"Really? I understand."
"You've worked hard on this mission. Take a good rest."
"Yes."
Uchiha Itachi took his brother to rest.
The situation between Konoha and the Uchiha Clan suddenly took a downturn.
Uchiha Fugaku, the clan leader of the Uchiha Clan, spoke less and less at clan meetings and even began to tacitly approve of the clan's radical actions. This made Uchiha Itachi and Uchiha Shisui increasingly anxious.
Uchiha Itachi reported the dynamics of the Uchiha Clan to Shimura Danzo, hoping that Danzo could do something, at least to change the village's policy towards the Uchiha.
"If the village changes but the Uchiha do not change, wouldn't this further bolster the hawkish ideology within the Uchiha Clan? They would think the village leadership is weak and easy to deceive..."
Shimura Danzo's response was very shrewd.
Shimura Danzo had always wanted to deal with the Uchiha Clan with a firm hand. He didn't want Konoha to appear weak to the Uchiha and didn't want to see the situation between the two sides change.
The Uchiha Clan...
had always been a hidden danger to Konoha.
Uchiha Madara was like that, and the later Uchiha Obito was like that as well. All members of the Uchiha Clan had the potential to bring disaster to Konoha.
"I understand."
Uchiha Itachi could only bow his head and agree.
"Itachi, don't give up."
Shimura Danzo squinted his eyes, looking down at Uchiha Itachi, painting a pretty picture for him: "There might still be room for maneuver in these matters. I'll try to come up with something."
Shimura Danzo led the Root back to Konoha, still thinking about solving the issue with Akihara Kagura. But no sooner had he returned than trouble emerged with the Uchiha Clan!
Shimura Danzo could only continue to make empty promises, ordering Uchiha Itachi to constantly monitor the Uchiha Clan's movements while he used the continuous influx of negative intelligence to slowly pressure Sarutobi Hiruzen to completely resolve the matter with the Uchiha!
The opportunity came quickly.
With Uchiha Fugaku no longer fully suppressing the hawks, the entire Uchiha became increasingly radical, even planning an actual coup!
Tomorrow, the entire Uchiha Clan would hold a full meeting under the guise of a ritual at Nankai Shrine, with all Uchiha ninjas present!
The Uchiha Clan had approved a plan to gather all the clan's combat power tomorrow evening and launch a coup against the Konoha leadership. Uchiha Itachi and Uchiha Shisui both looked troubled!
"Is a coup going to happen in Konoha?"
Akihara Kagura showed no reaction when he received the news from White Zetsu Awei, as if the matter had nothing to do with him, a Konoha ninja.
"It seems so."
White Zetsu Awei nodded with a grin: "Looks like it's going to be quite the show. Maybe we'll witness a tragedy..."
"Perhaps."
Akihara Kagura remained calm, still training his Taijutsu at the training ground, breaking a wooden stake with a kick!
"Let's go watch the show!"
This summer.
Akihara Kagura had grown considerably taller.
Judging from his height alone, he looked like a different person from before.
Akihara Kagura watched as White Zetsu Awei disappeared, and kicked another stake to pieces. He picked up a splinter, and under the control of his Wood Release Chakra, it slowly transformed into a mask with patterns!
"Maybe it's time to resolve a hidden danger..."
Evening.
The Uchiha Clan's meeting had just ended not long ago.
Uchiha Itachi and Uchiha Shisui arrived at the edge of a cliff.
Uchiha Itachi looked up at the flowing Nankai River: "If the village will not change, the Uchiha Clan will only become more dissatisfied and eventually reach this point; if the Uchiha do not change, the village will not change either..."
It's like a closed loop.
If one side doesn't step forward, the other will never do so either.
Uchiha Itachi sighed deeply as he watched the Nankai River from the cliff's edge: "But the two sides will never trust each other. The longer we delay, the greater the suspicion towards each other until we reach today's situation..."
"I know."
Uchiha Shisui gazed at the river, speaking softly: "I've actually thought of a way to eliminate suspicion and change both sides' attitudes. Perhaps we could try..."
"I also oppose the coup."
Uchiha Itachi looked at his friend and expressed his own thoughts: "We just need to adopt some unconventional measures..."
"Don't act recklessly."
Uchiha Shisui shook his head, softly advising Itachi: "Recently, you've been meeting with Danzo more and more. People inside the police force already suspect that you're siding with Konoha, and someone even asked me to monitor your actions..."
This friend was ultimately too naïve, going to report to Shimura Danzo and interacting with members of Root without properly guarding against the police force.
Upon returning home, Uchiha Itachi informed his father that he would not be attending the gathering and would continue on a mission the following day.
It was obvious.
Uchiha Itachi planned to see Danzo once more, report tonight's events, and use unconventional methods to resolve the Uchiha coup problem.
However...
he was stopped by his father.
Uchiha Fugaku's expression was somewhat grim, seemingly feeling that his son was being reckless: "I originally just wanted to maintain a balance between Konoha and the Uchiha, but because of the hatred developed between you and that little Wood Release kid, who will certainly have a significant impact in the future, the Uchiha Clan will face even more severe circumstances. That's why I chose the other side..."