Itachi Uchiha's thought was that he should be the one to wipe out the entire Uchiha clan, removing everyone except Sasuke.
He would bear the infamy and eventually die by Sasuke's hand.
In this way, he could completely put an end to the Uchiha's wolfish ambition for a coup. At that time, Sasuke would be draped in the Uchiha's glory, and the Uchiha clan would grow strong again because of him.
It was a pity...
Lord Hokage was still too benevolent.
However, it was precisely because of this benevolence that Itachi Uchiha held such high esteem for this Hokage.
This was a person worth following.
Holding a sharp blade, yet harboring mercy in his heart.
Seeking a glimmer of hope amidst all things.
This chance of survival was not just for Lord Hokage himself, but represented his attitude toward everyone.
Now, the census of the hawkish members at Naka Shrine was complete. He just needed to spend a little more time identifying the remaining hawks within the clan, and the mission Lord Hokage had assigned him would be finished.
Thinking of this, while Itachi's heart felt heavy, his steps became slightly lighter.
When the dust finally settled.
A new Uchiha clan would be born.
At that time, he could break free from this narrow-minded clan and serve Lord Hokage wholeheartedly.
"Itachi."
Just as Itachi Uchiha was preparing to leave, a voice called out to him.
"It's Brother Shisui."
Hearing the call from behind, his crimson eyes gradually faded back to black, and Itachi turned with a faint smile to look at the newcomer.
"How have things been lately?"
"Life in the Anbu must be tough, right?"
Shisui Uchiha looked at his younger kinsman with concern.
Once, he had tried to take Itachi Uchiha on long-term missions, but Fugaku Uchiha had rejected the idea.
Because in Fugaku Uchiha's eyes, Itachi was another genius in the clan following Shisui Uchiha, and he was also his son.
So, he needed to teach Itachi Uchiha personally.
"It's acceptable. Brother Shisui, you shouldn't ask about matters within the Anbu."
Itachi Uchiha nodded, but his latter sentence made Shisui Uchiha's expression turn somewhat unnatural.
"...Alright then."
Shisui Uchiha nodded helplessly.
"What are your thoughts regarding the clan lately?"
Shisui Uchiha asked the question he wanted to know the answer to the most.
If anyone in the clan shared his thoughts and loathed the coup, it would be the person before him.
Looking at Shisui Uchiha before him, Itachi Uchiha recalled Kakashi's words from earlier that day.
"The future that Shisui cannot see, you have seen."
So, in Lord Hokage's view, was this kinsman before him also considered a person of narrow vision?
In that case...
"I leave it entirely to Father's decision."
Itachi Uchiha's answer made Shisui Uchiha's expression freeze in place.
Why?
Shouldn't Itachi be someone who detested war extremely as well?
Didn't he know that a coup was a suicidal choice for the Uchiha?
Shisui Uchiha's face showed nothing unusual, but ripples of shock surged in his heart.
But...
He thought of that white-haired Hokage.
Given that man's personality.
The current Uchiha clan must look like a group of dead men to him by now, right?
Shisui Uchiha felt a sense of sorrow in his heart.
Looking at the younger kinsman before him, he lost the desire to communicate further.
Itachi and the other clan members... turned out to be birds of a feather.
Now it seemed only I can change everything.
Using my ability, my eyes.
To reverse the situation!
Kotoamatsukami was born for this purpose.
If it was Kotoamatsukami, he could not only rewrite the Uchiha clan's fate but also turn that cold and ruthless Hokage into a benevolent, friendly, and peace-loving Hokage.
Shisui Uchiha's departure made Itachi frown slightly.
He felt that this kinsman might do something extremely dangerous.
But at this moment, Itachi Uchiha could not afford to dwell on it.
The task of collecting the names must be completed as soon as possible.
Delaying even a single second would be irresponsible toward Lord Hokage.
However, just as he was passing through a misty forest...
"Itachi Uchiha."
A stranger's voice rang out.
This made his footsteps pause once again.
aided by the silver glow of the moonlight, he saw a black shadow step out from the darkness ahead.
"My name is... Madara Uchiha."
The late night was silent, save for the faint chirping of insects disturbing the dreamscape.
The night wind howled, rustling the surrounding trees. With the stranger's words accompanying the cold moonlight, the temperature in the air seemed to drop several degrees, chilling the heart.
"Uchiha... Madara."
Itachi Uchiha softly repeated the name the man claimed, the crimson in his eyes revealing itself.
He remembered that the Night of the Nine-Tails was caused by a mysterious man calling himself Madara Uchiha.
If this person was truly him.
He was one of the culprits behind the Uchiha clan's current predicament!
"Correct."
"No need to be too concerned. After all, this name is from so long ago; perhaps the world has already forgotten it."
As the man approached, his full appearance entered Itachi Uchiha's vision.
He wore black Uchiha robes, his black hair fell like a waterfall, and he wore a tiger-patterned one-eyed mask, with a long sword strapped to his waist.
Madara Uchiha?
"What is your purpose in seeking me out?"
Itachi Uchiha did not question the other party's name.
It was merely a name; Itachi Uchiha could naturally change his outfit and call himself Madara Uchiha to others as well.
Compared to the name, Itachi Uchiha was more concerned about the man's objective.
"I trust you are utterly disappointed in this clan, are you not?"
"Dreaming of becoming Hokage all day long, yet they are nothing but a bunch of incompetent fools."
"Ambitions as high as the heavens, yet lives as fragile as paper."
"How could these trash possibly resist that Hokage?"
The man calling himself Madara Uchiha extended a hand toward Itachi Uchiha, his raspy voice carrying a hint of seduction:
"If you are willing, I can lend you a hand."
Itachi Uchiha looked at the man with a strange expression.
This guy... seems to hold Lord Hokage in high regard?
"Why should I trust you?"
Itachi Uchiha did not refuse, but instead asked in return.
At the same time, he prepared himself for a fight.
"You need not trust me. You only need to know that our goals align."
"And..."
A gleam of crimson revealed itself under the man's one-eyed mask.
"Don't do anything unnecessary. If I wanted to, I could kill you right now."
Itachi Uchiha was startled internally upon hearing this, but spoke without showing emotion:
"What price must I pay?"
Hearing this, the mysterious masked man sneered:
"Price?"
"That would be joining my organization."
"A great organization dedicated to peace in the ninja world."
Madman.
This was Itachi Uchiha's assessment of the person before him.
"Let me go back and think about it."
Itachi Uchiha's answer was reasonably satisfactory to the mysterious masked man.
"Of course. If you decide, you can find me here."
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