I am Arata of the Uchiha

(Author's note: The author is being roasted to madness. If there are further discussions of this nature, please reply here. Thanks.)

(Why kill Itachi: It's simple. He is the executor of the Uchiha Clan Downfall. His existence caused the cowardly Fugaku to remain as motionless as a Daruma, failing to fulfill his duties as clan head in the slightest.)

(Would killing Itachi prevent the downfall: Unknown. However, if Konoha were to purge the Uchiha, they would have to account for Shisui and Fugaku, both Mangekyō users. The primary reason for Fugaku's inaction on the night of the massacre was that the perpetrator was his proudest son. Furthermore, the Mangekyō can control the Nine-Tails. If Konoha were to start a war, they would face a legion of Sharingan, two pairs of Mangekyō, and one Nine-Tails. Would the Third Hokage and Danzo dare to pay such a price? Would they continue to rely on the Dead Demon Consuming Seal?)

(Obito's assistance: Do you think that if the Third and Danzo knew of Obito's existence, they would prioritize wiping out the Uchiha, or killing Obito first?)

(No strategy: This author doesn't know how to write it, and there is no "high IQ" tag. Leave the brain games with the F4 to others. Besides, I don't believe a transmigrator can easily arm-wrestle them.)

(Too extreme, mindless brute force: The protagonist is a reincarnator who knows the Uchiha's fate. Fugaku chose to yield and retreat, and then what? He was still driven to the fringes. Shisui loved peace so much, yet he still wasn't trusted by Danzo.)

(Combat power during sparring with Itachi: First, on the timeline, eleven-year-old Itachi had already entered the Anbu. He had been on the battlefield and killed people since he was four, embodying the philosophy of the ninja world. Second, the protagonist is a reincarnator, three years younger than Itachi, and embodies modern values; he has no real combat experience on the battlefield.)

(The protagonist is an Uchiha sycophant: That's the funniest part. Please, if I wanted to suck up to the Uchiha, why wouldn't I just take the route of befriending Fugaku and Itachi? Standing on the Uchiha's side is a matter of principle. There are people in this clan who are good to the protagonist; look at the setting of the protagonist's past and present lives.)

(That's enough for now. Sorry for disturbing the reading experience of new readers. This book is not an Itachi-worshipper; it does not whitewash Itachi. It is established that Itachi will die. Those who like Itachi might be disappointed.)

(By the way, this is not a mindless power fantasy.)

(Sorry, thanks.)

(Written on 8-15, 13)

[Summoning Mission Triggered: Elegant Fox Spirit]

Yokai Description: A man wearing a fox mask, holding a folding fan. He is graceful, knowledgeable about many anecdotes, and quite talkative. However, few have ever seen the face beneath the mask, or perhaps those who have—both human and yokai—no longer exist.

Rank: Terror Nightmare

Summoning Materials: Naruto Uzumaki's blood, Intermediate Summoning Scroll *1

"A yokai skilled in manipulating wind; it actually pairs quite well with Fire Style ninjutsu."

Looking at the newly appeared summoning mission, Arata's mood stirred.

Aside from the unique Kekkei Genkai of the Sharingan, Fire Style could also be considered a signature ability of the Uchiha.

Although Arata was not as proficient as other clansmen, he had no trouble performing C-rank Fire Style: Great Fireball or Phoenix Sage Fire Technique.

And wind can fuel fire.

When combined, the two would certainly elevate the power of his ninjutsu by a notch.

"Alright, let's head back."

Glancing at the distracted boy behind her, Izumi quietly came to a halt.

She had intended to take her younger clansman out to clear his mind, to see the bustle of Konoha's main district and let him escape his near-maniacal training for a while.

But after encountering that little one named Naruto, Arata's focus had clearly drifted even further. Though he followed her, his gaze hadn't lingered on the surrounding stalls for even a second.

"Hm?"

"Sorry, Izumi."

The awakened Arata Uchiha looked at the helpless girl before him, a hint of apology in his heart. Having lived two lives, how could he not sense her concern?

But the night of the clan's downfall pressed upon him like the Five Finger Mountain, leaving him unable to breathe. Day and night, he pondered how to rapidly increase his strength so he could possess the power to protect those around him.

And perhaps, even break away from Konoha!

"Mm-hmm."

The girl shook her head, pretending not to care. After all, she had practically dragged him here under half-threat.

Besides, she had received a gift, so she should be happy.

"I know the relationship between the clan and the village isn't great right now, and I know Yashiro has pinned many expectations on you. But when you encounter problems that are hard to solve, you can always talk to your sister~"

Izumi Uchiha said, feigning a light tone.

Though she didn't really expect this little guy, who resembled Itachi so much, to truly open up to her about the troubles in his heart.

"Eyes."

"I want to know how your Sharingan evolved, Izumi."

However, this time Arata did not hide it. He stared into the girl's eyes and lowered his voice to ask.

The two culprits of the massacre night, Obito and Itachi, were both powerful beings who had awakened the Mangekyō. Kamui, Amaterasu, Tsukuyomi—these top-tier dōjutsu were undoubtedly crushing to ordinary Sharingan.

With Fugaku choosing to abandon resistance and remain inactive, there was simply no one in the clan who could stop their unilateral slaughter.

Over the years, it wasn't that Arata hadn't wanted to improve his Sharingan. If he could also awaken the Mangekyō, then all problems would be solved.

One-on-one, with the help of a yokai, he was confident he wouldn't lose to anyone!

Yet, Arata seemed to have no special talent for dōjutsu or Fire Style. In the five years since awakening his eyes, all he could feel was an increase in ocular power.

"My eyes..."

Izumi Uchiha murmured, repeating the boy's question, her bright, beautiful face dimming slightly.

This question touched upon a private secret the girl could not speak of.

Arata noticed the anomaly immediately and wanted to skip the topic, but Izumi's calm voice had already reached his ears.

"They changed on the day of my father's memorial."

Watching Izumi grow quiet and despondent, Arata Uchiha felt his heart constrict slightly.

It was said that for the Sharingan to evolve, one must lose what they love after having truly understood the meaning of love.

Now he truly understood, yet he could not empathize with the pain.

"Sister Izumi, let's walk a little longer."

"I want to eat some Three-Color Dango."

That day, Arata abandoned his daily training regimen to accompany Izumi, wandering aimlessly through the Hidden Leaf Village until the sky turned a dusky yellow, at which point they headed toward the clan compound.

"Who's there!"

With a sharp shout, a pair of scarlet pupils glared from the dim room, the three black tomoe spinning upon them radiating an invisible pressure.

Sharingan.

The signature ability of the Uchiha clan!

"It's me, Uncle Yashiro."

Arata slowly emerged from outside the door, the aura he had gathered dissipating at these words.

Secret Technique: Clear Mirror, Still Water could, to a certain extent, conceal one's figure while exerting a visceral sense of oppression upon the enemy one faced directly.

However, its effectiveness diminished when facing those significantly stronger than oneself or those possessing sensory Kekkei Genkai like the Sharingan or Byakugan.

Seeing the visitor, Yashiro Uchiha's pupils could not help but constrict.

Although he had already guessed the identity of the person through that faint trace of chakra, the shock in his heart still roared incessantly when the boy truly appeared in his field of vision.

The little guy before him had grown stronger in the way of movement!

Had it not been at such close range, even he would have found it difficult to perceive him.

One must know that Yashiro Uchiha was a veteran who had participated in the Third Great Ninja War; even if he was no longer in his prime, his vigilance had not waned in the slightest, especially now that the clan was attempting to launch a coup!

"Did you and Izumi make contact with the Nine-Tails?"

After a brief scrutiny, he spoke slowly.

This was the main reason Yashiro had sent for Arata.

That afternoon, an Anbu had delivered a letter to the Konoha Military Police Force from the Third Hokage.

The letter stated that Arata and Izumi had made contact with the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, while also tactfully expressing the hope that Clan Leader Fugaku could restrain his clansmen, as he did not wish for similar situations to occur again.

It was this very letter that had reignited the fury of the Uchiha, who were already deeply dissatisfied with the village.

Even though they had been relocated to the edge of the village, even though the clansmen were under the constant surveillance of the Anbu, and even though they dutifully performed their duties to maintain the internal security of the village.

Yet those high-and-mighty old men still refused to trust them even now.

And tracing back through history, this village belonged to the Senju and the Uchiha!

"Yes, we met by chance. I heard he was an orphan, too."

Arata's reply was simple, without any attempt at justification.

"Do not contact him again in the future."

Yashiro Uchiha said.

"This is the Third Hokage's demand."

After a brief pause, he added further.

Although the high-ranking members of the clan had been furious upon seeing the letter, clamoring that rather than being forever watched, ostracized, and suspected, it would be better to overthrow everything right now.

Let the will of the Uchiha be reborn in the Hidden Leaf!

But this was, after all, an action that would affect the whole body if one part was moved; most importantly, the clan leader, Fugaku Uchiha, still could not make up his mind.

He was still hesitating.

He even wanted to pin his hopes on Itachi, who had joined the Anbu!

"What is your take on this matter?"

This was the first time Yashiro had asked Arata about the village's policies.

Perhaps he felt that since the latter had graduated from the Ninja Academy, he possessed a certain level of discernment.

"I am Arata of the Uchiha."

However, Arata answered with a non-sequitur.