Something Was Wrong-Itachi Was a Reactionary!

Shisui left in a daze. "Akira, I'll find my own way!"

Akira lay there with a pained expression.

Damn it, this mission is fucking hard to pull off.

The difficult part was not his plan, but Shisui's way of thinking. That guy was like a stinking stone in an outhouse—smelly and stubborn. The Uchiha Clan responded to softness, not force, yet Shisui was determined to win people over with virtue like some idiot.

He even had his own way?

Wasn't his way just using Kotoamatsukami to control Uchiha Fugaku? What fucking chance did he have!

"The seeds of doubt have already been planted. Now I just need to wait for them to sprout. If Shisui really proves useless, I'll find a chance to take his Kotoamatsukami."

Akira stroked his chin and narrowed his eyes.

That thing was a strategic-level weapon.

Giving it to that old bastard Danzo would be far too generous.

Shisui probably never imagined that while he was leaving in a daze, Akira was already figuring out how to gouge out his eyes.

Hokage Building.

Office.

Looking at the bewildered Shisui before him, Hiruzen Sarutobi felt somewhat troubled. Shisui was good in every way, except that he loved philosophy and was always thinking about random nonsense. Sometimes, Hiruzen could not even answer the questions he raised.

"Shisui, how has your investigation into Uchiha Akira been going?"

Shisui froze, then came back to his senses. "Lord Hokage, please believe in Akira's loyalty. Like me, he is willing to give everything for the village's peace. It's just that... his capacity may be even purer."

His expression was somewhat complicated.

For the peace between the village and the Uchiha Clan, Akira was even willing to bear the sins himself. What incredible capacity!

"Akira is an Uchiha with capacity comparable to that of the Fourth Hokage!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi looked up, slightly stunned. "I understand."

Such an evaluation coming from Shisui was naturally trustworthy. But an even purer capacity?

That was harder to say.

Just how pure could it be?

Could it possibly be purer than him, the Hokage? What nonsense!

"Lord Hokage, may I ask you something?" Shisui hesitated, his expression bewildered.

"Of course."

Hiruzen Sarutobi braced himself. The philosopher was about to ask a question!

"How should the conflict between the Uchiha Clan and the village ultimately be resolved? Through mutual understanding, or eventually... through violent suppression?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi narrowed his eyes.

That question was very direct.

It was practically asking whether Konoha would use force if the conflict between the Uchiha Clan and the village could not be resolved peacefully. If any other Uchiha had asked that question, Hiruzen might have suspected them of planning a rebellion!

But the one asking was Shisui.

Shisui, who had inherited Kagami Uchiha's Will of Fire.

"Don't worry, Shisui."

Hiruzen Sarutobi frowned deeply and said solemnly, "No matter what, I will do my utmost to resolve the conflict between Konoha and the Uchiha!"

"I understand, Lord Hokage."

Shisui withdrew. Normally, receiving the Hokage's promise would have brought a little comfort to his heart. But for some reason, instead of feeling relieved, he became even more worried.

It was as if... Akira's words were being proven true, one sentence at a time!

What would the Fourth Hokage have done when faced with such a problem?

The Fourth Hokage would surely have visited in person to discuss the conflict between the village and the Uchiha with Lord Fugaku. Then he would have issued a series of announcements to prevent the problem from escalating. The Uchiha clansmen were actually quite easy to appease.

Whenever they saw an announcement issued by the Fourth Hokage,

they felt that they were being valued.

The resentment in their hearts would turn into soft chuckles that sounded disdainful but were actually delighted.

But now...

Just as Uchiha Shisui returned to the clan compound, Itachi, who had long been waiting, hurried over anxiously. "Shisui, how did your talk with that guy go? The conflict between the village and the Uchiha has already been getting worse and worse."

"Just now, members of the Police Department used violent enforcement again and clashed with villagers!"

Anger flashed in his eyes, and disappointment filled his voice.

His lowered eyes were dark and damp, utterly still like stagnant water. Just like the tear troughs beneath them, his fate had always been full of hardship.

"Akira is a man with capacity comparable to a Hokage's."

Shisui had long since grown used to conflicts between the Police Department and the villagers.

But when Itachi heard Shisui's assessment, a trace of astonishment appeared on his unusually mature young face. "What? That frivolous guy has capacity comparable to a Hokage's?"

That was even more absurd than the Senju Clan awakening the Sharingan.

"Itachi, let me ask you something."

Shisui looked at Itachi, who was younger than him but in no way inferior to him in capacity. "The conflict between the Uchiha and the village may have reached an irreconcilable point. It may even... lead to war."

"Do you have any way to resolve it?"

Uchiha Itachi froze, then shook his head. "No."

That was precisely the dilemma they faced. There was no solution. They could only watch helplessly as the Uchiha Clan headed toward the abyss.

"But Akira has a way."

"How is that possible?!" Uchiha Itachi's pupils contracted. He could not believe that an Uchiha Half-blood who had not even awakened the Sharingan could see through the Uchiha Clan's fate!

"Form a faction of his own within the Uchiha Clan and bear all the blame. Once that faction becomes strong enough to suppress the Hawk faction, the current situation between the Uchiha and the village can be changed!"

The moment Shisui said it,

Uchiha Itachi was first stunned, then could not help drawing in a sharp breath. He keenly realized that this plan was feasible. Perhaps... Uchiha Akira was not as useless as he had thought?

"But the one carrying out this plan would have to bear pressure from the Hawk faction, the Dove faction, the village, and even the clan head!"

"Akira... actually has such capacity?"

He, too, realized how difficult the plan would be.

One wrong step,

and there would be no coming back!

Likewise, unlike the Hawk faction and Dove faction within the clan, taking this step—recruiting subordinates and establishing his own faction—was practically no different from betraying the clan!

At that moment, a strange thought suddenly arose in Itachi's heart.

Akira's capacity is greater than mine!

"This is the plan Akira proposed. What do you think, Itachi?" Shisui felt extremely uneasy.

It was so audacious, so utterly contrary to convention. What Uchiha clansman could accept it?

"I think it's entirely feasible!" Uchiha Itachi said firmly.

"Huh?"

Shisui's expression stiffened as he looked suspiciously at Itachi's face. "No, Itachi, you think... it's entirely feasible?"

Hiss—!

He could not help drawing in a sharp breath.

Before this, he had always thought that his little brother Itachi shared his will and beliefs, that he would spare no effort for peace between the Uchiha and Konoha, and that he could never do anything treacherous. But after this, Shisui realized something.

This was bad.

Itachi was a fucking reactionary too!