Painful Choice

Itachi's decisive answer clearly caught Fugaku Uchiha and Elder Eagle off guard.

They exchanged a glance, communicating their thoughts through their eyes. Then Eagle Uchiha said earnestly, "Itachi, I'm glad for your father that you possess such resolve. I hope you won't forget the glory of the Uchiha Clan."

Naturally, Itachi could hear the faint warning in the elder's tone, but his expression remained respectful and sincere. "Rest assured, Elder. I will do my best to steal intelligence on the clan from the village's higher-ups and stand firmly on the clan's side."

"Mm."

Eagle Uchiha had no reason to doubt Itachi's words.

After all, Itachi's entry into the ANBU had originally been authorized by the Uchiha Clan's upper ranks. They wanted him to use his ANBU identity to monitor Konoha's leadership in turn and report information back to the clan.

Yet Itachi's mission from the village leadership was to monitor the Uchiha Clan. Thus, he had always been a double agent living between light and darkness.

It could be said that his heart was being tortured at every moment.

After leaving the shrine, Itachi walked alone down the desolate road at night, the moonlight stretching his shadow endlessly behind him.

Before he knew it, he had arrived at the Naka River, where he and Shisui often met.

"Shisui, what should I do?"

Staring at the river reflecting the moonlight, Itachi voiced his confusion.

Though he had verbally promised his father and the elder that he would stand with the clan, Itachi had not truly made a decision in his heart.

Neither the clan nor the village was something he could easily abandon.

Fugaku Uchiha's words echoed through Itachi's mind once more.

Would two Mangekyō Sharingan truly be enough to help the clan carry out a coup?

The Uchiha Clan was