Uchiha Sasuke was very resolute.
No, it should be said that Uchiha Sasuke had been hoodwinked.
Uchiha Sasuke's personality is not easily deciphered. Once you arrange a peaceful life for him under the guise of well-meaning intentions, the inherent pride of the Uchiha Clan makes him discontent, thus leading him onto another path.
So, Uehara Naraku's persuasion of Sasuke focuses on his well-being.
Someone who has been persuading Sasuke to stay away from danger, no matter how you look at it, seems much more trustworthy than those urging him to collect the Tailed Beasts and destroy Konoha, right?
This is the brilliance of Uehara Naraku.
Even Uchiha Itachi could not have imagined someone would guide Sasuke in this way!
This method is genuinely a bit terrifying.
Who would have thought someone claiming to be acting in Sasuke's best interest would deliberately exploit Sasuke's rebellious nature?
This stems from Uchiha Sasuke's excessive arrogance, unable to endure the slightest provocation, and with just a bit of guidance, he would explode immediately!
After hearing Sasuke's words, Uehara Naraku blinked his eyes and softly advised, "Sasuke, don't act impulsively. Mr. Itachi has already arranged everything for you. He left you the Mangekyo Sharingan just to give you the power to protect yourself."
"I've thought about it very clearly."
Uchiha Sasuke gritted his teeth and spoke with a face full of malice, "I will not follow his will to live an ordinary life. I will carry the hatred of him and the entire Uchiha and destroy Konoha to avenge them!"
"You don't have to do this."
Uehara Naraku patted Sasuke's shoulder and softly continued to persuade, "Actually, Mr. Itachi has already forgiven Konoha in his heart. He believes the top brass of Konoha indeed kept their promise back then, allowing you to grow up safely in Konoha..."
"Who wants to play ninja games with those guys!"
Uchiha Sasuke's eyes were blood-red as he glared at Uehara Naraku, cutting off Uehara Naraku's words coldly, "The thing I hate most was those years living in Konoha!
At that time, Itachi should have told me the truth instead of letting me go through that dark period in Konoha. Now, thinking about it, I just hate those hypocritical guys in Konoha!"
"There's no need."
Uehara Naraku sighed and soothed Sasuke's emotions, "Konoha is the strongest Ninja Village in the Ninja World. Mr. Itachi believed only they could ensure your safety..."
"I have never needed protection!"
Uchiha Sasuke suddenly punched the wall, blood slowly flowing from his eye sockets: "What I have always needed is power! Power that can support my revenge!"
Blood from Uchiha Sasuke's eyes slowly trickled down his face, his Three Tomoe Sharingan frantically spinning, gradually transforming into a pair of peculiar Mangekyo Sharingan!
At this moment, his anger reached its peak!
Uchiha Sasuke finally felt he had found his future path, allowing him to awaken these cursed eyes, the Mangekyo Sharingan!
Uehara Naraku stared in surprise at Sasuke's eyes. Could there be an unexpected gain?
Just a conversation with Sasuke had awakened his Mangekyo?
A trace of astonishment gradually appeared on Uehara's face, "Your eyes... the Mangekyo Sharingan... is this the fate of your brothers?"
"What?"
Uchiha Sasuke slowly reached out his palm, instinctively touching his eye sockets, only to find a handful of blood, his expression suddenly changed.
"The Mangekyo Sharingan!"
The next moment, Uchiha Sasuke slowly clenched his fist, looked down at Itachi's body on the ground, and knelt on one knee beside him.
Uchiha Sasuke, touching his eye sockets, vowed word by word, "I will bear your hatred together... and make Konoha pay the price for us, the Uchiha Clan!"
Uehara Naraku couldn't help but shake his head and sigh, "Sasuke, by doing this, you're going against Mr. Itachi's wishes. He just hoped you could live a safe and peaceful life..."
"Uehara!"
Uchiha Sasuke interrupted Uehara Naraku with a deep voice, continuing, "Didn't Senior Kisame just tell me? Itachi also arranged a first path for me, which is to join you and inherit Itachi's position in Akatsuki!"
"This path will be very dangerous."
Uehara Naraku furrowed his brows, seemingly making a final persuasion, "Sasuke, if you return to Konoha or live in seclusion, you could live safely, perhaps never encountering ninja conflicts again, never witnessing the cruelty of war..."
Saying this was truly heartfelt and earnest.
Uehara Naraku was even moved by himself.
By the side, Hoshigaki Kisame looked complex, if he didn't know his boss, he might have believed Uehara Naraku was a good friend of Uchiha Itachi!
Perhaps even a life-and-death reliance kind of friend!
If they weren't good friends, why would Uehara Naraku advise Sasuke to stay away from danger?
Even Hoshigaki Kisame, who knew Uehara Naraku's identity, almost believed it; let alone an inexperienced Uchiha Sasuke!
"Stop persuading me!"
Uchiha Sasuke slowly turned his head, his scarlet Mangekyo Sharingan staring intently at Uehara Naraku, "Uehara, I know what I'm doing, I also know what I should say, I don't need your nonsense!"
"Hehe..."
Uehara Naraku squinted his eyes, suddenly kicked, hooking Sasuke's neck and toppling him to the ground. Just as Sasuke rose with an angry face, Uehara Naraku punched him back to the ground!
Just as Hoshigaki Kisame and Yakushi Kabuto were somewhat surprised, they didn't quite understand...