The turbulent river carried Shisui's lifeless body, drifting for an unknown period, eventually pushed ashore by a current.
A figure appeared silently. He squatted down and inspected him. Shisui had long since lost all signs of life.
The inherently evil Danzo actually murdered my clansman.
[Ninja World Scientist, activating.]
[Conditions for intense emotional fluctuation met.]
[Tobirama's Three-Tomoe Sharingan has upgraded to Mangekyo Sharingan.]
Satoshi felt a tearing pain in his eyes, far exceeding any previous increase in his ocular power.
The three tomoe in his eyes blurred instantly, then seemed to be crushed by an invisible force.
Outlined was a brand new pattern: several sharp, jet-black rhombuses encircling a deep core.
[Left Eye - Omoikane: Based on all currently acquired information, perform massive probability derivations in an extremely short time to determine the optimal solution for the target's next action.]
[In conjunction with Ninja World Scientist, it can quickly deduce subsequent changes or possible improvements to the jutsu.]
[Right Eye - Takemikazuchi: Once the target is locked onto, it can instantly anchor their spatial coordinates, making them unable to move or change form.]
[Effect is related to ocular power and target's strength.]
Feeling the surge in his ocular power, Satoshi let out a burst of wild laughter.
"Hahahahahahaha!"
—
Naka Shrine.
Due to the death of the clan's genius, Shisui, the Uchiha clan found itself in a very awkward position.
Having lost this crucial combat strength and spiritual pillar, the radical faction's arrogance seemed to have been somewhat dampened.
Some clan members even harbored a faint glimmer of hope. Perhaps this coup, destined to be bloody, could be postponed, or even canceled, because of this.
However, things were far from as simple as they imagined. The conflict between Konoha and the Uchiha was intensifying.
The Uchiha clan lost an excellent ninja, Shisui.
Konoha lost Danzo, who had just been reinstated to his position only to meet his end.
Both sides blamed each other for the death or disappearance of their comrades.
The Uchiha's rage grew even stronger.
They're dumping all the blame on us. If we Uchiha wanted to kill Danzo, that bastard's grave would be decaying by now.
Konoha also refused to admit that Shisui was killed by Danzo.
Shisui was on the village's side, would they be so foolish as to eliminate their own forces?
The two sides went back and forth, neither willing to back down.
Facing the enraged parties, Fugaku completely gave up.
He only hoped for a miracle to save the Uchiha clan from dire straits.
And at this moment, a familiar voice suddenly came from behind Fugaku.
"Clan head, good evening. Have you eaten?"
Fugaku shivered, looking at Satoshi, whom he hadn't seen in a long time, his excitement beyond words.
"Satoshi, only you can stop the clan's coup now. They trust you far more than me."
[The inherently evil Uchiha clan indeed wants to start a coup.]
[New Mission: Resolve this incident with the smallest possible cost.]
"Stop the clan?" Satoshi glanced at Fugaku.
"You're still thinking about that at a time like this?"
Fugaku nodded as if it were obvious.
"War, many people will die..."
Satoshi just shook his head gently. "Clan head, wake up."
Fugaku's face instantly turned ashen, and he sat back in his chair, head bowed in silence.
Satoshi had already left Fugaku's home.
The sound of sharpening blades faintly echoed from some corner of the clan compound.
...
Satoshi's words clearly reached Itachi's ears, who had just returned.
The ultimatum Danzo had issued earlier still echoed in his mind.
"Itachi, choose. Will you stand with the Uchiha, who are destined for destruction, and go to hell with them, watching Sasuke turn to ash?"
"Or will you stand with Konoha, and with your own hands, buy a path to survival for your beloved younger brother?"
"If you don't do this, I guarantee not a single Uchiha will be left alive."
Itachi's panicked footsteps startled the dazed Fugaku.
The father and son met each other's gaze. Nothing was said, yet everything seemed to have been conveyed.
"Father, where's Sasuke?"
"He's already asleep. He seems to have been under a lot of pressure lately."
Fugaku glanced at Itachi. "Just like you."
Cold sweat appeared on Itachi's forehead. "Father..."
"Is there really no room for reconciliation between the clan and Konoha?"
"There hasn't been for a long time. Satoshi might be distraught over Shisui's death and has taken a stand against Konoha. He can't resolve the current situation anymore."
Upon hearing this, Itachi's hanging heart finally died.
Satoshi...
He couldn't resolve this guy.
Unless that person came.
Then there might be a slim chance.
"I'm going to sleep."
Fugaku watched Itachi's departing back, remaining silent for a long time.
—
The next day, in the forest.
Obito, wearing a mask, and Itachi met again.
Itachi got straight to the point, "I want to ask for your help."
Obito asked, "What, have you finally decided to join my organization?"
Itachi clenched his fist, forcing out a sentence. "Help me eliminate the Uchiha clan."
Obito sneered, "You're very close to Konoha's higher-ups, and you're also ostracized by the Uchiha. Have you finally decided to kill them all?"
Itachi lowered his head, trying to make himself sound more righteous. "They want to start a coup, many people will die. Perhaps all the Uchiha will die."
Obito looked at his junior. "Alright, but what about that white-haired kid? How will you deal with him?"
Itachi didn't mention Kotoamatsukami this time. "I have a way."
A cruel arc formed on Obito's lips, hidden beneath his mask.
He didn't press further. In the struggle between pawns, no matter who won or lost, the ultimate beneficiary would only be the mastermind behind the scenes.
"Very good."
As his voice fell, Obito's figure distorted and vanished into the air.
...
After the conversation, Itachi found Satoshi fishing by the river.
Itachi said, "Satoshi, it's not too late to turn back now."
Satoshi didn't turn his head. "The clan lost its chance to turn back a long time ago."
Itachi sighed. Indeed, things had come to this point.
"I understand."
At the same time, his hand, hidden in his sleeve, very subtly formed a hand sign.
A jet-black crow silently glided out from the tree shadows on the opposite bank of the river. In that instant, a complex and eerie pattern suddenly glowed in the crow's crimson eye.
Satoshi's body stiffened abruptly, and his fishing rod fell into the water. Immediately after, he slumped softly backward. He fell with a thud onto the grass by the riverbank, motionless.
Itachi stood still, looking at Satoshi expressionlessly.
A few minutes later, he vanished into the shadows.
That night, the bright moon hung high.
Fugaku and Mikoto knelt in the living room, their faces filled with pain.
"Fugaku... has it really come to this?"
"Sasuke... he won't be in danger, will he?"
"Don't worry, even if everyone else is in danger, he won't be."
Fugaku closed his eyes, tightly gripping his wife's hand, which was cold and stiff.
"I'm sorry, Mikoto."
Mikoto said no more, only tightly squeezed her husband's cold hand in return. She slowly closed her eyes, and two silent tears streamed down her face.
Itachi crouched on a utility pole, his eyes blood red.
The next moment, his figure vanished from his spot.
This genius of the Uchiha clan finally aimed his blade at his own clan members.
The owner of the pancake shop was busy late into the night when he suddenly heard a wail from outside his door.
He gasped.
Who would dare to kill someone in the Konoha Military Police Force's territory? Are they tired of living?
He was about to get up and close the door when it was kicked open.
"Damn it, who is it?!"
He grumbled as he looked, discovering that the person who had come in was none other than the young clan head, Itachi. He was holding a blood-stained blade.
His head buzzed as he collapsed to the ground, unable to believe that the clan head's son would actually attack his own people.
He used to come buy his pancakes all the time.
"Don't move, my blade is fast."
Itachi brought his blade down fiercely.
There was no wail as expected, only the harsh sound of metal colliding.
Itachi couldn't believe his eyes. "I clearly used Kotoamatsukami to alter your will."
Satoshi punched Itachi in the face. "When did you get the illusion that I was under genjutsu?"
[Passive activated: When confronting the Uchiha, all your abilities will be enhanced.]