A Strange New Life || Isekai'd Reader To Naruto World

Too Late

(Third Person's POV)

The moment Sasuke saw him, his breath hitched.

The unmistakable red-and-black cloak of the Akatsuki fluttered against the wind as the man moved swiftly through the dense forest. His strides were purposeful, his pace relentless. Itachi Uchiha.

Sasuke narrowed his eyes, his body moving before his mind could fully process. He had to catch him.

"Itachi!" Sasuke’s voice cut through the silence of the woods, but the man didn't even flinch. He kept moving forward as if Sasuke wasn't even there.

Sasuke gritted his teeth. How dare he ignore him? After everything?!

With a surge of chakra, Sasuke propelled himself forward, appearing in front of his brother’s path. He unsheathed his sword in one swift motion, holding it defensively.

"I'm not letting you walk away this time."

Itachi finally stopped, his dark, unreadable gaze settling on Sasuke. His expression was as calm as ever, completely unbothered. Infuriatingly indifferent.

“…Step aside, Sasuke."

Sasuke clenched his fists. The audacity.

"You left me in the dark my entire life! Lied to me, manipulated me, forced me to chase after you! And now that you're here—you expect me to just let you go?! Like hell I will!"

Itachi exhaled softly, his tone flat. "I don't have time for this."

Sasuke's rage snapped.

"Then I'll make you!" He lunged forward, sword gleaming in the moonlight.

Itachi tilted his head slightly, effortlessly dodging the strike. Before Sasuke could react, a sharp impact struck his wrist, forcing him to drop his blade.

He hadn’t even seen Itachi move.

"You're still too slow," Itachi murmured.

Sasuke cursed, flipping back and forming a hand sign. Chidori Nagashi.

Lightning crackled violently around him, illuminating the dark forest in sharp, erratic flashes. He sent a pulse of electricity outward, but Itachi evaded it with a single, calculated step.

Infuriated, Sasuke leaped forward again this time, activating his Mangekyō Sharingan.

The moment their gazes locked, reality twisted.

The world around him melted away, replaced by an endless, suffocating red. He stood in an empty void, crows circling above him.

A familiar sight. Tsukuyomi.

Sasuke gritted his teeth, forcing himself to stay calm. "You're still resorting to tricks?"

Itachi stood before him, impassive. "I told you. I don’t have time for this."

Sasuke’s eyes burned. "Then make time, damn it!"

He lunged forward, but a thousand crows erupted from Itachi’s form, engulfing Sasuke completely.

Sasuke gasped as pain suddenly bloomed in his chest, he looked down to see a blade lodged through his ribs. Itachi stood behind him, holding the hilt.

"It’s pointless," Itachi murmured.

Sasuke tore himself out of the genjutsu, his Sharingan flaring with raw hatred.