Destroy the Village!

"Alright, alright."

Uchiha Siming followed helplessly back to the Uchiha Clan, with Yashiro muttering the whole way, looking like a disappointed elder scolding a failure.

Old man.

If I really did become steel, I'd scare you stiff.

As soon as he entered the Uchiha compound, Siming felt the oppressive atmosphere. Even the usually kind Pancake Auntie was silent now, carrying a heavy grief.

Going deeper.

Suddenly, an angry roar rang out, pure killing intent making scalps crawl.

"Itachi! You say you didn't kill Shisui? Then how do you know Shisui is dead? If you didn't kill him, then who's the real murderer!"

Uchiha Inabi and Tekka's eyes were bloodshot, their crimson Three Tomoe Sharingan fixed in a deadly glare.

"If you can't give a reasonable explanation, then I'll consider you the one who killed Shisui!"

Uchiha Tekka drew a Kunai, its cold gleam flashing.

His eyes held suspicion, but more than that, grief and unwillingness to believe. Shisui was such a good person, saving so many Uchiha on the battlefield, even other Konoha ninja.

Uchiha Yashiro stepped forward, his voice heavy: "He was Body Flicker Shisui. If it wasn't someone he trusted, even a Kage-level expert couldn't have taken him down."

"Itachi, if you have any difficulties, speak them out now."

"I don't want to believe you're the one who killed Shisui, but—please give us a reasonable explanation!"

The Uchiha Clan members.

Even if he wasn't Body Flicker Shisui, he couldn't die so meaninglessly!

Itachi closed his eyes, his voice dry: "I have nothing to say."

At that moment, he understood why Shisui had almost killed himself. Yes, Danzo had ambushed Shisui, but for the peace between the Uchiha and Konoha, they simply couldn't name the true culprit.

He would bear everything as a "traitor"!

"This has nothing to do with Itachi."

Just then, a clear, calm voice rang out. Everyone turned in shock, their gazes landing on the lazy-looking youth.

Uchiha Yashiro's expression shifted, and he said urgently:

"Siming, do you know what you're saying?!"

The other Uchiha looked hostile. Uchiha Tekka said coldly: "Siming, Shisui is dead now. No one can use him as a joke. Do you understand?!"

"First, Itachi never saw Shisui. By the time he arrived, Shisui had already jumped off the cliff."

Uchiha Siming ignored his words, speaking with pointed calmness:

"Second, Shisui... never said who ambushed him. But given his personality, wanting peace for the village, the killer he'd rather die than name..."

He paused.

That silence made everyone stop. Yes, Shisui was exactly the kind of person who bore everything alone.

But they couldn't help thinking further.

"Shisui didn't say, but who do you think it could be? Isn't it those top guys in the village leadership?!"

Uchiha Siming's voice suddenly rose, like a thunderclap!

The men flinched. Even Uchiha Yashiro stared wide-eyed at Siming, as if seeing this nephew for the first time. The usually unnoticed Siming now revealed a sharpness that made even his heart pound!

"Damn it, who killed Shisui?!"

Their faces were full of rage and resentment, but after thinking it over, they couldn't pinpoint a definite answer.

"Shisui is dead, but we can't stop moving forward, and we can't just stick our necks out to be slaughtered."

Uchiha Siming spoke, drawing their attention. Uchiha Yashiro nodded—yes, they couldn't just wait to die.

"Now it's Shisui who's dead. Next, it could be you, Inabi, or even your brother, Tekka."

Uchiha Inabi's pupils contracted, his face changing instantly.

No one was allowed to hurt his little brother!

Uchiha Siming acted as if he hadn't seen Inabi's expression change, continuing:

"Should we... declare war on the whole of Konoha? Slaughter everyone in the village!"

His voice carried a seductive tone, like the whisper of a demon from hell.

From the first word, he was dragging everyone into the abyss.

"No, no way!"

Uchiha Inabi was drenched in cold sweat, his voice urgent:

"The village isn't full of villains. There are also higher-ups who side with the Uchiha. We can't beat everyone with one stick—they're living people too!"

His Adam's apple bobbed: "We have to find out the truth. Until then, we absolutely cannot act rashly. Especially you, Siming—your ideas are too dangerous. Itachi, you have to keep an eye on him!"

Inabi's gaze carried wariness.

He had originally thought Itachi was dangerous enough, even a threat.

But now.

He felt Siming was the truly dangerous one, casually talking about destroying all of Konoha—a demon straight from hell.

None of them belonged to the Hawk faction.

Rather than seeking revenge at all costs, they wanted to protect the Uchiha Clan.

"I... I understand."

Uchiha Itachi looked stunned. Was this the same Uchiha Inabi who had been ready to kill him moments ago?

His eyes met Siming's playful wink, and he couldn't help but laugh. So that was it—rather than trying to reason with the other Uchiha, blowing things out of proportion was the better way to snap them back to their senses.

Uchiha Yashiro, Inabi, and Tekka only wanted to find Shisui's killer.

But Siming directly said he wanted to destroy Konoha.

Now they were the ones backing down, even thinking Siming had lost his mind...

"Siming, you really have a way. Otherwise, I wouldn't have known what to do today."

After the others left, Itachi sighed.

"Heh, so you'd rather do nothing and bear everything alone?"

Uchiha Siming curled his lip, looking at him like he was an idiot. "Don't you understand the principle of 'power walks not alone'? The stronger you are, the more you should blend into the crowd and gain others' support."

Someone like Itachi.

The classic type who wanted to solve everything himself.

In the end, he'd exhaust himself coughing blood, bleed from his eyes, and die at the hands of his little brother Two-Eyes—a lifetime of thankless toil.

Itachi was silent for a moment, then said quietly:

"I understand. I'll be more careful from now on."

Oh ho.

Uchiha Siming raised an eyebrow. It seemed Shisui's life or death really had a huge impact on Itachi. As long as Shisui lived, Itachi could be a good kid who considered the clan. If Shisui died, he'd only think about Konoha.

Of course.

Itachi's thinking had already fundamentally changed. Barring any accidents, he wouldn't end up like in the original story.

"Then I have a mission for you."

Uchiha Siming chuckled lightly. "Reveal your Mangekyo Sharingan. Recruit as many subordinates who share our will as possible. And remember—don't stir up the grass and alert the snake."

What?

Uchiha Itachi was startled, but still nodded. "I understand."

Siming nodded in satisfaction. Though Itachi's thinking could be a bit rigid, when it came to getting things done, he was still very reliable.

Meanwhile.

The two entered the clan meeting grounds, where nearly every Uchiha had gathered.

Uchiha Fugaku sat at the very head, his expression as calm as still water. But when he saw Siming and Itachi walk in, his composure shifted slightly, and he couldn't help glancing at Siming.

Mm.

It seemed his son truly trusted Siming.

Even with Shisui dead, under Siming's reassurance, he remained so composed.

He was very pleased.