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My brother is a remarkable genius. Since I was little, the one I admired most was my brother.
My brother is Uchiha Itachi. I am Uchiha Sasuke. We are from the Uchiha clan. My father is the clan head.
My childhood dream was to become a shinobi like my brother—brilliant and powerful. Because of this, whenever I had the chance, I would run to my brother for guidance. But he always refused me. Back then, I didn't know why. Thinking about it now, he just didn't want me to become strong. Otherwise...
A single tomoe spun to life in his crimson Sharingan.
...Otherwise, I could kill him!
Uchiha Itachi, sooner or later, I will kill you with my own hands!!
Sasuke leaned against a tree in the forest, its shadow enveloping his entire body.
Recalling the scene he witnessed that night, fear, shock, and hatred continuously welled up from the depths of his heart!
And Kagaya... why did you betray the village? Were you involved in that incident too?
That boy, the most dazzling in the entire Ninja Academy, his same-year peer, was now a missing-nin. No longer could one hear people secretly praising or envying that genius.
Sasuke would no longer jump out indignantly to refute anyone who spoke ill of Kagaya.
Everything happened too suddenly. So suddenly that Sasuke hadn't been able to process it at all. He was still completely in the dark, knowing nothing, when that happened.
"Just you wait! Uchiha Itachi, Uchiha Kagaya, sooner or later! Sooner or later!! I will kill both of you with my own hands!!!"
After a year of internal struggle, Sasuke had made up his mind. Regardless of whether Kagaya was involved in the Uchiha massacre or not, he had betrayed the village. He hadn't lifted a finger to save the Uchiha clan. For these reasons alone, he was guilty. No matter what, Sasuke would kill them both!
Driven by hatred, Sasuke now trained with extreme diligence and had truly become the top genius of his year.
Now, he seemed somewhat similar to that brilliant, high-spirited boy from before. Now, he had the confidence that in the future, he would kill Itachi and Kagaya!
He couldn't understand it! Completely failed to understand!
Why would the brother he so admired, that gentle brother, slaughter the entire clan? As expected, all that gentleness was just an act!!!
And Kagaya, who was so close to him, his best friend from the academy, the most talented of the new Uchiha generation—why did he betray the village? Why was he indifferent to the destruction of the Uchiha? Sasuke even suspected that Kagaya might have been among those who slaughtered the clan!
Damn it! Damn it! Damn it! Both of them, hypocrites!
Standing up, Sasuke resumed his training. He didn't dare forget this hatred for a single day. He constantly reminded himself: Get stronger! Stronger! Only then could he kill those two.
"Just wait. The next time we meet, I will definitely kill you!! Definitely!!"
*****
[A New Bond has been formed.]
The system's voice suddenly arrived. Then, Kagaya saw that starry sky pattern once again.
A black thread, shot through with hints of gold, extended from the star representing Kagaya, connecting to the star representing Sasuke.
[The Chain of Hatred. A boy filled with loathing and a boy burdened by darkness. Will their final outcome be a death battle? Reconciliation? Or mutual suffering?]
[Ocular power has been moderately enhanced.]
Kagaya pressed his lips together, said nothing, and exited the bond constellation.
'Sasuke... Well, that's fine. See you in three years then. At that time, let me see just how great your hatred is. Will it be enough to kill me?'
*****
Several days later.
Akatsuki Base.
Zetsu emerged from the ground and spoke to Pain.
"Uchiha Kagaya did not attempt to capture the Nine-Tails. He merely observed Konoha for a while before heading in another direction."
Pain replied expressionlessly, as if he didn't care at all about Kagaya's actions. "I know."
Zetsu inquired.
"Shall we recall Uchiha Kagaya for questioning?"
"No, that won't be necessary. Capturing the Nine-Tails now would be good, but failing to capture it is also acceptable. Kagaya is an important asset; for now, we should not risk driving him away. Moreover, my purpose in sending him to capture the Nine-Tails wasn't truly about the capture itself. Given his hatred, simply by going to Konoha, he would surely cause trouble for the village. Let Kagaya linger near Konoha and weaken its strength. When the time comes, I will personally go to capture the Nine-Tails."
"Understood."
*****
Several months later.
Kagaya, with Haku, arrived at a place called Otogakure (the Village Hidden in the Sound).
There was no particular reason for coming here. Kagaya was simply wandering around with Haku and happened to arrive here.
However, since they were here, Kagaya decided to pay Orochimaru a visit.
As if anticipating their arrival, Orochimaru stood quietly at the entrance of Otogakure, watching Kagaya and Haku approach.
"You knew I was coming?"
Kagaya stopped in front of Orochimaru.
Orochimaru spoke.
"Yes. I received word of Kagaya-kun's arrival not long ago. It seems Kagaya-kun has been... traveling around various places recently? Does the Akatsuki have no missions for you? Such casual movement is rather unwise, Kagaya-kun."
Kagaya ignored Orochimaru's comment and instead looked at Otogakure behind him.
"Aren't you going to show me your village?"
Orochimaru seemed surprised. On the surface, Otogakure wasn't his village.
"It seems I can't hide anything from Kagaya-kun. Let's go."
With that, Orochimaru led the way into Otogakure.
Kagaya and Haku followed.
During this period, Kagaya and Haku hadn't undertaken many missions. Their days were spent wandering around and training.
This wasn't because Kagaya didn't want to carry out missions, but because Pain had largely stopped assigning them to him.
Firstly, the funds the Akatsuki needed to accumulate were gradually becoming sufficient, so missions were far less frequent.
Secondly, Kagaya had proactively informed Pain that he hadn't captured the Nine-Tails and that he intended to spend the next three years preparing for the assault on Konoha, requesting fewer missions. Pain had agreed.
Combined, these two factors meant Kagaya's missions had become very scarce.
Kagaya's purpose in coming to Orochimaru was to see his preparations for invading Konoha!
"Kagaya-kun, look here. These are my primary subordinates at present."
Kagaya looked at the six people before him and smiled slightly. He recognized them—the Sound Five and Kabuto!
Kimimaro, with his white hair, white clothes, and two red dots on his forehead.
Sakon and Ukon, who shared one body with two heads.
Tayuya, with her pink hair, holding a flute.
Kidōmaru, with his six arms.
And the chubby Jirōbō.
These were the Sound Five.
Among them, Kagaya was only interested in Kimimaro. The other four were, at best, at the Jōnin level, and even that might be overestimating them.
Kimimaro was different. If he went all out, he might even reach Kage level.
"What is your name?"
Thus, Kagaya directed his question at Kimimaro.