The Uchiha Hawks stood with their arms crossed, silently staring coldly at Sarutobi Hiruzen.
In their eyes, Konoha's higher-ups were their enemies. Respect was out of the question.
The Conservatives hurriedly bowed and called out uneasily, "Lord Hokage."
They were deeply anxious, unable to understand why Sarutobi Hiruzen, as Hokage, had suddenly come to the Uchiha Clan Land.
Hopefully, nothing would happen.
Uzumaki Naruto could not sense the terrifying atmosphere before him.
He was especially happy today.
Not only had Second Pillar invited him to play, but even Grandpa Hokage had come.
"Grandpa Hokage, can I play with you tomorrow? Sasuke finally invited me for once." Uzumaki Naruto looked at Sarutobi Hiruzen expectantly.
Anyone could tell that Uzumaki Naruto, this little boy, truly wanted to play with Second Pillar.
Sarutobi Hiruzen could not help but glance at Second Pillar.
That made Second Pillar feel strange, and he turned his head away.
He did not want to play with a loser!
Yet his eyes could not help sneaking glances over.
Sarutobi Hiruzen crouched down and said earnestly to Uzumaki Naruto, "Naruto, there are some things you'll understand once you grow up. Grandpa would never hurt you. Will you come home with Grandpa?"
Uzumaki Naruto looked into Sarutobi Hiruzen's eyes, then turned to look at Second Pillar and opened his mouth.
"B-But..."
In the end, he still yielded.
"Okay."
Then he turned to Second Pillar and said, "Sorry, Sasuke. Can you come play at my house?"
"Naruto..." Sarutobi Hiruzen said.
"Even that isn't allowed...?"
Uzumaki Naruto's little face was full of disappointment, and his small shoulders drooped dejectedly.
He did not understand why he was not even allowed to invite a friend over to play.
He only knew that Grandpa Hokage would not harm him.
"Sasuke, sorry for disappointing you."
With that, he turned and left alone, utterly lonely.
Seeing this, Sarutobi Hiruzen let out a sigh of relief and relaxed.
He looked at the Uchiha Clan Members, revealed a gentle smile, and nodded slightly, like a kind old man.
Then he turned and left as well.
But no one saw his eyes narrow slightly, seeming to reveal a trace of anger.
The Uchiha's hands had stretched too far!
... This matter quickly spread throughout the Uchiha Clan.
"What does the Third Hokage mean by this?!"
"Even a child can't enter our Uchiha Clan Land?"
"Does everyone who enters need their approval?"
"Is this still the Uchiha Clan Land?!"
"Being monitored is one thing, but now they even get to decide whether others can come in!"
"Can we even live like this anymore?!"
Through this incident, Sarutobi Hiruzen had displayed Konoha's higher-ups' distrust of the Uchiha Clan to the fullest.
As a result, the calls for a clan coup grew even louder.
Jinghuo Uchiha no longer needed to seek out Naruto.
There had already been enough provocation.
And, as expected, Second Pillar was interrogated by Fugaku Uchiha.
Uchiha Clan Land.
Inside a tatami room.
"Sasuke, why did you invite him here?" Fugaku Uchiha knew Second Pillar's personality. Uzumaki Naruto, a loser, was not someone Second Pillar would normally associate with.
Second Pillar sat kneeling, his eyes and body trembling slightly. He lowered his head, bit his lip, and stared at his knees.
He had not expected everyone to react so intensely just because he had invited Uzumaki Naruto.
"Sasuke! Tell me honestly. Did someone tell you to bring him here?!" Fugaku Uchiha's furious shout made Second Pillar turn pale with fright.
He told him everything, down to the smallest detail.
"Jinghuo Uchiha... Why did you help him?" Fugaku Uchiha frowned. As he remembered it, Second Pillar and Jinghuo Uchiha had never had any dealings.
"I wanted to ask him a question..." Second Pillar said guiltily.
"What question?"
"His eyes..."
"! You saw them?!" Fugaku Uchiha was startled. His gaze was incredibly chilling, making Second Pillar tremble.
"Yes... Jinghuo Uchiha was beside me that day..."
"Is that so..." Fugaku Uchiha closed his eyes tiredly.
As Second Pillar waited uneasily, time crawled by second by second.
He did not know whether dozens of seconds or several minutes had passed before Fugaku Uchiha suddenly spoke, his tone becoming gentler.
"The Sharingan is divided into One-Tomoe, Two-Tomoe, and Three-Tomoe. Beyond those, there is also the Mangekyo."
"Then his eyes were..." Second Pillar's eyes lit up.
"Mhm."
Second Pillar grew somewhat excited.
Fugaku Uchiha briefly explained the Mangekyo to him, and Second Pillar's unease was quickly filled by his father's sudden concern and instruction.
When he left the room, a happy smile still hung on his small face.
Uchiha Itachi knew everything.
But he had never made a choice.
He had allowed Second Pillar to listen to Jinghuo Uchiha's words.
He had allowed Second Pillar to bring Uzumaki Naruto to the Uchiha Clan Land.
The result was that the calls for a coup became even more intense.
He did not know that Uzumaki Naruto was the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki, but he knew Naruto's identity was special.
Why did I allow it?
Was it because I couldn't find an answer myself?
Or was I... testing something?
Uchiha Itachi's pupils trembled as he looked at the sunset before him.
Did this sunset truly represent the Uchiha?
The Uchiha... should have been the invisible stars beside it.
Konoha... was the one about to set.
His Three-Tomoe Sharingan, rich as blood, spun rapidly beyond his control. In the end, two streams of tears of blood flowed down.
A pair of pinwheel-like Mangekyo stared at the sunset, chilling and calm.
Jinghuo Uchiha seemed to have vanished.
Second Pillar did not even get the chance to angrily snort at Jinghuo Uchiha.
Within the clan, gatherings became more frequent.
In secret, all kinds of armed forces were increasing.
Uchiha Itachi, having awakened the Mangekyo, looked as calm as ever as he carried out his usual work: monitoring the Uchiha and reporting Uchiha matters.
He had not changed in the slightest.
That made Jinghuo Uchiha's heart stir restlessly.
[Quest name: So You Awakened Your eyes and Still Became a double agent?] [Quest content: Kill Uchiha Itachi!] [Quest reward: Eternal Mangekyo]
Several days later.
Fugaku Uchiha's home.
Corridor.
Uchiha Itachi walked down it and saw his father, Fugaku Uchiha, standing ahead with his arms crossed, waiting for him.
He intended to walk past him, but then Fugaku Uchiha spoke.
"Three days from now, there will be a gathering. Come to Naka Shrine alone after it ends."
"Starting tomorrow, I'll be leaving the village on a mission." After saying that, Uchiha Itachi kept walking without stopping.
"Don't run away."
Fugaku Uchiha's three words instantly made Uchiha Itachi stop. His expression turned cold.
"Run away? What am I running away from?!"
Before you continue