Danzo's words, like the whisper of a demon, continuously eroded Itachi's heart, leaving him unable to breathe.
"Do you remember long ago, I asked you that question? If someone on a ship caught a severe contagious disease, as the captain, what would you do to save more people? Have you forgotten this?"
After hearing this, Itachi suddenly came to a realization.
If he remembered correctly, the option he chose at the time was—to eliminate the man who had already caught the disease, throw him off the ship, to let more people survive.
"As a Konoha Ninja, you surely know what to do now, right? I don't want to force you, but standing on the Uchiha Clan's side means the extinction of the clan. Standing on the village's side, you and your brother can survive... What is your choice?"
Danzo silently observed the boy in front of him, not yet fourteen, clearly sensing the turmoil in the other's heart.
Actually, losing Itachi means losing a representative.
But Itachi is the most suitable one.
There is no better candidate to serve as his puppet.
His ideals, his perseverance, are his greatest weaknesses.
People with weaknesses are the easiest to control.
Betrayal is not an easy thing.
"...Remember your promise..."
After saying this, Itachi felt as if all his strength had been drained, his gaze dimmed.
Emotions of grief, bitterness, and powerlessness brewed within him.
Ultimately, he could not resist the will that this man imposed on him.
Danzo's face revealed a satisfied smile, his heart rate quickening.
After so many years, the biggest thorn in the village is finally about to be dealt with.
Since his teacher Senju Tobirama passed away, he had always followed his mentor's last wishes, implementing the strategy of isolating the Uchiha Clan, to completely erase this clan that disrupts the village's peace, leaving it as a passage in history.
Moreover, it would be destroyed at the hands of its own clan member.
Truly an excellent tool for killing. Danzo glanced at the somewhat disoriented Itachi.
Even among the Root, there is no better tool for killing than this boy.
◎
Upon stepping down from the task of surveilling the Uchiha Clan, Kakashi enjoyed a more leisurely life.
His subordinate Tenzo was a dutiful Anbu member.
After all, with Tenzo handling matters, such basic strategies would not see errors.
As an Anbu Sub-Captain, occasionally one needs to relax a bit.
After strolling around the bookstore, he found that Jiraiya's new book was still unpublished, making Kakashi sigh in disappointment.
The thought of locking Jiraiya up in a little black room grew increasingly tempting recently.
"Meow~"
Suddenly, a cat's meow attracted Kakashi's attention.
He saw a very ordinary calico cat standing by the roadside, staring at him with wide eyes, as if trying to express something.
"A cat, huh... such a bother, I still prefer dogs a lot more..."
Kakashi put away his "Icha Icha Paradise", walked to a small roadside stall, and bought a grilled fish.
He then approached the calling cat, crouched down, and placed the grilled fish in front of it for it to eat.
The calico cat didn't immediately eat but instead licked Kakashi's fingers with its tongue before elegantly carrying the grilled fish away.
Kakashi stood up, naturally walked away.
A message also entered Kakashi's mind.
——June 19th, 7 PM, open Route No. 2.