The sound of a blade piercing flesh rang out again.
Unlike his earlier cold detachment, Aburame Shigeo felt his heart stop this time.
He stiffly turned his head and saw Aburame Chion not far away, coughing up a mouthful of blood. Her lips moved slightly, as if she were speaking to him.
Though he couldn't hear her voice, Shigeo clearly understood the words from the movement of her lips:
**"I'm sorry, Father."**
*"Thud!"*
Aburame Chion collapsed to the ground.
Seeing this, Shigeo felt as if he were suffocating. His heart seemed wrapped in barbed wire, squeezing so tightly that he could barely breathe.
The image of Chion lying on the ground burned into his blood-red Sharingan, sending waves of searing pain through his eyes.
Two streams of bloody tears slid from the corners of his eyes.
The twin tomoe in his Sharingan spun wildly before transforming into a six-pointed star pattern.
**Mangekyō Sharingan!**
The grief of losing his beloved daughter had propelled Aburame Shigeo, like Obito in the original timeline, to evolve from a two-tomoe Sharingan directly into the Mangekyō Sharingan!
A surge of destructive intent overwhelmed him. The sunglasses on his face shattered and fell to the ground, consumed instantly by black flames.
**Amaterasu!**
Suddenly, Shigeo noticed everything around him change.
It was as if time had rewound. The once-manic Hidan, who had just killed Chion, was now frozen in place by a binding jutsu.
Shirtless and standing there, Hidan wore an expression of humiliation, tears glinting in his eyes, as though he'd suffered a great injustice.
Chion, standing not far away, had her hands covering her mouth, staring at Shigeo in disbelief.
Beside her was Sasuke, his Mangekyō Sharingan already active, watching Shigeo with a scrutinizing gaze.
Shigeo froze, his mind seemingly stalled.
He quickly regained his composure, though his face turned ashen.
*"Damn it, I've been hunting geese for years, only to get pecked in the eye! That brat Sasuke!"*
It was all clear to him now. Everything he had just experienced wasn't real—it was an illusion cast by Sasuke's Mangekyō Sharingan!
Under normal circumstances, even a Mangekyō illusion would be detected and broken by him with ease.
But this time, his chakra had been severely drained by the nine Yin seals, and his body was worn out from tirelessly tracking Fu and the others.
Most critically, his emotional turmoil upon seeing Chion "killed" had completely clouded his judgment, preventing him from considering the possibility of an illusion.
All these factors combined had led to his current predicament.
Though he was relieved that his daughter was unharmed, being bested by Sasuke—a brat he had always looked down on—left him both embarrassed and furious.
*"Damn it!"*
With a shout, Shigeo slapped Hidan across the face, sending him sprawling, before marching up to Sasuke.
"What was the meaning of that just now?"
"…"
Sasuke frowned at the furious Shigeo.
"Wasn't it your rule? Whether through direct combat or sneaky tactics, whoever defeats you gets Itachi's eyes back."
Shigeo: "…"
So this was my own damn fault?
The rage he had intended to vent was abruptly stuck in his throat, causing his mouth to twitch uncontrollably.
Unperturbed, Sasuke pressed on.
"How do you have the Sharingan? And how is it that even your Mangekyō Sharingan is identical to mine, capable of using Amaterasu?"
"Because I'm your father!"
In his anger, Shigeo blurted out the retort.
But as soon as he said it, he realized how inappropriate it was, disrespecting the deceased.
He immediately apologized.
"Sorry, Sasuke. I let my anger get the better of me and misspoke. I apologize for disrespecting your father."
"Misspoke? Disrespecting my father?"
Sasuke frowned at Shigeo's apology but pressed on.
"Then what's the deal with your Sharingan?"
"Transplanted!" Shigeo replied solemnly. "Just like Kakashi's!"
"When did you get the transplant? Who gave it to you?" Sasuke's scrutinizing gaze intensified.
"Uh… well…"
Unable to answer, Shigeo glared at Sasuke in annoyance.
"My Sharingan is a top-level security secret of the Konoha Police Force. I can't tell you!"
"Can't or won't?"
Sasuke shot him a look of disdain and followed it with a pointed remark.
"Only those with Uchiha blood can activate and deactivate the Sharingan freely, with minimal physical strain. That's common knowledge."
"Uh… common knowledge?"
Shigeo's mouth twitched as Sasuke's disdainful expression needled him. Unable to hold back, he smacked Sasuke on the head.
"Then why ask if you know it's common knowledge, you brat?"
"…"
Sasuke didn't get angry at the slap but wore a strange expression.
Looking at the flustered Shigeo, he suddenly asked, "Why are you helping me? Not only did you share your strength with me, but you helped me unlock my Mangekyō Sharingan and know so much about the Uchiha clan. Who are you?"
"Why should I tell you?"
Shigeo glared again, his frustration unabated.
"You dragged Chion here and used the Mangekyō to ambush me. I haven't even started with you! Now take her back to Konoha immediately. And keep her away from you. If I find out she's been with you again, I'll break her legs. Got it?"
He turned to Chion, scolding her next.
"And you, little brat! Leaving home to wander with this punk? What if something happened?"
"Father!"
Chion ran up and hugged him tightly.
"Father, I know I was wrong. Please don't be mad, okay?"
"Hmph!"
Shigeo snorted, flicking her forehead with his fingers.
"Ugh…"
Chion let out a cat-like whimper, pouting as she held her forehead.
Before she could start whining again, Shigeo pressed a finger to her head.
"Go back to Konoha now. Stay away from Sasuke. If I catch you with him again, you'll regret it. Understand?"
"Ugh… I understand!"
Pouting, Chion nodded reluctantly, then turned to Sasuke.
"Goodbye, Sasuke. Father's mad. Ugh…"
"Mm." Sasuke nodded and walked away, hands in his pockets.
After taking a few steps, Chion called out.
"Sasuke, I think Father cares about you more than he does Naruto. Maybe his bond with your father is stronger than with the Fourth Hokage!"
"…"
Hearing this, Sasuke's mouth twitched.
Touching the spot where Shigeo had smacked him, he couldn't tell if he felt happy or sad.
"Maybe the one he bonded with wasn't even my father."
"Uh…"
*(End of Chapter)*