SHINOBI EXAM

Far away, at the border between the Land of Fire and the Land of Rain, a crow remained trapped in a domain barrier for exactly twenty-three hours and fifty-seven minutes. The reason? Complex, and yet so simple.

"He" was thinking:

1. Who is behind this scene?

2. Why was I reincarnated by the Impure World Reincarnation after my death?

3. What's the connection between this and the 'Madara' seen in the video initiating the Fourth Ninja War?

4. According to my plan, I was supposed to die at Sasuke's hands. So, when I see Sasuke again, what role or identity should I take?

However, none of these thoughts fully explained why Uchiha Itachi remained there for nearly twenty-four hours. The real reason was far simpler.

Crows can't talk.

That's right. How could Itachi answer questions if he couldn't speak? The mechanical voice that orchestrated this situation lacked a physical form, leaving Itachi with no medium to cast illusions. Without Tsukuyomi, he couldn't drag the entity into a one-second, 72-hour conversation to resolve matters.

After exhausting every method he could think of, Itachi perched on the tree canopy, resigned to wait until someone—possibly Madara or his subordinates—realized he was trapped in his own genjutsu and freed him.

But then, the voice returned, as mechanical and cold as ever:

> [Answer timeout imminent. Countdown begins now.]

> [30... 29... 28...]

Itachi, the Konoha prodigy turned Akatsuki operative, sighed internally. "...This is hopeless."

A Dead End

Itachi hadn't given up lightly. In the past 24 hours, he had tried everything in his arsenal, yet nothing worked. He concluded that whoever was behind this had the power to trap his consciousness in the barrier without relying on chakra. There was no escape, save for death or a similar outcome.

As the countdown continued, Itachi looked at a small, milky-white cat-eared hairpin resting near him—a relic from his younger days. Nostalgia swept over him, drawing memories of his Genin days, his missions with Minazuki-sensei, and his teammates, Shinko and Tenma.

If not for him, they might have had brighter futures.

Yet here he was, trapped in a seemingly endless cycle of sacrifice and regret. Itachi gazed at the hairpin, a symbol of simpler times, as the countdown drew closer to zero:

> [5...]

[4...]

[3...]

The voice echoed in his mind, and Itachi closed his eyes.

"Father, Mother, Shisui... we're about to meet again. Sasuke, forgive me. This is my last apology..."

> [2...]

[1...]

He waited for the inevitable, accepting his fate.

A Twist of Fate

Instead of death, another notification appeared:

> [The first reward will be deducted. Questions remain unchanged. Multiple-choice mode activated.]

Itachi blinked as the mechanical voice continued. Through the crow's vision, he saw glowing words etched on the tree branch before him:

Question:

Konoha Shinobi Uchiha Itachi was reincarnated through the Impure World Reincarnation. When he was separated from his brother again, what were his last words to Uchiha Sasuke?

Then came the options:

> Option 1: "Forgive me, Sasuke. This is the last time."

Option 2: "It doesn't matter if you don't forgive me; I will always love you."

Option 3: "Please, Sasuke, protect the peace of the ninja world."

Itachi's expression didn't change, but internally, he grimaced.

Analyzing the Options

Indeed, all three options seemed like something he might say. Yet, Itachi immediately dismissed the third option.

Entrusting Sasuke with a vision for peace? That would only burden him. Having witnessed Shisui's death and inherited his dream, Itachi understood the weight of such a promise. He wouldn't impose that pain on Sasuke.

That left two choices:

1. "Forgive me, Sasuke. This is the last time."

2. "It doesn't matter if you don't forgive me; I will always love you."

Itachi analyzed the context. He had two opportunities to deliver his "last words" to Sasuke:

1. The first would occur during their fated battle, where he planned to die at Sasuke's hands. In that moment, with Madara's agents likely watching, Itachi couldn't explain much. The message had to be brief and meaningful.

2. The second would take place during his reincarnation via the Impure World Reincarnation. Here, he might have the chance to share a deeper truth.

The Logic of Death

Itachi's keen mind delved into the principles of the Impure World Reincarnation. Developed by the Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama, the technique combined elements of summoning and soul manipulation. It forcefully summoned the soul from the Pure Land into a reanimated body, turning the deceased into a tool for the caster.

But who had summoned him? And for what purpose?

Itachi considered his priorities. In the first instance, during his planned death, his final words would likely be the short, heartfelt apology: "Forgive me, Sasuke. This is the last time."

However, during their second meeting, with the truth of the Uchiha massacre laid bare, his message would shift. Here, he could reveal his unconditional love, saying: "It doesn't matter if you don't forgive me; I will always love you."

A Decision Made

As the crow watched the glowing text on the tree, Itachi made his choice.

He selected Option 1, confident that this would reflect his last words during their fateful battle.

And yet, he knew the struggle wasn't over.

This mechanical voice, this entity pulling the strings, wasn't done with him. He needed to uncover the truth behind this trap, for Sasuke's sake and the world's.

"No matter what, I will protect you, Sasuke."

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