Chapter 297: Cho's "Death," The Mangekyo Awakens
Seeing the shadow abandon assassination tactics in favor of a frontal assault, a cruel curve appeared on Uchiha Hiroshi's lips.
"Too naive. For a Root shinobi, you are woefully unprepared regarding your enemy's capabilities. To attack me without proper intel?"
"Do not blame others for your death today. Everything that happens is a result of your own arrogance."
The lightning in his hand flared once more. Suddenly, the concentrated ball of the Chidori extended rapidly, transforming into a sharp blade of pure electricity that pierced through the shadow's body.
"Chidori Spear!"
"Gah!"
Taking the heavy blow, the shadow threw their head back and sprayed a mouthful of blood. The mask used to conceal their identity fell to the ground.
The sneer on Hiroshi's face vanished the instant he saw the face beneath the mask. His expression crumbled, replaced by a creeping horror.
"How... how can it be you..."
"What... what just happened..."
"Cho? Why is it you? How could it be you?!"
"Oh god! What have I done?!!"
Hiroshi fell to his knees in front of his girlfriend, tears streaming uncontrollably down his face. He reached out, trying futilely to cover her wound, desperate to undo the damage he had just inflicted.
"I'm... sorry..." Cho looked at his anguish. Her lips moved, but she could only offer a helpless apology.
"Don't speak! I'll heal you! I won't let you die! I promise!!!" Hiroshi roared in agony.
In this moment, Hiroshi had no desire to seek the truth. Why Cho wanted to kill him, what her connection was to Root—none of it mattered.
All he wanted was to save the life of the woman he loved.
Some things, and some people, are only truly appreciated the moment they are about to be lost.
The old Uchiha Hiroshi had lived only to surpass Kyosuke, believing that revenge was the entirety of his life's meaning. But now, he thought differently.
Since meeting Uchiha Cho, he had discovered that there were things in life more important than vengeance. If he could, he would have given up everything just to grow old with her.
But... a simple mission had suddenly turned into this nightmare. His beautiful hopes shattered like a mirror, impossible to repair.
The intensity of his past hope now fueled the depth of his current pain.
Overwhelmed by negative emotions, Hiroshi felt as though he were drowning. Yet, despite the grief and hatred threatening to consume his mind, a shred of rationality oddly remained.
"Why?" Hiroshi lowered his head, his voice hoarse.
Uchiha Cho smiled bitterly and shook her head. She raised her hand with great difficulty, as if wanting to touch her boyfriend's cheek.
Hiroshi leaned down in silence, lowering his head as much as possible to bring his face close to hers.
But just then, a poison needle glinting with a dark light suddenly appeared in Cho's weak hand. Amidst Hiroshi's expression of despair and pain, she thrust it into his body.
A potent toxin spread rapidly through Hiroshi's system. Yet, the physical pain, no matter how intense, paled in comparison to the agony in his heart.
"Why?!!"
Maintaining his posture, Hiroshi roared the question again. But the woman before him could no longer answer.
The aura of life had vanished from her body.
That final strike had exhausted the last bit of chakra she was using to sustain her life. The wound he had inflicted earlier claimed her in an instant.
How could the "dead" Uchiha Cho answer his question?
Staring blankly at his girlfriend's corpse, Hiroshi slowly leaned in and placed a deep kiss on her forehead as a farewell gift. Simultaneously, as his emotions underwent a violent shift, a strange and powerful chakra flooded into his optic nerves.
Three black tomoe merged and spun, finally transforming into a complex, geometric pattern.
Mangekyo Sharingan, activate!
Ignoring the severe pain wracking his body, Hiroshi gently laid his girlfriend's body on the ground. He turned his head to look at the forest behind him, his voice ice-cold.
"Stop hiding. Come out."
As soon as the words left his mouth, the sound of clear footsteps approached. Uchiha Kyosuke walked slowly out of the shadows of the trees.
"I didn't expect you to detect my presence at the very end. Is that the power of your new eyes?" Kyosuke asked with genuine curiosity.
Hiroshi didn't answer the question. Instead, he gave a tragic smile. "So, you orchestrated all of this."
"That's right. It was all me," Kyosuke admitted without hesitation.
With the confirmation, Hiroshi's doubts were instantly resolved.
"Cho was yours..."
"Yes."
"And Sensei..."
"He is also one of mine."
"...Why?" After a long silence, Hiroshi finally asked the question.
"Hehehe... Hahahaha!" Hearing this, Kyosuke suddenly burst into laughter. He laughed unrestrainedly, and... with extreme anger.
"You have the nerve to ask me why?!"
Kyosuke ignored his cousin's hateful glare. After composing himself, he spoke flatly. "Let me ask you. Over the years, have I ever done anything to harm you?"
"Let me ask you again. When I was young and lived in your house, you harbored resentment toward me and bullied me for years. Did I ever retaliate?"
Looking at the suddenly silent face before him, Kyosuke spoke mockingly. "But you? Do I need to list out everything you've done behind my back?"
"You chose the path of opposing me, so you must be prepared to be crushed by me. To choose is to accept the consequences. You've been on the battlefield for years—do you not understand such a simple principle?"
Rendered speechless by Kyosuke's words, Uchiha Hiroshi stood there, his expression shifting rapidly. For a long time, he said nothing.
After a long silence, he suddenly looked up, staring directly into Kyosuke's eyes. It seemed as though he wanted to say something, but a strange sensation emanated from his Mangekyo Sharingan, instantly dragging Kyosuke's consciousness into a void-like space.
"Hahaha! You are too arrogant, Uchiha Kyosuke!" Hiroshi grinned savagely, the power of his left eye erupting.
"Did you think that just because you used drugs to inhibit my chakra molding, victory was yours?"
"Even if I cannot live through today, you are coming with me!!!"
"Genjutsu: Dance of the Moonlit Butterfly!"
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