Naruto: The Abstract Strategist of the Akatsuki

Chapter 128 Otsutsuki Hunter

After a brief moment of confusion, Sasuke's expression sharpened.

What was happening before his eyes was simply unacceptable to him.

Is it an illusion?

He possesses the Rinnegan; even in his current extreme weakness, he shouldn't be susceptible to genjutsu, right?

Could it be that his possession of the Rinnegan itself is also an illusion within a genjutsu?

Sasuke is currently in a weakened state where he can only use the "Uchiha Throw," and he is unable to try using the Rinnegan to assess his condition.

"My foolish little brother, so deep down you were still fantasizing that I had my reasons, still dreaming of reconciling with your friend, still dreaming of protecting Konoha?"

As Itachi spoke, he stood up from the stone seat and walked towards Sasuke.

Sasuke, who was struggling internally, was completely stunned when he heard this.

Were those... all illusions created by Tsukuyomi?

Indeed, Tsukuyomi can control time and space, so it wouldn't be a problem for him to spend his entire life in an illusion.

and many more!

Was the information he received about Tsukuyomi true or false?

I can't tell them apart! I really can't tell them apart!

Sasuke's mind instantly returned to that time in his youth, to the moment when he fought Itachi.

Just as Sasuke was about to push himself up from the ground, he suddenly realized that his hand was gone.

"Sasuke."

The moment Sasuke discovered the opening, Itachi was already in front of him, his finger poking Sasuke's forehead.

With his head bowed, Sasuke was overwhelmed with thoughts, finally letting out a sigh: "Nii-san, that person told you all of this, right?"

Once Sasuke calmed down, he quickly analyzed the situation.

It must be that person who, like him and Boruto, came from the future and told his brother about his past.

That's why what just happened occurred.

"Where is that person? Could they be like Kabuto Yakushi, preferring to hide in the shadows and afraid to show their face?"

Sasuke took a deep breath and looked around.

"Uchiha Sasuke, didn't Kabuto become your comrade and protect Konoha together long ago in the future? Why do you still have such a big prejudice against him?"

Bai Mo's voice came from outside the cave.

As Bai Mo walked in, the structure inside the cave changed rapidly, returning to its original appearance as an ordinary cave.

"Inorganic rebirth?"

Seeing this change reminded Sasuke of Kabuto Yakushi's Ryuchi Cave Sage Technique.

No wonder he couldn't detect any signs of illusion in the environment; it turned out that it was a real physical change.

This change is even more secretive than Kabuto Yakushi's inorganic rebirth.

"Sasuke, Urashiki has already gone to capture Naruto. To make a long story short, we're here to help you eliminate the Otsutsuki."

Bai Mo got straight to the point.

"...Do you know you've changed the future? Aren't you afraid of being killed?"

Sasuke didn't expect Bai Mo to be so direct.

Based on all the information Sasuke had gathered, Bai Mo should be a strategist, but he turned out to be nothing like Kabuto Yakushi, who was a schemer.

"Just for that shattered world that the Otsutsuki clan is about to destroy? Why? Have you already sworn allegiance to the Otsutsuki clan?"

I've returned to this era, transcending time myself, intending to reverse the future. So, Sasuke Uchiha, what are you planning to do?

"..."

Sasuke remained silent.

Rather, what he wanted were Bai Mo's words.

He had already made up his mind before he came.

Asking Bai Mo now is simply to further confirm whether Bai Mo is the kind of person he thinks he is.

And what about Bai Mo?

Bai Mo also guessed Sasuke's thoughts.

Bai Mo deliberately had Itachi act out a play so that Sasuke would briefly recall his past self, the one who was willing to do anything to achieve his goals.

This mindset may seem extreme or crazy to others, but it is essential when it comes to matters of life and death.

Seeking peace through struggle leads to peaceful existence, and seeking peace through compromise leads to peaceful end.

"You and Naruto were immersed in a false peace, wasting more than ten years in a daze."

Peace is the noblest ideal, but to achieve it, we must first fight for it.

Without sufficient strength, peace is just empty talk.

When you gave up on a transplanted arm for the sake of so-called "atonement", did you ever think that if you were defeated because of the loss of your arm and the destruction of the world, where would you go to atone for your sins?

Besides, that arm contains the versatile interstitial cells. If you had an arm transplanted, would you still be so prone to exhaustion like you are now?

Furthermore, if Naruto doesn't understand, don't you understand Orochimaru?

The enemy's organization is constantly researching in this area, while you are still thinking about guarding against Orochimaru, monitoring and restricting his research, fearing that he might become hostile to Konoha again.

Did you know that, apart from reconciliation, your generation and Naruto's generation are completely inferior to the generation of Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha?

They at least ended the chaos and established a new system for the ninja village, making them reformers who changed the times.

Even if the changes they made are outdated by today's standards, it doesn't negate the fact that they did make changes.

And what about you?

Sasuke, you were persuaded by Naruto to give up the reform, and so you two became the protectors of the old era.

To follow old ways and to put on a show.

When the Otsutsuki arrive, all they can do is run away and flee, then say something seemingly cool like, "We entrust the future hope of the ninja world to the next generation."

What if the next generation fails?

Why?

Why must we be "Avengers" and not "Preventers"?

Why wait until things are irreversible before struggling to cope, instead of taking preventative measures?

Bai Mo's several soul-searching questions struck Uchiha Sasuke's heart like cannonballs.

These words didn't sound like something Bai Mo would say to him; they sounded like his past self questioning him.

Sasuke Uchiha took a deep breath, slowly stood up, and looked at Bai Mo: "So, how are you different from us? And what is your purpose?"

"Aren't you all pinning your hopes on the next generation? To distinguish ourselves, I'll call the post-ninja world era you've established 'Boruto'."

"And we..."

Bai Mo glanced at Itachi, who was currently feeling pleased with the change in Sasuke's gaze.

"We will not be like those useless characters in 'Boruto,' content to be prey for the Otsutsuki clan! We will bring the flames of war into the world of the Otsutsuki clan and hunt them down!"