Far away in the Land of Forest, Itachi—who was currently on a mission with Kakashi—suddenly sneezed several times in a row, an inexplicable feeling washing over him, as if he had been targeted by some enormous trouble.
Sneezing while lying in ambush could easily expose one's position. Kakashi frowned and asked quietly, "Itachi, what's wrong?"
"It's nothing, Captain," Itachi replied, shaking his head.
"Stay alert. Don't get discovered," Kakashi warned.
This mission involved an exchange of classified documents between Konoha and the Land of Forest's Prajna Group. Might Guy was leading the team handling the exchange, while Itachi and Kakashi were tasked with remaining hidden in the shadows in case of unforeseen developments.
At that moment, Guy was in the middle of exchanging scrolls with the leader of the Prajna Group. But the instant the leader handed over the scroll, Guy suddenly kicked it out of his hand.
The scroll unfurled midair—and exploded.
Guy rushed straight up to the Prajna leader and demanded, "What was agreed upon was an exchange of scrolls!"
All members of the Prajna Group retreated to the mountainside and declared unilaterally, "Konoha has violated the agreement and launched an attack on us. We will retaliate!"
"What shameless nonsense! You're the ones who broke the agreement!" Guy shouted back.
The only response was the Prajna Group's mocking laughter.
Itachi and Kakashi appeared beside Guy. Kakashi said calmly, "Leave this to us. You withdraw."
The Prajna Group struck first.
"Earth Style: Rock Collapse!"
Massive boulders began tumbling down the mountainside toward them.
Kakashi rapidly formed hand seals.
"Earth Style: Earth Wall!"
A towering wall of earth, carved with four canine heads, rose from the ground, blocking every falling rock.
The Prajna Group used Rock Collapse again, sending yet another wave of falling stones.
"Eight Gates Technique—Gate of Opening, Fifth Gate… Open!"
Guy activated the Fifth Gate directly. His skin turned red, green chakra surging around his body as he leapt upward, using the falling rocks as footholds to close the distance.
With overwhelming taijutsu, Guy easily knocked several members of the Prajna Group unconscious.
At the same time, Itachi drew the sword from his back.
"Sun Breathing: First Form — Circular Dance!"
A flaming crescent-shaped slash surged forward, instantly cutting three Prajna members in half at the waist.
Only the Prajna leader remained. Kakashi finished him with a Lightning Blade.
In the blink of an eye, the Prajna Group was completely wiped out by Guy, Kakashi, and Itachi.
Kakashi retrieved the classified scroll from the leader's hand and passed it to Guy.
"Your mission is complete. Return to the village…"
Before Guy could respond, a scream rang out behind them.
It turned out that Itachi was delivering finishing blows, killing all the shinobi Guy had merely knocked unconscious.
"Hey! What are you doing?!" Guy shouted at Itachi.
Kakashi calmly explained, "This was part of the mission."
"But that doesn't mean—"
Before Guy could stop them, even Kakashi began killing the remaining survivors with shuriken.
After confirming that no one was left alive, Itachi reported, "No issues, Captain. All enemies have been eliminated."
Guy stared at his former friend in disbelief. They were standing right beside each other, yet it felt as though they were drifting farther and farther apart.
Not long after returning to Konoha, Itachi was summoned back to the Uchiha clan compound by Uchiha Fugaku.
Fugaku informed him of the Uchiha clan meeting scheduled for the following day.
However, Itachi refused.
Since joining the ANBU, Itachi had grown increasingly disillusioned with both the narrow-mindedness of the Uchiha clan and the foolishness of Konoha's upper leadership.
When he first entered ANBU, Itachi had hoped to change the clan's situation. He had actively tried to serve as a bridge between the Uchiha and the village leadership, believing dialogue could resolve misunderstandings and alter the course of events.
But all of it proved futile.
In Itachi's eyes, the hatred between the Uchiha clan and Konoha had reached its peak. All it would take was a single spark to ignite a full-scale war.
After repeated disappointments, Itachi no longer held hope for either the Uchiha or Konoha's leadership.
He no longer believed the conflict could be resolved. Instead, he hoped that through his own strength, he could remove innocent Uchiha—those unwilling to be dragged into war—from the coming vortex of destruction.
Itachi knew exactly what the clan meeting would entail. As resentment continued to fester, calls for a coup within the clan had grown louder. Even Fugaku—once hesitant—was now gradually leaning toward rebellion.
The meeting would be nothing more than the hawkish faction mobilizing the entire clan to overthrow Konoha.
"Don't you know what day tomorrow is?!" Fugaku barked. "Have you still not figured out where you stand?!"
"I have a mission tomorrow," Itachi replied expressionlessly.
"What mission?!"
"I can't say. It's classified."
Fugaku stared at Itachi with piercing eyes.
"Itachi, you are also the bridge between the clan and the village's central authority. You understand that, don't you?"
"I understand…"
"Then remember this well—you are an Uchiha shinobi! And you must attend tomorrow's meeting!"
Itachi left the room. Just as he was about to return to his own quarters, Uchiha Shisui suddenly appeared and stopped him.
"It's been a long time, Itachi. Can we talk?"
Itachi nodded silently.
The two arrived near a waterfall.
Shisui asked, "What's going on?"
"I want to hear your true thoughts, Itachi. I used to think you were the same as me—but now I can't see through you anymore. You feel like a stranger."
He paused, then asked the same question as before.
"Are you an Uchiha shinobi—or a Konoha shinobi?"
"I am a shinobi. Nothing more," Itachi answered calmly.
Shisui studied him for a moment, then laughed softly—though the smile was tinged with bitterness.
"Itachi… do you remember how you answered me the first time I asked that question? You said, 'I am an Uchiha shinobi, and I am also a Konoha shinobi. The two do not conflict.'
"Now you say, 'I am a shinobi, nothing more.' Should I understand that as—you are neither an Uchiha shinobi nor a Konoha shinobi?"
Itachi remained silent.
Shisui smiled wryly.
"Forget it. The answer isn't important anymore. But because of that, I can finally ask you something."
"What is it?"
"Does your father, Uchiha Fugaku… truly intend to launch a coup?"
"The Uchiha's dissatisfaction with the village is steadily growing. If things remain as they are, the clan will eventually exceed its limit of endurance."
Itachi didn't answer directly—but the meaning was unmistakable.
"If the village changes, will the Uchiha change as well…? But if the Uchiha don't change, neither will the village…"
As long as both sides continued to distrust one another, things would only worsen.
"I want to eliminate this suspicion. If the Uchiha launch a coup, it will bring nothing but tragedy to both sides."
Shisui extended his right hand.
"So, Itachi—will you help me change the future of the Uchiha clan?"
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