The Choice! A Fork in the Road of Life

"Fourth Hokage."

Minato Namikaze wore a pained expression. The residential district of the Uchiha Clan had been reduced to ruins; the casualties among the Uchiha Clan were heavy, and the ninja strength of Konoha had been severely depleted.

"Begin search and rescue for survivors immediately."

Minato Namikaze issued the order.

Danzo lowered his head slightly and departed with his Root members.

Minato Namikaze had not yet received a full report: "Could Orochimaru have caused this much destruction on his own?"

Hyuga Hiashi had been monitoring the situation with his Byakugan from the start: "Of course it wasn't just Orochimaru. Among them were a masked member of the Uchiha Clan, a Shark Man, a masked individual capable of using Wood Release, Uchiha Itachi, Shisui Uchiha, Uchiha Sasuke, and possibly Naruto."

Hyuga Hiashi found it difficult to admit that Naruto possessed power exceeding that of a Kage at such a young age.

Minato Namikaze asked sorrowfully: "Is this all that remains of the Uchiha Clan?"

"It would seem so!"

Kushina Uzumaki glanced at Minato Namikaze, then led the medical ninjas from Konoha Hospital into the Uchiha Clan's residential district to quickly begin rescue operations.

The wind picked up, and a heavy rain began to fall.

After a day and a night of rescue efforts.

Minato Namikaze received the final report on the status of the Uchiha Clan.

The infrastructure had been completely destroyed, and the number of survivors was thirty-nine, including eighteen elderly individuals and twelve children.

"Fugaku, are you truly going to step down?" Minato Namikaze handed the report to Fugaku Uchiha: "The remaining clansmen still need you to lead them forward. You cannot lose heart at a time like this!"

Fugaku Uchiha, whose hair had turned white overnight, could not overcome the mountain of grief within his heart: "I am a sinner. With so many clansmen dead, my mere survival is already a grave sin. What right do I have to continue serving as clan head? Besides, can the Uchiha Clan even be called a clan anymore? Fourth, let the survivors live as they wish. As for me, if I can see Itachi and Sasuke grow up safely, that would be the best possible outcome."

Konoha Hospital!

Kushina Uzumaki shed tears in secret. Naruto had been in a deep sleep for two days; he had no wounds on his body, yet he would not wake up, and no one had a solution.

Karin had been keeping watch by his side for two days and, overcome by exhaustion, had fallen asleep on the adjacent hospital bed.

On the other side of Naruto's bed lay Shisui Uchiha.

A crow flew in and transformed into Uchiha Itachi upon landing.

Uchiha Itachi said to Shisui Uchiha: "Shisui, I have decided to act. Those who have committed crimes cannot be allowed to go unpunished."

Shisui Uchiha's heart was clear: "Itachi! I still hope you will leave yourself a way out. I know you can endure the misunderstandings of everyone, but that is unfair to you. Do you understand?"

Uchiha Itachi hid the sorrow in his eyes: "Shisui, I understand."

"As long as you understand!"

The sound of the crow's wings flapping grew more distant.

Smoke swirled above Hiruzen Sarutobi's head as he looked at Uchiha Itachi with a complex expression.

He had watched this child grow up; unlike the typical members of the Uchiha Clan, he did not place the interests of the Uchiha Clan above all else.

"Child, I will not stop you, but if you could remain in Konoha and earn the recognition of everyone, you could become Hokage." Hiruzen Sarutobi held Uchiha Itachi in high regard and felt a deep affection for him.

Uchiha Itachi bid farewell to the Third Hokage: "I must provide an answer for those of the Uchiha Clan who have died. You might say this is not my responsibility, but I am the only one who can shoulder it. After leaving Konoha, I will join the Akatsuki and uncover their true strength and objectives for the sake of Konoha. Third Hokage, take care!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi chased him to the door, his eyes moist: "Child, Konoha will always be your home!"

Temporary housing in the Uchiha district.

Uchiha Sasuke carefully fed medicine to Uchiha Mikoto: "Mother, I want to leave this place."

Mikoto gripped Sasuke's hand in a panic: "Are you going to abandon your mother, your father, and your brother?"

Sasuke held back his tears: "Mother, only by leaving can I ensure your safety. If I stay in Konoha, my potential might only reach the level of a Jonin. If we encounter enemies even stronger than Orochimaru in the future, what power would I have to protect everyone? I am not abandoning you; I am trying to protect more people."

Feeling her child's resolve, Mikoto began to cry. Perhaps it was the bond between mother and son, but she dimly foresaw that tonight, both of her children would leave home and head toward the distance.

"Sasuke, let Mother hold you one last time."

Root!

The sounds of battle echoed repeatedly.

Itachi had broken in alone. For the Root ninjas constrained by Danzo, he chose to temporarily trap them with genjutsu, but for those loyal to Danzo, he struck with decisiveness, regardless of whether they lived or died.

"Itachi, you dare to betray Konoha!"

"This is a correction," Itachi said sadly. Dealing with Danzo would take some time.

Danzo had managed Root for over twenty years, and his loyalists numbered over a hundred, including dozens of Jonin.

These people blocked Itachi's path, clearly trying to buy time for Danzo to escape!

"For the sake of Danzo's great cause, we must stop Uchiha Itachi."

They unleashed their ninjutsu one after another, seemingly believing that a concentrated attack could kill Uchiha Itachi.

"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique."

Two familiar voices appeared beside Itachi.

Naruto and Shisui Uchiha were still wearing hospital gowns, their expressions relaxed.

"Big Brother Itachi, you should have notified me if you were coming to take out that old geezer! Telling only Big Brother Shisui really hurts my feelings," Naruto said, feigning jealousy. "It seems this cheap little brother of yours has no place in Big Brother Itachi's heart!"

Shisui spun a Shuriken in his hand. "He's just restless. Itachi, we are all on the same path."

Feeling the deep bond they shared, Itachi tucked the sentiment away in his heart forever. "Thank you. After I leave, I entrust the two of you to look after my foolish little brother, Uchiha Sasuke."

The battle erupted once more.

With the help of Shisui and Naruto, the trio's advance faced not a single obstacle.

Konoha Hospital.

Waking up with a start, Karin saw that Naruto was gone from his hospital bed and rushed to report to Kushina Uzumaki: Naruto and Big Brother Shisui were both missing!

Under the moonlight.

The back gate of Konoha.

Uchiha Sasuke looked back one last time.

"Sasuke, there is no turning back now. Konoha is too small, and the Sharingan is not the ultimate power. Come with me and seek eternal power!" said Orochimaru, who was currently in the form of a small snake.

Sasuke closed his eyes and vanished with a Body Flicker.

Root!

Danzo sat behind his desk, where dozens of Sharingan were preserved in prepared liquid inside three glass jars.

But he was already surrounded by the three of them.

Danzo spoke calmly: "I would sacrifice everything for Konoha. I have done so much, yet Hiruzen Sarutobi did not trust me, pushing that greenhorn Minato Namikaze into the position of Hokage. It is utterly laughable."

"And if you kill me, you are killing Konoha's greatest benefactor. Your actions will be recorded in the history of Konoha ninjas, and you will be reviled for ten thousand years."

Naruto said with disgust, "Too much talk. Big Brother Itachi, burn him to death and be done with it."

Naruto locked his mental focus onto Danzo.

"Amaterasu."

Danzo tried to activate Izanagi.

It failed.

The Black Flame burned Danzo, the desk, the jars, and the Sharingan eyes until nothing remained.