Understanding from His Clan

When he heard Minagawa Uchiha say they were going to take over Konoha, Uchiha Itachi instinctively reacted, his brow furrowing slightly before he quickly relaxed.

Yet Minagawa Uchiha still noticed that fleeting frown.

"What? Do you think the Uchiha Clan isn't qualified to take over Konoha?"

"Leaving aside the Uchiha Clan's current strength, the Uchiha were one of the two great families that founded Konoha, and we have contributed to the village for so many years. The Senju Clan has produced three Hokage already. No matter what, it should be our Uchiha Clan's turn to produce one."

"Moreover, under the manipulations of Sarutobi Hiruzen and A Group of high-ranking officials, the Uchiha's reputation in the village is far from good. The other clans have all been affected to varying degrees as well. If the Hokage comes from among them at a time like this, the Uchiha's situation will not improve in the slightest."

"Therefore, no matter what, the next Hokage must come from the Uchiha Clan. It will be a good thing for both the Uchiha Clan and the other shinobi."

Uchiha Itachi did not argue. His earlier frown had merely been a habit developed over the years. Once he considered it, he understood that the Uchiha desperately needed the Hokage Seat. It would not only benefit the Uchiha, but also break the Senju Clan's monopoly for Konoha's major clans.

So Uchiha Itachi nodded in agreement.

Seeing Uchiha Itachi agree, Minagawa Uchiha said no more. He looked around and saw that the clan members from earlier had not left. They had followed after the battle, though they had not dared approach, having been frightened by the intensity of the fight.

Thus, they only dared keep their distance. Still, they had heard what Minagawa Uchiha had said and came to understand the Uchiha Clan's difficult situation. They could not help feeling lost as they listened in silence until the end.

As for Obito Uchiha, he had vanished the moment Uchiha Itachi dismissed Susanoo. Minagawa Uchiha guessed that Black Zetsu had most likely rescued him during the gap after his clone restrained Uchiha Itachi and Susanoo dissipated.

The most important matter now was resolving this crisis threatening the clan. As for Obito Uchiha, he would have to make time to settle the score with him later.

Minagawa Uchiha did not waste any time. Since he had already persuaded Uchiha Itachi, he stopped restraining him and directly released him.

"Don't worry. There are still plenty of ways for you to atone for your sins. Right now, time is of the essence. We need to see your father first, gather the clan members, prepare our response, and then deal with the true culprit outside who wants to profit from this."

"Conveniently, he is currently alone in the Root Base, perhaps still dreaming of collecting a huge number of Sharingan."

When the surrounding Uchiha clan members saw Minagawa Uchiha release the sinner Uchiha Itachi, they immediately grew restless. Uchiha Itachi was also at a loss, unsure how to face the clan members he had harmed.

Seeing this, Minagawa Uchiha did not make things difficult for him. He stepped forward and said to the surrounding clan members,

"You should have heard our conversation just now. The Anbu have already surrounded the clan compound. The Konoha High Command, led by the Third Hokage, wants to destroy our Uchiha Clan. They do not intend to spare even the elderly and children. Uchiha Itachi previously received precisely such an order."

"Of course, after our conversation just now, you should also understand that he was deceived. He did not know that Sarutobi Hiruzen and the others intended to use a borrowed blade to kill, making our Uchiha Clan slaughter one another. That was why he committed such a grave mistake."

"Now that he has awakened to the truth and the Uchiha face an unprecedented crisis, I hope all of you can temporarily set aside your condemnation of Uchiha Itachi. He is also an important part of our clan's combat power. Let him atone through his deeds for now. Once this crisis of destruction has passed, we can convene a clan meeting and put him on trial."

The surrounding Uchiha clan members naturally understood the situation. None of them wanted to die beneath the Anbu's blades. For the sake of themselves and their families, and because of their strong sense of clan identity, they all began persuading those whose family members had been killed by Uchiha Itachi.

"Yes, Murakami. This is a matter of life and death for our clan. Let Uchiha Itachi atone through his deeds first. Once the crisis has passed, if he is still alive, then make him atone for your child."

"That's right, Kayu. The dead cannot return to life. Your husband was killed while trying to protect you. He would surely want you to live well. But now our entire Uchiha Clan is in danger. Of course, we need him at the forefront, fighting for your chance to survive."

"Grandma Yayoi, you are an elder who has lived through three Shinobi World Wars. You should know that without the protection of a clan, there would be no us today. And Itachi was also misled by Sarutobi Hiruzen. Whether it is to preserve more of the Uchiha Clan's strength or to take revenge on Sarutobi Hiruzen and the others, we need Itachi's power. So please set aside your hatred for him for now."

"..."

Seeing the surrounding clan members continuously persuade the victims' families, Uchiha Itachi felt even worse. He dropped to his knees and lowered his head deeply.

"Everyone, I am truly sorry. I was far too narrow-minded before. I failed to see the vile faces of Sarutobi Hiruzen and the other high-ranking officials, and that led me to commit such a terrible mistake. I do not ask for your forgiveness, but please give me one chance—a chance to give my life. No matter what, I will ensure everyone's safety."

Seeing how remorseful Uchiha Itachi looked, Minagawa Uchiha revealed a smile of relief.

People like Uchiha Itachi often possessed unwavering resolve. Once they accepted a certain logic, they would follow it down a dark path without turning back.

Now, under his guidance, Uchiha Itachi had filled in that logic until it became self-consistent. The chance of him switching sides again was therefore extremely low.

Minagawa Uchiha believed that Uchiha Itachi had now recognized the true nature of the Konoha High Command, which could not tolerate talented people beyond its control. No matter how strange his thought process might become afterward, at least when it came to Uchiha Sasuke, he would undoubtedly be sincere. In this grand counterattack, he would certainly put forth his full strength, while Minagawa Uchiha only needed to provide support and lie low.

After all, Uchiha Fugaku doted on his eldest son. As long as Uchiha Itachi stood on the Uchiha's side, their Clan Head would naturally work just as hard.

With Tsunade and Jiraiya not yet back in the village, Shimura Danzō not having obtained enough Sharingan to possess a hand full of extra lives like in the Original Work, and only Sarutobi Hiruzen at Kage Level, three pairs of Mangekyō Sharingan were more than enough to easily kill Shimura Danzō and force Sarutobi Hiruzen into compromise in this great crisis of the Uchiha Clan's destruction.