Bloodless Revolution

Four months later.

Konoha Year 56, June.

Kagami and Tobi had agreed to meet once every day to check on each other's condition. After all, they were both members of the Akatsuki and needed to help each other.

Of course, Tobi had been busy with something lately and did not want Kagami to know about it, so they only met briefly each day and parted if nothing was wrong.

Kagami said nothing about it either. He vaguely remembered that, during this period, Obito—Tobi—should have been investigating the Uchiha Clan Monument. Kagami had no interest whatsoever in the contents Black Zetsu had tampered with.

This morning, Kagami and Tobi met as usual. Kagami had assumed that Tobi would leave after saying hello, but unexpectedly, Tobi spoke to him this time.

"I heard the Uchiha Police Force has tightened security recently?"

"Can't you sense it yourself? There's no need to hear about it. Whenever we take action, we can both feel that we're being watched more closely than before, whether by the Uchiha or by Konoha."

Tobi's face could not be seen beneath his mask, so Kagami had no idea what he was thinking. Tobi asked him,

"What do you think the final outcome between Konoha and the Uchiha will be?"

Although Tobi was something like a behind-the-scenes boss, his grasp of the overall situation was inferior to Itachi's and Kagami's. So asking Kagami was clearly more reliable than making his own guess.

Kagami looked at the blood-red eye beneath Tobi's mask. He realized something, but still answered him.

"The conflict has reached its peak. Now it's time for it to erupt. The Uchiha and Konoha will either fight a bloody battle, or use some means to eliminate the other before that battle can happen. I think the second possibility is far more likely, because neither the Uchiha nor Konoha is willing to fight a bloody battle. So it will come down to whose methods are better, and who can destroy the other side."

Kagami was right. In the original story, Fugaku ultimately planned to achieve a Bloodless Revolution through Itachi, while Konoha planned to rely on Itachi to reconcile the relationship between the Uchiha and Konoha. In short, neither side wanted a bloody battle.

"Heh. Then I hope the Uchiha are the ones who get destroyed."

Tobi gave a cold laugh.

"Why?"

Kagami asked.

"I need some Sharingan. They're useful to me. If the Uchiha are the ones who get destroyed, and you're interested, perhaps we can lend a hand and obtain some Sharingan for our own use."

That was Tobi's answer, but this time Kagami did not respond. He fell silent.

"Then our meeting ends here for today."

Tobi did not intend to wait for Kagami's answer. He said that and vanished from the spot with Kamui.

At the Fugaku residence.

In the corridor, Itachi brushed past Fugaku. Fugaku spoke first.

"You should know that there's a clan meeting in three days, right?"

"I don't."

Shadow covered Itachi's eyes, and his voice was utterly calm.

"After the meeting, go to Naka Shrine alone. Don't bring any Anbu subordinates."

Fugaku paid no attention to Itachi's answer. With his back turned to Itachi, he continued speaking.

"I'll be leaving the village tomorrow to carry out a mission."

Itachi also turned his back to Fugaku and spoke. Afterward, he started walking forward.

"Don't run away."

Fugaku spoke again.

"Run away? What am I running away from?"

"Your destiny as an Uchiha."

Itachi froze and said nothing.

"Remember that. I'll be waiting for you."

After saying this, Fugaku also walked away in the opposite direction.

Their conversation ended there.

Three days later.

Many Uchiha clansmen walked out of Naka Shrine. The meeting had ended, and they were preparing to return home.

Itachi led a group of Anbu hidden among the branches, silently watching the Uchiha. He saw Izumi walking home with a girl, chatting and laughing, and saw his mother walking home with a gloomy expression.

No one knew what Itachi was feeling beneath his Anbu mask.

After a while, Itachi ordered his subordinates,

"Wait here."

"But, Captain—"

"Report everything to Lord Danzo as it happened."

His blood-red Sharingan was clearly visible beneath the mask.

A while later.

Inside Naka Shrine, Fugaku stood before the Uchiha Clan Monument with his back to the entrance.

When Itachi entered, this was the scene he saw.

Fugaku sensed Itachi's arrival and spoke with his back still turned to him.

"Only those who possess the Sharingan can read this stone tablet, and even they can understand only part of it. You possess the Mangekyō Sharingan, so you should be able to read more."

Itachi had already removed his mask. Looking at his father's back, he spoke.

"Do you want me to tell you what it says?"

"That won't be necessary."

Fugaku turned around. The three-tomoe pattern in his eyes had disappeared, replaced by a strange design.

Itachi's eyes widened.

"The Mangekyō! Father has it too?"

Fugaku answered,

"During the Third Shinobi World War, a friend saved my life at the cost of his own. Amid blood and tears, I awakened the Mangekyō."

After saying this, Fugaku brought the topic back to the stone tablet.

"This stone tablet records the Uchiha Clan's path to salvation. However, even with the Mangekyō Sharingan, I can't read the writing farther on. It seems we can still go further. Still, even if you can read only part of it, you should understand what sort of mistaken situation the Uchiha Clan currently finds itself in. Itachi."

Itachi immediately retorted,

"Even so, that doesn't mean we can try to overthrow them by force—"

Fugaku cut him off.

"The village's leaders fear us, which is why they persecute us. They fear the power of the Sharingan."

"That's true. There are even rumors that the Uchiha might use the Sharingan to control the Nine-Tails."

Fugaku closed his eyes angrily as he spoke.

"That was a legend about Madara Uchiha. No one has done such a thing since him, and no one even knows whether it's possible. Despite that, the village leaders still fear that former ghost. Because of their fear, they isolated us. Since they fear us, then we can only take power ourselves."

Itachi began questioning him directly.

"Father, are you planning to become Hokage through force?"

"Because this is the clan's wish. I cannot stop everyone. But to avoid using force, I have concealed the fact that I possess the Mangekyō Sharingan."

"Why?"

"The Mangekyō Sharingan can control the Nine-Tails. If people found out, our Uchiha Clan might do something even more terrifying."

As he said this, Fugaku turned around and cast a genjutsu on Itachi with his Mangekyō.

"Look."

Within the genjutsu.

Itachi saw the Uchiha clansmen learn that their father possessed the Mangekyō. Several of them then kidnapped Naruto and threw him in front of Fugaku, speaking excitedly.

"We brought the Jinchuriki!"

"Get started!"

"The captain can do it!"

"Please, Captain."

"Show them the Uchiha's power!"

Fugaku then activated his Mangekyō and released the Nine-Tails, causing it to rampage and inflict tremendous damage on the village.

The genjutsu ended.

Itachi collapsed to his knees in disbelief.

"How could this happen..."

Fugaku continued speaking.

"Many people in the clan harbor resentment toward the village. If they're pushed too far, they would absolutely do something like this. Both sides would likely suffer enormous losses. But Itachi, as long as you're here, you can control the village leaders while they're off guard. Although small-scale battles will be unavoidable, as long as you, an Anbu member, help us, the Bloodless Revolution can succeed."

"The Bloodless Revolution..."

"Itachi, you're my son. Please, help the clan!"

This was the path Fugaku had laid out for Itachi: Should he help Konoha suppress the Uchiha, or help the Uchiha achieve a Bloodless Revolution? Itachi needed to make a choice.

Itachi left, leaving only Fugaku behind.

But immediately afterward, Kagami emerged from the darkness in an Akatsuki Robe.

"Clan Head, how do you think Big Brother Itachi will choose?"

Fugaku was not surprised at all by Kagami's appearance.

"I don't know. Although he's my son, I can sense that his Sharingan can see farther than mine. No matter what, I'll believe in his decision."

"I see."

Kagami nodded, then retreated into the darkness.

Because of Itachi's identity as an Anbu member, Kagami had always been careful not to interact with him too much. But he had already made contact with Fugaku, who knew of his existence.

Hello, everyone! Yesterday, I created a book review section and posted Kagami's Mangekyō there. If you're interested, you can go take a look.

Today, I saw some readers say that Kagami's Mangekyō was too complicated and could even serve as an Eternal Mangekyō. I've thought about this too. Yes, this was my mistake. I chose a relatively complicated design at the time, so I apologize to everyone.

But since the design has already been chosen, I'll try not to change it if possible. I'll slowly think of a design for the Eternal Mangekyō. If I truly can't come up with one, I'll change it later.

I hope everyone can help me think of one. My abilities are limited on my own, and I really need everyone's help! I really, really do! Please! If you have any good ideas, you can post them in the comments, send me a private message, or tell me in the group. Any of those is fine!

Here's the group number: 870904747

Thank you!