CHAPTER 197: CHAPTER 197 : UCHIHA HARU: YOU CAN CALL ME STEPFATHER!

"What do you want from me?"

The second Protagonist, Uchiha Sasuke, crossed his arms and spoke coldly. Despite his youth, his skill at pretending was impressive—distinctly unique. After all, wherever other ninjas were, they treated Uchiha Haru with respect. It had been a long time since anyone dared speak to him like this.

However, for the sake of Mikoto Uchiha and the fact that Sasuke was his half-brother, Haru chose to ignore the insolence.

"Your mother asked me to bring you back to the Hidden Mist Village," Haru stated plainly.

"What?!"

Sasuke’s expression changed noticeably at the mention of his mother, but quickly reverted to his usual cold glare.

"You’re lying! My mother is dead!"

Dead?

Haru was stunned. Did Sasuke truly believe Mikoto was dead? Was this a baseless rant, or had Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen lied to him? These thoughts flashed through Haru’s mind, but he remained calm.

"Your mother is still alive."

Unexpectedly, Sasuke’s anger erupted, his eyes blazing with fury.

"Liar! Murderer! You killed my mother and deceived the Uchiha clan! It’s all your doing! You are my enemy just like Itachi. One day, I will kill all of you!"

With that, he charged at Haru, wielding a crackling Chidori in his hand.

Haru sighed inwardly.

Is this 12-year-old stupid? Charging at me like that is a quick way to seek death.

If this were any other ninja, no matter who attacked him, he wouldn’t show mercy—youth and ignorance meant nothing when faced with punishment.

But Sasuke was different.

He was Mikoto’s son.

Haru had promised to bring Sasuke back safely.

Besides, Sasuke had to call him godfather; he couldn’t be too cruel.

Still, Haru couldn’t let this slide.

There was a saying: if a son is poorly taught, it’s the father’s fault.

Before, Haru had overlooked Sasuke’s ignorance.

This time, he wouldn’t.

Since this arrogant son was ignorant, the godfather had to discipline him properly.

So, as Sasuke rushed forward—

Haru vanished with a sudden burst of the Body Flicker Technique.

Sasuke stumbled, nearly falling.

But he remained alert to his surroundings, guarding against any surprises.

Haru, who had been in front of him moments ago, had disappeared completely.

Such ninjutsu was astonishingly fast—even Kakashi couldn’t pull this off so flawlessly.

No trace was left behind.

Where would he reappear?

Sasuke’s mind raced.

When someone disappears suddenly, they often reappear where their opponent’s defense is weakest.

Where is the weakest point on a person’s body?

Without a doubt: the back.

He spun around quickly.

Sure enough, Haru crouched behind him, voice low but firm.

"Thousand Years of Death!"

"Ah!"

A scream tore from Sasuke’s lips.

His usual cold, composed demeanor shattered by agonizing pain.

A grievous injury incapacitated him, rendering him unable to stand.

He could hardly believe Haru had managed such a brutal technique—even Kakashi’s pranks weren’t this intense.

After a long moment, Sasuke recovered, but his eyes remained wary and full of suspicion.

Haru smiled inwardly, pleased with the lesson delivered.

If this was to be a teaching moment, it had to hit hard.

The effect was perfect.

Sasuke would remember this.

"Remember this: not everyone in the world will yield to you," Haru said calmly, eyes locked on Sasuke’s.

"This was a small lesson. If you do this again, you won’t be able to endure the pain you just felt a second time."

Sasuke’s face flushed—half with shame, half with anger.

But he stayed silent.

He was scared.

Haru might strike again out of nowhere, and that pain would be unbearable.

Even death would be preferable.

"You’re saying... my mother really isn’t dead?"

Uchiha Sasuke looked intently at Uchiha Haru and spoke.

Though impulsive at times, Sasuke was undeniably a sharp ninja. He understood that if his mother had truly been killed by Haru, Haru wouldn’t be addressing him so calmly. He was well aware of the fearsome power wielded by the man before him — a man barely older but possessing unfathomable strength. Rumors even whispered that Haru was a match beyond his older brother, Uchiha Itachi.

During the chaos of the recent Chūnin Exams in Konoha, Sasuke had witnessed firsthand the astonishing feats Haru displayed. If such a formidable ninja truly wished to take him away, there would be no chance for escape — no one could protect him. He could be taken silently, or worse, killed without a trace.

Yet, Haru did not act like that.

This realization made Sasuke place a little more trust in Haru.

Haru glanced back at Sasuke, recalling the subtle hostility he had sensed from Sasuke and the other Hidden Mist young ninjas during the Chūnin Exams. At first, Haru dismissed it as a challenge to prove themselves. But now, after hearing Sasuke declare his mother dead and accuse Haru of killing her, doubt and suspicion began to crystallize in his mind.

He suspected that the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, or Danzo might have conspired behind the scenes, twisting facts and deceiving Sasuke.

Haru did not argue. Instead, he activated his Sharingan and cast an illusion. No matter how much he explained, words alone could not convince Sasuke as much as firsthand experience could.

When Sasuke’s gaze fell upon Haru’s blood-red eyes, he was instantly drawn into a dark, nightmarish vision.

His eyes widened in terror.

This was the nightmare he had endured more than once — the night of the Uchiha Clan Massacre.

Back then, when the clan was brutally slaughtered, his brother had dragged him into the world of Tsukuyomi, forcing him to relive the horrifying massacre repeatedly. Over the years, these memories had haunted him, fueling his drive to grow stronger.

Now, revisiting this dark memory, Sasuke felt overwhelmed, as if he had been thrown back in time to when he was powerless — a helpless child forced to watch atrocities unfold without the strength to intervene.

The suffocation of helplessness crushed him.

Sasuke crouched down, burying his face in his knees, unwilling to witness the vision.

Suddenly, Haru’s voice echoed softly in his mind.

"Open your eyes and see everything clearly."

"You know, all that your brother Itachi made you endure was a deception."

"This is the true night of the Uchiha Clan Massacre."

"Open your eyes and face the truth."

"I... I don’t dare..."

Sasuke’s heart shattered. Even though Haru spoke the truth, he was too terrified to lift his head.

Haru said nothing further.

He trusted that Sasuke would eventually overcome his inner demons.

After an indeterminate time, Sasuke slowly raised his head, beginning to accept the reality.

Throughout his life, the Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen had instilled certain beliefs in him. He had listened carefully, but something never felt right. Those silent doubts had formed an unsolvable puzzle inside him.

Now, the answer lay before him — how could he not seek the truth?

Sasuke stood and looked at the night of the Uchiha Clan Massacre once more, this time as an observer rather than a victim.

...

After a long while, Sasuke had absorbed the full truth of that night.

Though it was Haru’s illusion, every detail felt real, palpably vivid.

The final truth was stark.

Haru had not lied — what Sasuke had witnessed was genuine.

Eventually, Haru let Sasuke exit the illusion.

Yet Sasuke seemed trapped within, eyes closed and motionless, as if still ensnared by the nightmare.

Haru didn’t disturb him.

Learning such heavy truths at once was hard for anyone to process.

After an unknown length of time, Sasuke finally opened his eyes.

The anger had faded from his face; a maturity and resolve had replaced it.

"Have you seen everything clearly?" Haru asked.

"Yes," Sasuke answered calmly. "The Uchiha Clan Massacre was planned and executed by the Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen, Danzo, and the Akatsuki organization."

"They are the true enemies of our clan."

"My father, Uchiha Fugaku, committed suicide. It was not my brother Itachi who killed him."

"My mother is still alive."

Haru nodded. "Good. That’s exactly right."

Seemingly satisfied, he continued, "Are you willing to return to the Hidden Mist Village with me now?"

"Yes!" Sasuke blurted without hesitation.

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