"猿飞, we must take action against the Uchiha Clan. If we keep letting them do as they please and they strike first, it'll be too late!"
Seeing Sarutobi Hiruzen sitting in silence, Danzo reminded him.
"Alas! Let me think about it some more..."
Sarutobi sighed, deeply conflicted.
In truth, Sarutobi hated having to make decisions that left him caught between two sides, like the Hizashi Hyuga incident years ago.
A few years earlier, an envoy from the Land of Lightning had tried to kidnap Hinata, the eldest daughter of the Hyuga Main Family. When the plot was exposed, the envoy was killed. The Land of Lightning had been in the wrong, but it turned around and shamelessly demanded that Konoha hand over the head of the Main Family.
In the end, Sarutobi Hiruzen had compromised, agreeing to send Hizashi Hyuga to his death in Hyuga Hiashi's place.
Sarutobi Hiruzen hadn't wanted to sacrifice Hizashi Hyuga either, but if they didn't hand someone over, the Hidden Cloud Village would start a war. More ninjas and Konoha's villagers would die then.
"春, Homura, if the Uchiha Clan takes control of Konoha, will you still be able to keep your positions as advisors?"
As Sarutobi Hiruzen deliberated, Danzo suddenly spoke in a low voice.
Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura fell silent. If that really happened, it would be a disaster for them. They didn't want to give up positions they had held for decades.
Besides, each of them had a clan whose interests depended on their standing. As long as they remained highly respected advisors in Konoha, their clans would surely continue to prosper.
So they didn't want the Uchiha Clan to seize power.
"猿飞, if the Uchiha Clan dared to attack Danzo, they'd dare to attack you, too. If something happened to you, Konoha would truly be finished."
After weighing the pros and cons, Utatane Koharu urged Sarutobi Hiruzen to act.
Mitokado Homura nodded and added his support, turning to Sarutobi Hiruzen. "Lately, the villagers have been deeply dissatisfied with how the Uchiha Clan's Police Force enforces the law. It seems the sentiment within the clan to stage a coup is only growing."
Under their intent gazes, Sarutobi's brow furrowed. His voice turned low. "The Uchiha Clan may have grown much weaker over the past few years, but wiping them out won't be easy."
Sarutobi Hiruzen hadn't spoken loudly, but Danzo knew he had reached the decision he wanted.
"There's no need to worry. We can assign the mission of exterminating the Uchiha Clan to Itachi, who's both an Anbu member and part of the clan. He can carry it out flawlessly."
Perhaps he had planned the clan's extermination long ago. Danzo spoke with vicious certainty.
"Wouldn't it be too cruel to send Itachi on a mission like that?"
After hearing Danzo, Sarutobi Hiruzen's expression darkened.
If he had to carry out a mission to exterminate his own clan, he wouldn't be able to bring himself to do it either.
"As a ninja, one must be prepared to carry out any mission. Besides, Itachi isn't constrained by narrow clan loyalties. For Konoha's sake, I believe he knows what to do."
After a moment's thought, Danzo replied slowly.
As Itachi's superior, Danzo knew what kind of person he was. Itachi was the best choice to carry out the extermination plan.
Sarutobi Hiruzen said nothing. His thoughts were in disarray. He glanced at Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura beside him, and when he saw them both nod, he took a deep breath. "If that's the case, then I'll leave it to you."
At night, countless stars shimmered in the sky, answering the lights glowing from homes throughout Konoha.
With a creak, the front door of Izumi Uchiha's house swung open.
"Shisui, get some rest for the next couple of days. You'll recover faster that way!"
Izumi called after Shisui, who had made it outside and was being supported by Itachi and Sasuke.
Thanks to Izumi's treatment, Shisui had regained consciousness. His face was still pale, but he could walk again.
"Izumi, thank you!"
Knowing he owed his survival to Izumi Uchiha, Shisui smiled and thanked her.
"It's nothing!"
Izumi smiled sweetly at his thanks.
"Izumi, we'll be going now!"
It was getting late, and they still had to help Shisui home. Itachi said goodbye to Izumi, then left with Sasuke.
Izumi stood at the doorway, watching Itachi's back. She stayed there until he disappeared from sight, then reluctantly went back inside.
"Shisui, what happened this afternoon? Why were Root chasing you?"
As they walked home, Itachi asked, supporting Shisui.
He hadn't asked such a sensitive question while they were at Izumi's house.
"Danzo asked to meet with me today, but he wanted my Sharingan!"
Shisui paused for a moment, then replied in a low voice.
"What? Danzo actually..."
Itachi's face filled with astonishment. He clearly hadn't expected Danzo, a member of Konoha's High Command, to do something so despicable.
"I knew that bastard Danzo would pull something like this!"
Sasuke clenched his fists and shouted angrily.
Looking at the furious Sasuke, Shisui chuckled. "Sasuke, you're really impressive. You managed to figure out what Konoha's High Command was thinking, while foolish me thought they'd spare the Uchiha Clan."
"Shisui, you're not foolish. You're just like my brother—you're too kind!"
Sasuke shook his head and spoke earnestly.
As soon as Sasuke finished speaking, Shisui and Itachi both looked at him in confusion.
"We love Konoha and see its people as companions we can't do without. But after the Nine-Tails Incident, Konoha's High Command put the Uchiha Clan under surveillance. They don't trust us anymore."
"So even if we sacrifice our clan's interests for the village, there's only one outcome: the village will cast us aside without mercy!"
Sasuke said it plainly, laying out the Uchiha Clan's predicament without beating around the bush.
At the same time, he wanted the truth to shatter the belief in Shisui and Itachi's hearts that they could sacrifice their clan to protect the village.
And, it had to be said, his words had quite an effect. Shisui and Itachi looked troubled, but their furrowed brows showed they were reconsidering what they believed.
Sasuke's words left Shisui silent. After a long pause, he let out a soft sigh. "Itachi, Sasuke's still young, but I agree with what he said. No matter what we do, we can't change the village's hostility toward us."
"If that's the case, then we should focus on protecting our clan."
"I understand!"
Itachi nodded. He agreed with Shisui and was ready to change his clearly mistaken way of thinking.
Seeing Itachi nod, Sasuke smiled. Itachi hadn't said so outright, but Sasuke knew that from then on, he would stand with the Uchiha Clan.
After talking for a while, the three quickened their pace and soon disappeared.