61-65

Chapter 61: You're Bad at Arguing, Worse at Fighting!

*Hokage's Office.*

The room was filled with smoke.

The Third Hokage was puffing away on his pipe, exhaling wisps of smoke that spiraled around him.

To his left sat Danzo, leaning on his cane, his expression as sinister as ever. Every time Itsuki saw him, an inexplicable urge surged within him—to grab Danzo and smack him onto a door.

*To ward off evil spirits.*

On the Hokage’s right sat Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado, both scowling angrily.

As for those two…

Itsuki clicked his tongue, shaking his head slightly.

*Too exceptional to describe!*

Sometimes, he really wondered how these kinds of people could become Konoha elders.

*Hiruzen Sarutobi must have really had his hands full.*

Sigh. Never mind. Someday, he’d just sweep them out and let the wind take care of the rest.

“Greetings, Lord Hokage, Advisor Danzo, and esteemed elders,” Itsuki said formally, bowing slightly.

He stood straight and tall. Facing these four, he couldn’t even be bothered to bow deeply. Besides, with his current status, there was no need to.

Even the slightly respectful tone in his greeting felt like lowering himself a bit. As soon as the words left his mouth, he regretted them—but it was too late to take them back.

The Hokage nodded with a faint smile.

Danzo merely snorted coldly.

The two elders, however, sat motionless, their expressions stony, as if they hadn’t heard anything.

Seeing this, Itsuki strode toward them, his steps firm and deliberate, exuding a menacing aura.

“What are you doing?”

The expressions of the four individuals shifted instantly.

Was Itsuki about to make a move?

Danzo’s eyes lit up with malicious delight.

In the Hokage’s office, no less? Even Sarutobi couldn’t save you now!  

He was already preparing to unleash his seals. With Sarutobi’s help and the support of the Anbu, he would finally eliminate Itsuki.

The atmosphere grew tense in an instant.

Auras flared from the shadows as the Anbu readied themselves, locking onto Itsuki.

Standing before the two elders, Itsuki glared coldly at them, his piercing gaze sending chills down their spines.

Koharu and Homura were genuinely frightened but gritted their teeth and held their ground.

If they showed fear now, it would be humiliating beyond measure. How could they maintain their dignity as elders afterward?

Besides, they trusted Sarutobi to protect them.

Suddenly, Itsuki took a deep breath.

*...Fire Release? Blood Flame?*

*Or some other jutsu?*

The onlookers’ minds raced with possibilities.

Their bodies tensed, ready to act.

But something didn’t add up—why hadn’t Itsuki formed any hand signs? His chakra flow seemed normal.

*This wasn’t ninjutsu!*

And then—Itsuki bellowed sharply:

“Good day, esteemed elders!”

His voice was shrill and deliberate, piercing through the air and echoing across the Hokage building.

Everyone froze.

What was that?  

The sudden outburst startled even the two elders, who jumped in fright.

Koharu stumbled and fell flat on her backside, while Homura scrambled behind a chair for cover.

The Hokage and Danzo both rose to their feet, their chakra surging, hands beginning to form seals.

The Anbu leapt into action, taking positions in every corner of the office.

The once spacious office suddenly felt cramped and chaotic.

But Itsuki calmly took a few steps back, standing straight as if nothing had happened.

That’s it?  

After all that buildup, just for a shout?

The Hokage, after a moment of stunned silence, looked at him with exasperation. “Itsuki, what are you doing?”

“Exactly, what are you doing?!” Koharu’s voice trembled with rage, her whole body shaking.

Humiliated! Absolutely humiliated!  

They’d been scared out of their wits by a single shout.

Falling over, hiding behind a chair...

The falling part might be excusable, but hiding behind a chair? What kind of behavior was that?

Itsuki glanced oddly at Homura.

What’s that chair made of? Can it block Blood Flame? Or maybe even Susano’o?  

The Third Hokage glared at them angrily.

Are you idiots? Did you not notice that Itsuki wasn’t using chakra?  

Though even he had been startled by the sudden noise, it was still...

Pathetic!  

You’ve been idle for so long that you’ve forgotten not only how to fight but even the basic instincts of a ninja!  

“What do you mean? What did I do?” Itsuki asked innocently.

“What do you mean, ‘what did you do’?!” Koharu’s voice rose, her blood pressure spiking.

To be startled like that in such a tense situation—she almost passed out!

And now, Itsuki dared to feign ignorance?

Truly the wickedness of the Uchiha!  

“Itsuki!” The Hokage’s expression darkened.

Itsuki shrugged and replied, “Lord Hokage, the elders are getting on in years and might not have heard my greeting. I simply raised my voice out of respect. Can you blame me for that?”

“You...”

Koharu pointed at him with a trembling hand, too furious to speak.

Danzo turned to the Hokage, his tone cold. “Hiruzen!”

The implication was clear.

Take him out!  

If Itsuki was bold enough to provoke them like this, they had every justification to act.

No need to bury him—Danzo would gladly take the body for himself.

Sarutobi hesitated only briefly before chuckling. “Alright, enough. Itsuki was just joking. Koharu, why didn’t you respond to his greeting?”

With that, the Anbu melted back into the shadows, and the office returned to its usual calm.

“Hmph!”

Danzo sat back down, seething.

Once again, Sarutobi had backed down, unwilling to take decisive action against the Uchiha.

“Brilliant leadership, Lord Hokage!” Itsuki gave a thumbs-up, throwing a sly glance at Danzo. His eyes were filled with mockery.

Danzo’s face remained impassive, but his tone was icy. “Uchiha Itsuki, let’s set aside what just happened. Tell me, why didn’t you report back immediately after completing your mission? Do you think ninja protocols are beneath you?”

Itsuki didn’t hesitate. “Protocols are important, but something greater takes precedence.”

“Oh?” Danzo’s lips curled into a cold smile. “And what, pray tell, is greater than ninja protocols?”

“Lord Hokage, of course,” Itsuki declared with conviction.

“Me?” The Hokage blinked in surprise.

“Absolutely!” Itsuki’s face lit up with admiration. “In my eyes, the Hokage is above all else!”

The others stared at him, their brows twitching.

There he goes again, spouting nonsense.  

“And how does that relate to your failure to report back?”

“Simple!” Itsuki clenched his fists, his voice full of resolve. “After traveling so far, how could I meet our esteemed Hokage without first bathing, changing clothes, burning incense, fasting for three days, and…”

“Alright, enough!” The Hokage quickly interrupted, his expression both amused and exasperated.

In all my years as Hokage, I’ve never encountered an Uchiha who could talk like this.  

“Next time, report back immediately after completing a mission. Understood?”

“Yes, sir!” Itsuki replied loudly, though he was already thinking to himself:

Mission? Oh, right, I was on a mission. What was it again?  

Ah, whatever. Must not have been that important.  

(End of Chapter)  

Chapter 62: Honestly, I Look Down on You

In the Hokage’s office, the Third Hokage rubbed his temples, trying to ease his headache. Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado sat nearby, visibly upset, their frustration clear on their faces. Danzo, as always, wore an expression as cold and unreadable as stone.

Itsuki stood there, unbothered. In fact, he was almost mocking them.

Silence stretched as the Third Hokage gathered his thoughts, which had been thrown into disarray. Itsuki was a thorn in his side, not just because of his strength but his unpredictable nature.

Like just now.

Itsuki had only pulled a small stunt—something odd to make them nervous. But what if he had meant it? Did he even worry about what would happen if they tried to retaliate?

The Hokage faction was facing problems: weakened strength, friction with the Ino-Shika-Cho trio. And here stood Itsuki, alone in their stronghold—the Hokage building, the heart of Konoha’s power.

Was he really not afraid of being overwhelmed? The tension between them had been taut for too long.

Itsuki might not be worried, but the Hokage had to be. Old age brought indecision and a tendency to overthink.

And now, he wondered, did Itsuki have a backup plan? Could the Uchiha clan be waiting for a signal to storm the Hokage’s office? No, that seemed unlikely. Yet, doubt gnawed at him.

The Third Hokage sighed deeply. This was the worst kind of opponent: powerful and unreadable, keeping you on edge day after day, making you too exhausted to act decisively.

“Itsuki!” he said at last, his tone measured. “We’re all part of the same village, so I’ll be direct. I heard you brought back two members of the Uzumaki clan?”

Itsuki answered without hesitation, “Yes.”

The Hokage continued, “You know the connection between Konoha and the Uzumaki, don’t you?”

“I do,” Itsuki replied. “Konoha and the Uzumaki clan have always been allies. The spiraling mark on our uniforms symbolizes that bond.”

The Hokage nodded, smiling thinly. “Then you know the village would offer special care to Uzumaki members—”

“Like Naruto Uzumaki?” Itsuki interrupted, the question hanging sharply in the air.

The Hokage’s smile faded. Danzo’s eyes narrowed, calculating. The Uchiha could not afford any association with the Jinchuriki; even mentioning the name was enough to make them wary.

Itsuki chuckled dryly. “I fought alongside Minato Namikaze in the Third Great Ninja War. To be honest, it’s not right to treat him this way, even if he is a Jinchuriki.”

He glanced at Danzo, then back at the Hokage. “The Uchiha handle the village’s security and stability. But when it comes to Jinchuriki, we’re kept away. Yet, Naruto is an Uzumaki, isn’t he?”

The Third Hokage’s expression darkened slightly, and he sighed. “Naruto’s situation is complicated. The night of the Nine-Tails’ attack cost many lives, and resentment lingers.”

“He’s been tied to the Nine-Tails, and there’s little we can do to change public perception. This is a way of protecting him, too,” the Hokage added, eyes stern as he met Itsuki’s gaze. “You know how important a Jinchuriki is. And if Minato’s enemies knew he had a son, what would they do?”

Itsuki let out a cold laugh. “Protection? That’s what you call it? Give me a break.”

Everyone in Konoha knew Naruto was the Nine-Tails’ host. Who were they fooling? Was this what they called protection—keeping him isolated to curry favor?

“I get it,” Itsuki said sarcastically. “Hokage-sama’s intentions are so noble, so moving. Truly, I’m in awe.”

Even Sarutobi Hiruzen’s composure slipped at that, the room thick with tension. It was no secret what his real motives were, but being openly mocked stung.

“Enough, Itsuki!” the Third snapped, face hardening. “Since you understand the bond between the Uzumaki and Konoha, hand over the two members you brought back.”

“I don’t understand,” Itsuki said with a mocking tilt of his head. “Isn’t the Uchiha clan part of the village?”

The Hokage’s eyes turned cold. “The Uchiha are excellent in battle, but their nurturing skills leave much to be desired.”

Itsuki shook his head and chuckled. “You’ve got all the answers, don’t you? Well, here’s mine: You’re not getting them.”

“You—”

The Third Hokage slammed his palm on the desk, face icy. Danzo, seated, rose slowly, eyes sharp.

Itsuki’s smile vanished. His Sharingan gleamed as he glared at the two older men.

“Don’t feed me excuses,” he said, voice low and cutting. “Everything you just said is nonsense.”

“Protection? You’re just pushing him, testing his limits until he’s on the brink of breaking.”

“And this talk of Minato having too many enemies? So what, we should stop being ninja and not kill anyone? I get it—you wouldn’t worry, since you’re the only Kage among the Five Great Nations who’s never seen real battle. No wonder your kill count is so low.”

The sting in his words left the Hokage’s face dark, almost unreadable.

During the Second Great Ninja War, Sarutobi Hiruzen had fought, but after taking the title of Hokage, he rarely ventured into the battlefield, unlike other leaders who fought alongside their troops.

Even Onoki, the Third Tsuchikage, was known for fighting and even killing a Raikage. What about Hiruzen, the so-called “strongest Hokage”?

The Senju wanted a leader that would elevate civilians and not just the clans, so they chose him. Yes, he had strength, but luck and timing played their part.

The room was silent.

The Third Hokage glared at Itsuki. Danzo watched, quiet. Koharu and Homura were too angry to speak.

“Honestly, I look down on you,” Itsuki said with a sigh. “You, the so-called strongest Hokage. Hashirama Senju could have ended you three times over.”

“And besides strength, you don’t even have a standout achievement to your name.”

He walked toward the door, adding as he went, “Your only real accomplishment is being the longest-serving and oldest Hokage.”

The door shut with a thud behind him.

The Third Hokage stared after him, fists clenched tight, veins bulging.

---

Chapter 63: I Never Considered Them as Opponents

The Hokage's office was suffocatingly silent.

Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado sat quietly, not daring to move.

Hiruzen Sarutobi's face was emotionless.

Finally, Danzo slowly stood up and said, "Don’t worry. I’ll handle Uchiha Itsuki."

Hiruzen still said nothing.

Koharu and Homura, hearing this, were on the verge of exploding internally.

Oh my god, Danzo, are you serious?  

You’ve already taken action twice, and not only did you fail, but you also got the Root practically crippled.  

Isn’t our current predicament your fault to begin with?  

Koharu couldn’t help but interject, “The Uchiha have completely torn relations with us. If we fail to eliminate them in one strike this time, it could ignite a war.”

Hiruzen’s face twitched.

That was precisely his concern, and the reason he had been holding back all along.

“Fools!”

Danzo roared, “It’s exactly because you cling to such thoughts that the brat has been pushing us step by step. Do you think the Uchiha aren’t afraid of war? Don’t forget, there are pacifists among the Uchiha who want to coexist with the village. If war truly breaks out, the Uchiha might split internally first.”

“This…”

Koharu and Homura exchanged glances.

It’s possible, they thought.

Danzo coldly continued, “Stay out of this. I’ll handle it. It’s time to use Itachi and Shisui.”

Finally, Hiruzen spoke. Slowly, he said, “Are you certain there won’t be any issues? They are Uchiha, after all.”

Koharu and Homura’s eyes widened.

Wait, so you’ve never trusted those two?  

Hiruzen, you’re truly ruthless. You hide it better than anyone else.  

They had assumed Hiruzen at least placed some trust in Itachi and Shisui.

But Danzo wasn’t surprised at all. Coldly, he replied, “Rest assured. Naturally, I don’t trust them. I have my ways to control them.”

Tap. Tap. Tap.  

Danzo tapped his cane as he exited the office.

Koharu still seemed hesitant and whispered, “Hiruzen, are you sure about letting Danzo handle this?”

The Third Hokage glanced at her but said nothing.

He was close to exploding internally.

If not Danzo, then who? You two? Would you dare? What could you even do?  

Hiruzen had always encouraged Koharu and Homura to step up because they were easy to manipulate, unlike someone like Shikaku Nara.

Now, he was paying the price for it.

Other than Danzo, he had no capable subordinates left.

Homura sighed bitterly. “Hiruzen, don’t blame us for worrying. If not for Danzo, we wouldn’t be in such a passive position.”

“Exactly,” Koharu added. “Because of him, the Root lost so many elites, and even the Anbu was dragged into it. The Ino-Shika-Cho trio also drifted apart because of him…”

The losses in Root and Anbu, along with the estrangement of the Ino-Shika-Cho trio, had dealt a severe blow to the Hokage faction.

“I understand!” The Third Hokage’s voice was deep as he said, “I’ll send the Anbu Commander to accompany him and assist with the matter.”

“Good!”

Koharu and Homura finally sighed in relief.

The Anbu Commander, Sarutobi Shinzo, was Hiruzen’s eldest son and trusted aide.

Having him involved meant Hiruzen could keep a constant eye on Danzo.

Once everyone left, the Third Hokage stood by the window, gazing outside.

The streets of Konoha were bustling with people.

Adults worried about their troubles; children laughed and played.

A scene of prosperity.

Hiruzen’s expression suddenly twisted into a grimace.

“Uchiha Itsuki, what do you even understand?”

“Anyone can spout grand ideals, but unless you sit in this position, you can’t feel the crushing weight of the responsibility!”

“My sacrifices for the village—how could you possibly comprehend them?”

Itsuki, of course, could not hear the Hokage’s words. If he could, he would have burst out laughing:

Who asked you to sit in that seat?  

You never sought a Fifth Hokage and hogged the position. Now you think you’re justified?  

When Minato died, and you resumed the position, you looked as happy as someone who’d just won the lottery!  

Get over yourself!  

---

Itsuki had just left the Hokage’s office when the Tekka brothers approached him.

Given the tense relationship between the Uchiha and the village, there was no way the clan would allow Itsuki to visit the Hokage’s office alone.

The Tekka brothers, elite Jonin, accompanied him openly. Meanwhile, several other Uchiha Jonin lurked in the shadows, ready to act at any moment.

At the very least, they could buy enough time for reinforcements to arrive.

The Uchiha’s unified stance was clear: Itsuki must not fall!

Even the pacifist faction agreed on this point.

The three returned safely to the Uchiha compound.

Waiting for them were Fugaku Uchiha, Uchiha Setsuna, and Uchiha Sōgi.

“How did it go?”

“They’re just testing my limits,” Itsuki sneered. “All this talk about the Uzumaki clan is nonsense. Sure, the Uzumaki clan was wiped out, but it’s not like it’s impossible to find any survivors. Kushina is a glaring example, isn’t she?”

“When the Land of Whirlpools fell, the Third Hokage went to aid them.”

“And conveniently failed to help in time.”

“But he brought back a massive haul of sealing techniques and a Jinchūriki for the Nine-Tails.”

“The most gains among all the villages!”

Itsuki spat in disgust. “Sometimes, you have to marvel at the sheer shamelessness of it all.”

“They shouted about their noble intentions, but before they even threw a kunai, they made sure to secure what they needed most. What kind of ‘support’ is that?”

“They got the most out of it because they knew our allies the best!”

His words made everyone present nod in agreement.

This was a widely known truth.

Only Shisui looked deeply uncomfortable.

The Hokage he trusted seemed to have an endless list of skeletons in his closet.

He wanted to say something to defend him but couldn’t find the words.

The Uzumaki clan had been Konoha’s staunchest allies—and now they were gone.

Even the widow of the First Hokage, Mito Uzumaki, refused to see Hiruzen afterward, publicly stating she could no longer bear his visits.

Fine, Shisui thought. I’ll just stick to Itsuki’s plans.  

Itsuki glanced at him and sneered, “I’m starting to suspect the truth behind the Fourth Hokage and his wife’s deaths.”

“What do you mean?” Shisui asked hesitantly.

“Think about it. Didn’t Hiruzen have reasons to worry about Kushina?”

“She was known as the Red Hot-Blooded Habanero. If she had learned the truth, would she have taken it calmly?”

Shisui protested weakly, “Itsuki, that’s unreasonable. Kushina was in her twenties when she died. If she were going to find out, she would have already known.”

“You don’t get it.”

Itsuki snorted. “She grew up in the village and was brainwashed constantly. As soon as she got older, they paired her with Minato. Then she got pregnant early. When would she have had the time to think about these things?”

“If Minato had died and left her with nothing but her child, she might’ve started reflecting on the past—especially since her son was a Jinchūriki. So, for some people, it was only logical that the couple had to go together.”

“This…”

Shisui was at a loss for words.

When put that way, it actually made sense.

“Wait a second!”

Shisui suddenly froze. “What did you just say? Kushina and Minato were arranged?”

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 64: Who Else Was Manipulated?

"You don't know?"

Itsuki looked incredulous.

"Of course not!"

Uchiha Setsuna said irritably, "Don't even mention him; even I don't know."

Fugaku shrugged and said, "Who has the time to care about these things?"

Itsuki continued, "Even if you don’t care, don’t you know how Kushina Uzumaki and Minato Namikaze got together? They were famous!"

Everyone shook their heads in unison.

At the time, Minato Namikaze wasn't particularly well-known, though there were rumors that Jiraiya favored him and considered taking him as a disciple.

Kushina Uzumaki, however, was famous due to her Uzumaki lineage.

In those days, having an Uzumaki clan member in the village implied something significant.

Mito Uzumaki—or rather, Senju Mito—was nearing the end of her life at that time.

Kushina Uzumaki was the next Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.

As for how the two got together... who had time to pay attention to that?

By the time they both grew up and began making names for themselves, they were already in a relationship.

Due to their sensitive statuses, much of the information was kept confidential, leading to the current situation.

Especially as they were all Uchihas, anything related to the Jinchuriki was something they avoided, not daring to cross any boundaries.

So, to them, Minato and Kushina were just names.

When Itsuki mentioned that their relationship was orchestrated, everyone’s interest piqued.

Especially Fugaku.

Kushina had a good relationship with his wife.

Minato and Kushina’s personalities didn't seem like the type to passively accept an arranged relationship.

It must have been difficult to orchestrate.

"Ahem!"

Seeing that everyone was interested, Itsuki cleared his throat and said, "Where's the tea?"

"Get lost! You think you're important now? Want me to smack you?!"

Setsuna couldn’t help but curse.

Itachi, however, hurriedly brought water for his brother Itsuki, making Fugaku's eye twitch.

That brat had never brought him water!

Remembering how during the last clan meeting, Itachi openly sided with Itsuki against him, Fugaku’s gaze on his son grew colder.

This ungrateful son!

Needs a lesson!

"Bang!"

Itsuki looked around, then took off his shoe and smacked it on the table. "So, back in the day..."

"Keep it brief!!"

Uchiha Sōgi shouted angrily, turning to Setsuna. "Your grandson needs discipline!"

Setsuna was about to nod when he realized the insult and sprang up. "You old coot! You’re the grandson! Try that again, and I’ll end you!"

"Alright, enough!"

Fugaku sighed and looked at Itsuki. "You called this meeting. If you're not starting, we’re leaving."

"Fine!"

Itsuki pouted. "Minato Namikaze saved Kushina Uzumaki. You must've heard that at least."

"I did," Fugaku said, thinking. "It was when they were very young."

"Exactly!" Itsuki grinned, turning to Shisui. "Do you notice anything wrong?"

Shisui shivered.

Something was definitely wrong!

Even he could see there were too many issues with this story.

After all, he had served in the Anbu and wasn’t completely clueless.

"Think about it!" Itsuki began counting on his fingers. "First, Konoha has a barrier. How did shinobi from the Hidden Cloud infiltrate?"

"Second, what about the Anbu guarding Kushina? Were they just eating dirt when she was taken?"

"And the most ridiculous part? Do you know what it is?"

Itsuki's expression grew complicated. "After the Hidden Cloud shinobi kidnapped Kushina, they were caught and killed by Minato Namikaze!"

Everyone fell silent.

If Itsuki hadn't said it, they would have thought it was a joke.

"Back then, Minato hadn’t graduated yet. At most, he was a Chunin, maybe even just a Genin. The shinobi he killed couldn’t have been more than Chunin-level."

"The gap between a Chunin and a Jonin is huge. No need for me to elaborate."

"A few Chunin snuck into Konoha and kidnapped a future Jinchuriki? Preposterous!"

"Take us Uchiha as an example," Itsuki smirked. "In all of Konoha, there’s no way any Chunin could enter the Uchiha compound and kidnap Sasuke."

Back then, Kushina’s status in Konoha was no less than Sasuke’s among the Uchiha.

Fugaku sighed, "Maybe Itsuki's right. The deaths of the Fourth Hokage and his wife could be related to the Third. Damn it, they've plotted against too many people."

"Where the leaves dance, the fire burns. The flame will illuminate the village and cause new leaves to sprout," Itsuki said with a chuckle. "But in reality?"

"The Third Hokage and his council never stepped onto the battlefield again after Hiruzen Sarutobi secured his position. They stayed in the rear, fueling the fire by watching others burn."

Yatsushiro calmly added, "I don't care who they watch burn, as long as the fire doesn’t reach the Uchiha. Otherwise, I'll burn down the entire Sarutobi clan myself. Cross me, and I’ll kill you."

The three-tomoe Sharingan glowed, crimson and eerie.

The Iron Fire brothers exuded murderous intent, their aura menacing.

"Alright, enough about that. Let’s discuss today’s meeting," Byakuya said sternly. "Itsuki, what’s our next move?"

"Alright! Let’s get started," Itsuki looked around, his gaze lingering on Shisui.

Shisui was a vital asset to the Uchiha and couldn’t be compromised.

Most of what had just been said was aimed at him.

The world did have a strange way of balancing things. Here was someone innocent, yet feared for his unmatched power.

"Let’s talk about our next steps."

Itsuki’s voice grew calm. "I still stand by this: Uchiha is a part of Konoha. A coup is out of the question."

This statement made some in the room frown and others relax.

Most remained expressionless.

They were loyal to Itsuki.

Whether or not there would be a coup depended on Itsuki alone.

This meeting wasn’t open to everyone.

Unlike past clan gatherings where almost all Jonin attended, this one included only elite Jonin and those in key positions.

More than half of these people followed Itsuki.

That alone demonstrated how much influence Itsuki wielded over the Uchiha.

Despite this, he declared there would be no coup, winning the support of the doves.

The hawks were dissatisfied, but with Uchiha Setsuna present, no one would defy Itsuki’s orders.

Only the clan leader's faction remained independent.

But their numbers were too few to sway anything.

Especially since one of the three Mangekyo Sharingan users, Uchiha Itachi, was an unwavering supporter of Itsuki.

This kind of loyalty only strengthened Itsuki's hold on the Uchiha!

(End of chapter)

Chapter 65: The Entry Point

"From now on, the Uchiha won't make any moves. Just maintain the status quo, and let the clan members focus on strengthening their abilities."

Itsuki said calmly, "I’ve brought back some money this time. Clan Leader, use every method possible to gather resources and enhance the strength of the clan members. I know you have the channels for this."

"This…"

Fugaku hesitated.

"I do have the channels, but the amount of money you've brought this time…"

The funds Itsuki brought came mainly from three sources: cult members, Grass Village, and the ninjas who accepted missions to assassinate him.

None of these sources were particularly wealthy, and the total only added up to 30 million ryō—not even enough to match the bounty on Asuma’s head.

For strengthening the clan, it was merely a drop in the bucket.

"Don’t worry!" Itsuki took out a scroll, opened it, and revealed several severed heads.

"What’s this?"

Fugaku looked puzzled.

"These heads are worth money!" Itsuki chuckled. "They can fetch quite a lot on the black market."

These were the heads of the ninjas who had attempted to assassinate him.

Each of them also had bounties on the black market.

In fact, even though Kakuzu was a regular on the black market, his head itself had a two-billion-ryō bounty—on par with the leaders of other ninja villages.

"These heads combined should fetch about 100 million ryō. Clan Leader, send someone to the black market to exchange them for money, then use it immediately. No need to report back to me!"

Itsuki then tossed another scroll, which this time was filled entirely with cash.

"Here’s another 50 million ryō!"

"Itsuki, where did you get all this money?" Fugaku gasped.

Last time, when Itsuki became the vice clan leader, he had already brought in a significant amount of funds to support orphans, widows, and the elderly within the clan.

Although everyone knew that Itsuki wasn’t truly retired after the Third Ninja War and was still operating in secret, the sheer amount of money he brought this time was shocking.

This amount was probably comparable to what all of Konoha could mobilize in a short time.

"Don’t worry about where it came from!" Itsuki said. "Use all the clan’s money to strengthen our members. Who knows when a big battle might break out? What’s the point of hoarding it? If we lose, all that money will just end up in the enemy's hands anyway."

This wasn’t an exaggeration.

In the original timeline, after the Uchiha clan was annihilated, where did their immense wealth and resources go?

Given Konoha’s leadership, especially the Konoha F4, who would believe that everything was confiscated for public use?

Especially the various jutsus.

After the Uchiha’s destruction, the Sarutobi clan suddenly became the strongest Fire Style clan in the village.

Fugaku smiled wryly. "I’m just worried that if we use up all the funds, the clan won’t be able to sustain itself financially in the future."

"You don’t need to worry about that. I’ll handle the money!" Itsuki sneered. "Worst case, I’ll toss Hiruzen Sarutobi’s head on the black market. That’s worth at least two billion ryō!"

Fugaku immediately nodded. "That sounds like a plan!"

Thinking back to the past and comparing it to the changes in the Uchiha since Itsuki’s rise, especially the discussions among the clan members, even Fugaku felt like using his Susano’o to take down Hiruzen Sarutobi.

You scumbag, you tricked me before!

"Ahem."

A few members of the pacifist faction couldn’t help but cough awkwardly.

Didn’t we just agree not to use force?

Clan Leader, why are you leading the charge now?

"Alright, enough coughing, or you’ll hack up a lung." Itsuki rolled his eyes. "Fine, I’ll settle for Danzo’s head instead. That’s worth about two billion too."

The pacifists were speechless.

If you kill Danzo, won’t Hiruzen Sarutobi fight you to the death anyway?

Won’t that still lead to war?

Fugaku asked, "What else? Should the Uchiha maintain the status quo?"

"Yes, we’ll respond with stillness to their actions!" Itsuki grinned coldly. "Trust me, they won’t be able to hold back for long, and we won’t have to wait too much."

He knew the Konoha F4 all too well.

Even if the Uchiha did nothing, they wouldn’t be able to sit still—let alone now, when the Uchiha were growing stronger.

Itsuki smiled. "If I’m not mistaken, Danzo has already started making moves."

The hot-tempered Tekka couldn’t hold back. "Captain, are we just going to sit and wait to be attacked?"

They were proud Uchihas, and the thought of passively waiting was unbearable.

They wanted to take the fight to their enemies.

"This is the harsh reality we face!" Itsuki said indifferently. "The Third Hokage and his allies refrain from acting because they fear losing control of Konoha and don’t want to see the village destroyed. On the other hand, we refrain from acting because we fear annihilation."

"If the Uchiha strike first, the Ino-Shika-Cho trio will immediately ally with the Hokage, and the entire village will unite against us to wipe us out. Our strength still pales in comparison to the entirety of Konoha."

"It’s unfair, but that’s how it is!"

These words filled everyone present with anger.

Even the pacifists were no exception.

Although they wanted to coexist peacefully with the village, they hadn’t abandoned the pride of the Uchiha.

Seeing this, Itsuki said, "That’s why we must grow stronger—stronger than the village itself. Only then will they never dare oppose us!"

"We Uchihas are the strongest!"

His Sharingan activated, revealing three tomoe.

"The strongest!"

The Uchihas stood up, one by one, their Sharingans lighting up the room with an oppressive aura.

"Good!"

Itsuki picked up his shoe and slammed it onto the table. "As long as we have confidence, what’s Hiruzen Sarutobi? Just a pile of crap."

Fugaku glanced over.

Even in such an impassioned moment, did you really have to slam your shoe?

And on such an old meeting table?

Itsuki hesitated, then handed the shoe to Fugaku. "Clan Leader, you’ve been staring at my shoe. Do you want it? I’ve worn it for three years, but if you really want it…"

"Get lost!"

"Ahem."

Feeling the murderous glare from Fugaku, Itsuki coughed awkwardly and turned his gaze to Shisui and Itachi.

"Let’s talk about you two. What orders did the Hokage give you?"

Itachi shook his head. "It’s predictable—the same old speech about protecting Konoha, blah blah blah, and finally a hint that eliminating you would bring peace."

Itsuki nodded slightly, unsurprised.

Shisui, however, looked embarrassed. "I did what you taught me, but I’m not sure if they believed it."

Itsuki rolled his eyes. "With your acting skills, honestly, I wouldn’t believe it either."

The other Uchihas laughed.

In truth, Shisui’s performance didn’t matter as much as his loyalty.

Everyone knew that the Uchiha now had three Mangekyō Sharingan wielders—Itsuki, Fugaku, and Shisui.

If Shisui defected to the Hokage’s side, it would be a devastating blow to the clan. Fortunately, he chose his family.

But Itsuki looked at Shisui thoughtfully.

In the original timeline, Shisui should have already died.

Danzo coveted the power of Kotoamatsukami.

Although Shisui survived this time because of Itsuki, that didn’t mean Danzo had given up on his ambitions.

If Danzo wanted to deal with the Uchiha, what would be his entry point?

*Kotoamatsukami.*

(To be continued.)