Preserving Shimura's Bloodline

In reality, Uchiha Itachi was also one of Danzo's targets for elimination.

On the condition that Uchiha Izumi was spared, he would threaten Chiya into eliminating everyone in the residential district except Uchiha Izumi.

Including Uchiha Itachi.

Afterward, if Uchiha Itachi killed Uchiha Izumi, Chiya would inevitably fight him to the death.

In the end, regardless of who won, Danzo would send people to wipe out the survivors.

Even if Uchiha Itachi proved stronger and won in the end, Danzo could still use Sasuke Uchiha to control him.

He could even train Sasuke Uchiha to become a sharp blade for his Root Division.

A blade that would help him claim the Hokage Position.

That way, the Uchiha Clan—and the truth behind the Uchiha Clan—would vanish completely into the dust of history, never to exist again.

And Danzo himself would become Konoha's greatest hero.

Not only would he remove Konoha's cancer, the Uchiha, but he would also gain a whole houseful of Sharingan.

What was there not to like?

That was the most genuine thought in Danzo's mind at that moment.

Just as Danzo was lost in his beautiful fantasies, a Root Division ninja suddenly appeared behind him and leaned close to his ear to whisper a few words.

Danzo calmed his excitement and waved his hand. After the Root Division ninja withdrew, he said to Uchiha Itachi, "Itachi, if there's nothing else, you may leave. Remember, I don't want anyone to see that you've been here."

"Yes." With that, Uchiha Itachi put on his mask and disappeared from the courtyard.

Danzo turned and went inside.

Not long afterward, Chiya arrived at the small courtyard, guided by the Root Division ninja from earlier.

Chiya had sensed Uchiha Itachi's chakra long ago, but didn't expose him. He stood outside the door and said respectfully, "Lord Danzo, you wanted to see me?"

"Come in." Danzo's voice came from inside, calm and devoid of emotion.

Creak. The door opened.

Chiya walked in and saw Danzo sitting in an armchair, sipping his tea.

When Danzo saw Chiya arrive, he set down his teacup and got straight to the point. "Chiya, I assume you already know that the Uchiha Clan is about to rebel."

"Yes, Lord Danzo. I've already reported it to Lord Hokage. He'll resolve the matter peacefully," Chiya replied respectfully. He didn't believe a word of the Third Hokage's promises. Whatever the outcome, he would take Uchiha Izumi and leave tomorrow night.

At that, a trace of disgust instinctively rose in Danzo's heart. The healed wound at the stump of his left arm began to ache faintly.

In Chiya, he saw the figure of Uchiha Shisui from years past.

Equally naive.

Equally deserving of death.

A death well deserved.

"This civil war is inevitable. When it comes, the entire Uchiha Clan will be branded as traitors and executed. Uchiha Izumi included."

Danzo spoke the words he had prepared in advance.

"N-no way. Lord Hokage promised me he'd protect Izumi."

Kyoka Suigetsu was released without a sound. Chiya displayed a look of extreme agitation and distress, but in reality, he calmly sat beside Danzo, looking at him as if he were a clown.

Taking in 'Chiya's' reaction, Danzo secretly felt pleased and continued coaxing the air. "Don't be fooled by how nicely the Third Hokage speaks. When the crucial moment comes, he'll still choose the village without hesitation. The village can't accommodate a rebellious Uchiha Clan. Unless..."

At that, 'Chiya' promptly pleaded with Danzo, "Please show me a way forward, Lord Danzo."

Danzo's lips curled slightly as he picked up his teacup. "It's simple. The most direct method is the most effective. As long as you crush the rebellion before it can take root, you won't need to worry about Uchiha Izumi getting caught up in it."

"Then what should I do?" Chiya knew Danzo had mistaken him for another Uchiha Filial Son.

Quick as a flash, before Danzo could drink, Chiya added a little Child-Mother River Water to his tea.

The Child-Mother River Water needed time to take effect.

Danzo drank it without noticing anything amiss and continued, "You have two choices before you.

"Stand with the Uchiha and perish alongside your lover, or save only your lover and help the village slaughter the Uchiha. Crush the rebellion before it can take root."

"Of course, that would make you a rogue ninja. You wouldn't be able to remain in the village."

"But at the same time, you would have protected Konoha and saved your lover's life."

"Ninja have to be willing to sacrifice themselves. If the Uchiha Clan is allowed to rebel, the village will fall into civil war. Other countries will surely seize the chance to invade Konoha, and the damage they cause will be a hundred times worse than the Nine-Tails Incident back then."

"Chiya, as a spy for both Konoha and the Uchiha, no one is more suited than you to shoulder this responsibility. Are you willing to accept this mission and rid the village of the Uchiha menace?"

I'd say the greatest menace is you! Chiya grumbled inwardly, controlling the Kyoka Suigetsu illusion to make him look utterly confused and distressed.

He lowered his head, his eyes hidden in shadow, looking as though Danzo had persuaded him and he was on the verge of turning to darkness. "Lord Danzo, if I kill all the Uchiha, will that protect the village? Protect Izumi?"

"Yes." Danzo gave him a firm answer. He secretly congratulated himself. It seems I've drawn out the darkness in Fujiwara Chiya's heart.

"Does Lord Hokage know about this?" Chiya continued.

"The Third Hokage doesn't need to know. He's entrusted the matter entirely to me." Danzo began his usual blame-shifting.

At crucial moments, Danzo was always so fond of the Third Hokage.

You're the wind and I'm the sand... No, scratch that. You're the leaves bathing in sunlight, and I'm the Root protecting Konoha. I'll bear all the darkness.

"For the village, and for Izumi, I'm willing to accept this mission. But I'm afraid I can't destroy the entire Uchiha Clan on my own."

Chiya stood up and put his mask back on. At first, he had only planned to take Uchiha Izumi away from Konoha. He hadn't intended to get involved in the conflict between Konoha and the Uchiha.

But now this fox had set his sights on him, and the Third Hokage had apparently approved.

He wasn't Uchiha Shisui, and he had no sense of belonging to Konoha.

Since Danzo and the Third Hokage had targeted him and treated him like a pawn they could sacrifice at will, there was no need to keep being polite to them.

Those two old bastards kept talking about wiping out clans. In that case, he, Chiya, would wipe out the Shimura Clan and the Sarutobi Clan, so they could taste what it was like to lose their clan.

As for the Child-Mother River Water, he'd consider it a way of preserving the Shimura family's bloodline.

Of course, he'd prepare some for the Sarutobi family too. He couldn't play favorites.

"You don't need to worry about the Military Police Force," Danzo said. "Someone else will take care of them. You only need to work with Uchiha Itachi to eliminate the civilians in the Uchiha residential district and commercial street. He accepted the mission too, on the condition that his younger brother be protected."