"Have you found out who's spreading rumors against Itachi in Konoha?!"
Inside the Hokage's Office stood Sarutobi Hiruzen, Uchiha Itachi, and an Anbu Ninja.
With his hands clasped behind his back, Sarutobi Hiruzen stood by the office window and questioned the Anbu Ninja, his expression grim and his back turned.
The Anbu Ninja bowed his head and answered truthfully, "Not yet, but they seem to have come from the Uchiha Clan first."
Sarutobi Hiruzen let out a heavy breath.
He turned and walked over to Uchiha Itachi, looking ashamed. "Itachi, I'm sorry. I failed to notice the negative rumors spreading about you in time, and I didn't stop them right away."
Early that morning, Sarutobi Hiruzen had advised Uchiha Itachi to forget what he had discussed with Uchiha Chisen and not tell anyone else about it.
His aim had been to help Uchiha Itachi conceal his so-called future evil.
But who could have imagined...
In just half a day, rumors about Itachi's "future evil" had spread throughout the village.
With so many people embellishing the story,
it had even turned into outright lies!
Uchiha Itachi merely shook his head calmly. "Lord Hokage, I don't mind. My reputation matters far less to me than Konoha's peace and stability."
He looked down at his hands hanging at his sides and continued, "It's not entirely a bad thing. This gives me a chance to get used to being reviled and cursed by countless people ahead of time."
Sarutobi Hiruzen froze for a moment.
This boy, Itachi... he must truly believe, without a shred of doubt, that he will destroy the Uchiha Clan in the future.
When Uchiha Sasuke returned to the Uchiha Compound alone, he was in a daze. Two faint tear tracks he had failed to wipe away still marked his