It was a mid-day in May.
"A lot has been happening recently.. the outside world seem to have become restless."
Kakashi sighed with emotion as he was sorting information in the intelligence room. Due to the mask covering his face, his expression remained inscrutable.
"Yeah, I never expected a day would arrive when a neutral country would be threatened... What exactly is Suna doing?" After hearing Kakashi's remark, Tenzo responded.
Konoha now had a relatively small number of Anbu squad going out for patrol and intelligence gathering due to the situation with the Uchiha.
In addition, the Land of Demons was on the other side, quite far away from the Land of Fire. By the time Konoha's Anbu had gotten hold of the information, it had already been a week since Suna began conducting their military exercises on the border of the Land of Demons.
Due to the recent internal turmoil, Konoha's external intelligence system was already weak in gathering outside information. Otherwise, the information concerning Suna should have been passed within days after their operation.
"This has nothing to do with us. The neutral country is under military coercion. There's a high probability that the international community will eventually mediate and clean up this mess."
From the general logic, that would be the likely outcome. However, the man in the Land of Demons who was orchestrating the whole incident behind the scenes wouldn't let it end so easily, and Kakashi knew the Land of Demons had already launched an operation.
In the past month, information hadn't been properly communicated from there, not only because he was too busy, but also because the Land of Demons was taking action.
Compared to the Uchiha affair in Konoha, the expansion plan of the Land of Demons was more important. With their full mobilization, they had no time for updates about Konoha. Moreover, from the very beginning, their attitude towards the Konoha's Uchiha issue was one of nonchalance. They just wanted to use the Uchiha to gauge the level of conflict within Konoha.
"I keep having this feeling that the situation will eventually escalate into something else." Tenzo sighed.
Konoha was currently in a desperate situation due to the Uchiha affair and had no time to focus on the Land of Demons. In the end, it was estimated that the Iwa, Kumo and Kiri would be the main ones responsible for mediating this dispute.
Regardless of the Kiri and Iwa, Kumo was the biggest problem. posed a significant challenge due to ther pursuit of absolute power supremacy. During war, they wouldn't mind attacking other countries aggressively. In peacetime, they would secretly scout small ninja villages in the world, plunder their secrets and forbidden jutsu, using them to increase their power.
"There is no need to worry. Since the end of the third ninja wR, the international situation has been this way. We just need to focus on ourselves. By the way, how has the situation with the Uchiha been recently? Have there been any abnormalities worth noting?" Kakashi asked suddenly.
"Abnormalities? The frequency of their gatherings seems to have decreased recently, and some of them have evaded surveillance for unknown reasons."
"Did you report this to Lord Hokage?"
"Yes...but it wasn't me who reported it first, Itachi did it one step ahead of me." Tenzo sighed.
"He is still the same, earnestly carrying out his Anbu duties."
"There really is no fault with him."
"However, the sudden decrease in Uchiha clan gatherings might indicate something is happening internally that we are unaware of. Let's investigate deeply and not overlook any clues."
"Yes."
"I'll head to the meeting first and sort out the information to place in Minister Sarutobi's office." Kakashi said as he checked the time and made his way towards the intelligence room for the meeting.
.....
Upon arriving at the conference room, only six people were present - Minister Sarutobi.Takashi, Deputy Minister Sarutobi Masaki, the eldest son and daughter-in-law of the Third Hokage.
Besides them, only Kakashi and the other four division captains had gathered here.
Standing to Kakashi's left was the captain of Anbu's first division. Kakashi was the captain of the second division. To his right stood Itachi, the captain of the third division, and next to Itachi, the captain of the fourth division. As the four Anbu captains, their direct superiors were Takashi and Masaki, the two Ministers.
Of course, they also had another direct superior - the Third Hokage. As a direct subordinate force of the Hokage, he had the power to bypass the Ministers' chain of command and directly interfere in Anbu affairs. The power of appointment and dismissal also lay in the hands of the Hokage.
"I called everyone here suddenly today to announce something important." Takashi spoke first, glancing at the four captains. The four looked seriously, waiting for his next words.
"The surveillance of the Uchiha clan will be handed over to the captain of the third division from now on. The second division will resume its original duties, carrying out external missions. It's been decided this way." Takashi stated plainly. His voice was indifferent as he simply issued an order from his superior position without providing an explanation.
Kakashi was stunned. "So, the second division's mission will be transferred to the third division...Is that so, Minister?"
Takashi shook his head and nodded, answering Kakashi's question, "It won't be handed over to the third division, but rather the third division's captain who will be handling it personally."
One person? Apart from Itachi, the other three were taken aback. Even though he was an extremely skilled and powerful ninja... Could one person really adequately monitor the situation?
Even if Itachi was an Uchiha member which made monitoring more convenient compared to Anbu identities...it seemed too reckless to entrust such an important task to just one person.
"Yes, I understand." Kakashi replied, though he did not comprehend the superiors' rationale fully since there were too many irregularities.
Besides, the Uchiha clan matter was highly sensitive. Probing too deeply into the upper echelons' thought process would inevitably arouse suspicion.
Therefore, Kakashi simply acknowledged it here without pursuing further. Anyway, he had little personal interest in the Uchiha monitoring mission. Having to stay cooped up in the village daily with barely any outdoor activity was making his skills rusty.
In short, they needed to focus on disseminating intel about the Land of Demons situation and fulfill their duties diligently, Kakashi concluded internally.
After the brief meeting, only Itachi remained behind as the other three team departed first. Soon after, the conference room door opened again.
A man wearing a black cloak coat, black sunglasses obscuring his face, and a conspicuous purple mark on his right cheek walked in. As soon as he entered, a sinister aura seemed to permeate the atmosphere of the meeting room.
"Long time no see."
The man greeted. He was Aburame Ryoma - right-hand man to Shimura Danzo. He seemed familiar with Takashi and casually greeted him.
Takashi snorted disdainfully but didn't speak. Ryoma just smiled slightly, ignoring the attitude as his gaze settled on the silent Itachi instead.
"According to the arrangement, we will be working together on missions from now on as colleagues. Please guide me, Uchiha Itachi-kun." said Orochimaru.
"Likewise, please guide me too." Itachi replied politely.
"Well then, come with me. We'll go to the new surveillance quarters which is where we'll be stationed." Ryoma said. He promptly turned and exited the conference hall, Itachi following in his footsteps.
"Will Itachi be alright?" Masaki seemed worried about Itachi's safety.
"Don't worry. Since this is Hokage-sama's decision, he will surely ensure Itachi's protection." Takashi assured, though he still looked troubled.
It wasn't entirely accurate to assign the Uchiha monitoring task solely to Itachi. The intention of the council was for Itachi, as an Anbu member, to liaise with the Anbu Root and together keep the Uchiha clan under surveillance.
However, Third Hokage's decision confused Takashi. If standard Anbu monitored the situation, there was a possibility of some leeway for the Uchiha clan. But Danzo harbored deep antipathy towards the Uchiha. Could he really evaluate the Uchiha's future from a fair and neutral standpoint?
What exactly was his father thinking? Takashi couldn't help sighing internally. He didn't wish for an extremist faction like Root to oversee the Uchiha clan.
The Uchiha were inherently proud and strong-willed. If provoked further by Root's interference, it would be difficult to predict the consequences.
Takashi doubted whether his father's decision was the right one. But given his father's position as the Hokage, he couldn't openly resist. Before the leader of their Sarutobi clan, Takashi was first and foremost a Konoha ninja who had to obey.
"It would be ideal if Tsunade-san and Jiraiya-san.were in the village. They could definitely hold back Danzo's ambition and would not allow father act this.way."
Unfortunately, both Sannin had already left Konoha long ago. With just the Third Hokage alone, it was difficult to restrain a faction like Root. Masaki held her husband's hand silently in a gesture of support. No matter what decision he arrived at, she would stand firmly behind him.
....
"You're really on my side after all, Itachi."
Danzo said.with a faint smile, the expression seeming out of place on his usually stern countenance as he personally received Itachi at the Root headquarters.
Itachi stood facing Danzo, glancing up slightly at the man before him. This wasn't the first time he had met Danzo. Even before entering the Academy, he had already formed an unbreakable connection with this individual. After the Chunin Exams too, and then when he had joined the Anbu, there had been secret communication.
Although everything this man did was ostensibly for Konoha's sake, there was always an intangible aura about him that made Itachi uneasy. He couldn't quite describe what it was though - disgust, revulsion or something else entirely, Itachi had no clue.
"From here on, the fate of the Uchiha clan rests in your hands alone. Things have progressed this far, now you are the only one who can save your clan, Itachi."
"I understand."
Indeed, the Uchiha clan's recent decrease in gatherings wasn't due to coming to.their senses but rather some avoiding the Anbu's surveillance to amass weapons from the ninja cat clan, particularly Kunai and exploding tags.
Itachi knew their intentions without much thoughts. The deployment of such a vast number of exploding tahs inside Konoha could lead to unimaginable turmoil.
Numerous innocent villagers would inevitably be harmed. What was more frightening was their interest in the Jinchuriki. If the Nine Tails was released... Konoha, having already lost the Fourth Hokage, couldn't afford to lose another Hokage to seal the tailed beast.
"That's good, from now on, you will have the dual identities of Anbu and Root."
Danzo said matter-of-factly, not leaving room for refusal as he inducted Itachi into Root.
Although Itachi was a ninja directly under the Hokage's Anbu, and had no affiliation with Root or Danzo, that didn't deter the latter at all from his intent.
And Itachi too had no plans to resist. To him, the Anbu or Root made no difference as long as he could protect the village better. To many who labelled this man the embodiment of 'Darkness', Danzo was still just another Konoha ninja at the end of the day in Itachi's eyes.
...
"Goodbye, Uncle Rindo!"
"Bye now, don't play outside for too long and come home in time for dinner alright."
Rindo reminded fondly as he stopped playing ninja games with the Uchiha kids and took in the sunset, feeling suddenly weary.
Once the Uchiha clan's top intelligence officer, after Fugaku had assumed leadership, Rindo's services were suspended.
Gazing at the setting sun casting its warm glow on the distant mountain range, he pondered silently.
Somehow he had drifted far away from the clan's inner circle now. Occasionally he attended clan meetings but could barely get a word. The radicals were secretly stockpiling weapons, planning a coup d'etat to establish Uchiha regime...although theoretically it was foolproof, he couldn't help but worry for rhe clan's future. Failure would spell the end of the clan.
Recalling the fate of the perished Uzumaki clan served as stark reminder of what happened when a ninja clan went into decline. The so-called clan kinship was meaningless lip service. Rindo was convinced that if the Uchiha plot failed, be they innocent children or newborn infants, their entire clan would face wholesale slaughter without a trace left behind.
This was something one could confidently assert without needing any conjecture. From the residential streets to commercial areas, parks and forests - every inch of domain claimed by the Uchiha, Rindo had tread upon relentlessly. To the casual onlooker, he seemed just like any other middle-aged Uchiha idling his time away.
This habit had persisted for over a decade now, almost year-round. Be it their ancestral or newly occupied lands, Rindo knew every plant and tree intimately. Sometimes, traces that instruments could not detect would still be distinguished by the naked human eye. The slightest sign of foreign encroachment and Rindo would know precisely how many eyes were monitoring their clan, without need for any tools.
"The winds seem to have changed direction somewhat today...could summer be approaching?" Rindo muttered to himself as he left the park casually without taking any evasive maneuvers, simply buying some takoyaki from a street stall to eat on his way home.
Had the surveillance group overseeing the Uchiha changed?.
So far, Konoha's leadership had sent no negotiators and the stalemate continued. Did this indifferent attitude from the top brass signify they had no real intention for peace talks with the Uchiha whatsoever?
Against Konoha's massive ninja machinery, their clan was like helpless, insignificant ants at the mercy of malevolent boys with magnifying glasses. And now that conflict was inevitable with the coup being only a matter of time.
Perhaps from the moment Hiruzen resumed office as Hokage, Danzo regaining his shadowy Anbu, and the Sannin had departed one by one, the Uchiha clan's fate may have been sealed. The unchecked authoritarian power was indeed arrogant and domineering, Rindo thought despondently.
With things having escalated this far already, what should he do? Ever since whispers of the coup had begun circulating among Uchiha circles, this was the question Rindo had been pondering constantly - what action can and should he take next?
....
As was customary, Itachi had been summoned by Shisui to the site they trained together in the forest. It was already night time, moonlight now filtered brightly through the canopy above.
"Shisui, why did you call me out at this hour?"
Itachi inquired, looking at Shisui's back. At that moment Shisui turned to face him, revealing dark eye circles and the fatigue borne of immense stress.
"You seem exhausted. If there's nothing urgent, you should head home and rest immediately."
Itachi said with concern. He wondered what could possibly have worn Shisui down so terribly when even the most grueling missions rarely taxed his strength.
"Ah, don't worry about it. Just been entangled over some tricky stuff recently." Shisui replied casually as he scratched his head. "Actually I called you out tonight to ask - why didn't you attend the clan meeting at Naka Shrine a few days ago?"
"I was occupied with a mission from the Anbu that day, so i couldn't make it for the gathering. I'm certain my father would've informed the clan about it in advance." Itachi responded evenly.
Shisui nodded.
"Yes, the clan head did clarify your absence at the meet. But some radicals like Yashiro still seemed unhappy about it, even suspecting you of siding with the village elders."
"What nonsense. I am still an Uchiha ninja." Itachi said, betraying no irritation at Yashiro's accusation.
"When it comes to loyalty though, our clan's creed takes precedence as you know..."
Shisui remarked piercingly, his gaze sharp as a blade and causing Itachi's heart to pound wildly. He sensed that if they came to blows, Shisui would make short work of him in an instant. An overwhelming aura power exuded from his friend.
"Shisui...what are you implying?"
"Without your awareness, Yashiro's faction hoped to place you under surveillance. Though the clan head rejected this proposition since completely alienating a talented ninja like yourself would only benefit Konoha's leadership." Shisui clarified.
"To think so much happened without my knowledge. My father didn't tell me anything after i returned from my mission that day." Itachi with a sigh.
"The clan head may place great trust in you, but the radical faction hasn6 given up. So they assigned me to monitor your activities instead."
Shisui's bombshell revelation made Itachi stiffen as he gaped at his friend in dismay.
Shisui glanced up at the luminous full moon above.
"Exploiting my relationship as your friend to monitor you when you aren't on guard. This was Yashiro's arrangement."
"So does that mean you are..." Itachi's voice trailed off uncertainly.
"Don't worry, I will report slightly redacted information to placate them without arousing suspicion."
But Itachi felt no relief, only a creeping chill. Shisui...surely you realize something? Then why the need for omissions at all? If there was truly no anomaly, masking the truth would be unnecessary.
Could Shisui have already uncovered something incriminating? But Itachi had only been fulfilling his duties as a Konoha ninja, not acting on behalf of Uchiha interests whatsoever. With that being the case, why should he feel guilty? For ninjas who embraced the Will of Fire, prioritizing the wider village over narrow clan mentality was precisely the way of the ninja that Konoha preached and exemplified.
'I'm merely upholding the righteous and proper path.' Itachi inwardly affirmed to himself.
Instead of elaborating on what exactly he had uncovered about Itachi's activities, Shisui simply continued smiling and said, "Actually in telling you all this, I don't expect you to do anything. It's just that I've already arrived at a decision of my own. Hence Yashiro monitoring you is inconsequential in the larger scheme."
Decision? Itachi gazed at Shisui in confusion. What decision was Shisui referring to?
"Surely you must have heard of the legendary Mangekyo Sharingan."
Itachi nodded - it was impossible for an Uchiha especially not to have knowledge about something so legendary.
On more than one occasion, his father Fugaku had told him he possessed the potential to awaken the eyes. The eyes meant to awaken was the Mangekyou Sharingan not the ordinary Sharingan.
However, despite being intimately familiar with the three tomoe version, Itachi still knew next to nothing regarding the actual capabilities of the Mangekyou. He wondered why Shisui had brought up that bloodline now.
"This is...my Mangekyou.Sharingan."
Shisui said solemnly. Not hesitating in the darkness, his eyes flared crimson before morphing into the three tomoe pattern. But the transformation didn't cease there as the Sharingan continued evolving, synthesizing an image akin to a massive geomantic compass which left Itachi dumbfounded.
"Shisui, you..."
He had no inkling whatsoever that his friend still harbored such an earth-shattering secret.
"The special ability manifested varies between Mangekyo Sharingan users depending on their inner selves." Shisui elucidated. "In my case, it is called Kotoamatsukami - permitting me to manipulate my target's mind completely."
Alter someone's mind entirely? Itachi listened silently to Shisui's narration while gazing fixedly at those eyes. Though the Mangekyo was active, oddly Itachi sensed all familiar warmth in Shisui had vanished, replaced by something dangerously frigid instead. The unleashed chakra felt distinctly discomforting.
"Attempting a coup against the village elders is doomed for the Uchiha. It will only spell disaster for our clan. As an Anbu, I'm sure you're aware of our current standing. I intend to use my Kotoamatsukami on Fugaku-sama to make him abandon notions of coup and declare as much during the next gathering. That is the only way conflict erupting between the clan and village can be averted."
Shisui candidly divulged his thoughts to Itachi without any hesitation. Itachi understood his friend harbored great love for Konoha, so it was unsurprising Shisui would take such drastic steps to prevent civil war for the village's sake.
The only shocking parts were the existence of his Mangekyo Sharingan and Kotoamatsukami. It really opened Itachi's horizons regarding their clan's capabilities.
"Can your doujutsu really make our clan give up all coup plans?" Itachi questioned.
"Definitely."
"In that case, there is no need to consider my position any further. If it saves both the Uchiha and the village, father undergoing such drastic change is an absolutely critical step."
Itachi agreed. He realized Shisui's purpose in meeting tonight was to secure his acquiescence. It represented an ultimatum of sorts, if Itachi opposed this course of action it would likely rupture their long-standing bond of friendship. Hence Itachi felt profoundly grateful that Shisui still chose to be honest with him.
"Thank you. After dealing the coup, we'll also have to weaken the clan's fiery temperament gradually. Their arrogant and aggressive nature makes integrating with Konoha impossible. Preventing the coup now would be meaningless if the underlying tensions still persists."
Shisui said, articulating his innermost thoughts..Gaining Itachi's wholehearted support bolstered Shisui's determination tremendously as well. Itachi regretted being unable to directly assist Shisui, but it was unnecessary anyway. His friend was more than capable of single-handedly quashing the Uchiha's coup plans.
Rendering Root's continued surveillance meaningless...Envisioning their clan harmoniously unified with the village in future, Itachi finally glimpsed the hopeful rays of light piercing through the gloom of confusion all around.
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