"..."
Uchiha Itachi slowly lowered his head.
This matter was indeed a trouble he had caused.
"Itachi."
Uchiha Fugaku rarely spoke harshly to his son: "I always thought you were my pride, always a sensible and rational child, but I forgot that you have too many of your own ideas, and even forgot which side you should stand on…"
"I understand."
Uchiha Itachi still maintained his stance, whispering: "I might have offended Akihara Kagura long ago, he thinks I've always been vying for the future Root Leader position…"
"The Root Leader position?"
Uchiha Fugaku's eyes lit up, as if he saw some hope: "Can you outfight that kid? If you can become the Hokage Assistant with Danzo's support in the future…"
"I…"
Uchiha Itachi uncharacteristically fell silent.
This increasingly mature person couldn't reveal he was a double agent, and finally decided to lie to his father: "I can ask Danzo's attitude tomorrow…"
"You should have told me about this earlier."
Uchiha Fugaku felt a bit of regret for his son's silence, his eyes darkening: "Maybe there's no hope, will Danzo's attitude towards the Uchiha really change?"
"One must try…"
Uchiha Itachi slowly lowered his head.
"If there's no chance, join the assembly."
Uchiha Fugaku nodded, agreeing to his son's proposal.
The next day, early morning.
Uchiha Itachi went to see Shimura Danzo, reporting the Uchiha Clan's assembly intelligence to him, but didn't mention the topic of the Root Leader.
This is a sober person.
Uchiha Itachi always knew that Shimura Danzo never chose him to be the future Leader of the Root, that was only Akihara Kagura's idea.
Inside the Hokage Tower.
Uchiha Shisui went to see Sarutobi Hiruzen, reporting the Uchiha Clan's assembly intelligence, mentioning the Uchiha Clan's plan to launch a coup during the assembly.
This was a report, but also an action to lay the cards on the table.
Uchiha Shisui hoped the village could change its policies towards the Uchiha; if the Uchiha actually initiated a coup, he would use Kotoamatsukami to alter the will of the Uchiha Clan Leader, Uchiha Fugaku, making this leader voluntarily pledge allegiance to Konoha.
Sarutobi Hiruzen was a peacekeeper, willingly agreeing to Uchiha Shisui's request: "If the Uchiha indeed make changes, the village will certainly change its attitude towards the Uchiha, and the villagers will certainly be willing to see such change, no one would not hope for the arrival of peace…"
At the same time.
Having received Uchiha Itachi's intelligence, Shimura Danzo hurried to the Hokage Tower to demand from Sarutobi Hiruzen that strong measures be used to deal with the Uchiha Clan, who was about to instigate a coup.
"I already have a solution."
Sarutobi Hiruzen summoned Shisui in, earnestly bringing up the handling plan: "Shisui will attend the assembly, using his ability to quell this coup, and can silently and imperceptibly change a person's will, making them act according to their own will…"
"A Dojutsu, huh?"
Shimura Danzo's gaze didn't waver in the slightest.
This was a Dojutsu that particularly tempted Shimura Danzo, whether it was Uchiha Shisui's Mangekyo Sharingan or this Dojutsu that could change others' wills!
This Dojutsu…
It could be used on that little brat who wasn't loyal to him!
While contemplating how to seize Uchiha Shisui's Mangekyo Sharingan, Shimura Danzo continued chatting with Sarutobi Hiruzen: "Simply changing one Uchiha Fugaku might not change much, right?"
"We must make changes as well."
Sarutobi Hiruzen proposed his ideas: "From now on, we also change our approach towards the Uchiha Clan, improving the treatment of the Uchiha Clan, I heard you intend to choose one future Root Leader between Uchiha Itachi and Akihara Kagura…"
"Where did this rumor come from?"
Shimura Danzo's eyes widened sharply upon hearing this news.
"This news has already spread throughout the Dark Department."
Sarutobi Hiruzen frowned, seemingly displeased with Shimura Danzo's alarm: "I thought you wanted to train a successor as well, I think this matter needs further consideration, both these children are actually suitable, it's just that the Root needs…"
When Sarutobi Hiruzen got here, he suddenly paused, then spoke: "Shisui, you go handle your matter now, Danzo, let Itachi assist him. If they can peacefully resolve the Uchiha's issue this time, Itachi might not be unsuitable to become the future Leader of the Root, and I have other plans for Kagura…"
"I'll go give Itachi the order."
Seeing Uchiha Shisui leave, Shimura Danzo didn't bother with further pleasantries with Sarutobi Hiruzen, willingly chasing after Uchiha Shisui to discuss stopping the coup.
"Choosing a qualified successor is a big matter…"
Sarutobi Hiruzen lowered his head and started drinking tea, seemingly believing the looming Uchiha Clan coup had been resolved.
However…
His old friend, nonetheless, harbored greed.
Shimura Danzo was the first to realize how useful Uchiha Shisui's Dojutsu truly was; he could completely ensure Akihara Kagura's loyalty to him!
Controlling Wood Release, mastering the Nine-tails, governing Konoha!
All this, just needed Uchiha Shisui's Kotoamatsukami Dojutsu!
Before a grand Buddha statue.
Shimura Danzo conversed with Uchiha Shisui, with a group of Root Ninjas quietly hiding nearby; this was a strategically excluded Root group operation without Uchiha Itachi.