Itachi's Departure

The next day, when Tazuna heard about the plan to build watchtowers, he agreed without hesitation.

At first, he had truly been somewhat afraid of Mingyou. Mingyou could casually take so many lives despite being so young—there was no way he seemed like a good person.

It was not until Mingyou had truly helped deal with Gato yesterday that the old man opened his heart and genuinely accepted the people of the Uchiha Clan.

To the people of the Land of Waves, Gato had been a festering tumor for years. Now that Mingyou had dealt with him, their days ahead could only get better.

Therefore, when Mingyou proposed building watchtowers, Tazuna immediately mobilized nearly half the labor force in the country.

Construction on the watchtowers began.

According to the plan they had discussed the previous night, a watchtower over a hundred meters tall would be built every three hundred meters.

That way, only one lookout would need to be stationed atop each tower, while the towers could also watch over one another.

For the time being, they could not cover the entire Land of Waves.

Places such as high mountains and sheer cliffs would not be considered for watchtower construction for now, since they were short on manpower.

The towers would also be built from nothing more than the simplest wood.

With the skills of workers like Tazuna and the others, what they built would not be too shabby.

The second matter Mingyou discussed with Tazuna was establishing a Ninja Academy in the Land of Waves.

The Uchiha Clan's ninja alone were nowhere near enough.

They had to start with the younger generation of children in the Land of Waves.

Children from five to fifteen could join the Uchiha Clan's Ninja Academy and begin learning knowledge related to ninjutsu.

With the years of accumulated foundation of an ancient clan like the Uchiha, establishing a Ninja Academy class was more than manageable.

Of course, becoming a ninja was no simple matter.

It was not something one could accomplish after studying for ten days, half a month, or even one or two years.

Even the Ninja Academy in Konoha required five or six years before graduation, followed by instruction under jonin.

That showed just how extensive and complicated the knowledge involved was.

But the Ninja Academy classes established by the Uchiha Clan had to be accelerated courses.

They would focus specifically on combat and ninjutsu-related knowledge, providing a series of lessons.

"Is that so? Lord Mingyou, this old man does not understand much about such matters, but I will make arrangements for people to cooperate with you as best they can."

Tazuna laughed heartily. He was genuinely delighted by Mingyou's proposal.

Because one only had to hear it to know that it would be entirely beneficial to the backward nation of the Land of Waves.

How could he possibly not cooperate actively?

Mingyou nodded. "Mr. Tazuna, there is one more matter I have to explain to you."

"We Uchiha are actually a clan that fled from Konoha. But judging from the way we conduct ourselves, I believe you can see that we are not bad people."

"However, Konoha's ninja will certainly hunt us down relentlessly. When that happens, conflict in the Land of Waves will be unavoidable."

"So I hope you can relocate all the villagers living along the coast facing the Land of Fire to the far side of the island."

"This may be somewhat abrupt, but it is also for your safety."

Tazuna smiled. "Rest assured, Lord Mingyou. Although the Land of Waves is an island nation, its territory is still fairly vast."

"Having the villagers move to the other side to live will not be difficult."

After explaining these matters, Tazuna clasped his hands and bowed before leaving to arrange the watchtower construction and the villagers' relocation.

Mingyou also turned and headed toward Gato's mansion.

The Uchiha Clan had only just gained a foothold in the Land of Waves. There were still many important matters to discuss, and no one had time to rest.

"Father, I... want to tell you something."

In the mansion's living room, Itachi interrupted Fugaku and the others' discussion, sweeping his calm gaze across the room.

Elder Soki frowned slightly and waved his hand with some impatience. "Itachi, everyone is busy right now. If it is not something important, tell the clan head later."

Ever since Soki learned that Itachi had developed thoughts of betraying the Uchiha Clan, he had never regarded him favorably.

And when they had been trapped in that cave, at the very brink of life and death, the first thing Itachi had thought of was still avoiding war with Konoha.

For peace in the ninja world? It was utterly ridiculous. At any rate, he could not understand Itachi's so-called ideals of great love.

Moreover, this matter had now become a thorn in Soki's heart.

Whenever he saw Itachi, he felt irritated and repulsed.

"No, this is very important. I must say it in front of all of you."

Itachi shook his head slightly, still choosing to stop them from continuing their discussion.

Fugaku nodded. "What is it, Itachi? Go ahead."

After a moment of silence, Itachi slowly said, "I am preparing to leave this place. To leave the Land of Waves."

"What?!"

The moment those words left his mouth, the more than twenty Uchiha Clan elders in the hall were all stunned, unable to understand what Itachi meant.

Elder Soki reacted most intensely, anger flashing in his eyes. "Itachi, are you planning to betray the Uchiha Clan again, return to Konoha, and reveal the Uchiha Clan's location?"

Fugaku pulled Soki back, his expression equally unpleasant as he asked, "Itachi, why? You must explain this clearly."

Itachi swept his gaze over the clansmen present and said calmly, "Everyone... rest assured, I will not return to Konoha. Like all of you, I am now also a target of Konoha's pursuit."

"The reason I have chosen to leave is because I am now estranged from everyone in the Uchiha Clan."

"From the day we fled to the Land of Waves, I have already noticed that you always look at me with wariness in your eyes."

"I know this is because I once agreed to the Third Hokage's conditions and acted against the Uchiha Clan, which left you disheartened."

"Therefore, I intend to leave this place and travel through the ninja world, to properly reflect on whether what I have done was truly right."

"I see." Fugaku nodded. In truth, he felt a trace of guilt toward his son Itachi.

If he had not personally arranged for Itachi to join the Anbu, Itachi would not have gradually fallen into the awkward role of a double agent.

"Itachi, I respect your decision. If you wish to leave, I am willing to support you."

Just then, Mingyou entered from outside and caught most of the conversation in the hall.

Mingyou walked up to Itachi and looked quietly into his eyes. "Itachi, this is the Uchiha Clan's most difficult time. Are you really choosing to leave?"