The Uchiha's Undercover Agent

Land of Fire, Konoha.

Bright sunlight spilled over the streets and alleys, and cherry blossoms drifted down in abundance, causing countless passersby to pause and admire the view.

April was the perfect season for flower viewing.

Inside the meeting room of the Hokage Building, however, the atmosphere was solemn.

A black-haired youth knelt on one knee, his scattered bangs hanging over his forehead. With handsome features and a sunny smile, paired with a crisp ninja uniform, he looked exceptionally dashing and capable.

"Lord Hokage, Lord Danzo, I have arrived."

"You've worked hard."

The person sitting in the main seat wore a conical hat and the ceremonial haori, exhaling a puff of white smoke.

The Third Hokage of Konoha, Sarutobi Hiruzen.

One of the strongest individuals in the current ninja world, and also his superior.

As for him...

Uchiha Akashi, an unlucky transmigrator.

Arriving here was an accident beyond accidents. He still remembered that the day he crossed over, it was stormy with thunder rumbling; he had been hiding at home, eating hot pot and watching Naruto. It just so happened to be the episode where Sasuke took revenge on Itachi, and the Lightning Style: Kirin made its debut.

Seeing the lightning flashing outside his window, he imitated Sasuke's hand signs and reached his hand toward the sky.

"Lightning Style: Kirin!"

Good grief, who would have thought a bolt of lightning would actually strike him down.

With a loud boom, he transmigrated.

Arriving in the world of Naruto, he had become a descendant of the Uchiha clan.

At the very beginning, he had considered defecting immediately to avoid being slaughtered by Itachi Uchiha later on. Unfortunately, he was unfamiliar with the world and lacked the strength; running away seemed even harder to survive than staying.

Fortunately, he still had a few years.

Thus, Akashi practiced diligently, constantly improving his strength. To leave himself a way out in the future, he even specifically studied the Will of Fire during his time at the Ninja Academy, writing quite a few sycophantic essays.

Who would have known...

The day he became a Chunin, the Third Hokage came knocking on his door directly.

The original words were: "I have read your essays. You are a true inheritor of the Will of Fire. I hope you can become a bridge connecting the village and the clan."

Damn!

Isn't that just being an undercover agent?

What do you take the dignified Uchiha for?

Looking at the pile of Anbu ninjas on the utility poles, Akashi agreed on the spot.

Not long after, Fugaku sensed something unusual and also approached him, using almost the same rhetoric: "I hope you can become a bridge connecting the clan and the village."

How could Akashi refuse? He had no choice but to agree skillfully.

The thrilling life of a double agent began from that day on.

Today was another day for a routine report.

"Has there been any unusual movement within the Uchiha recently?"

"As far as I know, Clan Head Fugaku has no objections to the relocation of the clan grounds and is currently in the planning stages. The rest of the clansmen are unaware of the inside story and are acting as they usually do."

"Do you think there will be any opposition?"

"This... there certainly will be, but I think if the money is sufficient, it should be resolved," Akashi replied.

"Hmm, we must try our best to accommodate the Uchiha's sentiments."

Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded, "The village can appropriately increase the compensation by five thousand ryo per square meter."

As soon as these words were spoken, Danzo beside him couldn't help but snort: "This is a remedial measure for the destruction caused during the Nine-Tails incident. Everyone knows the incident was related to the Sharingan; what do they have to complain about?"

"Danzo, we cannot be too excessive. The Uchiha are, after all, a part of the village."

"Hmph, your indecisiveness will be taken as a concession by them."

As expected, the two began to argue.

Uchiha Akashi was already used to it; every time he reported the situation, such a scene would occur.

Sometimes the two didn't really have any disagreements; they just liked to bicker with each other.

It was no different from an old married couple.

In the end, it almost always concluded with two famous lines—

[Danzo, I am the Hokage.]

[Hiruzen, you will regret this.]

Half a year ago, the Nine-Tails Incident erupted within the village, dealing a severe blow to Konoha and resulting in the Fourth Hokage's death in the line of duty. At the same time, the Uchiha clan became embroiled in a storm of public opinion and comprehensive investigations.

Although the conclusion confirmed it was not the work of anyone within the village, the Uchiha clan's reputation plummeted.

Danzo took advantage of the situation to stir up trouble, proposing a policy to relocate the clan's district.

However, the upper echelons held differing opinions on how to proceed.

The Third Hokage wanted to prioritize appeasement.

Danzo, on the other hand, intended to enforce it with a hard line.

Only after they had debated for a full five minutes did Uchiha Akashi finally interject.

"Um... if there's nothing else for me, I'll take my leave."

"Cough, Akashi, you have always done well; do not be confused. All of this is for the sake of the Uchiha and Konoha, do you understand?" The Third Hokage's face was full of kindness, making one feel as if they were bathed in a spring breeze.

"Understood, understood."

Akashi maintained a fake smile and took his leave.

Danzo narrowed his eyes, staring at the youth until the door closed, before slowly saying, "Hiruzen, he is, after all, a member of the Uchiha clan. Is he worth trusting?"

"Heh, look at this."

Sarutobi Hiruzen pulled a large stack of papers from the filing cabinet behind him and placed them on the table.

Two resumes, and the rest were all essays.

<My Views on the Spiritual Core of the Will of Fire in the New Era>

<On the Issue of Correctly Handling Internal Conflicts in Konoha>

<How to Closely Unite Around Excellent Role Models Led by the Hokage—Reflections on Reading the Third Hokage's Manuscripts>

Ten Guidelines for Practicing the Will of Fire

"This is?" Danzo's eyes went straight.

"He has been writing these articles since he was seven. Some of the content is beyond even my imagination; after reading them, I couldn't help but applaud." Sarutobi Hiruzen sighed with emotion, "He is simply a genius, a genius who understands the Will of Fire."

"Wait, why is the opening of your last speech exactly the same as the introduction to this one?"

"Don't worry about those details."

Sarutobi Hiruzen's face flushed slightly; he had indeed borrowed some of the phrasing. It couldn't be helped—who told Akashi to write so well?

Especially since he had flattered him so perfectly.

Calling him the God of Shinobi, the strongest Hokage in history, unprecedented and unrepeatable... it made him feel a bit ashamed, making him want to humbly say:

I only did a little bit of trivial work.

Danzo frowned deeply: "Just because of this, you trust him so much?"

"Disguising himself since childhood? That's impossible. Besides, he is just a child who cannot reach core secrets. What is wrong with letting him serve as a buffer between the village and the Uchiha?"

Sarutobi Hiruzen exhaled a smoke ring and sighed leisurely.

?

"Acting with these old geezers is so tiring."

Leaving the Hokage Building, Uchiha Akashi shoved his hands into his pockets and spat lightly.

It was one thing that being an undercover agent was difficult, but the Konoha higher-ups didn't even pay him a salary; it was blatant exploitation.

He hadn't walked two steps when a familiar voice came from behind.

"Brother Akashi."

"Yo, it's Itachi." Akashi turned back, instantly putting on a smile.

Uchiha Itachi was seven years old this year and was already a Genin.

He was handsome and cute, kind-hearted, and possessed extremely high aptitude. Almost everyone evaluated him with two words: genius.

Akashi, however, had never liked him and intended to leave after the greeting.

Uchiha Itachi hurried two steps to catch up: "I went to your house first, but Uncle said you had gone out early. I guessed you must have come here."

"Oh, you're very smart."

Akashi blinked, "Looking for me for something?"

Uchiha Itachi looked toward the Hokage Building and hesitated: "That... I think it's best if Brother Akashi doesn't get too close to the Konoha higher-ups."

"As expected of Itachi, you've grown up, and your speech has a mature feel to it." Akashi chuckled, "Is this your opinion or the Clan Head's?"

"It is the result of my own thinking." Itachi quickly distanced himself from the clan head.

Thinking?

You, a little brat who graduated after only one year at the Ninja Academy, how many books have you read?

How much of the world have you seen?

Did you think that because you witnessed the carnage of the Great Ninja War with Fugaku at age four and killed someone with your own hands, you were suddenly mature?

Do you dare to use your shallow understanding to contemplate decisions concerning the fate of the clan?

Furthermore, according to the timeline, you are the one who is supposed to get closest to the Konoha higher-ups in the future, aren't you?

Damn, what an idiot.

Akashi tilted his head back in disdain: "Are you trying to tell me how to do my job?"

"No, I was just reminding..."

"If you came here specifically to chat, save it for next time. I am very busy and don't have the leisure to play with children. You are a Genin now; go catch cats or pull weeds. Don't waste your precious time."

"Ah, wait..."

Itachi Uchiha hurriedly reached out, "I came to inform Akashi-niisan about the clan meeting. One o'clock this afternoon, in the council hall."

Akashi's brows twitched upon hearing this.

Since the Nine-Tails Incident, clan meetings had been held far too frequently.

This one was likely to discuss the relocation of the clan compound.

"I will be there on time," Akashi replied.

"Then I'll head back first." Seeing that he wasn't exactly welcome, Itachi Uchiha smiled and waved goodbye politely.

Akashi waved back with a fake smile.

Once that figure had retreated into the distance, his expression gradually tightened.

Itachi Uchiha.

This was a cold-blooded monster who would slaughter his entire clan, a hypocrite and executioner who wore the mask of righteousness while acting solely for his own selfish interests.

To this day, Akashi could not fathom how a human brain could come up with a solution like "clan extermination."

Throughout history, has there ever been anything more heinous than murdering an entire family?

Many of the Uchiha clansmen he killed were just ordinary residents with no power to truss a chicken, including many elderly and children. How could he bring himself to do it? Did they not have siblings, parents, or family bonds?

Oh, right. He even killed his own parents.

What a terrifying guy.

Akashi sighed to himself, a chill creeping up his spine.

If one wanted to stop the extermination plan, the most convenient measure would be to find an opportunity to kill Itachi.

But that led to a moral paradox.

After all, the current Itachi had not yet committed any heinous acts.

What if he turned over a new leaf? Furthermore, if he killed Itachi, Obito Uchiha would just find another candidate, and Danzo would come up with a different plan.

Most importantly, what benefit would there be in taking action?

None.

Akashi thought it over and over; killing an Uchiha in the village would only bring endless trouble, with no benefit and only harm to himself.

Moreover, he didn't know to what extent Itachi Uchiha had grown.

With this time, it would be better to focus on improving his own strength.

There were only six years left until the night of the Uchiha massacre. By then, to survive, he would need to possess greater power.

Stronger than now, stronger than Itachi Uchiha!

Stronger even than Obito Uchiha!

He was currently only a Chunin.

Thirteen years old, possessing a two-tomoe Sharingan.

He might seem outstanding among his peers, but in the context of the entire ninja world, he was no different from cannon fodder.

Without a Mangekyo, one had no right to speak loudly.

But the conditions to awaken the Mangekyo were extremely harsh, especially the lack of intense emotional stimulation. As a transmigrator, his emotional investment in his family and clan wasn't that deep.

The clansmen all die?

Parents sacrificed to the heavens?

I'm afraid none of that would be of any use...

"Better go grab a meal and get ready for the meeting." Akashi shook his head, watching the cherry blossoms dance in the distance, and shoved his hands into his pockets.