"Once the Uchiha clan goes to war against Konoha, the outcome will inevitably be mutual destruction. At that point, there will be internal turmoil within the village, and other great nations will seize the opportunity to invade, triggering a shinobi world war…
Even from the standpoint of clan interests, the Uchiha would be labeled war criminals and sinners for launching a rebellion, forever nailed to the pillar of shame in history!
I can't allow that to happen…
The only way to preserve the Uchiha's honor is to wipe out the clan entirely…"
Sarutobi Hiruzen let out a long sigh.
"Itachi, so that's your final resolve?"
"I never imagined you'd see through matters to such depth. As I once said, even at a young age you already possess the mindset of a Hokage. By now, your insight, breadth of view, and capacity may even surpass my own as Hokage…"
"But if you make this decision, your personal reputation…"
Itachi's eyes showed no ripple of emotion.
"That doesn't matter.
I'm willing to shoulder the inhuman, universally-condemned sin of such an act.
Perhaps that is my mission…"
Hiruzen had no answer to that.
Koharu and Homura exchanged glances.
"Itachi, we do admire and appreciate that you can stand on the village's side—even the entire shinobi world's side—letting go of narrow clan loyalties. But there's one final issue…"
"Are you truly capable of it?"
"Can you, by your power alone, annihilate the entire Uchiha clan?
The clan's might is by no means insignificant…" New ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄhapters are published on novel✦fire.net
Itachi shook his head.
"No, the only real threat among them is Uchiha Chiyu.
The Uchiha clan doesn't amount to much in my eyes.
Even my father hasn't awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan—let alone the other clansmen…"
"But that one man, Uchiha Chiyu, is already extremely difficult to handle. You must have heard, even Danzo…"
But I do have one person in mind who can go head-to-head with Uchiha Chiyu."
At that, Sarutobi Hiruzen and the other two turned pale in unison.
Isn't he long since…?"
"Maybe he's not truly Uchiha Madara, but his strength is unfathomable. And…
He's the one behind the Nine-Tails attack in the past. The Fourth Hokage and the previous Nine-Tails Jinchūriki both died at his hands!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen felt a shock:
"So it was that masked man?!"
"Yes, Hokage-sama, you…"
"I once caught a glimpse from a distance during the Nine-Tails incident…"
Itachi paused mid-sentence, sensing that the Hokage was lying, but that no longer mattered.
He described his conversation with "Uchiha Madara."
Sarutobi Hiruzen and his two advisers looked at each other.
"If it's him, indeed he could defeat Uchiha Chiyu—maybe even kill him!"
Itachi wasn't as optimistic:
"We don't need him to kill Chiyu, only to hold him off.
After that, it'll be simple."
"The Uchiha clan isn't all that strong.
Without Uchiha Chiyu, using my power plus Hokage-sama's Anbu, the Sarutobi clan, and the Shimura clan's forces, wiping out the Uchiha is child's play.
Actually…my strength alone should suffice.
Unless absolutely necessary, Hokage-sama, there's no need for you to act—maintaining the high standing of the Konoha leadership…"
Hiruzen nodded, sighing:
"You've thought all this through as well…
Truly, it pains me for you."
A trace of desolation flickered in Itachi's eyes.
"I'm willing to endure this agonizing destiny."
Then he rose from his kneeling position, as though he'd made up his mind.
"Once Father—no, the Patriarch—returns, he'll definitely convene the high-level elders at the Naka Shrine. At that moment, as long as 'Uchiha Madara' keeps Uchiha Chiyu occupied, I'll handle everyone else."
"However, I have one last condition."
"No matter how things turn out, I want the Hokage to do one thing…
Take good care of my younger brother, Uchiha Sasuke.
Ensure he grows up safely. He will bear intense hatred for me one day, growing stronger and stronger…
And one day, it would be best if I met my end at his hands.
That way, the Uchiha's honor can be preserved; Sasuke can live on in this shinobi world as a hero."
Sarutobi Hiruzen felt a stir at hearing the name Sasuke.
"I understand. I will do all I can to protect Sasuke."
He seemed about to say something else but finally kept silent, turning around and leaving the Hokage's office.
Watching his retreating figure, Koharu and Homura shared complicated expressions.
"He really is a terrifying individual…"
"He's only around ten years old, right?
Yet he has such profound scheming and ruthless determination…"
"Compared with him, Shisui looks like a sheet of blank paper…"
Sarutobi Hiruzen let out a cold chuckle:
"All the better. No need for me to push him—he's already reached the best conclusion himself.
Indeed, beside Itachi, Shisui hardly measures up."
"Uchiha Itachi… Now this is the best kind of dog!"
"But, Hiruzen, you truly believe Uchiha Itachi can destroy the entire clan?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen said:
"It'll be fine. With the Mangekyō Sharingan, he's on a completely different level from normal Sharingan users. And…
He harbors an extremely deep capacity for love and hate. His Mangekyō powers are beyond imagining.
Previously, Fugaku sent Yashiro, Inabi, Tekkā—three elite jōnin—to watch Itachi. In the end, all three were instantly taken down by his genjutsu and had that chunk of memory erased from their minds."
"Hmph, those three were among the best in the Uchiha, and he still finished them in a blink. How much less the rest, especially with no Mangekyō?"
Homura asked another crucial question:
"That so-called Uchiha Madara—can he really kill Uchiha Chiyu?"
"Hiruzen, remember he's also the one who slew Biwako by unleashing the Nine-Tails, right?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen said icily:
"Hmph, we're just using each other. Even if he has ulterior motives, at least here we share a common goal.
"And what about Jiraiya?"
"He won't accept that we're cooperating with the culprit behind Minato's death."
Hiruzen fell silent for a moment.
"He only needs to know what we want him to know.
Plus, I never intended for him to join the Uchiha eradication.
If—somehow—the masked man and Itachi fail to handle Uchiha Chiyu, Jiraiya will be our last trump card…"
"Of course, the Anbu, Sarutobi clan, and Shimura clan forces can't just stand idle. All three of us must be ready at any moment!"
"Right, we understand, Hiruzen."
Sarutobi Hiruzen rose to his feet, a fierce light glinting in his eyes.
"This feud has dragged on long enough…
It's time to settle accounts—once and for all—with Uchiha Chiyu, and with the entire Uchiha clan!"
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