Chapter 245

"Get out!"

"Don't be so arrogant!"

A chorus of angry curses erupted.

In an instant, it felt as if a tremendous force enveloped Itachi, making it hard for him to breathe.

Public opinion swept through the entire underground space.

For a moment, Itachi had no strength left to refute.

Is this the end...?

A future of annihilation for a race...

Itachi slowly turned around and walked weakly outside.

Soon...

"Wait a moment!"

Izumi Uchiha's voice sounded from behind.

Although Itachi stopped, he didn't have the strength to turn around and look at her.

"Itachi, if we don't go back soon, we'll really be considered traitors..." Izumi, her eyes swollen from crying, chased after them desperately.

"It's... alright now." Itachi didn't turn around, his voice becoming subdued.

Izumi: "Go back and explain it to everyone properly. If you're going to tell them seriously..."

A slender hand rested on her shoulder from behind.

It was as if they were trying to persuade him to stay.

"Impossible, because... there's nothing left to cherish."

Itachi forcefully pulled the hand off the back of Izumi's shoulder, without turning around to look at her.

"Itachi~! Itachi~!"

Amidst Izumi's heart-wrenching cries, Itachi, equally grieving, gradually walked away.

Soon, Itachi returned to the secret office he had been assigned to.

Soon after, Horse-Face, who was attending the clan meeting under the identity of Kahara Uchiha, also returned.

"Absolutely amazing!"

The Horse-Face the Ox-Head.

At the end of the meeting, the Uchiha Clan naturally chose to launch a coup on a later date.

"I wonder what methods they will use to deal with the third generation, who is known as the Professor. I'm really looking forward to it..."

Itachi, of course, heard the despicable laughter of Ox-Head and Horse-Face.

The two brothers glanced at the unmoved Itachi and said, "Well then, it's about time to report today's results to the higher-ups."

"Random."

Itachi said in a low voice.

Late that night.

Itachi appeared in the Hokage Building conference room.

He knelt on one knee and reported the results of the routine meeting to the four senior executives.

"This has come to an extreme degree!!"

Utatane Koharu with the most fiery temper, was the first to stand up after hearing Itachi's report.

"If they intend to seize power under the banner of revolution, then the Uchiha Clan can only be treated as rebels!"

Regarding the Uchiha Clan's rebellion.

Naturally... we should completely eliminate them!

From top to bottom, from old to young, even babies, no one is spared!

"Koharu, don't be so quick to speak," Hiruzen Sarutobi scolded, frowning.

"However, in order to prevent the Uchiha Clan from harming the village, we should strike first! Including the Uchiha Clan children who know nothing!" Utatane Koharu said firmly about the extermination plan.

Hiruzen Sarutobi: "Don't say such things in front of Itachi!"

Listening to the arguments among the higher-ups.

Itachi simply remained silently in place.

Don't say these things in front of me, which means... that the higher-ups have already discussed these matters behind the scenes?

This means...

The Third Hokage's mind held the same ideas as Danzo's.

One represents light, the other represents darkness.

But...

Light and darkness are two sides of the same coin, both existing within the circle of Konoha.

They are inseparable.

And this is the essence of Konoha.

"We can't easily start a war with the Uchiha. There must be other ways..." Hiruzen Sarutobi frowned, deep in thought.

Itachi, however, was wondering just how seriously this man was thinking about the clan's affairs.

Shisui's death happened last year.

If we needed a solution, we should have come up with it long ago.

But after six months, no solution has emerged.

So what exactly did the Third Hokage do during those six months?

Mitokado Homura: "Sarutobi, if your Anbu, together with Danzo's Root, launch a surprise attack and carry out a decapitation strike..."

Danzo: "No... Fugaku Uchiha's right Mangekyō Dōjutsu hasn't been revealed yet, we can't act rashly..."

Listening to this jumbled mess of words.

Itachi felt... complete darkness before his eyes; it was all too late.

Shisui bought six months with his reputation and his life.

The higher-ups in front of them didn't take it seriously at all.

It's just a pure waste.

"Weasel."

Finally, the third generation looked at himself.

"Please stall for a little longer, I beg you, I'll figure something out..."

"Yes."

Itachi's hollow words echoed in the conference room...

After the meeting.

Danzo found Itachi waiting outside.

"You heard what Hiruzen Sarutobi just said. In an emergency, he will protect Konoha with his life. No matter how kind and gentle he is usually, he will show his true colors when it matters. And that... is the true nature of the village."

This is also the truth of the Will of Fire.

If you don't infringe on someone's interests, then you're a pushover.

Once their interests are threatened, they transform into the most vicious bureaucratic capitalism.

"So... you understand."

Danzo, of course, understood Danzo's words.

Itachi was well aware of the Third Hokage's self-righteous hypocrisy.

And at this moment.

Itachi had a remarkable understanding of Danzo's inner thoughts.

And they reached a consensus...

Danzo: "A ninja is someone who protects the village in the shadows..."

Itachi nodded slightly, because Shisui had also said that ninjas are beings who hide in the darkness and cannot see the light.

Danzo: "Regardless of whether a civil war breaks out, when the Uchiha decided to stage a coup, they had no future."

That's true.

Because the Uchiha only 200 ninjas, facing thousands upon thousands of Konoha Ninja.

There was absolutely no chance of winning.

--Unless their decapitation operation and plan to kidnap the Third Hokage succeed.

173. The Feast at Konoha: Inviting Akito

"And your brother who knows nothing... Sasuke Uchiha."

Danzo mentioned Sasuke.

To make Itachi a sharp blade in his hands.

Danzo decided to make a deal with Itachi.

"If a coup breaks out, your brother will witness the massacre of his people by the village, and he will undoubtedly harbor thoughts of revenge against the village. However, there is still a chance; you can save your brother..."

Danzo threw out a bait.

Itachi knew that his clansmen were beyond saving.

So, compared to the complete annihilation of the Uchiha...

Saving his brother and gaining a survivor made for a good deal.

Danzo: "Whether you side with the village and your entire clan is wiped out, except for your younger brother, or you side with your clan and are all wiped out together, that's your choice..."

"What do you want me to do?" Itachi asked.

"Of course... you will personally go and wipe out the Uchiha Clan."

Danzo put forward conditions.

Because Konoha must maintain its glorious and righteous image, it cannot afford to sully its own hands.

While Konoha could morally justify its rebellion under the banner of eliminating traitors, the Uchiha Clan's actions were still somewhat flawed.

Therefore, the most perfect approach would be to have the Uchiha kill the Uchiha, then pin the blame on Itachi, making him appear as a heartless clan-exterminating tyrant.

In this way, the village can absolve itself of all responsibility.

"In exchange, as I've already stated, your younger brother will live, he will continue to grow up in Konoha, and become a Konoha Ninja with the Will of Fire... while you will bear the hatred from your brother and become a rogue missing-nin your clan."

"..."

Itachi remained silent.

After a long pause, he nodded.

"Very good." Danzo's lips curled into a sinister smile.

The Second Hokage's unfulfilled wish.