Chapter 147: Itachi's Apostle Transformation

"Teacher, is there really no way to choose another Apostle for succession?"

Itachi asked, his face a mask of utter despair as he stared with deep aversion at the statue of Sirocco before him. Never in his wildest dreams had he imagined that the Apostle destined to become his inheritance would turn out like this.

He had believed that joining Terra would grant him immense power, much like Uchiha Li possessed, enabling him to protect those dear to him. But the price for such power was certainly not one he was willing to pay. According to what Uchiha Li had just explained to him, the drastic transformation seen on the moon earlier was the process of becoming an Apostle.

This Apostle transformation was an ability every successor could wield, and it would only deepen with time. In other words, if he succeeded Sirocco, whenever he chose to unleash his Apostle form in the future...

An image of himself wearing a dress suddenly flashed across Itachi’s mind, and he shook his head violently.

*No, absolutely not! I refuse to succeed this Apostle!*

Itachi hardened his resolve, staring stubbornly at Uchiha Li. He simply could not fathom becoming such a figure, let alone how outsiders would view him if they ever saw him in that state.

Observing Itachi’s reaction, Uchiha Li put on a grave expression and said, "Itachi, you must understand that Terra is not some casual organization where you can simply pick and choose."

After a brief pause, Uchiha Li continued, "Think carefully. If you let this opportunity slip away, there won't be a second chance."

Hearing this, Itachi’s defiant expression faltered, and he lowered his head. Shocked by Sirocco’s gender, he had almost forgotten the dangerous circumstances he was currently in. According to his teacher, Terra regarded its secrets with a terrifying level of secrecy. If not for the coincidence of an open slot this time, even Uchiha Li might not have been able to protect him.

At that thought, Itachi felt an urge to slap himself. Why couldn't he have just stayed peacefully in the village instead of insisting on following Uchiha Li out here?

Now, he was left with only two choices: either succeed the female Apostle Sirocco, or be silenced permanently.

The thought of execution sent a chill through Itachi's heart, and his mind raced with conflicting thoughts. He remembered his father Uchiha Fugaku's expectations for him, and his mother's tender affection. Finally, an image of his younger brother, Sasuke, flashed in his mind.

*"Sasuke must still be waiting for me at home, right?"*

Recalling how Sasuke had eagerly begged him to play just a few days ago, Itachi let out a profound sigh.

A flash of inner struggle crossed his eyes. Clenching his teeth, Itachi looked at Uchiha Li and said, "I... choose to succeed."

The words seemed to drain every ounce of strength from his body. Itachi shuddered, feeling as though all color and meaning had drained from his life.

*"As long as I never use the Apostle's power, and never transform into the Apostle form..."*

Itachi comforted himself inwardly, having already decided that once he inherited Sirocco, he would simply never use the Apostle transformation. If he did that, surely no one would ever be able to tell!

Hearing Itachi's final compliance, Uchiha Li struggled to suppress a smile and said, "That's right, Itachi. You won't regret the decision you've made today."

He was almost a hundred percent certain of the profound affinity between Sirocco and Itachi. Once Itachi inherited Sirocco's power, two inherently similar souls would merge with astonishing speed. He might even surpass Shisui, who had long since succeeded Bakal.

Of course, had Uchiha Li known what was currently running through Itachi's mind, he would have dismissed it with utter contempt. Once one succeeds an Apostle of Terra, it is impossible to escape simply by choosing not to use the Apostle's abilities. In truth, the moment one inherits an Apostle, a portion of that Apostle's traits will imperceptibly weave themselves into the host as time goes on. It was a mutual convergence, an inescapable destiny.

"Alright, stop wasting time. The sooner the succession is finished, the sooner we can head back."

Pushing aside further thoughts, Uchiha Li pointed to the statue of Sirocco ahead and instructed, "Stand over there. The succession ritual is ready; you just need to endure her power."

"Understood," Itachi replied reluctantly. He gazed at the statue of Sirocco, his every footstep heavy and sluggish.

Yet no matter how slowly he moved, he could not stall indefinitely. Eventually, Itachi reached the base of the statue.

Seeing this, Uchiha Li directly invoked Terra's authority, establishing a connection between Sirocco and Itachi.

Instantly, the previously lifeless statue of Sirocco burst forth with a brilliant purple radiance. This light differed starkly from the somewhat violent crimson of Shisui's succession to Bakal, as well as the warm, tranquil gold of Kakashi's succession to Michael. The purple glow carried a cold hue, yet the pressure it emanated felt overwhelmingly heavy.

Bathed in the purple light, Itachi found himself lifted off the ground, floating involuntarily under its guidance. As if seeking a destination, the purple illumination hesitated for a fraction of a second before plunging into Itachi's body like moths drawn to a flame.

"Well, well, looks like Sirocco is actively embracing Itachi!" Uchiha Li murmured in slight astonishment at the sight before him. Even though he had anticipated that someone of Itachi's temperament would match Sirocco's extreme and peculiar affinity, he had never imagined the compatibility would reach such a degree.

This was no longer Itachi succeeding Sirocco; rather, Sirocco was choosing Itachi.

Under the terrifying overlap of their affinities, the purple light merged almost instantaneously, and Itachi's physique began to undergo a radical transformation. Bypassing every phase of the adaptation period, Itachi plunged straight into the Apostle transformation.

His short black hair began to grow rapidly, shifting in color from black to a deep red-purple. His skin took on a faint violet tint, and his frame quickly stretched and softened, becoming slender and graceful.

At that moment, Itachi no longer resembled an eight-year-old boy, but rather a teenage maiden in her early teens. In this Apostle state, his attire transformed as well; intangible purple mist coiled around him, weaving into exquisite, ethereal garments.

"At this rate, he already shares over sixty percent similarity with Sirocco's statue. Truly incredible." Uchiha Li muttered involuntarily as he watched Itachi's transformation. To be frank, had he not witnessed the changes with his own eyes, even he would not have recognized this as his disciple Itachi.

The alteration was simply too drastic, and the aura now emanating from Itachi was worlds apart from his previous self. Itachi had yet to open his eyes; due to the extraordinarily high compatibility rate, the inheritance Sirocco bestowed upon him went far beyond mere physical changes, and he was likely still absorbing the knowledge.

As Itachi comprehended the newly acquired power, Uchiha Li sensed a shift within Terra itself. True to form, a portion of Itachi's chakra began to flow endlessly into Terra, mirroring what had occurred with Shisui and Kakashi. The recovery progress of Terra took another leap forward.

Just as Uchiha Li thought the process had reached its conclusion, something entirely unexpected occurred.

The mist within the spatial realm of Terra suddenly began to roil and surge, surging with unprecedented vitality. As the will of Terra, Uchiha Li felt this wave of joy with absolute clarity, and the sensation filled him with profound comfort.

"This is... Terra's feedback!"

Uchiha Li felt a surge of energy gush from Terra itself into his body, directly merging into his eyes. His Mangekyo Sharingan began to spin autonomously, accelerating with every passing second. The triangular pinwheel pattern within his eyes suddenly fractured and split once more...