Disposing of Uchiha Itachi

The next day, at the Uchiha Naka Shrine, a group of Uchiha surrounded a young man in the center, their cries of condemnation echoing throughout the shrine.

The youth surrounded in the middle was clearly Uchiha Itachi. The reason for the condemnation was that he had previously killed more than a dozen clan members.

Meanwhile, Uchiha Fugaku, the Clan Head, stood solemnly atop the platform without saying a word, leaving the decision on how to deal with Uchiha Itachi to the clan members' joint deliberation.

This was also the helplessness of being Clan Head. Even when facing his own son, for the sake of the clan's stability, he could not show favoritism and directly order that Uchiha Itachi be forgiven for what he had done. He could only plead for leniency as a father when necessary.

Minagawa Uchiha stood quietly behind Uchiha Fugaku as well. Since awakening the Mangekyō Sharingan, he had been regarded by the clan as the Uchiha's hope. His status was naturally no longer what it had once been, and he was now qualified to stand atop the platform instead of looking up at others.

Although Minagawa Uchiha greatly valued Uchiha Itachi's strength, in the end, this had been Uchiha Itachi's own choice. No matter who it was, they should bear responsibility for the mistakes they had made.

However, what Minagawa Uchiha and Uchiha Fugaku had not expected was that, at a time when everyone was condemning Uchiha Itachi in unison, Uchiha Setsuna, the representative of the militant faction, would be the first to step forward and speak up for him.

"Clan members, please hear me out."

That shout silenced every clan member, and they all turned to stare at Uchiha Setsuna, who had always preached Uchiha supremacy.

"I understand all of you who have had family members harmed, but Uchiha Itachi was deceived by the Third Hokage and the others in the high command. He did not willingly do such a thing. You all watched him grow up. He was once the clan's pride and hope, and I believe you all know just how gifted and sensible Uchiha Itachi was as a child."

"He was misled by the Third Hokage and his people. We have all deeply felt the exclusion we have suffered over the years. Uchiha Itachi joined the Third Hokage's Anbu in order to build a bridge of communication between the Uchiha and the village."

"But the high command led by the Third Hokage never intended to leave our Uchiha a way out. They only wanted to wipe us out completely. It was in such a complicated situation that Uchiha Itachi took on the task of fighting for the Uchiha's right to speak among the village's high command."

"It was also under these circumstances that the Third Hokage saw through Itachi's identity. Taking advantage of his youth and inadequate understanding of the world, they instilled the Will of Fire in him and distorted the Uchiha Clan into an Unstable Factor within the village, thereby misleading him into attacking our Uchiha Clan."

"Everyone here should understand the relationship between the clan and the individual, right? If someone asked you to betray the clan, perhaps some people might do so for profit. But if it were merely for some ideal that they asked you to slaughter your own relatives and friends, would you agree?

I imagine none of you would. That is because you already possess the most basic values. But Uchiha Itachi was too young. He did not understand, and that gave the high command their opportunity.

However, after Minagawa Uchiha explained things to him, Uchiha Itachi finally awakened from the lies woven by the high command. He pulled back from the brink and told us about the intelligence concerning Konoha High Command and the Masked Man who had framed our Uchiha Clan. Without him, we would have been ambushed and exterminated by the Anbu dispatched by Konoha High Command last night. We would never have been able to kill Shimura Danzō and his Root in return."

"So, I ask everyone to forgive Itachi for his youth and ignorance, especially given the great service he has rendered. Of course, the clan will also compensate the victims."

After Uchiha Setsuna finished speaking with a sincere expression, the surrounding Uchiha clan members were left with mixed feelings.

Some were astonished that Uchiha Setsuna had changed his attitude and spoken for Uchiha Itachi. Some were furious at Uchiha Itachi for trusting the village's high command so easily and resented his failure to meet expectations. Naturally, there were also those unwilling to accept it, who still hated Uchiha Itachi.

For a time, the Uchiha clan members below began discussing it among themselves. Some agreed with Uchiha Setsuna's view, some cursed the village's high command for being inhuman, and some wept bitterly, unwilling to accept it.

Seeing all this, Uchiha Fugaku could no longer remain a spectator as Uchiha Itachi's father.

"Ahem, clan members."

Uchiha Fugaku gave a loud cough, drawing everyone's attention.

"As Uchiha Itachi's father, I failed to teach my son properly. I apologize to all clan members, and to every victim and their family. My family is willing to bear any compensation required."

"As a father, please forgive my selfishness. I would also like to explain Itachi's circumstances in hopes of earning your forgiveness."

"Itachi was born into my family as Clan Head. As the Young Clan Head, he had to work toward reviving the clan from childhood. He went to war at the age of four. Even in a peaceful village, he never had the childhood that children from other families enjoyed. He had to undergo all kinds of training year after year, which was why he gained such fame at such a young age.

"Later, in order to establish a channel of communication with the village, he joined the Anbu when he was barely over ten years old and took part in all kinds of dangerous missions.

"This caused the clan's instruction of him to focus mostly on strength, leaving little time to teach him other things.

"That allowed Sarutobi Hiruzen to exploit the opening and easily instill many views harmful to the clan in him, ultimately leading to the sins he has committed today."

"Therefore, I earnestly beg you all to forgive Uchiha Itachi for the sake of all I have contributed as Clan Head over the years. My family and I are willing to spend the rest of our lives repaying the harm he has caused you.

"Please."

After speaking, Uchiha Fugaku knelt before the clan members, pressing his forehead firmly against the ground with utmost sincerity.

Seeing their Clan Head humble himself so greatly, the Uchiha clan members gradually fell silent. Even those whose family members had died at Uchiha Itachi's hands looked at the kneeling Uchiha Fugaku with bewildered expressions.

Ever since the Third Shinobi World War, when Uchiha Fugaku led the Uchiha Clan in holding back the entire assault of Kirigakure, he had established immense prestige within the clan. This was also why, despite the many injustices the clan had suffered, Uchiha Fugaku had still been able to suppress any rebellion.

Furthermore, Uchiha Fugaku had now revealed that he possessed the Mangekyō Sharingan. During this clan extermination incident, he had not only led the clan members in preserving the Uchiha Clan, but had also killed the chief culprit, Shimura Danzō, in return.

Even setting aside Itachi's two other pairs of Mangekyō Sharingan, they had to acknowledge the achievements of this leader. Therefore, under such circumstances, Uchiha Fugaku remained a highly capable and respected Clan Head in the hearts of the clan members.

And now that their Clan Head had pleaded so deeply for his son, even the victims were at a loss for what to do.

In the end, an elderly woman finally stepped forward and relented.

"There is no need for this, Clan Head. I have lived to this age largely under the clan's protection. Since the Clan Head and the clan members have both given their reasons, I am not someone who fails to appreciate kindness. Let this matter go this time. I only hope that Uchiha Itachi will not disturb my life again in the future. I do not want to see him again."