Chapter 20 – Persuading Uchiha Itachi
"Itachi, you're refusing me?"
At first, Izaya thought Uchiha Itachi had rejected him simply because he deemed Izaya too weak to participate in the Uchiha massacre. That's why Izaya had proactively challenged Uchiha Itachi to a spar. But what he never expected was… even after the spar, and even after his performance had seemingly satisfied Uchiha Itachi… the result… wasn't what Izaya had imagined.
Uchiha Itachi had decisively refused him…
"Yes, this matter isn't as simple as you think…" Facing Izaya's question, Uchiha Itachi spoke bluntly. He then slowly walked to a wide, open area, his gaze fixed on the distant Konoha village with incredibly complex emotions.
Seeing this, Izaya followed and stood behind Uchiha Itachi. The two remained silent for a long time, a tangled atmosphere hanging in the air.
Finally, Uchiha Itachi was the first to break the silence… He looked at Izaya beside him and asked in an inexplicably sorrowful tone, "Izaya, what are your thoughts on Konoha village?"
"Not good, and yet good." Hearing Uchiha Itachi's question, Izaya was taken aback. He hadn't expected such a question. Although he didn't fully understand Uchiha Itachi's thoughts at this moment, Izaya still gave the answer in his heart…
"Not good? And yet good?" A trace of confusion flashed across Uchiha Itachi's face. "What do you mean by that?"
"It's true Konoha has many flaws, inevitable darkness, and decay. But there are always people willing to pay a painful price to protect this village, even at the cost of their own lives. Konoha's gentle breeze is somewhat soothing; compared to that, the traces of darkness seem insignificant…" Izaya spoke slowly. After finishing, he pointed towards the distant Konoha streets and added, "Everything has two sides. If you are wandering in the darkness, why not try looking for a ray of light within it…"
"Izaya, you truly are extraordinary…" Looking at the smiling Izaya, a wry smile touched Uchiha Itachi's lips. He murmured, "Darkness… light…"
"How will you know if you don't try?" Izaya didn't explicitly mention the Uchiha massacre. From the moment Uchiha Itachi asked his question, Izaya had already guessed what was on his mind.
Judging from the original Naruto story, Uchiha Itachi at this time was undoubtedly in a state of inner conflict. On one hand, there was the village and peace. If his clan started a war, Konoha would undoubtedly pay an extremely heavy price to resolve it. This was utterly unacceptable to the peace-loving Uchiha Itachi. On the other hand… Danzō and some Konoha elders were using Sasuke Uchiha as a threat, forcing Uchiha Itachi to become a double agent. This, too, was unacceptable to Uchiha Itachi…
And as for the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, he had always wanted to resolve the conflict between the Uchiha clan and the Konoha leadership through negotiation. But… in reality, the Third Hokage hadn't given this matter enough serious thought. In the end, it indirectly led to the Uchiha clan's tragedy… Seemingly innocent, the Third Hokage's overly idealistic approach bore undeniable responsibility for the Uchiha massacre tragedy!
…
Although in the original story, Uchiha Itachi chose to slaughter the entire Uchiha clan except for Sasuke, judging by Uchiha Itachi's current state, Izaya could easily guess that this outcome was definitely not what Uchiha Itachi wanted to see!
Therefore! Izaya wanted to change all of this. He wanted to change such a tragic ending! Why should Uchiha Itachi be forced into such an impossible dilemma? As Izaya's only friend in the Naruto world, he naturally couldn't stand by and watch Uchiha Itachi continue down the original path!
"Some things… cannot be tested…" After a long silence, Uchiha Itachi spoke again. Then, while gazing at the distant Konoha village, he said to Izaya, "Sometimes, people cannot choose whether they stand in the light or lurk in the darkness. Every choice carries a price. Izaya, you are my only friend besides Shisui… I can no longer drag you into this darkness…"
After these words, Izaya could clearly sense that Uchiha Itachi, who was always so composed, now carried a trace of sorrow! A sorrow of helplessness! This was definitely the first time in over a week that Izaya had seen such negative emotions on his face!
Witnessing this, Izaya finally couldn't bear it any longer! He quickly walked up to Uchiha Itachi and condensed the fiery power within his body into his fist. Instantly, a dazzling flame ignited on Izaya's hand. He slowly raised his hand and declared, "So-called darkness is merely confusion! If darkness and oppression lie ahead, then let the flames in your hand scatter them!"
With that, Izaya threw a heavy punch, and a brilliant flame instantly erupted in the air… Seeing this, the expression on Uchiha Itachi's face, standing beside Izaya, finally showed a slight change…
"Itachi, give me one week. I will stand with you to drive away the darkness in your heart…" Seeing Uchiha Itachi's reaction, Izaya pressed his advantage and directly voiced the thought in his heart!
"This…" Looking at the confident youth before him, Uchiha Itachi found it hard to believe this was the same person who, just a week ago, had been called the academy's dead-last, underestimated by everyone!
For a long time, Uchiha Itachi clenched his fists, his face filled with conflict. Though he didn't speak, Izaya could feel that Uchiha Itachi was deeply contemplating something. Seeing this, Izaya didn't rush him but simply waited quietly beside him…
"Izaya… I agree." About ten minutes later, Uchiha Itachi seemed to have reached a decision. The expression on his face instantly shifted; the earlier conflict transformed into a faint smile. Slowly approaching Izaya, Uchiha Itachi murmured again, "You gave me an unprecedented shock earlier. This time… I choose to believe in you!"
The moment Uchiha Itachi's words ended, a new notification flashed in Izaya's mind.
"Congratulations to the Host for activating the unique selection—Change/Status Quo?"
{Option 1: Help Uchiha Itachi resist Danzō and change the original story's plot. Reward: Two Tomoe Sharingan…}*