Starts In Konoha: Unlocking Shadow Clone

A crimson world…

Naruto couldn't think of a better word to describe it.

The sheer intensity of the experience left him stunned. This was beyond anything he'd ever encountered, even VR couldn't compare to it.

The sky was blood-red, the ground a dark crimson, and everything exuded an oppressive, suffocating aura of bloodlust.

It was strangely hypnotic.

The only thing Naruto didn't like was being bound to a massive pillar, his body entirely immobilized.

In front of him is Itachi, his expression as cold and impassive as ever.

Knowing he was trapped in the Tsukuyomi, Naruto understood resistance was futile.

'Since resistance is useless, why not just... enjoy it...?'

Finally allowing himself to lock eyes with Itachi, Naruto noticed the details of his Mangekyo Sharingan. The pattern resembled a Fuma Shuriken, a design unique to Itachi.

"Welcome to the world of Tsukuyomi." Itachi said coolly, "Here, you'll spend seventy-two hours. Over the course of these three days, I will continuously stab you with this sword. Don't worry, you won't faint or die. However, your pain will be amplified tenfold. Kyubi Jinchuriki, are you ready?"

"Um... I'm not ready yet. How about waiting a little longer?"

Naruto hesitated.

"No time to prepare. Just accept your fate." Itachi replied indifferently.

Hearing this, Naruto couldn't help but roll his eyes, "Are you sick?"

He was genuinely baffled, 'Why even bother asking if I was ready if the answer didn't matter?'

Itachi's reputation as a stoic and mysterious figure was taking a serious hit in Naruto's eyes. All this explaining made him seem more like a chatterbox than a cool, aloof genius.

'This... was Itachi? Really?'

If they were friends, Naruto might have found it endearing. But as his enemy, and the one about to torment him, Naruto had no room for admiration.

"If you know what's good for you, you'll let me go right now." Naruto said, attempting a bluff, "Otherwise, I'll make sure your little brother pays the price.

For the first time, Itachi's body trembled slightly, and a hint of murderous intent flashed in his eyes, but he quickly suppressed it.

"You mean Sasuke?" Itachi said coldly, "Once you've been captured, your fate is sealed. You'll never see Sasuke again in this lifetime."

Naruto chuckled and snorted, "I've got a special contract with him. If I die, he dies too. Not only him, but even Sandaime will die. When that happens, Konoha will be left leaderless and plunged into chaos. And all of it will be because of your actions."

"Don't think I don't know your secrets. You massacred the Uchiha Clan and became a Missing-nin to carry out a hidden mission, didn't you? If Konoha falls apart, the mission you've dedicated your life to will lose all meaning. You'll be branded a traitor for real, with no one left to vouch for your innocence. And if Sasuke dies, all your sacrifices will have been for nothing."

It can't be helped. Naruto couldn't accept three days and three nights of torture. Just thinking about it made him unbearable.

Even if he told everything, he had to ensure his own safety.

"How could you know so much?" Itachi's usually unshakable calm wavered, "Have you really formed contracts with Sasuke and Sandaime Hokage?"

Itachi hesitated, as Naruto's words struck a nerve.

His only weaknesses were Konoha and Sasuke. For the sake of his younger brother, Itachi had been willing to annihilate his own clan.

Naruto's ability to uncover Itachi's status as a spy confirmed his deep knowledge of inside information. Even if his claim of the so-called 'contract' was exaggerated, Itachi knew his connection to Sandaime must be significant.

After all, Itachi's mission as an undercover operative was a top-secret matter. Nobody should have known about it.

He couldn't take the risk. If Naruto's claims were true, losing Konoha and Sasuke would render all his sacrifices meaningless. Itachi knew he'd never forgive himself for such a failure.

As Itachi's crimson eyes shifted and contemplated, Naruto remained unaware of his thoughts.

Now, Naruto was simply hoping to stall for time, so that even if he was tortured, he would be able to endure less.

Moments turned into minutes, and soon an hour had passed.

Suddenly, the system prompt echoed in Naruto's mind.

[It is detected that the host has stayed in the Tsukuyomi World for one hour. Sign in successful. Due to the special location, a unique reward has been granted. ]

'Huh?'

Naruto was slightly taken aback. He didn't expect that he could sign in in a mental dimension like Tsukuyomi.

He hurriedly checked the unique reward.

'Since it was a reward for signing in at the Tsukuyomi World, it must be related to the Tsukuyomi World. Maybe I could find a way to save myself.'

[Special reward: Authority over the world, limited to the Tsukuyomi World.]

[Friendly Reminder: While Itachi remains the primary ruler of this world, his authority can be suppressed if the host's mental strength surpasses his.]

'What the… this is insane!'

Naruto exclaimed internally, bursting with excitement.

For anyone else, or the old Naruto, this reward might have seemed useless.

After all, Itachi was a genius of the Uchiha Clan and a wielder of the Mangekyo Sharingan. His prowess in mental strength and Genjutsu was nearly unmatched, making any attempt to wrest control over this world futile.

In the original work, even Kakashi, with his three-tomoe Sharingan, had been left bedridden and unconscious after falling victim to Tsukuyomi.

However, just before encountering Itachi, Naruto had just signed in for the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan.

His regular Mangekyo Sharingan might be on par with Itachi's, or Itachi might be even stronger because Itachi had acquired it a long time ago. But the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan is an evolved Mangekyo Sharingan.

Although Naruto only noticed that his vision was clearer, his mental strength and pupil power had undoubtedly improved significantly.

In simpler terms, the Tsukuyomi World was about to change hands.

"Okay, stop racking your brain, Itachi. You're overthinking something your blockhead won't figure out."

Naruto's voice broke the silence, dripping with mockery.

"What did you say?" Itachi's eyes narrowed slightly.

While he couldn't afford to gamble with Naruto's claims, that didn't mean he'd tolerate blatant disrespect!

But before he could make a move, his expression shifted into shock.

Naruto's blue eyes instantly turned scarlet.

One tomoe.

Two tomoe.

Three tomoe.

Mangekyō Sharingan!

"Impossible! You possess the Mangekyo Sharingan?" Itachi exclaimed in surprise.

'The conditions for awakening the Mangekyo Sharingan are extremely harsh. How could a young boy living in the peaceful Konoha possibly have the Mangekyo Sharingan?'

"You're wrong. To be precise, this is the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan. And guess what, it doesn't come with blindness!" Naruto emphasized.

Especially the four words 'will not go blind', he emphasized them specifically in order to stimulate Itachi to the greatest extent.

After all, the stress Itachi had caused earlier, threatening three days and nights of relentless torment, deserved some payback.

"Eternal Mangekyo..." Itachi muttered, momentarily at a loss for words.

Then realization dawned, "Could it be that the 'contract' you mentioned is your Mangekyo Sharingan's ability?"

'If that were true, linking Sandaime and Sasuke wouldn't be entirely implausible. After all, the Mangekyo Sharingan could manifest various unimaginable abilities.'

"Do you think I'll tell you?"

Without the pressure, Naruto retorted with a smirk, his confidence fully restored.

With a subtle motion of his hands, the bindings restraining him vanished into thin air.

In the Tsukuyomi World, Naruto was now the supreme being!