"Then we…"
Seeing Uchiha Kage's body becoming somewhat ethereal, Mikoto, who had just been struck by Itachi's betrayal, grew even more flustered.
"It's okay. I'll take you away using the same method I used to take Kushina," The Nine-Tails Chaos instance gave Uchiha Kage the idea for how to take Mikoto away from this Uchiha Massacre Night instance.
Though there was no quest prompt in this exclusive instance, Uchiha Kage felt deep down that this was the only solution.
"Mm...", Wiping her tears, Mikoto nestled into Uchiha Kage's embrace, feeling both relieved and worried.
"Sasuke, he...", But soon Mikoto remembered Sasuke, who might still be at school or back at the clan compound.
"I'll appear in the clan grounds soon, though it'll be the younger version of me. But he will also try to protect Sasuke. Don't worry."
Remembering the days when he and Sasuke supported each other in the broken-down Uchiha district, Uchiha Kage transferred his chakra to Mikoto while casting a genjutsu to show her the scenes of him and Sasuke growing up together and relying on each other, hoping to ease her heart.
"So you and Sasuke were together like that..."
Seeing the two, obviously father and son but growing up more like brothers, Mikoto finally broke into a tearful smile.
In the distance, the clan grounds were still under Itachi's slaughter. This was the only place she could find comfort.
"Besides… even those clan members who died might be revived in the future."
Although he could no longer interfere with the course of the massacre night, Uchiha Kage had earlier left behind a shadow clone in the clan.
Originally just a backup, now it could be used to collect souls.
It could also observe the upcoming father-son drama.
'Uchiha Fugaku and Uchiha Itachi…'
'Will they still determine life and death without any quarrel, just like in the original?'
———
"So weak. Is this the Uchiha clan of today?"
Masked Obito emotionlessly slaughtered fleeing Uchiha clan members while collecting Sharingan from the dead.
"That's because you're killing the old and the young," Uchiha Itachi coldly watched Obito's actions.
The clan was dead anyway. Leaving these Sharingan to Konoha's higher-ups would only empower Danzo. Giving them to this masked man… made no difference.
They're all the same.
"Leave the ones ahead to me. You don't need to make a move anymore," Glancing at the lit-up residence ahead, Uchiha Itachi knew someone was waiting for him there.
"Family? Got it," Obito gave a cold smile and went elsewhere.
'In this cruel shinobi world, everything is illusion, no hope, no future.'
'And Itachi still can't see through that. Laughable.'
'Just like that sensei Minato from years ago…'
'Laughable.'
———
"Father, I awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan long ago. You have no chance of winning."
As always, he pushed open the house door.
Dragging his bloodstained blade, Uchiha Itachi stepped toward Uchiha Fugaku's room.
'Is mom not home? Did she escape?'
'No, maybe that masked man already killed her.'
"You…"
Seeing the Mangekyō Sharingan in Itachi's eyes, Fugaku was first shocked, then joyful, but finally sighed.
"My eyes couldn't even defeat a mere shadow clone of that man. You… Itachi, if it's you, I'm sure you can defeat him!"
Even knowing his son, whom he raised with his own hands, had chosen to side with Konoha and slaughter the whole clan...
Uchiha Fugaku was now more concerned with the Mangekyō Sharingan in his son's eyes.
"That man… who is he?", Facing his father of over a decade, Itachi didn't strike instantly like he had with the others. He had much more patience.
"A masked man. He awakened Mangekyō at a young age. Just one look from him and I…", Just earlier, Fugaku had spotted Uchiha Kage in the clan grounds. He charged forward, thinking of revenge, even hoping to defeat him and gain his power, so they could carry out a coup together.
Then not only Konoha, but Mikoto would return to him too.
But he didn't expect that just a glance, and his newly awakened Mangekyō Sharingan fell behind.
Just like years ago, he couldn't even muster resistance before losing.
It was only after the figure vanished into smoke that he realized, it was only a shadow clone that defeated him.
"Itachi, if it's you, I'm sure you can defeat him! Consider it your father's last wish," After saying that, Uchiha Fugaku walked forward and placed himself under Itachi's blade.
"Okay…"
'Is father referring to that mysterious masked man?'
"If I get the chance."
Itachi also felt he would eventually face off with the masked man who helped him slaughter the clan.
When that time came, he would find a way to repay his father for raising him all these years.
———
"Itachi mistakenly thought Fugaku was referring to Obito?"
'Well, no matter. Sasuke will handle Uchiha Itachi himself.'
'That is a 'predetermined matter.''
After recalling the intel returned by the shadow clone, Uchiha Kage finally had a vivid understanding of the horror of the massacre night.
And also realized why, back then, after just transmigrating here, he instinctively dove into a pile of corpses to play dead.
It was all because of the final remnants of his current consciousness that had not fully dissipated.
"Don't know if this method will really work..."
Chakra from the One-Tails, Three-Tails, and Eight-Tails was given to Kushina; Nine-Tails chakra was given to Mikoto.
Then he wrapped both their bodies with all of his chakra…
Although Kushina succeeded, seeing Mikoto disappear with him in the instance still made Uchiha Kage anxious.
If anything went wrong, he couldn't bear the consequences.
In the blink of an eye...
The exclusive instance ended, and Uchiha Kage returned once again to the dream space's Konoha street.
The instance gate in front of him had reverted to the Uchiha clan residence.
Just like Mikoto's old house.
But...
"Mikoto?"
Touching the space beside him and scanning the surroundings, Uchiha Kage didn't find Mikoto, whom he had been holding just now.
"Kage!"
But before he could panic, the house door opened on its own, and from within ran a figure he found both familiar and reassuring.
"Mikoto..."
'Success at last.'
After spinning around while holding the Mikoto that leapt into his arms, Uchiha Kage finally let go of the huge weight in his heart.
Just like with Kushina, Mikoto could indeed be brought into the dream space using this method.
'However, with this method…'
'I'll have to collect the Tailed Beast fragments all over again.'
Uchiha Kage had used his own body as nourishment to empower Mikoto and Kushina. As a result, his own body had become weak again.
▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
[Exclusive instance ended]
[Exclusive reward: Eternal Youth (The women you nourish will stay far from aging)]
[Instance results: Ninja fragments acquired, soul bodies acquired]
▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
"Huh?"
'Such a reward?'
Uchiha Kage was a bit surprised.
Eternal youth wasn't that rare in this chakra-powered world where miracles happened often. But if it had the effect of true immortality, it would still be very useful.
Besides…
Uchiha Kage believed Mikoto would definitely like this ability.
"What is it?", Mikoto, curious about Kage's surprise, breathed in his scent with longing.
This time, they probably wouldn't be separated again.
"I gained a new ability, and I want to try it with you right now," Uchiha Kage scooped up the beautiful kunoichi into his arms.
"Mm… Let me… let me forget those sad things."
'The massacre night, the traitorous Uchiha Itachi...'
Mikoto didn't want to remember them anymore.
Nor the years of loneliness, she needed to vent.
"Right, isn't Kushina here too?", While wrapping her arms around Uchiha Kage's neck affectionately, she shyly but expectantly watched him kick open the door into the familiar room.
Mikoto remembered Kushina, who should be by Kage's side.
Last time, those things she secretly did with Kage beside a sleeping Kushina were still vivid in her memory.
She even wanted to... do it again.
"Mm, she should be in the small villa over there," Using Byakugan, Kage could see Kushina's chakra still in that house.
"Then let's go to Kushina's room. It'll… be livelier."
After saying such embarrassing words, Mikoto buried her face in Kage's chest like an ostrich.
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