Konoha higher-ups’ failed plan to control me as the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki—yet they still attacked me, Sasuke. Why do you think that is?”

However, Naruto doesn't need Sasuke to think about this problem.

Naruto immediately explained to Sasuke, "Because the Konoha leadership is certain that their plan to control me, the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, will succeed."

"Absolutely certain? Why?"

This time it was Sasuke's turn to ask.

"Sasuke, why do you think I took Kakashi-sensei's Sharingan?"

Even though Naruto asked a question in return, Sasuke seemed to have found the answer.

During the three years Sasuke spent by Orochimaru's side, he knew very well that Orochimaru's understanding of the Sharingan was even greater than that of Kakashi, who actually possessed a single Sharingan.

Having gained a systematic and comprehensive understanding of the Sharingan, Orochimaru's information about the Sharingan over the past three years has greatly helped Sasuke's eye power training.

Orochimaru also told Sasuke about some strange connections between the Sharingan and the Tailed Beasts.

With enough eye power, the Sharingan can even control tailed beasts.

"Some members of Konoha's high-ranking officials possess the Sharingan."

Naruto revealed the answer that Sasuke had already guessed.

"Stop joking! Naruto! The Uchiha clan has been wiped out by Itachi, only Itachi and I are left alive..."

Sasuke wanted to deny Naruto's absurd and impossible answer—but then he suddenly remembered that bloody night at the Uchiha clan's territory.

The words that Itachi Uchiha once said to him.

[Sasuke, if you could awaken your Sharingan too, then there would be three people, including me, who could use the Mangekyou Sharingan.]

Three people...

That was a "number" that Sasuke overlooked because of the hatred he felt towards Itachi for killing his parents and the entire Uchiha clan.

These were the words spoken by Itachi Uchiha after he annihilated the entire Uchiha clan.

Examples of Itachi Uchiha's two Mangekyou Sharingan users: one is Itachi himself, who had already awakened the Sharingan, and the other is Sasuke, whom Itachi had high hopes for, possessing the potential to awaken the Mangekyou Sharingan.

—Hachiha Itachi, who had already wiped out the Uchiha clan, would certainly not use the already deceased Uchiha clan members as examples.

The third person Itachi mentioned—the third person to awaken the Mangekyou Sharingan—is naturally still alive somewhere.

No—the Konoha high-ranking officials that Naruto mentioned possess the Sharingan might have acquired it in the same way as Kakashi.

It was a gift given by the dying Uchiha, representing "bonds".

It's just a regular three-tomoe Sharingan.

Naruto saw through Sasuke's thoughts, but he acted as if he was just stating the facts, and continued to speak to Sasuke: "The Sharingan pupils don't have three tomoe, but a very special pattern."

"The higher-ups in Konoha wanted to control me using the Sharingan. Luck played a large part in how I managed to break free from the Sharingan's control three years ago... I took Kakashi-sensei's eyes to test how Konoha—or rather, the people in the shadows of Konoha—would react after Kakashi lost his Sharingan."

Naruto's explanation, in turn, confirmed the truth of Itachi Uchiha's words from back then for Sasuke.

That bloody night, a night of suffering for the Uchiha clan, was known only to Itachi and Sasuke, the two brothers who had become bitter enemies.

Sasuke certainly wouldn't suspect that Naruto, who knew nothing, was misleading him.

And the reason why Naruto pays attention to Itachi Uchiha is becoming clear.

“I want to understand why the Konoha leadership would possess the Sharingan—after all, there should only be two people left in the Uchiha clan, Uchiha Itachi and you—and to resolve this question in my mind, I will naturally seek the answer from Uchiha Itachi, who wiped out the Uchiha clan.”

"Before becoming a rogue ninja, Itachi Uchiha served in the Konoha Anbu, which was directly under the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi. I think he knew something, more or less."

Naruto's words also aroused a hint of doubt in Sasuke's heart.

The Uchiha clan holds the official position of guard unit to protect Konoha.

Itachi Uchiha's act of annihilating the Uchiha clan, who were protecting the village, was an undisputed act of betrayal.

The Uchiha clan are selfless individuals who died for the village, a view held by Sasuke and most Konoha ninjas and villagers.

According to Naruto's account to Sasuke, the Konoha leadership insulted the bodies of the Uchiha clan members who should have been properly disposed of, and took the Sharingan for themselves.

Naruto's few words certainly wouldn't make Sasuke let go of his hatred for Itachi.

Itachi himself admitted to killing his parents and the rest of the Uchiha clan.