After leaving the Hokage building, Koharu Utatane could not help but ask Danzo, who was walking ahead. "Will Itachi Uchiha really follow our plan?"
Danzo paused, turned around, and said in a low voice, "Koharu, you underestimate Hiruzen's abilities."
Hiruzen's abilities...
Koharu Utatane instantly understood and fell silent.
Homura Mitokado likewise said nothing more upon hearing those words.
As old friends, they knew clearly that if it came down to brainwashing, Hiruzen's ability was likely not inferior to Danzo's.
Especially when dealing with an idealist like Itachi Uchiha.
Once they understood this, they breathed a sigh of relief; however, the necessary preparations still had to be made.
After all, as the Leaf's number one ninja clan, the Uchiha had occupied many of the village's industries over the past few decades.
Once the Uchiha fell, these industries would instantly become succulent pieces of meat. If one were even a step slow, they might be devoured by other clans.
As high-ranking officials of the Leaf, they occasionally needed to consider their own clans and factions, did they not?
Over the next few days, the monitoring of the Uchiha compound by the Anbu and Root clearly became more intense. Several times, conflicts even broke out with Uchiha clan members.
Furthermore, what concerned the Uchiha most was that during this period, clan members had been mysteriously disappearing!
"As the Police Force, are we actually unable to investigate the cause of our own clansmen's disappearances?"
At a new clan meeting, Fugaku Uchiha uncharacteristically flew into a rage.
This was because the number of missing clansmen had reached ten during these few days. More importantly, all ten had awakened the Sharingan. Each was a vital fighting force for the Uchiha, yet they had vanished silently within the compound.
Linked to the tense atmosphere in the village recently, it was hard not to draw certain conclusions.
"Clan Leader, I believe this is definitely the work of those bastards in the Anbu and Root!"
Inabi Uchiha was the first to speak. As soon as these words came out, many clansmen nodded in silent agreement.
In this situation, who most desired to weaken the strength of the Uchiha? Undeniably, it was the village officials; they had every motive.
Standing in the corner, Itachi frowned slightly upon hearing this.
His intuition told him that this was not the village's doing.
The village officials had already decided to use him as the blade to eradicate the Uchiha. They likely would not want to cause unnecessary trouble now.
In other words, it was highly probable that someone else wanted to stir up the relationship between the village and the clan.
Was it another clan, or that mysterious organization?
While Itachi was lost in thought, he suddenly heard someone call his name.
"Itachi, what do you think?"
Fugaku Uchiha took the initiative to address his son.
Itachi said calmly, "The Police Force currently lacks definitive evidence. It is best not to start a conflict with the village..."
Before he could finish, he was grabbed by the collar by a lunging Inabi Uchiha.
"Don't start a conflict! All you know is how to stand on the village's side. Are you even an Uchiha?!"
"I am, of course, an Uchiha."
As Itachi spoke these words nonchalantly, his eyes transformed into the even more powerful Mangekyo Sharingan. A terrifying pressure instantly descended upon the entire shrine.
Those clansmen who had awakened their Sharingan felt it most distinctly.
These eyes are...
Inabi Uchiha stared at Itachi's eyes in disbelief. That horrific ocular power nearly made it impossible for him to breathe.
Not just Inabi, but the gazes of the other clansmen turned to shock and awe.
For Itachi needed only a single look to make them feel completely powerless to resist.
Seeing the time was right, Fugaku Uchiha spoke.
"Everyone, as you can see, Itachi has awakened the legendary Mangekyo Sharingan, which stands above the Three-Tomoe Sharingan."
These words rang in everyone's ears like a thunderclap.
The Mangekyo Sharingan?
The Uchiha had produced another wielder of the Mangekyo?!
After the initial shock, their hearts began to swell with wild joy.
This meant that their chances of a successful coup had increased significantly.
Only Inabi Uchiha let go of Itachi's collar, subsequently clenching his fists tightly to vent his internal resentment.
Why?
Why am I still inferior to Itachi Uchiha even after devouring so many Sharingan?
Those eyes look like they could dominate me at any moment!
Impossible, absolutely impossible!
Only evolution is the true path for the Uchiha.
That's right. As long as I can devour Itachi's Mangekyo, I will surely become the strongest Uchiha!
I will become the true God of the Uchiha!
Thinking of this, Inabi Uchiha's heart finally calmed. His gaze shifted from madness to boundless ambition.
At the front, the heavy bombshell Fugaku Uchiha wanted to drop was clearly not limited to this one.
"Furthermore, as the Uchiha's insider among the Leaf high-ranking officials, Itachi has successfully obtained the village's defensive deployments. Everyone must prepare actively."
Although Fugaku did not say it explicitly, the meaning was clear.
We have the village's layout; next, we can prepare to start the coup.
As for the specific time of the operation, Fugaku naturally would not let too many people know. To catch the village by surprise, secrecy was essential.
It could be tonight, or it could be tomorrow.
In short, all clansmen just needed to be ready.
Regardless, the news of Itachi awakening the Mangekyo Sharingan acted as a powerful stimulant for all Uchiha preparing for the coup.
Coupled with the fact that he had stolen vital intelligence from the village as an insider, Itachi's suspicion as a traitor was washed away instantly. He had even become a hero of the clan.
After the meeting ended, Elder Taka slowly approached Fugaku from behind.
"Do you plan to make Itachi the next Hokage?"
As a veteran politician, Elder Taka could naturally see that Fugaku's maneuvers earlier were intended to build momentum for Itachi.
By framing him as a hero, it would be only natural for the prestigious and powerful Itachi to become the first Uchiha Hokage if the coup succeeded.
Otherwise, since Fugaku himself possessed the Mangekyo Sharingan, why wouldn't he reveal it and become the hero himself?
Before Elder Taka, Fugaku had no need to hide anything. He nodded and said, "I do have that intention. If we truly succeed, a sinner like me who personally led the Uchiha into a coup and betrayed Uchiha's glory can never become Hokage."
"Moreover, at that time, the village will need a new Hokage capable of accommodating other clans. No matter how you look at it, Itachi is the best candidate."
Elder Taka also chose to agree with Fugaku's choice.
Although he felt Itachi was a bit too compassionate and indecisive—traits that would be a disaster if he became the Uchiha clan leader—such a kind and broad-minded person was actually the best choice for a village that had just undergone a massive upheaval.
"However, if we fail..."
Besides being an excellent politician, Elder Taka was an elder of the Uchiha Clan.
No matter what, he had to prepare for both outcomes.
"I have already made arrangements. I selected ten of the most talented children, and they will leave the Leaf tonight through the channels of the Spider Lily Chamber of Commerce."
"Are you really not going to send Sasuke away?"
Elder Taka looked at Fugaku.
Itachi, with his Mangekyo, was an essential combat asset and had to participate in the battle.
Then, could Sasuke Uchiha, though young but equally talented, be sent away first?
In case of defeat, it would ensure that at least one child survived.
Facing this question, Fugaku shook his head solemnly. "Other clansmen are risking their entire families. There is no reason my family, Fugaku Uchiha's, should be any different."
Elder Taka frowned. "Given Sasuke's talent, he qualifies for the list of ten."
"But Sasuke is my son!"
Fugaku Uchiha clenched his fists, his voice trembling slightly.
"He is the son of the Uchiha Clan Leader. This is his destiny!"
Elder Taka fell silent and said no more.
Only these two rulers of the Uchiha knew the true weight of the Leaf being number one in the shinobi world.
And only they knew how slim the Uchiha's chances of survival were in the coming days.
Leaving the shrine and walking on the road, Itachi received many admiring glances.
On the surface, he smiled and greeted his clansmen, but his heart was filled with indifference and sorrow.
He felt indifferent toward the sudden change in the clansmen's attitude.
This change was never because of anything he had done, but merely because of his strength. They blindly worshipped and pursued greater power, yet neglected the cultivation of their inner selves.
He also felt sorrow for his clansmen's ignorance.
They were so ignorant—ignorant enough to believe that a pair of Mangekyo Sharingan could change the entire course of the battle.
And this ignorance stemmed precisely from the Uchiha Clan's arrogance and blind pursuit of power.
Carrying such complex thoughts, Itachi returned to his post—monitoring the Uchiha Clan.
The scene he subsequently witnessed further confirmed his thoughts.
A squad of Uchiha led by Inabi Uchiha was forcibly seizing a dozen villagers from the street, then kicking and punching them as if venting some sort of rage.
That's right—punching and kicking them in broad daylight.
Itachi's face showed little emotion because such scenes had become common since he took over the task of monitoring the Uchiha.
Although the deterioration of the relationship between the village and the clan was well known, the Uchiha still commanded the Leaf Police Force and were responsible for the village's public order before the official outbreak of conflict.
Recently, Uchiha members had been disappearing one after another, leaving the entire Police Force on edge.
Combined with long-accumulated rage, this naturally resulted in their anger being vented on villagers who violated public order during law enforcement.
And such venting, in the eyes of the villagers, was naturally seen as the Uchiha Clan's police brutality...
Itachi watched for only a moment before withdrawing his gaze.
He was currently positioned on a rooftop. From here, he could not only see the street where the Police Force was operating but also the Ninja Academy in the other direction.
At this moment, the Ninja Academy seemed to be holding some kind of competition.
To be precise... a duel.
But it was a duel between children.
One of the protagonists of this duel was Itachi's brother, Sasuke Uchiha.
As the son of the Uchiha leader, Sasuke had accumulated quite a bit of popularity after only one year due to his outstanding talent and handsome looks.
It could be seen that many young girls on both sides of the arena were cheering for him.
They were just children, after all; they considered whether a boy was handsome more than they worried about Sasuke's status as an Uchiha.
Since when did the glorious name of the Uchiha become such a burden?
Itachi smiled bitterly and continued watching.
The one dueling his brother was a blond-haired kid who looked quite lively and mischievous.
Was his name Naruto Uzumaki?
Itachi had once taken Sasuke to the Ninja Academy, so he had some impression of his classmates.
He had a deeper impression of Naruto.
As an Uchiha who had awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan, Itachi could sense the abnormality within Naruto at a glance.
But personally, he was a very sunny child.
Naruto was currently standing with his hands on his hips, shouting some battle declaration at Sasuke.
Sasuke, of course, ignored him with a cool, arrogant look, which annoyed the other boy greatly.
The battle began.
Full of anger, Naruto swung his fist and rushed at Sasuke.
Sasuke dodged. A kick.
The battle was over.
Naruto faceplanted into the sandpit. After climbing out, he indignantly challenged Sasuke to a new round.
Then he was knocked down again.
This scene made Itachi chuckle.
"A very lively child. You should be able to become good friends with Sasuke in the future."
Watching this scene that was more play than combat, Itachi finally made his decision.
He wanted to protect Sasuke's future.
Not just Sasuke's, but the futures of the other children in the Leaf as well.
He could not allow the clan's coup to become the fuse for the Fourth Shinobi World War. He could not let these children walk the old path of war.
Therefore, his only choice now was...
To annihilate the clan and stop the coup.
Shisui, this must be the Will of Fire you wanted, right?
"It seems you've already made your decision."
The air behind Itachi suddenly distorted, and the figure of the masked man quietly appeared.
"You really are elusive. Aren't you afraid of being caught by the Anbu?"
Itachi turned to look at the mysterious man, hesitating whether to use Tsukuyomi to eliminate this powerful enemy for the village.
The masked man seemed to read his thoughts and laughed. "The Anbu in this village can't even touch me, let alone catch me."
"That includes you, Itachi Uchiha."
Faced with this warning, Itachi abandoned the idea of using Tsukuyomi.
He did not know if Genjutsu would work on this fellow.
If it failed, things would become even more troublesome.
"I need you to help me."
"Help how?" the masked man asked with interest.
Itachi's tone was ice-cold. "Help me kill the entire Uchiha Clan. The payment is... I join Akatsuki."