"With just you alone, how do you plan to stop the Uchiha rebellion?"
Koharu Utatane turned around and spoke bluntly, not bothering to soften her tone.
She clearly didn't believe Itachi could handle the entire Uchiha Police Force by himself.
Even if all the forces directly under the Hokage Building were mobilized, taking down the Uchiha would still cost blood.
A lot of it.
Facing the consultant's doubt, Itachi didn't argue.
He simply activated his eyes.
The Mangekyō Sharingan slowly spun.
Those crimson patterns seemed almost hypnotic, like they could drag people's souls inside.
The room fell silent instantly.
The elders subconsciously held their breath.
Another one…?
What the hell had happened in this village lately?
Mangekyō Sharingan used to be legends.
Now they were popping up like mushrooms after rain.
First Shisui.
Now Itachi.
Meanwhile, the Hokage faction couldn't even find enough decent young talents.
Life really wasn't fair.
Danzō narrowed his eyes.
He had assumed Itachi only dared to negotiate because of Shisui's other eye.
Unexpectedly… Itachi had awakened his own Mangekyō.
Things were spiraling beyond his calculations.
Still…
If he could drag this boy into the darkness, it would all be worth it.
After a moment of thought, the Third Hokage spoke slowly.
"Itachi, tell me your plan. If you need support, say so. The village cannot afford civil war."
Itachi lifted his head and said calmly, word by word:
"The security forces will not rebel tonight."
A pause.
"It will be Uchiha Itachi who slaughters his entire clan and defects."
The room froze.
"In exchange, I want Sasuke's life spared. Let him grow up safely in the village."
The two consultants stared at him like they were looking at a monster.
Compared to their old idea of "suppressing" the Uchiha and squeezing benefits out of them…
This kid went straight for genocide.
No negotiation.
No half measures.
Just cut the knot entirely.
Brutal.
Cold.
Terrifying.
At that moment, they both recalled Tobirama's old words:
The Uchiha are inherently unstable.
For once… they almost agreed.
The Third Hokage's face darkened.
"Itachi, I cannot agree with this plan."
"The Uchiha are also villagers. Even if they make mistakes, they can still be saved."
"Lord Third—" Itachi said urgently.
"No need to say more."
Hiruzen waved his hand.
"I will personally take ANBU to negotiate with Fugaku. The village will not abandon any clan. Not even the Uchiha."
Itachi lowered his head.
"…Understood."
He turned and left silently.
Danzō, who had been quiet the whole time, followed behind him like a shadow.
After they left, the two consultants looked at Hiruzen.
Waiting.
Hiruzen exhaled slowly, then ordered toward the empty air:
"Strengthen Naruto's protection."
"All remaining ANBU gather at the base."
"There will be a special operation tonight."
Then he added calmly,
"Negotiations may fail. But we must at least try."
The consultants nodded in relief.
"Good. Internal conflict should be handled internally. We shouldn't interfere too deeply."
Hiruzen didn't reply.
He just stared out the window.
Because everyone knew—
Tonight was going to get bloody.
Very bloody.
…
In the corridor.
Itachi and Danzō walked side by side.
Technically Danzō was his superior.
But in terms of strength?
If they fought, Danzō's old bones would probably get folded in half.
After a long silence, Danzō suddenly stopped.
"Worried about negotiations?"
He smiled faintly.
"I'll tell you the truth. Negotiations will fail. It will only turn into civil war."
"Either you listen to the Hokage and let the village bleed…"
"Or you make the hard choice and protect the village yourself."
"Itachi, I believe you know which one is correct."
Itachi didn't answer.
But his silence was already an answer.
Seeing this, Danzō nodded in satisfaction.
"As expected of an Uchiha with the will of Root."
"Konoha prospers because of people like us… buried in the dark, doing the dirty work no one else dares to do."
"Even if the world calls us villains—"
Before he finished, he noticed Itachi had already walked away.
"…Tch."
Danzō's expression turned cold.
He whispered to the Root members behind him:
"Monitor Uchiha Itachi."
"And after he wipes out the Uchiha…"
"Bring me his eyes."
"Yes, Danzō-sama."
The order was casual.
Like asking someone to buy groceries.
…
Dusk.
Naka Shrine.
The dim light cast shadows over Fugaku's gloomy face.
He had delayed the meeting all afternoon.
Still, Itachi hadn't come.
His last bit of patience finally snapped.
Along with it…
His dream of becoming the Fifth Hokage.
If he couldn't even control his own son—
How the hell was he supposed to lead a coup?
Yashiro and Inabi stepped forward hesitantly.
"Captain… should we proceed with the plan tonight… or postpone again?"
Fugaku didn't answer.
He simply stood up and walked out slowly.
Defeated.
Dozens of Sharingan watched their leader leave.
No one knew what to do.
Continue the coup?
They lacked leadership.
And the most important Mangekyō.
Go home and sleep?
That felt pathetic.
And who knew if the higher-ups would strike first?
The future felt as dark as the shrine itself.
Then—
Shisui suddenly stood up.
He walked to the front and spoke loudly:
"Fugaku's plan may have failed."
"But the clan still has another path."
Everyone turned.
Confused.
Yashiro frowned.
"Lihuo, this isn't the place for jokes. You just awakened the three-tomoe Sharingan. You're not qualified to interfere."
Shisui smiled.
Then formed hand seals.
Poof.
The Transformation Jutsu dissolved.
His true face appeared.
Uchiha Shisui.
He opened his Sharingan, staring directly at them.
"The newly promoted jōnin 'Lihuo' may not be qualified."
"But if it's Uchiha Shisui—"
He smiled lightly.
"Am I qualified to decide the clan's future now?"
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