"Hiruzen! The Uchiha clan is too dangerous!"

"Have you forgotten our teacher's words!?"

In the Hokage's office, Danzo pounded his cane forcefully, practically roaring at his old friend with all his might.

"Enough, Danzo!"

"Have you now stooped so low as to not even address me as Hokage?"

The Third Hokage slammed the table in anger, his tone and expression overflowing with fury.

A week ago, when shinobi from other villages had died in large numbers at the Fire Country's borders, he'd acknowledged that Danzo's maneuver using the Sage of Six Paths' eye to divert attention was indeed clever. But that didn't mean Danzo could act so presumptuously in front of him.

"Hiruzen! Can't you see the situation clearly!?"

The Third grew even angrier at these words. His retort of "I am the Hokage!" left Danzo speechless, and he eventually stormed out, slamming the door.

The situation in the Shinobi World was growing increasingly tense. Even if the Uchiha clan were to stand up now and clamor for a coup, the Third would have to think it over again and again.

Not to mention that Fugaku had already suppressed any rebellious thoughts within the clan.

The immediate problem to solve was the Akatsuki Organization in the Rain Village. Regardless of whether they were behind recent events, to prove Konoha's innocence, they needed to join forces with other villages to subdue Akatsuki and prevent those eyeing Konoha from finding any excuse to start a war.

The current Konoha...

Couldn't withstand any more turmoil.

Of course, with the combined forces of several villages, the Third believed eliminating a mere organization like Akatsuki wouldn't pose much difficulty.

He stared at the map of the Rain Village before him, smoking for a long, long time, before summoning an ANBU shinobi.

"Have the troops prepare."

"Tomorrow, we attack the Rain Village."

"Yes! Lord Hokage!"

The ANBU received the order and immediately ran to notify the other shinobi in the village.

Meanwhile, upon leaving, Danzo immediately called for Uchiha Itachi to come before him.

"Do you know why I've summoned you?"Danzo gave Uchiha Itachi a meaningful look, clearly disregarding the Third Hokage's words. Summoning Itachi was his own covert plan to take action against the Uchiha clan.

"I'm afraid I don't understand. Please enlighten me, Lord Danzo."

Itachi knelt on one knee, his head bowed deeply, the light in his eyes dimming slightly.

"Hmph." Danzo snorted coldly, looking down at Itachi with disdain. "The Uchiha clan plans to return after the mission and force the Hokage's hand, don't they?"

"Do you think I know nothing?"

Itachi remained silent, only lowering his head further. Images of his father calming the clan flashed through his mind.

"I don't want a single Uchiha to return from Amegakure alive."

"I trust you can handle this?"

At these words, Itachi clenched his fists tightly, but Danzo's voice rang out again.

"In exchange…"

"I will allow your younger brother—Sasuke—to live."

"And remain in the village as the son of a hero."

"Think it over. Come find me once you've made your decision."

Without waiting for Itachi's response, Danzo turned and walked away, leaning on his cane.

"Very well."

Just as Danzo took about ten steps, Itachi called out to him, having clearly made up his mind.

"The Hokage will also be pleased with your actions."

"Everything is for the sake of the village."

Danzo spoke as he walked, his figure gradually disappearing from Itachi's sight before Itachi finally left the spot.

At that moment, the words of his younger brother, Uchiha Kaito, suddenly echoed in his ears.

Uchiha Itachi realized that Kaito's question hadn't been about forcing him to choose between two brothers.

Rather…

It was about choosing between the village and his family.

"So… Kaito…"

"You already knew, didn't you?"

Itachi gazed at the moon for a long time before finally stepping into the forest bordering the Uchiha compound to meet with his prearranged ally.

Half an hour later.

The masked man remained silent for a while after hearing Uchiha Itachi's request before finally speaking.

"Fine. As agreed, I'll help you."

"Then we'll proceed as planned."

Itachi turned to leave but was stopped by the masked man.

"I have my own reasons for agreeing to this. In exchange, you'll pretend you saw nothing."

"Consider it the price for sparing your brother."

Hidden beneath the mask, Obito had indeed been startled by Itachi's words.

Coincidentally, he also intended to eliminate the enemies attacking Amegakure, so he agreed to Itachi's request.

And in the process…

He could acquire quite a few Sharingan.

"Fine. Whatever your motives, I have no choice but to trust you now."

Itachi agreed without hesitation, but Obito hesitated for a moment before adding,

"If…"

"You ever find yourself with nowhere left to turn, you can join my organization."

"Akatsuki."

Itachi, who had been walking away, suddenly froze, his eyes widening as he turned back in shock.

Yet he didn't ask why this man belonged to the Akatsuki Organization, the very group the villages were preparing to attack. Nor did he question why the man wasn't worried about him leaking information.

In the end, he only left with one remark:

"If your organization still exists by then… I'll consider it."

With that, he vanished in a series of leaps.

Meanwhile, Uchiha Fugaku, having received the Hokage's orders, was rallying the clan for their final mobilization."In this battle, our Uchiha clan…"

"Will surely triumph!"

"By the time we return to the village, it will be the era of the Uchiha!"

Fugaku was well aware that Danzo had sent them as the vanguard, to be expended as cannon fodder on the battlefield.

Moreover, facing a small organization from a minor village, even if there were casualties, they wouldn't be significant. The survivors would only make the Uchiha clan stronger.

By then…

Not only would they hold the moral high ground against the village, but they would also possess overwhelming military might. Fugaku couldn't even imagine how they could possibly lose under such circumstances.

"Triumph! Triumph!!"

Every Uchiha in the clan shouted fervently, their crimson Three Tomoe eyes brimming with killing intent and madness.

This day…

They had waited for it for so long!

Meanwhile, on the other side, Sasuke, having completed his day's training, carried a blue cat-shaped piggy bank and gently placed it on Kaito's grave.

"There's no money inside, but you can tap on it when you're bored."

"Consider it as me keeping you company."

With that, he plopped down in front of the tombstone and grumbled,

"I don't know what Father and Mother have been so busy with lately. They haven't come home in ages."

"Big Brother too…"

Sasuke suddenly found himself missing the days when he used to bicker with Kaito, even though it always left him fuming.

At least back then, someone was there to accompany him, and the house wasn't as empty as it was now.

Sasuke sat by the grave and talked about many things—from the dead-last Uzumaki Naruto at school to the new Ninjutsu his big brother had recently taught him…

Noticing the fading daylight, Sasuke took one last look at Kaito's photo.

"See you next time, jerk."

...

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