31-35

Chapter 31: He Ran Over Crying!

*“Boom!!!”*

*“Bang!”*

*“Splurt!”*

Fire Style, Water Style...

A barrage of ninjutsu flew toward Itsuki.

But Itsuki remained indifferent, his expression utterly relaxed.

He stood still, arms crossed, not even bothering to move.

A massive scarlet skeletal structure enveloped him, shielding him entirely.

Every ninjutsu that struck the bones proved utterly futile.

His eyes had transformed into sinister triangular patterns—

The Mangekyō Sharingan!

Susanoo!

At that moment, Itsuki seemed like a god overlooking mortals.

“What... what is this?”

Shibi Aburame was on the verge of collapse.

Moments earlier, he had successfully deployed the Four Symbols Seal, trapping Uchiha Itsuki. It had seemed like victory was within their grasp. But in an instant, Itsuki erupted with overwhelming power—a massive scarlet arm materialized from thin air.

The Four Symbols Seal, which seemed impenetrable, was torn apart like paper in an instant.

Along with it, a high-ranking ANBU operative was also shredded to pieces.

Then, with a casual swipe of his skeletal arm, Itsuki cleaved another ANBU member in half.

A single punch turned yet another into pulp.

Was this man even human?

Shibi had brought ten elite ANBU operatives, each a master of secret techniques. The plan was to wear down Uchiha Itsuki’s strength, with the hope of subduing him if needed.

Then, four hidden elites would emerge to seal the exhausted Itsuki.

Yet, in the face of overwhelming power, Itsuki shattered the seal, killed Shibi’s comrades, and stood tall.

Shibi couldn’t fathom such strength.

Could even the Hokage do this?

*“Is that it, Shibi Aburame? No! Keep dancing!”*

Itsuki sneered, releasing his Shadow Clone technique.

Was Hiruzen Sarutobi coming now?

Had the others arrived too?

Itsuki’s lips curled into a playful smile.

The real show was about to begin.

*“It’s about time to wrap this up.”*

Stretching lazily, Itsuki said with a grin, “I’ll remember you, Shibi Aburame. Among insect-users, I, Uchiha Itsuki, acknowledge you as the strongest.”

As for Shimikuro Aburame? Well, you can fight Shibi in the afterlife if you’re unsatisfied!

Forming hand seals, Itsuki unleashed a torrent of immense chakra.

His triangular Mangekyō Sharingan spun ominously.

*“Ssshhh…”*

The scarlet skeletal Susanoo began sprouting flesh.

Its aura grew even more oppressive, suffocating Shibi.

How insignificant humans seemed before such a giant.

*“No… impossible…”* Shibi exclaimed. “You’re… even stronger?!”

Even with fourteen elite ANBU working together, they hadn’t forced Itsuki to reveal his full power!

*“Sometimes, I wonder where my limits lie.”*

Itsuki’s triangular Mangekyō Sharingan glimmered like venomous serpents, piercing Shibi’s very soul.

Under his control, the fully-formed, flesh-covered Susanoo extended its massive hand.

In its palm, a bright scarlet magatama gleamed ominously.

*“This ends now, Shibi Aburame. Let me send you off.”*

Shibi glared at Itsuki, trying to mask his fear.

He was a loyal servant of Lord Danzō. Everything he did was for Konoha.

He wasn’t afraid of the evil Uchiha! He stood for righteousness!

*“No! Stop, Itsuki!”*

A commanding voice rang out suddenly.

Countless shinobi appeared within Itsuki’s field of vision, rapidly closing in.

*“Heh!”*

Itsuki chuckled softly, unperturbed, and sent the scarlet magatama flying without hesitation.

*“Boom!!!”*

The remaining ANBU operatives, including Shibi, were instantly obliterated.

The resulting shockwave swept out in all directions.

The newly arrived shinobi, caught off guard, were sent tumbling. Even the strongest among them were forced to retreat.

Even Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, looked on in horror.

Was this the forbidden power of the Mangekyō Sharingan, the Susanoo, that Tobirama-sensei had warned them about?

When the chaos subsided, everyone stared in shock at the scene before them.

A massive crater now scarred the landscape.

White smoke rose from the edges, while patches of eerie crimson flames continued to burn.

Shibi and the others had vanished without a trace.

The aftermath alone had shredded the surrounding trees—those that weren’t uprooted entirely.

The devastation left the surrounding shinobi utterly speechless.

*“So this is the true power of Bloodflame Itsuki?”*

One shinobi muttered in disbelief.

During the Third Shinobi War, Itsuki had been barely over ten years old, yet he wielded power that terrified enemy ninja.

Those crimson flames seemed capable of consuming everything.

Even Minato Namikaze, after mastering the Flying Thunder God and earning the title of "Yellow Flash," couldn’t suppress him.

However, the higher-ups in the village, wary of the Uchiha, had suppressed reports of Itsuki’s achievements. As a result, few had witnessed his full might firsthand.

Now they understood.

This man wasn’t human!

Those who had fought alongside Itsuki could only recall the terror of being under the shadow of his blood-red flames.

The battlefield fell silent.

When Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado arrived under ANBU escort, they were struck speechless by the scene.

*“What happened here?”*

No one replied, but many glanced at Itsuki with complicated expressions.

Some didn’t dare to look at him at all.

This time, Itsuki had truly shocked everyone.

Hiruzen Sarutobi’s lips trembled. After a long pause, he managed to shout, *“Itsuki!”*

Itsuki turned to him, his expression peculiar.

Many shinobi tensed.

Was Uchiha Itsuki about to act?

While the details remained unclear, the battle scars told a story—Itsuki had been ambushed.

In Konoha, a deputy clan leader of the Uchiha had been attacked. The implications were serious.

Especially since Itsuki had disregarded Hiruzen’s earlier command to stop and continued his assault.

This was open defiance!

Uchiha Fugaku arrived with four elite Uchiha, his expression grim.

If Itsuki truly attacked, what should they do?

Wait, no, what should he and Shikuro do?

The others would undoubtedly follow Itsuki into battle!

*“Wah!”*

Suddenly!

Itsuki clutched his chest dramatically and cried out, *“Damn it, that scared me!”*

What the hell?

Many shinobi stared at him, dumbfounded.

The man who had seemed like a demon moments ago—what was this?

Was he having a fit?

The ANBU, more prepared than most, leapt to protect the Hokage, thinking an attack was imminent.

*“Lord Hokage, save me!”* Itsuki wailed. “Lord Danzō wants to kill me!”

*“Sniff!”*

Rubbing his eyes as if about to cry, Itsuki’s antics left everyone speechless.

Hiruzen managed an awkward smile and said stiffly, *“Itsuki, why would Danzō want to kill you? We’re all comrades of the village. If you’d said he was protecting you, I’d believe it. But kill you? That’s impossible!”*

Seriously? Did you believe that?

Itsuki almost spat.

He thought his performance was already over the top, but Hiruzen’s deadpan delivery had stolen the spotlight.

Indeed, Sarutobi Hiruzen was the true mastermind of the shinobi world!

“Damn Danzō” was merely his sidekick!

Others in the village were similarly exasperated.

Wasn’t this awkward for the two of you?

One acting absurdly, the other delivering soul-piercing lines—both were geniuses!

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 32: Counterattack*

Itsuki's eyes widened as he stared blankly at the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi.

For a moment, he didn’t know what to say. In his head, a million variations of What the heck?! kept circling.

This act I’ve been putting on is already awkward enough, he thought. I had to force myself to play along, and even I’m cringing.  

But this old man? He’s on another level—casually turning this into a comedy routine.

I don’t know what others think, but personally? I’m speechless.

What kind of mindset do you have to say something like that?  

Oh, the Will of Fire, right?

Truly inspiring.

Danzo? Protect me?

Get the hell out of here! Spit, spit, spit!

Just look at the expressions on the ninjas behind you. What are they thinking?

It’s like a live abstract painting!

Oh, that’s right—you don’t dare turn around.

Because you’re embarrassed too!

Damn it!

You’ve got the nerve to stand here and claim that anyone in Konoha would believe Danzo protects this village? The clans big and small—tell me, is there a single one that hasn’t been bullied by him since he gained power? The only difference is to what extent.

To sum it up: I, Uchiha Itsuki, am just too proper for my own good, and you, Hiruzen Sarutobi, are the real scumbag here.

“Hoo!”

Itsuki exhaled a long breath and said, “Hokage-sama, you win!”

It was a baffling statement, but everyone present instantly understood. Their expressions turned strange one by one.

Hiruzen’s face, too, showed signs of awkwardness.

But after all, he’s the Hokage—the longest-serving one, and twice at that.

His face remained calm as he said, “What do you mean, win? Itsuki, what nonsense are you spouting? Tell me, what happened here? Who were you fighting?”

Itsuki smiled lightly and said, “Who was I fighting? Oh, it was the Ino-Shika-Cho trio…”

Seeing Nara Shikaku and the others’ expressions change drastically, Itsuki waved his hand and said, “Just kidding!”

Akimichi Choza breathed a sigh of relief, but Yamanaka Inoichi and Nara Shikaku remained grim-faced.

Itsuki continued, “And the Aburame clan…”

The atmosphere grew tense again.

“Haha, just joking!” Itsuki chuckled, glancing around. “Speaking of which, no one from the Aburame clan is here?”

“Vice-chief of the Uchiha, I’m here.”

From a corner, Aburame Shibi, wearing his signature sunglasses, spoke in a low tone.

“Oh! My apologies, I didn’t see you!”

Itsuki chuckled, feeling speechless internally.

From the original story, he’d known the Aburame clan had a near-invisibility effect rivaling the Moonlight clan’s transparency technique. But experiencing it firsthand? His Sharingan was still active, and he hadn’t noticed them?!

How do they even do that?  

“Itsuki, enough with the jokes. Tell us what’s really going on,” Hiruzen interjected, his sharp eyes fixed on Itsuki. His gaze glimmered with something unreadable.

Through the Mangekyou Sharingan, Itsuki could clearly see Hiruzen’s chakra was active, his hands relaxed—ready to form seals at any moment.

A warning?

Itsuki smiled faintly and said, “Honestly, I don’t really know either. I was practicing ninjutsu here when suddenly more than ten ninjas jumped out and attacked me. I was terrified! Look at the cold sweat on my forehead—it hasn’t stopped!”

He patted his chest, adding, “Hokage-sama, to think so many enemies could infiltrate Konoha! The Barrier Team must be held accountable. Don’t you agree?”

Hiruzen hesitated for a moment. “While the Barrier Team does bear some responsibility, this—”

“Hokage-sama!”

Itsuki interrupted, still smiling, “The Barrier Team must be strictly disciplined.”

“Think about it—if even I, the Uchiha vice-chief and head of the Konoha Police Force, was targeted for assassination, how many others in Konoha can escape such a fate?”

“If the goal was to assassinate the prodigies of each clan, how many could avoid it?”

“Even if not for yourself, you must consider the other clans in Konoha—and even the Sarutobi clan.”

This statement darkened Hiruzen’s expression.

The other clans also looked troubled.

Leave it to an Uchiha—bold enough to issue a direct threat in front of everyone!

“Hmph!”

Koharu Utatane snorted coldly. “Uchiha Itsuki, by your logic, doesn’t the Uchiha Police Force also bear responsibility?”

Itsuki smiled at her. “Elder Koharu, you’re absolutely right. If we broaden the scope of accountability, the Uchiha do bear responsibility. But what about Konoha’s sensory ninjas? Shouldn’t they be held accountable too? If we keep digging…”

“That’s enough! Let’s investigate how the enemy got into Konoha first!”

The Third Hokage interrupted, his voice low. “Itsuki, how do you propose handling the Barrier Team?”

“Leave it to the Uchiha,” Itsuki said with a smile. “We’ll ensure everyone gets a proper explanation.”

Homura Mitokado’s face changed as he said, “If we’re assigning blame, then the ANBU…”

“The ANBU’s accountability is something Elder Mitokado should reflect on!”

Itsuki interrupted coldly for the first time, his tone sharp. “Everyone has their roles—that’s Konoha!”

His aura grew heavier, clearly running out of patience.

“Fine. Let’s do it that way,” Hiruzen said grimly. “Itsuki, you’re in charge of investigating the Barrier Team. Report back to me with a resolution.”

“Understood.”

Itsuki’s smile returned.

The brief confrontation ended there.

But all the clans knew this was only the beginning.

Hiruzen Sarutobi and Uchiha Itsuki had all but openly declared war on each other.

What should they do?

As they looked around at the battle’s aftermath, the various clan representatives left, heavy-hearted.

---

end

*Chapter 33: Third Party*

"Da-da-da..."  

Danzo's hand trembled as it gripped his cane. His expression teetered between rage and fear.

Failure.

He had considered the possibility of failure but never imagined it could be this catastrophic.

Fourteen Jonin—though a few were Special Jonin—were all selected specifically to deal with Itsuki Uchiha.

Special Jonin occupied a peculiar niche. They weren't as versatile as true Jonin but possessed unique talents in specific fields.

Some Special Jonin could dominate full-fledged Jonin in their areas of expertise.

This time, Danzo had dispatched several such Special Jonin whose abilities were tailored to counter Itsuki. Against Itsuki, they were even more effective than regular Jonin.

And yet, they were annihilated.

Fourteen talents—gone.

The loss struck Danzo to his core, a heavy blow not just to him but to the entire Foundation. Nearly all of its elite Jonin had been wiped out. Few capable hands remained.

The death of Aburame Shikuro, the nano-scale insect user, especially wrenched Danzo's heart.

Shikuro had been one of his trump cards.

“Damn Itsuki! Damn the Uchiha!” Danzo snarled, his face contorted.

In his rage, the cane in his hand dug into the floor.

Though he didn’t want to admit it, fear of Itsuki had begun to creep into his heart.

Fourteen meticulously prepared Jonin had been perfectly countered. How strong was Itsuki, really?

In Danzo's memory, only two people might have achieved such a feat:

Tobirama Senju and Minato Namikaze.

Both Hokage, both the fastest in the ninja world.

Could Hiruzen Sarutobi have done it?

Once, perhaps. Not anymore. Not after barely lifting a finger since becoming Hokage.

Swish!  

An ANBU operative appeared before Danzo.

“I know. Tell Hiruzen I’ll be there immediately!” Danzo snapped before the ANBU could speak.

Danzo had already intended to meet with the Third Hokage before the summons.

“Yes!”

The ANBU nodded and disappeared with the Body Flicker Technique.

“The Uchiha... just wait!” Danzo muttered darkly. “This isn’t over. It’s only the beginning. Your cursed existence is a threat to Konoha that must be eradicated.

“Everything I do is for Konoha!”

---

*The Nara Residence*

Inside the Nara clan’s home, Shikaku Nara, Shikaku’s childhood friends Inoichi Yamanaka and Choza Akimichi, sat together for tea.

“Shikaku, Inoichi, what’s on your minds?” Choza asked, noticing their grim faces.

Shikaku and Inoichi exchanged a glance before Shikaku replied, “Choza, we’ve been thinking about Uchiha Itsuki's words.”

“Uchiha Itsuki?” Choza scratched his head. “Which words?”

“The ones about us.”

“Oh! About the Ino-Shika-Cho being part of the assassination attempt. But didn’t he say it was just a joke?” Choza asked, puzzled.

Inoichi sighed. “If only it really was a joke.”

“No way!” Choza’s eyes widened. “We didn’t... Oh, you mean the clansmen Danzo took from us?”

“Exactly,” Shikaku said darkly. “Each of our clans had members taken by Danzo.”

Inoichi added bitterly, “Our Yamanaka clan was hit hardest. Our abilities are too useful to him.”

At this, even Choza fell silent.

“He abducted our clansmen, turned them into Foundation operatives to carry out his missions. When they succeed, Danzo gains the benefits. When they fail, like this time, the Uchiha shift some of the blame onto us. Truly worthy of being called the ‘darkness of the shinobi.’”

Shikaku’s expression grew colder.

As the leaders of their respective clans, the three were deeply entwined with Konoha’s politics.

“Still, we’ve grown used to this over the years,” Inoichi said with a helpless shrug. “What can we do—confront him head-on?”

“Why not?” Shikaku said, startling the others.

“Shikaku...” Inoichi and Choza stared at him in shock.

“You’ve gone mad! The Ino-Shika-Cho has always been staunch supporters of the Hokage,” Inoichi exclaimed.

“Is Danzo the Hokage?” Shikaku countered.

“No, but...”

“Then that’s all that matters,” Shikaku interrupted. “Inoichi, with the Foundation's heavy losses, Danzo will undoubtedly replenish his ranks. Our clans will again be targeted. Is that what you want?”

“This...”

Inoichi and Choza furrowed their brows.

“The Ino-Shika-Cho has always followed the Hokage,” Shikaku continued, “but how much longer will Hiruzen remain Hokage? He’s over sixty and should have retired long ago. If not for Minato’s death...”

Shikaku clenched his fist.

Under Minato Namikaze, the Ino-Shika-Cho had thrived. They had backed him early and reaped rewards as he rose to power.

But when Minato died, Hiruzen resumed the mantle of Hokage, and everything changed.

Danzo exerted his influence, taking members from their clans. Meanwhile, Hiruzen pushed Shikaku out of key positions.

“Now, we must act,” Shikaku declared resolutely.

“Because of the Uchiha?”

“No, because of the future,” Shikaku said. “The Uchiha will never become Hokage—that much is certain. But the Ino-Shika-Cho must remain aligned with the Hokage. And it’s time we decided who that should be.”

Inoichi and Choza stared at Shikaku in shock, realizing the full weight of his words.

Shikaku smirked. “It’s time for Hiruzen to step down. The next Hokage will be of our choosing.”

(End of Chapter)  

*Chapter 34: I Would’ve Punched That Kid Ages Ago!*

“Slurp, slurp...”  

A group of red-eyed Uchiha sat together for a meeting.

Itsuki once again brought out his standard setup, sipping tea leisurely on the side.

He even had the audacity to pull out a recliner, which Shanna promptly kicked across the room. Itsuki almost followed it out the door.

This is the most critical meeting for the Uchiha clan, and you're here slacking off?

"Itsuki!"

Fugaku suppressed his anger and said, "The entire clan is operating according to your instructions right now. Could you take this seriously for once?"

Itsuki was genuinely surprised. "Am I not serious?"

Fugaku held back his urge to roar. "What do you think?"

"I think I’m doing alright!"

At that, both Shanna and Toji turned their disapproving gazes toward him.

"Alright, alright!" Itsuki reluctantly put down his teacup. "Let me say a few words first..."

"You dare ramble, and I’ll show you what happens!"

Fugaku’s Mangekyō Sharingan flared.

Itsuki chuckled nervously. "Clan Leader, you’re in quite the mood today, huh?"

"No kidding!" Fugaku snapped. "Do you know what I went through today? I almost got into a full-blown fight with Danzo. The village was this close to civil war igniting today!"

Now that he thought about it, even Fugaku was surprised at his actions earlier.

Unbelievable!

Was that really me?

Just recalling it made cold sweat drip down his back, though he’d never admit it.

"Exactly!" Shanna nodded repeatedly. "Itsuki, you have no idea. Our esteemed Clan Leader actually grew a spine for once. I almost thought he was under a genjutsu."

Fugaku shot him a cold glare.

What’s that supposed to mean?

Who are you mocking?

I’m the Clan Leader!

But thinking back to Danzo’s pale, twisted face today, Fugaku couldn’t help but feel secretly delighted.

He’d wanted to smack that face for so long.

The chance will come!

Fugaku glanced at Itsuki. With this troublemaker around, there was nothing to worry about.

"Ridiculous!" Toji snorted. "What kind of genjutsu could control a Mangekyō Sharingan?"

Several pairs of eyes subtly glanced at a certain person with a button nose, who was looking down.

Itsuki was genuinely curious. Could the strongest genjutsu, Kotoamatsukami, control a Mangekyō Sharingan?

If it really could control anyone, then there wouldn’t be much to do. Just wait for that black-and-white pixelated dude obsessed with saving his mother to revive Kaguya Otsutsuki and hit her with Kotoamatsukami…

Sigh, forget it!

It wasn’t that Itsuki looked down on Shisui, but there was no way that plan would work.

Even Lord Dance King himself would probably laugh and shout, "Don’t stop, keep dancing!" when faced with Kotoamatsukami.

So, what’s the true limit of Kotoamatsukami?

Could we test it?

Itsuki rubbed his chin.

Fugaku was out of the question.

The filial son wasn’t that filial anymore.

And himself? Definitely not...

Oh!

There was still another Mangekyō!

Itsuki’s eyes lit up.

That idiot Obito Uchiha surely couldn’t sit still with all the chaos in Konoha. By his calculations, Obito would show up any day now.

Using Kotoamatsukami on that bastard wouldn’t even feel like an experiment—it’d be therapeutic.

Obito Uchiha, the minor boss of the original series.

Itsuki didn’t have a shred of goodwill toward him.

Itachi Uchiha, at least, had an excuse. He was a man lost on life’s path.

With a father like Fugaku and pressure from the Hokage’s faction, Itachi’s breakdown was understandable.

Poor guy.

But Obito Uchiha? Damn!

Your crush died, so you could’ve avenged her by wiping out Kirigakure. No one would’ve blamed you! People who knew the story might’ve even given you a thumbs-up.

You could’ve also worked to bring her back to life!

But what the hell did Konoha ever do to you? The village that birthed and raised you—look at the mess you made!

The Nine-Tails incident left half the village soaked in blood.

Minato Namikaze was genuinely good to you, wasn’t he? And you caused his and Kushina’s deaths, leaving their child to grow up alone.

The Uchiha clan is your family, sharing your bloodline, and yet you and the “filial son” teamed up to annihilate them.

Thinking of him gave Itsuki a headache.

Sometimes, you couldn’t even blame the Hokage faction; the Uchiha had plenty of their own issues.

But the most baffling thing about Obito was that after gaining control of Nagato, he didn’t even consider resurrecting Rin Nohara. Instead, he fixated on Infinite Tsukuyomi?

So, the fate of the world hinged on whether your childhood crush lived or died?

She dies once, and the world needs a reset?

“Between life and death lies great terror,” as the ancients said. How true!

What if I revived Rin Nohara? How would the story unfold?

I could parade around with Rin Nohara, flaunting her in front of Obito daily, feeding him endless dog food. Let’s see how long he can keep it together!

Oh, right, you’re not Obito anymore—you’re Madara Uchiha.

Not my problem.

Itsuki smiled serenely.

"Itsuki!"

Shanna’s sharp voice interrupted his thoughts. "What are you scheming now?"

Itsuki sighed. "I was thinking about the Uchiha’s future..."

Yeah, right! Who’d believe that with that smug grin on your face?

Under the icy stares of everyone, Itsuki explained, "I really was thinking about the future... Fine!"

"The Root division is basically crippled now. Danzo will behave himself for a while. The Uchiha should stick to my earlier advice: avoid unnecessary meddling, focus on learning ninjutsu, and show more 'goodwill' toward the villagers."

The group was speechless.

You’re torturing them, aren’t you?

How would you even rank the “Uchiha smile” in terms of ninjutsu?

High enough to terrify the villagers, apparently.

Things had calmed down over the past couple of days, but on the first day, it caused quite a stir—enough to reach the Hokage’s ears.

"By the way, I heard that some of our clan members are having trouble learning the ninjutsu? That shouldn’t be the case, right? Isn’t that what the Sharingan is for—copying techniques?"

Itsuki genuinely didn’t understand. Learning ninjutsu should be a breeze for the Uchiha.

One person learns a technique, and everyone else copies it. Done in days.

Especially since the techniques he provided weren’t even that advanced. Only a handful were A-rank.

"It’s not as simple as you think," Fugaku replied, annoyed. "Sure, one person learns and the rest copy, but someone still has to learn it first. The techniques were only distributed a few days ago."

"Also, not everyone can perfectly replicate techniques with the Sharingan. It depends on the individual."

Itsuki clicked his tongue. "Might as well get an outsider to help."

Fugaku’s eye twitched. Gritting his teeth, he said, "Kakashi Hatake became a Jōnin at twelve during wartime—unheard of back then, let alone in peacetime. If our clan members were all at his level, do you think we’d need you to lead the Uchiha? I’d have punched the Hokage myself by now!"

“Cough, cough!”  

Uchiha Toji couldn’t help but cough.

It wasn’t just the ordinary clansmen who had changed these past two days—even Fugaku had grown wilder.

He recalled something Itsuki once said:

“When Uchiha Itsuki joined the clan, it was like a Tibetan mastiff among a pack of huskies!”

He didn’t quite get it but felt vaguely unsettled.

Either way, Itsuki was different—from his thoughts to his actions—and now, he was influencing them, too.

"Alright then!"

Itsuki wasn’t too concerned. There was no rush—nothing was going to blow up anytime soon.

From the beginning, Itsuki’s goal in strengthening the Uchiha and weakening the Hokage faction was to avoid civil war.

What’s the point of a big battle when you can take your time and play the game?

"Itsuki," Fugaku said seriously. "Will there be war? Between the Uchiha and the village?"

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 35: Everyone Attends the Meeting*

Itsuki looked up and earnestly said, "Chief, as I’ve said before, everything I do is to avoid war!"

"I have a question for you!"

"If there are two tigers on one mountain, how do you stop them from fighting?"

I know the answer!

Shisui’s eyes gleamed, ready to chime in.

Fugaku thought for a moment and replied, "If the two tigers are evenly matched, the best way is to introduce a common enemy, forcing them to avoid internal conflict."

"Wrong!" Itsuki flatly rejected the answer.

"Huh?" Shisui was taken aback.

Isn’t this the answer you told me last time, Itsuki?

Itsuki chuckled. "One mountain cannot hold two tigers... unless one is male and the other is female!"

The room fell silent before—

Fugaku: "Get out!"

Souji: "Get out!"

Shisui: "Get out!"

Itachi, about to speak, caught Itsuki’s glance and quickly lowered his head.

Sakumo simply picked up a chair, ready to swing it.

"Alright, alright! It was just a joke! Don’t you people have any sense of humor? Honestly, was what I said so offensive? It was clearly just a cold joke!" Itsuki quickly waved his hands, attempting to calm the room.

Fugaku rubbed his temples and said, "Itsuki, be serious!"

Your joke was not only cold but outright provocative.

Can’t you see everyone’s already tense? We’re discussing whether a war between the Uchiha and the village might break out—such a serious issue—and you bring that up? You’re lucky you haven’t been beaten up yet!

Shisui glanced at Fugaku with sympathy.

He had often been the one to say similar things before, and he knew all too well the frustration behind such words.

"If you keep messing around, I’ll deal with you myself!"

Uchiha Sakumo said boldly.

The old man was in high spirits these days.

Though technically vice-chief, his grandson Itsuki now held all the real power in the Uchiha clan. The Konoha Police Force was firmly under their control, marking a significant victory for the Hawk faction.

Furthermore, Itsuki’s reforms within the Uchiha clan had thrown many into chaos.

Sakumo, watching from the sidelines, secretly reveled in the schadenfreude.

Particularly satisfying were the recent confrontations with the Hokage faction, in which Itsuki had emerged victorious every time.

As a former follower of Uchiha Madara, Sakumo had long adhered to his predecessor’s methods, attempting to dominate the village by force. However, he was ultimately defeated by the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi.

But Hiruzen didn’t kill him—instead, he allowed Sakumo to continue leading the Hawk faction.

To Sakumo, this was an unbearable humiliation. He understood Hiruzen’s intention: to keep the Hawk faction manageable and easier to control.

Now, though, things were different.

How does it feel, Hiruzen Sarutobi? Still as confident as you were back then?  

Sakumo’s smile was full of malice.

Seeing this, Itsuki muttered under his breath, "Old man, with a villainous grin like that, someone’s going to ambush you for sure."

Sakumo rolled his eyes and ignored him.

"As if I’ve ever pretended to be some virtuous person. Back in my day, I—"

"Got beaten by Hiruzen Sarutobi," Itsuki interrupted with a smirk.

Bang!  

The veins on Sakumo’s forehead throbbed as the table in front of him shattered into pieces.

Fugaku and Souji nearly burst out laughing.

That’s your own grandson, stabbing you right in the back.

"Hmph!" Sakumo snorted coldly. "I should thank Hiruzen Sarutobi for sparing me back then; otherwise, this grandson of mine wouldn’t even exist!"

...Fair enough.

Souji was left speechless.

Fugaku cleared his throat and redirected the discussion. "Itsuki, I wasn’t asking what you plan to do to the village. My concern is whether the village might act against the Uchiha."

The others nodded in agreement.

In the room were only a dozen or so individuals, all core members of the Uchiha clan: leaders of the Chief faction, Hawks, and Doves, as well as Shisui, Itachi, Itsuki, and his trusted subordinates.

These were the people who kept the Uchiha clan running.

To them, Itsuki didn’t hold back. "No. A direct confrontation won’t happen anytime soon. At most, there will be some minor underhanded tactics—that’s inevitable."

"Why?"

Itsuki smirked. "The one with the bigger fists gets the final say. The Hokage faction doesn’t currently have the strength."

"What do you mean by that?" Fugaku asked hesitantly. "Our clan is on guard, and they probably don’t fully trust the Hyuga clan, but what about the other ninja clans?"

Konoha has hundreds of ninja clans, and in recent years, civilian ninja have also been gaining prominence.

Several years have passed since the Third Ninja War, and while other villages have recovered their strength, so has Konoha.

Itsuki raised two fingers. "In the past two days, I’ve taken action twice, eliminating 20 jonin—yes, 20 in total. The Root division doesn’t even have that many jonin on its own; they must have borrowed some from the Anbu."

Root, officially the "Dark Training Department," is a subdivision of the Anbu.

After Hiruzen Sarutobi became Hokage, he handed Root over to Danzo. To consolidate his shaky position, Hiruzen tacitly allowed Root to expand and operate in secret.

However, Hiruzen was shrewd enough to limit Root’s growth.

Despite its strength, Root was confined within boundaries. If Danzo could casually deploy 20 elite jonin, the Hokage himself would lose sleep.

"What?"

Fugaku and the others shot to their feet in shock.

Even Sakumo stammered, "You’re saying you took down 20 jonin in a single fight?"

"Don’t exaggerate! People might think I’m a bloodthirsty maniac."

Itsuki glared at Sakumo. "It was only 14 ninja this time, and some were just special jonin."

"To hell with you! Quit downplaying it!"

The room erupted in chaos as the Uchiha members reacted in disbelief.

Some had witnessed Itsuki’s use of Susanoo firsthand, while others had only heard tales of it. None, however, had fully grasped the scale of his recent battle until now.

Unable to hold back, Sakumo turned to Fugaku and asked, "Could you do the same?"

Fugaku: "..."

What’s that supposed to mean, old man?

"Ahem!" Sakumo coughed. "Don’t glare at me, Fugaku. I just want to know—is Susanoo really that powerful?"

"Hmph!" Fugaku snorted, then solemnly replied, "Susanoo is a Mangekyo Sharingan’s forbidden technique, a truly formidable power of both offense and defense. I’ve used it once before. While strong, it—"

"So, you can’t do it?" Sakumo interrupted.

Fugaku: "…You senile old coot! I’ve tolerated you long enough. Do you think this is about revenge for me suppressing you in the past?"