The Third Hokage was very satisfied with the results of his home visit.
Under the influence of the Will of Fire, even a troublemaker like Naruto would eventually dream of becoming Hokage… and then pass that same spirit on to the next generation.
Good.
Textbook success.
However, when it came to how to deal with the Uchiha…
The old man hesitated again.
Worried about wolves in front, tigers behind, wanting peace, wanting control, wanting everything at once.
Unfortunately, politics didn't work like that.
Trying to please everyone usually meant offending everyone.
And letting things drag on only guaranteed one thing—
Disaster later.
…
A week passed.
With the ninja academy on break, the streets near the school were unusually quiet. No brats throwing shuriken at signboards, no kids yelling about becoming Hokage.
They had simply gone elsewhere to cause trouble.
Peaceful on the surface.
But only to civilians.
The shinobi of the village knew better.
The atmosphere in Konoha was tight enough to snap like a wire.
The Uchiha Police Force and the Hokage's side were openly opposing each other. Civil war could break out at any moment.
Most ninja clans chose not to take sides.
They simply waited.
Whoever won, they would support.
Survival first, loyalty later.
They had done the same when Minato defeated Orochimaru for the Hokage position.
History proved one thing:
Betting early was how you got your whole family killed.
So the calm streets?
Just the silence before the storm.
…
Uchiha district.
Inside the main hall of Naka Shrine.
Nearly every Uchiha ninja had gathered.
The air was heavy, filled with killing intent and impatience.
Tonight, they planned to attack the Hokage Building and reclaim what they believed belonged to the Uchiha.
Fugaku Uchiha stood at the front.
But he didn't speak.
He was waiting.
Waiting for one person.
His eldest son—
ANBU Captain Uchiha Itachi.
Whether it was the ANBU intelligence he possessed or his awakened Mangekyō Sharingan, Itachi could drastically increase the success rate of the coup.
Ten minutes passed.
Then another ten.
Still no Itachi.
The crowd began murmuring.
Morale visibly dropped.
Yashiro leaned toward Fugaku and whispered,
"Fugaku… if we delay any longer, the plan may collapse before it even starts."
Fugaku felt uneasy but forced himself to stay calm.
"Wait a little longer. We need Itachi."
When the clan head spoke, no one dared object.
But impatience spread like smoke.
They had already delayed the coup for over half a year because of Shisui's disappearance.
If something went wrong again…
The Uchiha would become the biggest joke in Konoha history.
Hidden among the crowd, Shisui quietly clenched his fists.
Fugaku wanted Itachi's power to control the Jinchūriki and crush the Hokage with overwhelming force.
Shisui's idea was different.
He planned to work with Itachi, seize leadership of the clan, then force the Uchiha to leave Konoha entirely.
Better exile than massacre.
But Itachi still hadn't appeared.
Shisui's heart sank.
Could Danzō have attacked him too?
No…
Itachi wasn't the type to give up.
Suicide?
Impossible.
Betray the clan?
…Even thinking that felt wrong.
They were friends.
Closer than brothers.
They would never betray each other.
Right?
…
Fugaku had begun thinking the same thing.
His expression darkened.
He had given Itachi an ultimatum.
Village or clan.
Choose.
Could it be…
Itachi had really chosen the village?
Why…?
Why did every Uchiha who awakened the Mangekyō end up betraying the clan?
Madara.
Shisui.
And now Itachi.
Meanwhile, he, the clan head, hadn't even awakened it.
Was his vision too narrow?
If that was true…
Then the Mangekyō Sharingan wasn't a blessing.
It was a curse.
…
At the same time—
Hokage Rock.
The wind howled violently.
From here, all of Konoha could be seen.
Standing above the entire village always gave people the illusion that they controlled everything.
A dangerous illusion.
Itachi stood silently.
Beside him stood Obito, watching like a bored spectator.
Eight years ago, he had stood here too—when he unleashed the Nine-Tails.
Back then, he was the main character.
Now?
Just here to watch the show.
How times change.
After a quiet sigh, Itachi looked toward the Uchiha district one last time.
Then he jumped.
His body sliced through the wind as he descended toward the Hokage Building.
Today was the final clan meeting.
They were waiting for him.
Waiting for the Mangekyō.
Waiting for "Uchiha supremacy."
But he couldn't do it.
He couldn't abandon his comrades.
Couldn't gamble the entire village for the selfish desires of one clan.
A coup would only end in blood.
Better to sacrifice fewer… than lose everything.
At least Danzō had promised Sasuke would grow up safely.
Not that Danzō's promises were trustworthy.
But as long as Itachi lived—
Danzō wouldn't dare touch him.
Landing lightly, Itachi slowed himself with a kunai and dropped into the open space before the Hokage Building.
ANBU watched silently.
He ignored them and walked straight inside.
Second floor.
End of the corridor.
Meeting room.
He pushed the door open.
Inside sat the four Konoha elders.
The Third Hokage looked up and let out a quiet breath.
"Itachi… you're finally here. Do you have something to report?"
Itachi inhaled slowly.
Then spoke.
"Yes."
"According to my investigation, the Uchiha Police Force will launch a coup tonight. Their targets are you… and the Hokage Building."
A pause.
His voice became firmer.
"Besides reporting this… I have come to resolve it."
"I will personally stop the Uchiha coup."
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