36-40

Chapter 36: The Old Man’s Pride

The Uchiha clan members stared at Itsuki with excitement.

There were only a little over thirty Jonin in the entire Uchiha clan, and Itsuki had taken down twenty in one go?

Even though some were special Jonin and not on par with the Uchiha Jonin, this still proved Itsuki’s strength.

The Uchihas started counting on their fingers—was there anyone in Konoha who could match Itsuki?

The answer was clear: *No one!*

Even the Third Hokage couldn’t handle a combination of twenty Jonin and special Jonin at once.

Plus, Itsuki had the Mangekyō Sharingan, along with the power of Susanoo. Fugaku also had it—maybe not as strong as Itsuki’s, but not too far behind.

With two such powerful shinobi, what did they have to fear?

One Uchiha enthusiastically shouted a slogan:

“Down with the evil Sarutobi Hiruzen! Take down the dark Shimura Danzō! Capture Koharu alive...”

Itsuki looked at the overly enthusiastic Uchiha with a smirk and said, “That’s quite... bold. Go ahead, go ahead!”

The Uchiha immediately lowered his head in embarrassment.

“All right, all right,” Itsuki waved his hand dismissively. “It’s just a minor incident. Why are you all so excited? It makes us Uchihas look like we’ve never seen the world. I prefer your usual arrogant selves. Go back to that!”

The Uchihas all pouted.

*Pretender!*

Who believes you weren’t excited when you first got this power?

“Itsuki is right,” Fugaku suddenly said. “The Mangekyō Sharingan is a forbidden power. Avoid using it unless necessary. It’s a trump card, not something for regular use.”

The Uchihas were taken aback.

Itsuki, however, understood—Fugaku was hinting at him.

Fugaku must have used the Mangekyō many times and was well aware of its side effects.

Perhaps Fugaku’s eyesight had already begun to deteriorate.

That might explain why Itsuki had so easily risen to the position of Deputy Clan Leader and taken over the clan’s reins!

But Itsuki didn’t have this issue. He could freely use the Mangekyō’s power.

He wasn’t afraid of activating Susanoo daily.

Itsuki lightly covered his eyes with his hand. Initially, he thought he’d need to keep upgrading his dōjutsu until he reached the Eternal Mangekyō to use its power freely.

But to his surprise, his awakened Mangekyō had granted him an unexpected bonus in dōjutsu.

“Let’s get back to the topic,” Fugaku said gravely. “If the Hokage faction loses twenty Jonin and special Jonin, they won’t dare make any rash moves. After all, the Uchiha clan now has *three Mangekyō Sharingan users!*”

“Three?”

The Uchihas were stunned.

Fugaku had one, Itsuki had one—where was the third?

Fugaku didn’t hide the truth:

“Shisui, Uchiha Shisui, has also awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan!”

He shot a fierce glance at Shisui.

This revelation had been told to him by Itsuki.

Every time Fugaku thought about it, he felt annoyed.

Hadn’t he done enough for the clan? Yet no one trusted him!

“Shisui?”

Uchiha Sōgi’s eyes widened in shock.

He hadn’t known about this!

Shisui gave an awkward smile and glanced at Itsuki.

He had only told Itsuki and... hmm?

Shisui froze. He started to understand.

Itsuki explained, “Shisui has also awakened the Mangekyō and informed the Hokage and others about it. So, with three Mangekyō Sharingan, the Uchiha clan is strong enough to keep the Hokage faction quiet.”

“Bless the Uchiha clan!”

The surprise came so suddenly that the Uchihas grew quiet instead.

They were at a loss for words.

The clan’s power was greater than they’d imagined.

So why hold back any longer?

This thought crossed more than a few minds.

But under Itsuki’s playful gaze, each one of them fell silent, as if struck by frost.

Within the Uchiha clan, Fugaku was strong and stern. He had suppressed both the hawks and doves, earning him a degree of fear and respect.

But when it came to Itsuki, the Uchihas felt terror.

You never knew what methods he might use to deal with you.

For example, once, he used genjutsu to make an Uchiha perform... a pole dance.

That poor man had been so humiliated that he became depressed and now rarely left his room.

“Remember this...”

Itsuki pointed at the Uchihas and said seriously, “You’re the Uchiha elite, not impulsive brats. Don’t act recklessly, or you’ll just end up getting crushed.”

Uchiha Satsuna’s face darkened.

He felt like he had just been Mangekyō-ed.

The gazes around him seemed heavier too.

“This damned punk—I’ll find a chance to teach him a lesson!”

Itsuki continued, “The Uchiha are strong, but the village is stronger. We must avoid civil war; it benefits no one. Besides, the other villages are coveting our bloodline. Do you think we can survive their attacks without Konoha’s protection? Stay clear-headed. We’re in a great position now—don’t ruin it yourselves.”

“Yes!”

Itsuki’s tone softened slightly.

“Follow my plan. Step by step, steady progress. If you stretch too far, you’ll just hurt yourselves.”

The Uchihas exchanged helpless looks.

As the Uchiha Deputy Clan Leader and Head of the Konoha Police Force, Itsuki was just too down-to-earth.

“All right, get back to your work!”

“Yes!”

The room gradually emptied, leaving Fugaku, Itsuki, Shisui, Itachi, and two others.

These six represented the optimized core of the Uchiha clan.

Itsuki said, “Everything is progressing smoothly. The conflict between the Uchiha and the Hokage faction is now out in the open. It’s just a matter of who makes the first move. Most clans won’t want to get involved.”

“No one’s stupid,” he continued. “Especially the major clans. They know jumping in now would only make them cannon fodder. Besides, Sarutobi Hiruzen’s faction isn’t trustworthy anymore. I’ll find a way to emphasize that in the coming days.”

Fugaku added, “Keep an eye on the major clans. The Hyūga, Ino-Shika-Chō, Aburame, and Inuzuka all have significant power.”

“Most of them will stay neutral if I handle it right, including the Hyūga and Ino-Shika-Chō. I might even get them on our side, depending on how Sarutobi cooperates.”

This statement drew surprised looks.

Even the Hyūga was one thing, but Ino-Shika-Chō? The Hokage’s staunch allies?

Fugaku gave Itsuki a sidelong glance. “I’ll trust you’ve been doing more than just pulling strings within the clan these past years. Fine, I’ll leave it to you.”

Itsuki didn’t mind Fugaku’s lukewarm attitude.

The old man had been sidelined, so it was natural for his pride to take a hit.

Itsuki had already given him plenty of face—otherwise, there wouldn’t even be a “Deputy Clan Leader” title. He’d have taken over as Clan Leader outright.

But Fugaku had his reputation, and the village’s stance had to be considered.

Letting Itsuki take the deputy role first and transition into Clan Leader later kept things smooth for everyone.

“Your eyes—are they okay?” Fugaku suddenly asked.

The others turned to Itsuki.

They were all aware of the Mangekyō’s side effects.

Even Uchiha Madara had struggled with it.

How about Itsuki?

After taking out twenty opponents, how much had he burned through his Mangekyō’s power?

Itsuki smiled faintly, covering his eyes without answering. Instead, he turned to look in another direction.

“Friend, you’ve been here a while, listening. Don’t you have anything to say?”

Fugaku and the others were startled.

*Someone else was here?!*

They turned to where Itsuki was looking.

There, the air distorted.

A man wearing an orange, spiral-patterned mask appeared.

“Yo, Uchiha clan. How’s it going?”

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 37: My Name is Uchiha Madara!

“Who are you?”

Fugaku barked sharply, his expression ice-cold.

How could this be?

In the heart of the Uchiha’s territory, a stranger had appeared unnoticed.

How had he bypassed the barrier team and the patrols?

Especially the patrols—under Itsuki's orders, sensing-ninjas had been added to the teams. While there weren’t many, every patrol had at least one.

The barrier itself was a new design, known only to Fugaku, Itsuki, Setsuna, and Sougi!

And yet, despite the security, even the elite ninjas present, including three pairs of Mangekyō Sharingan, had failed to detect him until he spoke.

Something was very wrong.

Before the masked man could speak, Itsuki interjected, “Clan leader, he’s one of us, an Uchiha. But judging by his demeanor, likely a rogue ninja.”

*A rogue Uchiha?*

Fugaku and the others frowned, searching their memories.

There weren’t many rogue Uchiha—only a few were known. But who among them could evade both the sensors and the barrier team to stand here unnoticed?

The masked man’s face was shrouded in shadow, but Itsuki could tell he was scrutinizing him.

Itsuki grinned broadly, giving the masked man a thumbs-up, his teeth glinting.

The masked man: "..."

That classic expression—it reminded him of someone.

That kick... it felt like yesterday.

His face throbbed at the memory.

The irritation in his heart grew.

What’s more, being discovered by Itsuki had disrupted his plan, raising his vigilance to its peak.

Facing six of the strongest Uchihas, including three pairs of Mangekyō Sharingan, if a fight broke out, his only option was to flee. Otherwise, he’d surely be beaten into pulp.

*“Damn it, it’s only been a few days, and the Uchiha compound has turned into the most dangerous place in the ninja world. Unless you’re the God of Shinobi or the Demon of the Shinobi World, entering here is suicide!”*

Taking a deep breath, Uchiha Obito spoke in a low voice, “To think you could discover me… It seems the clan has produced a remarkable talent.”

“Evading the sensors and the barrier team to appear before us unnoticed—you’re no ordinary Uchiha. Mangekyō Sharingan, is it?”

Itsuki chuckled softly, his smile carrying a deeper meaning, making Obito even more uneasy.

He had the nagging sense that Itsuki knew more than he let on.

“Mangekyō?”

Fugaku and the others were truly shocked.

The Uchiha clan’s history was long, but Mangekyō Sharingan had always been rare. And this man possessed it?

Obito was equally taken aback, his gaze turning icy as he looked at Itsuki. “Someone who hasn’t left the village in years—how could you know so much? Are you truly Uchiha Itsuki?”

“Haha, you caught me!”

Itsuki’s Sharingan activated, revealing three tomoe. Crossing his arms arrogantly, he declared, “Since you’ve figured it out, I’ll reveal my true name…”

*“Uchiha Madara!”*

Pointing dramatically at Obito, he continued, “Do you wish to dance?”

*Crap!*

Fugaku and the others twitched in exasperation.

You?  

Uchiha Madara?  

Get out of here!  

Raising the tension only to crack a joke—when would the cold humor end?

Especially Setsuna and Sougi, the two elders who had actually met and followed Madara in the past.

Itsuki looked nothing like Madara.

You, carrying a birdcage, sipping tea, and flirting with women in the clan?  

Madara? Seriously?  

Madara died a virgin. You’re practically a playboy!  

Itsuki ignored their eye-rolls and turned to Obito. “Kid, state your name!”

Obito: "..."

Should I even say who I am?  

“What’s wrong?” Itsuki raised an eyebrow. “Are you such a coward that you can’t even speak your name before me, Uchiha Madara?”

Obito’s voice turned low and steady. “Enough, Uchiha Itsuki. I ask you—do you hate Danzo?”

Without hesitation, Itsuki replied, “Not at all!”

I practically love the guy—don’t believe me?  

If it weren’t for that scumbag Danzo, Sarutobi Hiruzen might’ve done even worse. Danzo’s presence, hated by everyone, was a convenient scapegoat for all shady deeds, leaving Uchiha some breathing room.

The common slogan was: *“Damn you, Danzo!”*

And so, Uchiha found their opportunity.

*Danzo’s schemes brought ruin, but his existence also brought survival.*

Itsuki exploited this dynamic, even creating minor troubles just to frame Danzo.

Thanks to Danzo and Hiruzen’s alliance, many ninja clans in the village swallowed their grievances. Though they hated Danzo deeply, they dared not voice it openly.

Itsuki’s rebellion thrived in this atmosphere.

Otherwise, even with his Susano’o, how many ninja could he defeat?

What about the other four great nations?

“Humph!” Obito snorted coldly. “You’ve been at odds with him for years. Now it’s an open conflict—a life-or-death situation. Why put on a show for me?”

“So, no matter what I say, you won’t believe me?” Itsuki shrugged. “Fine, stranger with the Mangekyō, tell me your purpose.”

Obito glanced at the others before replying coldly, “Now isn’t the right time. We’ll meet again, Uchiha Itsuki.”

With space distorting around him, Obito vanished.

*Damn it.*

The entire time, Itsuki had dominated, leaving Obito no chance to assert himself—not even his name.

He would retreat, regroup, and return in better form.

Besides, some matters couldn’t be discussed in front of others.

“He’s gone?” Fugaku’s brow furrowed. “A space-time jutsu?”

“That’s likely his Mangekyō ability,” Itsuki replied with a faint smile. “Itachi, check on the barrier team and the sensors—they’ve probably been compromised.”

“Got it!”

Itachi vanished in a flicker and soon returned.

“Itsuki-nii, you were right. Some barrier team members were caught in genjutsu and opened the barriers. The sensors were also rendered unconscious. When I arrived, the patrols had already discovered them and were heading here to report.”

Itsuki nodded, addressing the group. “Now you understand why I’ve been pushing to overhaul the barriers, sentries, and patrols? The Uchiha compound is practically a tourist destination—anyone can just stroll in.”

Fugaku took a deep breath and said coldly, “Itsuki, focus on external matters. I’ll personally handle internal security with the help of Setsuna and Sougi.”

The two elders nodded firmly.

Previously, even when Itachi confessed to leaking barrier and patrol information to the Hokage, the elders had remained indifferent.

Such was Uchiha’s pride in their abilities.

But no more.

Even Hiruzen Sarutobi hadn’t dared to launch an open attack due to the Uchiha’s split factions and sheer power.

In the original timeline, the Uchiha were destroyed through meticulous infiltration, two Mangekyō users working together, and Fugaku’s passive non-resistance.

Now, with heightened vigilance, Hiruzen wouldn’t dare make a move.

While Uchiha would lose in an all-out battle, the cost to Konoha would be catastrophic. Thousands of ninjas could die.

Would the other villages merely stand by?

An internal war would spell mutual destruction.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 38: Hokage: "Itachi, I'm Sorry!"

"Alright!"

Having someone to share the workload was a relief for Itsuki.

Fugaku and the other two were highly experienced. When it came to protecting the clan, they could turn the Uchiha compound into an impenetrable fortress.

Moreover, handling external matters on his own allowed Itsuki to act more freely.

"Be cautious. You all know the tense relationship between the village and the Uchiha. We don’t know when they might strike. If we make a single mistake, they’ll have no problem ganging up on us."

"Don’t worry," Fugaku replied with a cold smile. "But let me correct you. The Uchiha's relationship with the village has eased slightly—it’s with Hiruzen Sarutobi and his faction that tensions have risen."

"Good point."

In just three days, the Uchiha had done little but withdraw from many village matters.

This puzzled many villagers, who cast curious glances at the Uchiha.

They couldn’t figure out why the Uchiha had suddenly become "lazy."

Fugaku had a feeling that if they followed Itsuki's approach, the Uchiha might just pull themselves out of the whirlpool of hatred.

---

*Hokage’s Office, Konoha.*

The F4 of Konoha were in the midst of a heated meeting.

"Leave it to me, Hiruzen!"

Danzo’s cold voice echoed. "I will make the Uchiha suffer."

Hearing this, Hiruzen Sarutobi and the others felt an immediate pang of pain.

Danzo, why are you always so confident?

"You’ve already lost twenty people! Twenty Jonin!" Hiruzen retorted icily. "No, it’s twenty-one! Don’t forget Kato Fūko!"

A sensory Jonin! Such a rare talent in the village.

Recalling the botched mission to track down Uchiha Itsuki, where a sensory ninja had made several mistakes, Hiruzen couldn’t help but imagine... If it had been Kato Fūko, perhaps things would’ve gone differently.

After all, Kato Fūko was a Jonin, while the sensory ninja they used was only a Special Jonin.

This failure made Hiruzen even more dissatisfied with Danzo.

Though he was the Hokage, not everyone followed his orders unconditionally.

For instance, if he were to command Konoha’s shinobi to attack the Uchiha and spark a civil war, many clans would question him.

The Uchiha hadn’t revolted. Though disliked, they were still part of the village. And why provoke someone so strong?

You could claim the Uchiha had done bad things, but Danzo seemed to have done worse.

If you attack the Uchiha today, will you attack me tomorrow?

In such a scenario, loyal shinobi were crucial.

Due to Danzo's failures, almost all of Root’s Jonin had been killed or injured. Even several from the Anbu had been lost. Another incident like this couldn’t be allowed.

Koharu Utatane chimed in, "Danzo, you must consider the consequences. The village is already abuzz with rumors."

"That’s easy to handle," Danzo replied coldly. "Those were spies from another village. They ambushed Itsuki in the Forest of Death, maybe for intel, maybe for his Sharingan."

"Bang!"

"Enough, Danzo!"

Hiruzen slammed the desk in anger. "Do you take the village’s shinobi for fools? Twenty foreign ninjas appeared in the village and caused such a commotion with Itsuki? You… cough cough!"

"Hiruzen!"

Koharu and Homura Mitokado shouted in alarm.

Even Danzo, despite his cold demeanor, showed concern.

The Third Hokage couldn’t die now—not before Danzo was ready to take over.

After coughing for a while, Hiruzen regained his breath and said through gritted teeth, "Danzo, stop all your actions. At the very least, no use of force. The other clans are already questioning us."

"No."

Danzo refused without hesitation.

Seeing Hiruzen’s glare, he explained further.

"We won’t act in the village. We’ll lure him outside before striking."

"That’s easier said than done!" Hiruzen’s tone softened slightly. "He hasn’t left the village in years. Damn it, he’s too cautious—nothing like a typical Uchiha."

Hiruzen’s frustration was evident.

Uchiha Itsuki was nothing like the others.

When thinking of the Uchiha, certain traits came to mind: arrogance, strength, a focus on power above all.

But Itsuki? He was lustful, lazy, cautious, and ruthless.

If given a chance, he would strike viciously. And he never took a loss.

Though Danzo struck first, they lost twenty Jonin. And even then, Itsuki demanded eight members from the Barrier Team—ninja skilled in seals and barriers, the weakest of whom were Chūnin.

Such talents were incredibly rare.

The loss was painful.

Hiruzen’s head throbbed.

The usual tactics for dealing with the Uchiha didn’t work on Itsuki at all.

---

*Knock knock knock!*

The sound of knocking interrupted their meeting.

Hiruzen’s expression shifted.

At this time, only something urgent would prompt the Anbu to disturb their meeting.

"Come in!"

"Yes!"

A young man entered the room.

It was Uchiha Itachi.

The Hokage and the others were momentarily surprised before quickly regaining composure.

"Itachi, what brings you here?" Hiruzen asked with a smile.

Itachi’s expression was serious. "Lord Hokage, I want to kill Uchiha Itsuki!"

"This…"

The room fell silent, stunned by Itachi’s intense killing intent.

Hiruzen couldn’t help but ask, "Why?"

"Lord Danzo is right," Itachi said firmly. "Itsuki’s existence disrupts the village’s peace and stability. He doesn’t deserve to exist."

Hiruzen fell silent, his gaze peculiar as he looked at Itachi.

"Itachi, you’re a true shinobi," Danzo said slowly. "You’ve realized the truth, haven’t you?"

"Yes," Itachi responded. "Because of Itsuki, the village nearly fell into civil war. Even now, unrest brews in the village—all because of him."

Danzo nodded approvingly. "Good. Itachi, for Konoha’s sake, Itsuki must be eliminated."

"Danzo!" Hiruzen snapped. "You were wrong to attack a comrade of the village and provoke Itsuki. I haven’t even held you accountable yet!"

"Hiruzen, you’re as naïve as ever," Danzo retorted. "Itsuki is unique, even among the Uchiha. He doesn’t belong in the clan, let alone the village!"

As the two sparred verbally, Itachi remained expressionless.

Should he tell them Itsuki predicted everything they’d say? Wouldn’t that shatter their confidence?

"Enough!" Hiruzen commanded, silencing Danzo. He then turned to Itachi with a heavy heart.

"Itachi, you embody the Will of Fire. You’ll understand when I say this—I owe you an apology."

"Hokage-sama?"

Itachi looked at the elderly Hokage in surprise.

The Hokage, apologizing to him?

Hiruzen sighed deeply, gazing out the window at the bustling village.

Following his gaze, Itachi’s expression changed again.

"Danzo’s reckless actions have left no chance for reconciliation between the village and Itsuki. And now, he holds power over the Uchiha. As Hokage, I have no choice…"

Hiruzen left the sentence unfinished.

But Itachi nodded heavily. "That’s precisely why I’m here, Lord Hokage. I belong to Konoha. The Uchiha belong to Konoha. Only Itsuki doesn’t. Eliminating him is imperative!"

*Chapter 39: It’s All for Konoha!*

The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, gazed at Uchiha Itachi with a mixture of regret, guilt, and sorrow in his eyes.

"Itachi, I’m sorry. As Hiruzen Sarutobi, I sincerely want to apologize to Uchiha Itsuki. But as the Hokage, I must take responsibility for the entire village."

"A Hokage’s heart must be with the entire village, not just an individual."

"This is the duty of a Hokage."

"The tension between the Uchiha and the village has grown increasingly intense since Uchiha Itsuki rose to power within the clan," he continued.

"I’ve noticed that too," Itachi said gravely. "That’s why the first step is to eliminate Itsuki, return the Uchiha to its former state, and then I will continue to guide the clan."

"If the Uchiha openly clash with the village, the final result will be Konoha engulfed in the flames of war."

Itachi’s voice was resolute. "That cannot happen!"

Hiruzen sighed again. "Yes, that absolutely cannot happen."

"Itachi, are you here to report intelligence about Itsuki?" asked Homura Mitokado.

"I have two pieces of information," Itachi responded.

"What are they?"

The members of the so-called "F4," including Danzō, instantly perked up.

Although the assassination attempt on Itsuki had failed, Danzō bore no grudge against Itachi for it. He remembered clearly that Itachi had repeatedly warned him: Uchiha Itsuki was incredibly strong—the strongest person he had ever encountered.

Given that, how could the failed assassination be blamed on Itachi? The only explanation was that Itsuki was simply too powerful.

"The first piece of information concerns the Mangekyō Sharingan," Itachi began. "Based on my investigation, the Mangekyō Sharingan has severe side effects. The more it’s used, the more one’s vision deteriorates, eventually leading to complete blindness."

"Moreover, using the Mangekyō involves enduring excruciating pain."

"Hmm?"

Hiruzen and the others exchanged glances and nodded slightly.

They already knew this. As a disciple of Tobirama Senju, who had extensively researched the Uchiha’s powers, they were aware of the risks associated with the Mangekyō Sharingan.

Still, hearing it directly from Itachi gave it a different weight, further solidifying their trust in him.

"The second piece of information is that Uchiha Itsuki is likely to leave the village for some time."

The F4 immediately tensed up.

"Leave the village?" Homura asked. "What is he planning?"

"I don’t know," Itachi admitted regretfully. "He doesn’t trust me—or anyone, for that matter. Even his close aides, like Hachidai, only receive direct orders from him and are prohibited from private interactions."

The group’s eyes gleamed with interest. To Danzō and the others, this information was more valuable than anything else shared so far.

If Itsuki were to leave the village, it would be impossible for him to do so unnoticed by the Hokage’s administration—unless he intended to become a rogue ninja. And if that were the case, it would be a perfect pretext to move against him and the Uchiha as a whole.

As for the secrets of the Mangekyō Sharingan, those were already well-known to them.

Itachi’s casual comment, however, contained an intriguing revelation: Itsuki was deeply distrustful of everyone, even his subordinates. This created a significant opportunity for manipulation.

"Hmph!" Danzō snorted. "A man consumed by darkness!"

Huh?

The others, including the Third Hokage, couldn’t help but look at Danzō in astonishment.

Even Itachi almost bit his tongue.

Danzō calling someone else consumed by darkness? What an ironic sight!

"What are you all staring at?" Danzō snapped. "Do you think I’m… Never mind. Everything I do is for Konoha!"

Their expressions grew even stranger.

The Hokage turned to Itachi with a kind smile. "Itachi, on behalf of Konoha, I thank you. You are a great ninja who has made tremendous sacrifices for the peace of this village. Thank you."

Itachi, somewhat flustered, replied, "You’re too kind, sir."

He glanced at Danzō and said solemnly, "Everything is for Konoha!"

Danzō: "…"

Hokage: "…"

Homura and Koharu: "…"

Why did this feel ominous?

Whenever Danzō said that phrase, it never boded well. Could this be a bad sign?

No, it must be a coincidence! Surely Itachi, loyal and steadfast, meant it from the heart. No need to overthink it. Still… there was an inexplicable sense of unease.

---

Uchiha Itachi used the Body Flicker Technique to leave the Hokage’s office.

Meanwhile, Itsuki wasn’t enjoying tea or holding a birdcage this time. Instead, he was reading the palm of a beautiful Uchiha woman.

"My, my, Whiteleaf, your palm tells a tale of great fortune. You’re destined to become the wife of the Uchiha clan head—perhaps even the first lady of the entire village. How remarkable!"

The woman rolled her eyes but didn’t withdraw her hand, allowing Itsuki to continue his "analysis."

With a flash, Itachi appeared.

The woman glanced at him, withdrew her hand, and stood behind Itsuki.

Itsuki, reluctant to let go of the moment, sighed. "Itachi, don’t bother me unless it’s urgent—and if it’s urgent, don’t bother me either."

Itachi stared at him in silence, while the woman pinched Itsuki’s arm.

"Fine, fine!" Itsuki relented. "What is it?"

"According to your instructions, I’ve just returned from the Hokage’s office," Itachi reported, nodding at the woman before addressing Itsuki. "But I don’t understand something."

"What don’t you understand?"

"You plan to leave the village. Why tell the Hokage? Wouldn’t it be easier to avoid unnecessary trouble by keeping it secret?"

Typically, when a ninja left the village without permission, they were labeled a rogue. But exceptions existed, depending on who the ninja was.

"If I leave secretly, how will the Hokage’s faction send people to assassinate me?" Itsuki countered. "My goal is simple: to continually weaken their power."

His eyes gleamed coldly. "Let them come. The more, the better. Moths to a flame—they’ll only destroy themselves. Besides…"

He glanced at the Divine Tree in his consciousness.

The Divine Tree required life energy to bear stronger fruits. Though he had slain twenty jōnin, he hadn’t absorbed any life energy from them.

Why?

First, it would attract suspicion if intact corpses suddenly became withered husks. Second, leaving behind corpses served as a powerful deterrent. There was no shortage of shinobi in the ninja world; he didn’t need to rush.

Itachi paused before asking, "Then what about the last part? Why did you have me specifically say, ‘Everything is for Konoha’?"

Itsuki laughed heartily. "Tell me, what were their expressions like? I’m curious!"

"You’ve got a twisted sense of humor," Itachi said with a bitter smile. "Their expressions… unique. Yes, unique. Using your words…"

"‘They were totally dumbfounded,’" Itsuki finished, laughing again.

Danzō often repeated that phrase to justify himself. But whether it was Danzō or the Third Hokage, everyone knew those words were just a convenient excuse for his actions.

Hearing it from someone else—especially an Uchiha—must have been a surreal experience for the Hokage and his council.

"How does it feel, Hiruzen Sarutobi, to have your own phrase thrown back at you by an Uchiha? Does it leave a mark?"

(Chapter End)

Chapter 40: The Hyuga Family's Discontent

The ninja clans in Konoha, big and small, have been feeling increasingly tense lately.

At the same time, they are also very angry.

The Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, had originally intended to step down due to guilt, but when the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, died unexpectedly, he resumed his position. This wasn’t much of a problem at first.

However, after the Night of the Nine-Tails, Konoha fell into chaos, and someone needed to step up and restore order. It was understandable that the former Hokage would return to power. But even after several years had passed, the Third Hokage still hadn't chosen a Fifth Hokage.

Could it be that there were no suitable candidates? Was Konoha really in such a dire situation? Was it like Iwagakure?

Fortunately, it was a time of peace, and the aging Sarutobi Hiruzen was barely able to maintain order within the village.

But!

Could someone please do something about Danzo? Stop him from causing trouble every day! Every incident was getting worse, and this time, he had set his sights on the Uchiha clan.

Many ninja clans could see the dirty dealings between the Uchiha clan and Konoha’s upper echelons.

But for two reasons, they stayed out of it: they had no power to intervene, and it wasn’t their problem.

They despised the Uchiha, and they also couldn’t bring themselves to respect the current Third Hokage.

What they wanted was for the memory of the Third Hokage to remain as it was before the Fourth Hokage took office.

Back then, Sarutobi Hiruzen truly deserved the title of the “Ninja Hero.”

But over the years, one incident after another had only deepened their disappointment in him.

They remained silent.

They endured.

They thought that with Sarutobi being over sixty, he would certainly choose the Fifth Hokage soon.

However, they never imagined that instead, they were met with his relentless pressure.

He oppressed the ninja clans, restricted civilian ninjas, snatched children, monopolized resources...

This time, it almost sparked a civil war within the village.

The small actions of the Uchiha awakened a nearly forgotten memory in the Konoha ninja clans: The Uchiha clan is the strongest clan in Konoha.

For years, Uchiha Fugaku had suppressed the Uchiha, while Danzo secretly manipulated public opinion, placing the Uchiha in direct opposition to the village.

But despite standing against the entire ninja world, the Uchiha remained undeniably powerful.

Just like with the Fūnan incident this time, it was a roar to all of Konoha.

It was obvious to anyone that if the Uchiha were pushed too far, they would ignite a fire in the village.

Was the Uchiha clan causing trouble?

Most believed it was Danzo stirring the pot.

Fugaku, on the other hand, was quite reliable in these matters; he never hesitated when dealing with internal issues.

The ninja clans grew increasingly furious.

During his retirement years, Danzo had made many preparations, including planting spies in various ninja clans.

Now, those spies were activated, carefully drawing out the discontent of the clans, one little spark at a time, gradually leading them to explode, carrying their grievances to the ears of the Hokage.

This made the Hokage and the others even more hesitant to act.

At this point, the dissatisfaction was only verbal, but if it escalated, it would turn into action.

Even Danzo, faced with these clans, furrowed his brows.

If the losses in the Root were small, he would have fought back aggressively. But after the loss of a large number of high-ranking ninjas, only a handful of middle-ranking ninjas remained in the Root. Anything they tried could easily be used against them, putting them in a passive position.

“Hiruzen!” Danzo’s cold voice rang out. “I need reinforcements. No, I need to expand the Root!”

The Third Hokage’s brow furrowed as he puffed on his cigarette.

After a long pause, he sighed deeply and said, “Alright, I’ll give the order. The logistics department will provide the necessary materials.”

Danzo wasn’t surprised by this.

He slowly said, “I also need a group of ninjas to join the Root.”

This time, the Hokage didn’t hesitate. He immediately asked, “Who?”

Danzo handed over a list.

After reading it, the Third Hokage crossed out a few names and returned the list to Danzo.

Danzo didn’t mind. He took the list and left.

Before he left, he left behind a final threat: “I will warn the Hyuga clan!”

“Ha!” The Third Hokage sighed deeply.

The losses in the Root this time were significant. Of the twenty high-ranking and special high-ranking ninjas, only five were from the Anbu, and the rest were from the Root.

The Root was seriously wounded.

Facing the constant pressure from the Uchiha clan, the power of the Root was indispensable.

But when he thought of the list, he couldn’t help but sigh deeply.

He knew Danzo’s methods. How many ninjas on that list would survive?

Sighing again, the Third Hokage stood up and gazed out the window at the streets of Konoha. He sighed once more and muttered, “How did things end up like this?”

...

After leaving the Hokage office, Danzo went straight to the Hyuga clan.

Inside the Hyuga clan, Hyuga Hiashi was furious, nearly coming to blows with Danzo.

But Danzo remained firm. Despite coming alone to the Hyuga clan, he boldly issued threats, showing no respect for the Hyuga clan.

He was certain the Hyuga clan wouldn’t dare to resist!

This was how the higher-ups of Konoha saw the Hyuga clan.

They had always been like this!

“Hyuga clan, don’t overstep your bounds. Otherwise, destruction awaits you!”

Danzo’s final words were cold, and he left.

Watching Danzo leave, Hyuga Hiashi’s eyes glinted with a cold light.

Over the years, Danzo had taken many people from the Hyuga clan into the Root.

Though the Root was part of the Anbu, it appeared prestigious, but once one joined, they lost all dignity.

This was why many ninja clans rejected the Root.

The head of the main family anxiously asked, “Clan head, what’s going on? Why is Danzo targeting the Hyuga clan?”

Their family had always been obedient, even sacrificing the head of the branch family. What more did they expect from them?

An elder of the main family was also annoyed.

Hyuga Hiashi coldly said, “What he means is that someone from the Hyuga clan is collaborating with the Uchiha.”

“Impossible!”

The elder of the main family cried out, “Who would collaborate with those insane Uchiha? And…”

And the higher-ups in the village were very clear: They wanted the Hyuga clan to take the lead in confronting the Uchiha.

They weren’t foolish. They could see through it.

They were willing to do it.

One reason was to please the higher-ups, and another was to make the Hyuga clan the strongest family in Konoha.

Being a family with the Byakugan bloodline limit, the Hyuga clan couldn’t bear being suppressed by the Uchiha.

How could the two clans possibly collaborate?

Hyuga Hiashi frowned slightly, then slowly sat down and said coldly, “It sounds like Danzo thinks I’m collaborating with the Uchiha.”

“This…” The elder of the main family froze and cautiously asked, “Clan head, you’re not really collaborating with the Uchiha, are you?”

Hyuga Hiashi looked at the elder with a half-smile and said, “Elder, why would you think that I’m collaborating with the Uchiha?”

The elder’s face flushed with embarrassment, his eyes flickering.

Why?

The answer was simple: Hyuga Hiashi’s younger brother, Hyuga Hiashi!

As the head of the branch family, he had been sacrificed for Konoha.

Back then, Hyuga Hiashi had made a big stir, and the Hokage and the main family had suppressed him.

Could it be that he was seeking revenge for his brother?

“Clan head, what should we do?” the elder asked. “Danzo wants us to prove ourselves. Does he want us to…”

“Hmm!” Hyuga Hiashi didn’t care. “He wants us to take the initiative against the Uchiha!”

“How should we do that?” the elder directly asked.

Hyuga Hiashi glanced at him and said coldly, “What? Do you really want to make a move against the Uchiha?”

The elder replied naturally, “This is an order from the higher-ups. How can we disobey?”

Hyuga Hiashi’s words became even colder. “But those are the Uchiha!”

“So what?” The elder said nonchalantly. “As a bloodline clan with the Byakugan, our Hyuga clan is no worse than them. We have over thirty high-ranking ninjas!”

“Well said!” Hyuga Hiashi nodded in approval. “Since that’s the case, how about you, Elder, lead the way?”

(End of this chapter)