The Long Way Around Is the Shortcut

"...In short, the shinobi villages can only survive because the Daimyo provide them with funds and resources."

Thanks to Shirozumi's help to Sasuke, Itachi now had a very favorable impression of him.

Even when he heard Shirozumi urging Kisame to assassinate the Daimyo, he didn't show any displeasure. Instead, he began explaining the Daimyo's role to Shirozumi.

"Itachi, you're wrong."

After listening to Itachi's argument, Shirozumi shook his head.

"I heard there's a saying in Konoha: You don't become Hokage and then earn everyone's approval. You earn everyone's approval, and then you can become Hokage.

The same goes for the title of 'Daimyo.'

It wasn't the Daimyo who provided resources and fed everyone. It was the farmers and workers who kept the Daimyo alive, the merchants who kept goods flowing, and the shinobi villages that provided security.

If the Daimyo had enough ability to govern, then fine.

But think about the Daimyo we have now. Do they really have what it takes?

They're just a bunch of parasites who inherited power through the hereditary system and suck the life out of their countries.

It isn't the Daimyo who make people happy and safe. Only those who make people happy and safe are qualified to lead a country.

Since we're already preparing to start a revolution and put an end to the Blood Mist traditions, we might as well use this opportunity to fix as many of the mistakes of the past as we can."

Even if the people of Kirigakure shared this idea, they would have a hard time acting on it.

The concept of the Daimyo system had been around for a long time. If they wanted to take action, it would be best to have a bloodless revolution, so they could avoid unrest.

But a bloodless revolution would bring enormous risks, too. If a Daimyo who had lost the right to exploit the people tried to reclaim power, it would cause another round of devastation.

But if blood were spilled, it would inevitably breed hatred. Those who had spent years blindly kneeling in loyalty to the Daimyo would immediately start a rebellion...

"So the best way is for Kisame, as a Rogue Ninja, to do it.

He can shoulder the hatred and so-called crimes himself.

Kisame, you don't mind, do you?"

Everyone turned to look at Kisame.

"I don't mind. Thank you, Strategist. This has shown me a new path. My life has meaning again."

Kisame gave his answer without hesitation, feeling moved.

But someone felt even more deeply than Kisame.

That person was Itachi.

Shirozumi's words had struck him right in the heart.

First came that classic line, brimming with the Will of Fire, about earning everyone's approval before becoming Hokage. Then Shirozumi used it to point out how backward and corrupt the Daimyo system was.

And then there was Shirozumi's suggestion that Kisame bear the hatred and sin as a Rogue Ninja, contributing to Kirigakure.

It all felt so familiar.

"You're right. I was wrong, Strategist. Your vision astounds me."

Uchiha Itachi openly admitted that his thinking had been mistaken.

In the original story, after being revived through Impure World Reincarnation, he realized that the way he had treated Sasuke had been wrong.

He should have trusted in the strength of others instead of setting the course on his own and trying to control everything.

Itachi was actually quite willing to admit his mistakes and change.

The problem was that no one had ever told Itachi he was wrong, or explained why.

The one person qualified and capable of correcting him—the Third Hokage—not only failed to correct this mistake, but praised Itachi for having "the mind of a Hokage" at such a young age, further strengthening Itachi's convictions.

In the end, there was no one to teach him. He could only learn through experience.

After spending a short time together on this Land of Waves mission, Itachi had begun to believe that Shirozumi was a shinobi with the Will of Fire, even outside Konoha—someone with the ability and vision to change the Shinobi World.

Just as he had trusted Naruto in the original story.

Because of that, Itachi felt that as long as he kept following this path, he could accept being used by Shirozumi.

In his conversation with Sasuke earlier, Shirozumi had mentioned the clan's Stone Tablet, as well as how the Sharingan awakened and evolved—even the final method of advancement, which Itachi hadn't known.

But he hadn't mentioned the step before the final one, the way to obtain the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan and gain eyes that would never go blind.

—Replacing your eyes with those of your own brother.

Itachi didn't believe Shirozumi, who knew the entire process, could be unaware of this.

When Shirozumi had asked if he was willing to make a sacrifice, he had probably meant more than simply giving up on harming Sasuke. He had meant going a step further and contributing his eyes.

"Oh, right, Itachi. I forgot to mention something about the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan."

Just as Itachi was lost in his thoughts, Shirozumi's sudden words brought him back to the moment.

"What?"

Itachi looked surprised.

They could have left the matter of the eyes unspoken.

Shirozumi had brought it up himself?

Wasn't he worried that Itachi would realize he was going to lose his eyes and change his mind?

"Awakening the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan requires the eyes of a sibling, whose Dojutsu Power must be fused with your own. I didn't tell Sasuke because I was worried he'd obsess over it and end up going down the wrong path."

Shirozumi continued.

"You're right."

Itachi nodded in agreement.

"Itachi, you're one of the organization's main fighters. You can't afford to lose your eyes.

Besides, Sharingan eyes are hot-swappable. If you replace them with another pair, your combat ability might drop a little, but you'll still be strong enough.

And with something like Susanoo, as long as you have enough Chakra, you can activate it with one eye—or even without eyes at all."

"It's fine. We can talk about that later."

Itachi smiled, touched by Shirozumi's concern for him, and ended the discussion himself.

If he could, he'd of course be willing to contribute more.

But Itachi knew that with his ailing body, making it through another year was already a feat.

He didn't know whether he could use Susanoo without eyes, but he knew he couldn't.

And even if he could, his sickly body wouldn't be able to sustain Susanoo for long.

Still, Shirozumi's mention of this had reminded Itachi of something.

Shisui's Mangekyo Sharingan.

One eye was in his possession, and the other was in Danzo's.

If he got the chance, he could use this as a reason to find a way to take Shisui's eye back from Danzo.

That would keep Danzo from using Kotoamatsukami to do anything bad.

"Strategist, there's something I want to tell you, too."

Itachi raised his hand and pointed to Shirozumi's chest. "Wanting to bring everyone's strength together is a good idea, but don't neglect your own strength."

Itachi saw that Shirozumi was young and had considerable talent. He didn't want him to devote all his energy to strategy.

"My own strength? Of course I know that. Sometimes, though, taking the long way around is the shortcut. It's not that I don't want to train; it's just not time yet."

Shirozumi grabbed Itachi's wrist, and a surge of power flowed into him.

Itachi felt his wrist go numb. His pupils shrank. "Senjutsu Chakra? No... What exactly is this...?"

"No wonder."

"You're right. I was worrying for nothing."

"Of course. How could you, a Strategist who's thought so far ahead, not pay attention to your own condition?"

Itachi didn't know much about Sage Mode, but he understood what Shirozumi meant.

"Fine. Once this mission is over, Kisame and I will go take care of that damned Daimyo!"

Zabuza clenched his fists.