"Looks like nothing I say matters anymore."
Ever since learning about the Explosive Tags, Minato Namikaze had been worrying about Konoha. Now that the day had finally come, he found that he was neither shocked nor saddened.
Instead, he felt strangely relieved.
"Father, do you want to know why Konoha is acting so strangely tonight?"
Naruto's mind stirred as his consciousness entered the Sealed Space. He had just sensed that the barrier around the Uchiha Clan Compound had suddenly been withdrawn. The Third Hokage had also gone alone to a certain spot and stopped there, as if waiting for someone.
"You can come out now. I've sent everyone else away."
The Third Hokage came to a sudden stop on one of the floors of the Police Department office building.
"Thank you for going to the trouble."
Itachi Uchiha emerged from the shadows. He glanced at the Third Hokage's back, lowered his head, and dropped to one knee.
The Third Hokage did not turn around. He merely said calmly, "First, I must thank you. You prevented a civil war in Konoha and preserved the village's peace."
"But I deeply regret everything that happened, because there truly was no other way."
"Yes." Itachi Uchiha lowered his head even further. "I'm very sorry."
The Third Hokage could not hear any emotion in Itachi Uchiha's voice, so he continued, "What are your plans from here on?"
Itachi Uchiha raised his head slightly, looking somewhat exhausted. "I borrowed the power of someone from an organization called Akatsuki. I've decided to remain by his side and continue working with him, to prevent him from breaking his promise."
The Third Hokage's gaze darkened at that name. "The Akatsuki Organization?"
Danzo had mentioned some time ago that Orochimaru was now in that organization. The Third Hokage had