But, I Refuse

Facing Uchiha Dan's request for guidance.

"Because I am different from the Third Hokage and the others. I believe in the Uchiha."

At this moment.

Danzo raised his voice, extended his left hand to Dan, and made a sincere invitation:

"Dan, you should come too. Join the Anbu with Itachi. Konoha needs talented people like you, and shouldn't suppress the Uchiha like this."

Hearing this, Dan's eyes flickered, seeming somewhat moved.

Seeing this, Danzo threw out another temptation, raising the stakes:

"In the Anbu, you will not only grow stronger but also gain power. I will recommend you to the Third Hokage, making you a division captain in the Anbu, and you will act together with Itachi. Isn't this exactly what you want, Dan?"

"Then, what do I need to pay?" Dan asked.

"It's very simple. You just need to trust me, just like Itachi," Danzo said, his gaze intense, emphasizing the word "trust."

Dan couldn't help but take a deep breath and exclaimed:

"Lord Danzo truly has a magnanimous heart and great spirit. One cannot help but admire you. Joining the Anbu is indeed very tempting for me. Do I really... just need to trust you, and that's enough?"

He stared intently at Danzo.

"Of course."

Danzo's expression was calm, asking for nothing more.

In reality.

As long as Dan joined the Anbu, he would no longer be able to act according to his own will. At that time, Danzo would have plenty of time and means to slowly tame this untamed fierce tiger.

Dan pondered for a few seconds, finally slowly opened his lips, seemingly about to give Danzo the answer he wanted.

But at this moment.

He suddenly raised his chin, his eyes coldly glanced at Danzo, and said with arrogance:

"However, I refuse."

"Why?!" Danzo's expression instantly cracked, almost losing his composure.

"Because, one of the things I, Uchiha Dan, love to do most is to refuse self-important superiors. It brings me pleasure."

As Dan spoke, he picked up Itachi and stood up, then added, "Also, I don't like living a life wearing a mask, like your subordinates do."

Thwack!

Danzo also leaned on his cane and stood up, shouting angrily:

"Are you sure you won't regret this, Uchiha Dan?"

"Sorry, my nephew is feeling a bit unwell. I'm taking him back to rest. Excuse me."

Dan left these words behind and picked up Itachi, walking towards the door.

Whoosh.

Aburame Ryoma blocked Dan's path without a word. The Root Ninjas outside the teahouse also placed their hands on their Ninja Swords, ready to strike.

Killing intent filled the air.

Dan's gaze turned cold.

If they really angered him, he might as well just "Za Warudo" here and kill Danzo.

Just as the tension reached its peak.

"Let them go," Danzo said, his voice returning to its usual calm.

Aburame Ryoma heard this and silently moved aside.

Dan strode out of the teahouse.

Under the watchful eyes of a group of Root Ninjas.

The figures of uncle and nephew receded, soon disappearing into the night.

"Lord Danzo, how should we deal with Uchiha Dan?"

Aburame Ryoma asked. He knew Danzo didn't really intend to let Dan go.

As expected.

Danzo heard this, a murderous intent flashed in his cloudy eyes, and he calmly ordered, "Someone from the Third Hokage's side is also watching Dan. Have your subordinates do it cleanly, and don't leave any traces."

Since he cannot be used by me, and has become a hidden danger, then he should be eliminated.

In the end, he's just a civilian without ninja status. If he dies, he dies. What can be done about it?

"I understand," Aburame Ryoma accepted the order.

"Hmph."

Danzo snorted, tapped the ground with his cane, and then, surrounded by his guards, turned and left.

On the street.

Itachi walked along the wall for a while, his stomach still aching.

Dan went to the convenience store and bought a bottle of water, handing it to his nephew.

"Thank you, Uncle," Itachi drank half the bottle, rinsed his mouth, and finally felt a little better.

But he immediately turned to Dan with a solemn expression and said, "Uncle, you've offended Danzo. He won't let this go."

Itachi was very worried. His uncle didn't understand Danzo and didn't know how terrifying the man truly was.

"Don't worry about me, I'll handle it."

Dan was unconcerned. Instead, he cautioned Itachi, "As for you, don't associate with Danzo anymore. That old man doesn't look like a good person at all."

"..."

Hearing this, Itachi really wanted to tell Dan, Uncle, you don't look like a good person either. But he finally nodded:

"Mhm... I understand."

Seeing Itachi clutching his stomach and bent over, clearly unable to walk any further.

"Let's go, I'll take you back."

Dan sighed and squatted down in front of his nephew, turning his back to him.

Itachi was a little surprised, but finally leaned onto Dan's back, wrapping his arms around his uncle's neck.

Dan carried his nephew on his back and walked towards the Uchiha Clan Compound.

Along the way, uncle and nephew were silent.

Itachi's mood was complicated.

He couldn't tell how his uncle truly felt about him, his nephew. It seemed like he disliked him, yet he still took care of him.

Up until now.

Besides his uncle, only Shisui had carried Itachi.

The difference between the two was that his uncle's back was wider and steadier than Shisui's, like a large bed.

When they were nearing the Clan Compound.

"Itachi, is that you?"

A clear voice suddenly came from a nearby intersection.

Itachi turned his head towards the sound and saw a pretty young girl standing under a streetlamp, looking at the uncle and nephew with surprise.

She had long, black, beautiful hair, a beauty mark adorning the corner of her right eye, and the Konoha forehead protector on her brow, signifying her ninja identity.

"...Izumi."

Itachi reached out hesitantly, greeting the young girl.

Dan also noticed Uchiha Izumi and turned to his nephew, asking, "What a pretty young lady, is she your girlfriend?"

As soon as he said that.

Izumi immediately blushed, lowering her head shyly, her fingers twisting together.

Itachi's expression also changed, and he quickly denied in a low voice, "No, Uncle."

"I was just joking. Don't be nervous, I won't stop you from dating early."

Dan said, squatting down and placing Itachi back on the ground.

Then, Dan walked up to Uchiha Izumi, a slight smile on his face, "Young lady, I'm Itachi's uncle, my name is Uchiha Dan."

"Ah... Hello, Senior Dan." Izumi quickly bowed, appearing very reserved.

The next second.

The smile on Dan's face vanished abruptly, replaced by a killing intent so strong it was almost tangible, descending upon Izumi like a cold current.

Whoosh.

Izumi's body reacted instinctively, her hair standing on end. She retreated rapidly, quickly drawing a kunai from her ninja pouch.

At the same time, her eyes transformed into the scarlet Three-Tomoe Sharingan pattern.

"Well, impressive. She's also a genius girl."

Seeing Izumi's Sharingan, Dan praised her. The killing intent he had unleashed subsided, as if nothing had happened.

Izumi stood frozen in place, disheveled by the wind.

Seeing this, Itachi said softly, "Izumi awakened her Sharingan during the Nine-Tails' Attack. She was only 5 years old then and saw her parents die with her own eyes..."

"So that's how it is. Truly a sad event."

Dan sighed.

He remembered that Uchiha Izumi was considered Itachi's half-lover. Later, she died at Obito's hands during the Uchiha clan massacre, and her eyes were gouged out.

Izumi could awaken the Three-Tomoe Sharingan at 11. If she hadn't died prematurely, she would have surely become a Jonin in a few years, and might even have had a chance to awaken the Mangekyo Sharingan.

After all, she was so young, with great potential and infinite possibilities for the future.