After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Yōsuke went straight to the point.
"Itachi, what exactly happened this time that made you come to me for help?"
"I want to take a portion of the clan and leave Konoha."
Yōsuke wasn't surprised. On the contrary, it felt only natural. Back when he had still been in Konoha, he had already sensed how the village targeted the Uchiha clan. It wasn't strange at all that Itachi would choose to lead his people away.
"How many people?"
"Including me, eighteen in total."
Yōsuke looked at Itachi in surprise. "That few?"
Yōsuke remembered that the Uchiha clan had more than two hundred members, yet the number Itachi planned to take away wasn't even a tenth of that.
With a bitter expression, Itachi said, "Most of the clan has chosen to stay in Konoha and launch a coup. I can't change their will, so I can only take those who yearn for peace and leave."
"What do you need me to do?"
Itachi explained, "When the coup begins, my father will cover for us. I'll lead that group of clan members out of Konoha. The real difficulty lies in how we leave the Land of Fire afterward. Most of those leaving aren't even ninja—only a few are genin. Even so, Konoha won't allow us to leave easily. That's why I need to rely on my teacher's strength."
"I understand," Yōsuke said. "I'll stay outside the village for the time being. When you leave Konoha, I'll come to support you."
"Thank you, Master!"
Yōsuke replied gently, "There's no need to thank me. You're my disciple. Whatever decision you make, I'll support it."
Itachi returned to Konoha. Watching his departing figure, Karin asked in confusion, "Yōsuke-sama, is your disciple taking his family away from Konoha? But isn't Konoha a peaceful and prosperous village?"
Yōsuke rubbed Karin head and replied, "Karin, some things can't be judged by appearances. Often, the more bright and beautiful something looks on the surface, the more rotten it already is inside."
At present, the atmosphere in Konoha and within the Uchiha clan was extremely tense.
All Uchiha ninja were ignoring the missions issued by the village. They carried out no orders whatsoever, and every member of the Uchiha clan had withdrawn into their clan compound, refusing to leave.
One year had passed since the death of Uchiha Shisui. After suffering such a blow, the clan's morale had plummeted, and the coup had been postponed for a year.
However, the hatred they harbored toward Konoha had not faded with time. Instead, it had grown heavier and heavier, reaching its peak.
Looking at the clan members below who were constantly cursing Konoha, Fugaku let out a deep sigh.
The coup could no longer be suppressed.
Meanwhile, inside the Hokage Tower.
Hiruzen Sarutobi, Danzō, Homura Mitokado, and Koharu Utatane were all gathered together.
After taking a puff from his pipe, Hiruzen asked gravely, "The Uchiha clan's dissatisfaction with Konoha is on the verge of spiraling out of control. What do you all think about this?"
Danzō said darkly, "The Uchiha are now a ticking time bomb to Konoha. Hiruzen, the village can no longer control this bomb. If we continue to indulge them and it explodes, Konoha will suffer catastrophic damage."
"Is there really no other way?" Hiruzen asked. "Perhaps we could still resolve this peacefully through dialogue?"
Danzō sneered. "Hiruzen, how can you still be so naïve? Shisui Uchiha—the descendant of Kagami—killed himself and left behind a suicide note in hopes of changing the clan's thinking. But over this past year, have the Uchiha changed at all?"
Homura and Koharu echoed his sentiment. "This time, Danzō is right. The Uchiha have never been Konoha's Uchiha. Before they completely lose control and cause irreversible damage, they must be dealt with!"
Hiruzen sighed deeply. "Is there really no second path we can take?"
Homura snapped, "When decisive action is required, it must be taken! Hiruzen, if we suppress them only after they launch the coup, our losses will be even greater!"
How could Hiruzen not understand this? But without the Uchiha, Konoha's overall strength would drop drastically, making it highly likely that other villages would take advantage of the situation.
Danzō radiated killing intent as he spoke. "Hiruzen, remember Tobirama-sama's policy toward the Uchiha. The Uchiha were destined to become a threat to Konoha one day—that's why they were assigned to the Military Police Force, so they could be monitored at all times.
"Now the Uchiha have indeed become a threat. That threat must be eliminated—for the sake of Konoha!
"This time, my Root will cooperate with your ANBU. Long-term pain is worse than short-term pain. We will completely eradicate the Uchiha threat!"
A deep greed gleamed in Danzō's single visible eye.
Hiruzen never let go of the pipe in his hand, puffing on it endlessly, his face filled with sorrow.
After a while, Hiruzen placed the pipe on the table. The sorrow vanished, replaced by a stern expression.
"Send out the notice. From now on, all ninja of chūnin rank and above are to suspend missions and remain on standby throughout the village."
Then he continued, "Danzō, my ANBU will be under your direct command. In two days, we will carry out a full-scale purge of the Uchiha clan."
Danzō suppressed the excitement in his heart and replied, "Yes!"
Meanwhile, inside Naka Shrine.
Izumi tugged on Itachi's sleeve and asked in confusion, "Itachi, I haven't heard of any clan gathering. Why are we being assembled here? And why are there only a dozen or so people?"
Itachi replied gently, "Don't worry. My father wants to announce something."
Everyone present was someone Itachi intended to take away from Konoha. Most of them were children.
Before long, the sound of footsteps approached from outside Naka Shrine, and Uchiha Fugaku's voice followed.
Fugaku swept his gaze across the group, his emotions complex. These people were the future sparks of the Uchiha clan.
"Everyone," Fugaku said, "you must have heard about the recent tension between the Uchiha and Konoha. The Uchiha clan no longer has any space to survive within Konoha. Therefore, we will soon launch a coup to fight for the clan's right to survive."
The moment Fugaku spoke, an uproar broke out. Although the radical faction had hinted at a coup during previous gatherings, this was the first time the clan head, Uchiha Fugaku, had openly declared it.
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