Chapter 291: Brotherly Confrontation
The first semifinal ended dramatically.
In the end, after Gaara’s identity was exposed, Uchiha Itachi sealed him, and Deidara was severely injured. He couldn’t participate in the finals even if he was declared the winner.
In fact, Konoha didn’t hold Deidara accountable, which was already lenient.
After all, during the previous battle, Deidara had unleashed C3 Number 18, loudly proclaiming his intent to destroy Konoha. Such actions, like Gaara’s, were undeniably those of a terrorist.
Therefore, regarding Deidara’s withdrawal from the finals, no one from Iwagakure, including Onoki, voiced any objections.
As a result.
Marisa and Hidan will decide which champion of this Chunin Exam will be.
In the stands.
Aside from Tsunade, many spectators who had bet on Deidara or Gaara groaned in despair, lamenting their lost money.
But most of the audience sat back down, eagerly awaiting the next semifinal… or rather, the final.
In the arena.
The stage had been destroyed beyond recognition and required some time to rebuild.
Meanwhile, several elite Anbu members constructed a stronger barrier around the stage to ensure the upcoming battle wouldn’t endanger the spectators.
“Sasuke, are you okay?”
Ino, Sakura, and others hurried to Sasuke’s side, each eager to express their concern.
“You’re so annoying.”
Sasuke, in a foul mood, ignored them and, supported by his mother, Mikoto, began to walk out of the arena.
As mother and son passed beneath the stands, murmurs from the spectators above reached their ears.
“So, the so-called number one genius of Konoha is just a show-off. Did you see Sasuke’s performance? He was humiliated by Gaara and Deidara one after another, without any chance to fight back. And he dares to be a referee.”
“That’s what happens with idol ninjas. They’re on TV shows every day, hyped to the skies. In the end, Sasuke is only good at being born into the right family.”
“Fortunately, Lord Itachi intervened to save his brother. Comparing Sasuke to his brother is like night and day, and he’s even further from being on the level of the Sixth Hokage.”
“…”
Each comment was like a sharp thorn stabbing into Sasuke’s heart.
Recently.
His frequent appearances on TV and his becoming an idol ninja brought him immense popularity but also some scepticism.
Now, the scepticism had multiplied tenfold, even a hundredfold, turning into a tidal wave that threatened to drown Sasuke’s fragile self-esteem.
This idol ninja quickly faced a backlash from public opinion. Except for his fangirls, in the eyes of others, Sasuke had lost all his glory.
Hearing these harsh remarks, Sasuke stopped and clenched his fists.
“Sasuke, what’s wrong?”
Mikoto noticed her son’s distress and gently tried to comfort him, “Don’t pay attention to what others say. The audience is just following the crowd; they don’t understand you. To me, you’ll always be the best…”
“Don’t lie to me!”
Sasuke suddenly shouted, cutting off his mother. His intense gaze bore into Mikoto as he demanded, “Do you believe your own words? Let me ask you, if I’m the best in your heart, what about Itachi? Who’s better between us?”
Faced with her son’s rebuke, Mikoto was taken aback, then shook her head helplessly:
“Sasuke, you can’t compare like that…”
“Hmph.”
Sasuke sneered, interrupting her again, “Stop trying to deceive me with such clumsy lies. I’m not a three-year-old child. Put away your hypocritical facade, Mother.”
Thud, thud, thud.
Under her son’s piercing gaze, Mikoto clutched her chest and took a few steps back, her face turning pale.
Itachi sighed, his tone filled with self-blame:
“Mother, we’ve spoiled Sasuke too much. Especially me, as his older brother, I haven’t fulfilled my responsibilities properly. Instead of guiding him correctly, I’ve indulged him repeatedly, which has led him to become like this.”
“Have you said enough?”
Sasuke interrupted again, glaring coldly at Itachi.
Upon hearing this, Itachi’s expression grew stern, and he reprimanded his brother:
“Sasuke, it’s one thing to be angry at your own shortcomings, but taking it out on your family is unacceptable. You’ve disappointed Mother, and you’ve disappointed me.”
“Disappointed you, huh.”
Sasuke sneered, looking resigned, and retorted, “You’ve never truly respected me, have you? Now, do you finally feel ashamed of having me as a brother?”
His agitation grew as he spoke, and by the end, his three-tomoe Sharingan eyes were burning crimson.
Itachi shook his head, clearly disappointed, and decided not to argue further. He simply said:
“Enough. Calm down.”
As soon as he finished speaking.
Itachi’s Mangekyo Sharingan emitted a powerful surge of ocular energy directed straight at Sasuke’s eyes.
Despite anticipating it and trying to resist Itachi’s genjutsu, Sasuke’s efforts were futile against the overwhelming difference in their ocular powers.
Thud, thud, thud.
Sasuke staggered back several steps before falling to one knee on the ground.
“Wow.”
The spectators erupted in astonished murmurs, their discussions becoming even more fervent.
“What’s happening?”
“It looks like Lord Itachi is reprimanding his brother Sasuke.”
“He needs to be taught a lesson. Sasuke was disrespectful to his own mother, acting all arrogant. Is this what they call a genius? Compared to Itachi, what kind of genius is Sasuke? Where does he get off being so prideful?”
“Yes, Lord Itachi is a recognized genius, and his humility is what makes him so admirable. He’s always polite to everyone.”
“In comparison to his brother, Sasuke is really disappointing.”
The continuous comments were like a demonic chorus, assaulting Sasuke’s ears.
Damn it.
He clenched his fists again, veins bulging on the back of his hands, his nails digging deep into his flesh, drawing blood without him realising it.
Since childhood.
Sasuke had always lived in his brother’s shadow, desperately trying to keep up with him.
Whenever he made breakthroughs in his training, hoping to earn Itachi’s respect, Itachi would praise him with a smile, but Sasuke could see that his brother was not genuinely impressed.
Whether it was his brother, his sister-in-law Uchiha Izumi, his uncle, or his father, each of them possessed the Mangekyo Sharingan, each of them far more talented than him.
Even his mother, if she hadn’t retired early to take care of the family, probably would have awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan, too.
In the end.
In this large family, Sasuke felt like the most worthless one.
Itachi was right.
Sasuke’s pain fundamentally stemmed from his anger at his own incompetence, which caused him to lash out at his mother.
But why?
Why, despite all his efforts, was he still a failure? Why could everyone, from Naruto Uzumaki to Deidara, from Gaara to his own brother, easily defeat him?
“Bastard!”
In a fit of impotent rage, Sasuke pounded the ground with his fists as if trying to vent all his frustration and anger through this action.
Since the finals hadn’t started yet, Sasuke’s outburst quickly drew the attention of the entire stadium’s 10,000 spectators.
With the camera’s close-up, the image of Sasuke pounding the ground appeared on the stadium’s big screen.
“Is that guy… crying?”
Some spectators noticed that, although Sasuke’s face was downcast and his expression hidden, tears were continuously falling from his face onto the ground.
The so-called number one genius of Konoha was truly… making a spectacle of himself today.
“Itachi, take Sasuke home. We’ll discuss this later.”
Mikoto couldn’t bear to watch any longer and requested her elder son.
“Yes, Mother.”
Itachi sighed inwardly, his anger towards his brother mostly dissipated, replaced by pity. He then approached to help Sasuke up.
But at that moment.
Boom!
A massive chakra surge erupted from Sasuke’s body, pushing Itachi back several steps.
“This power, could it be…”
Itachi’s pupils contracted in shock as he looked at his brother.
Under his gaze, Sasuke slowly stood up, then raised his head again, his eyes glowing with a demonic crimson light.
In Sasuke’s eyes appeared a new set of eyes.
Their shape was a six-pointed star formed by three overlapping ovals, with intricate and ornate patterns that drew one’s gaze irresistibly.
Mangekyo Sharingan.
“Sasuke, you actually…”
Even Itachi, usually composed and unreadable, couldn’t hide his surprise. He never expected Sasuke to awaken his Mangekyo Sharingan under such circumstances.
Although she knew her son’s words were said in a moment of anger, Mikoto couldn’t help but feel a pang of bitterness and sorrow.
Whoosh.
Itachi moved swiftly, catching his mother as she began to waver, then frowned and said sternly to Sasuke:
“Sasuke, what are you doing? Apologize to Mother right now!”
No matter how mischievous Sasuke was from childhood, Itachi rarely scolded his brother.
But this time, Sasuke had gone too far, reaching a point where even Itachi couldn’t stand it.
“Itachi, it’s okay. Sasuke didn’t mean it,” Mikoto said softly, still defending her younger son.
“These eyes, I’ve finally obtained them.”
Sasuke looked at Itachi with a calm expression and said, “Brother, from now on, you can no longer look down on me because I have the same power as you. No, my Mangekyo Sharingan is even stronger than yours!”
Clearly, he had regained his confidence and felt capable again.
Before he finished speaking, Sasuke’s gaze sharpened, and a substantial amount of purple chakra erupted from his body, quickly forming a massive skeletal figure around him.
“To be able to use Susanoo right after awakening the Mangekyo, that’s truly impressive.”
Itachi murmured, feeling his brother’s fighting spirit. He frowned and let out his own orange-red chakra.
A more lifelike Susanoo appeared in the stadium.
What was going on now?
The audience in the stands started buzzing with excitement again.
“Did I see that right? Uchiha Sasuke awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan? They say that’s the most powerful ability of the Uchiha clan, possessed by only a few of the strongest members.”
“To witness a sibling rivalry, Itachi and Sasuke, are they really going to fight?”
Itachi vs. Sasuke.
This battle between the Uchiha brothers was far more thrilling than the Chunin Exams.
Just as the two were about to clash.
“Stop it, both of you!”
A loud shout came from the sidelines, and a tall, muscular figure burst into the arena like a tiger from its cage, positioning herself between Itachi and Sasuke.
It was their cousin, Marisa.
“Itachi, Sasuke, enough is enough. It’s my match next. Are you trying to steal my spotlight?”
Marisa glanced at both Itachi and Sasuke, crossing her arms and complaining with a look of dissatisfaction.
With this excuse provided by Marisa.
Itachi’s eyes flashed, and he was the first to deactivate his Susanoo, sighing again, “Let’s go home first.”
Seeing this, Sasuke snorted coldly and retracted his chakra.
At this moment.
Their father, Uchiha Fugaku, who had been watching from the sidelines, also flashed into the arena, frowning.
“With so many people watching, don’t you feel ashamed? Fortunately, Marisa stopped you in time, or you would have disgraced not only me but our entire clan.”
Fugaku harshly scolded his two sons, then commanded in an unquestionable tone, “Follow me.”
After speaking, he glanced up at the highest stands, nodded at Danzo, and then strode towards the exit.
“Marisa, do your best in the match. I believe you can win.”
Itachi patted Marisa on the shoulder as he passed by, offering encouragement.
“Of course,” Marisa replied with a confident smile.
Following that, Fugaku and his family of four left the stadium under the watchful eyes of the audience.
“What a pity.”
Regaining their senses, the spectators expressed their regret at not witnessing a fight.
However.
Sasuke’s recent awakening of the Mangekyo Sharingan instantly turned his nearly ruined reputation around, putting him back on top.
Neji looked troubled.
Although the uninformed spectators mocked Sasuke, Neji, as Sasuke’s long-time rival, was well aware of his strength.
He was already lagging behind Sasuke, and now that Sasuke had awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan, how could he possibly catch up?
With just his Byakugan?
Neji fell into a state of confusion.
The dignitaries were equally surprised by Sasuke’s transformation in the highest stands.
“As expected of Konoha’s top genius, to awaken the Mangekyo in such a manner is truly incomprehensible.”
Onoki murmured, looking puzzled.
To his knowledge, Uchiha’s Mangekyo could only be awakened by losing someone precious and experiencing intense emotional stimulation.
Sasuke’s situation clearly defied this logic.
If anyone could explain what happened to Sasuke, it would probably be that man.
Thinking of this, Onoki looked at Uchiha Danzo, who had a meaningful smile on his face.
“It seems Sasuke is in a hurry. No, Indra is in a hurry.”
Danzo muttered to himself.
(End of this chapter)
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