Rack My Brains

Fei Shi's expression was grim.

Clearly, he had also received the news of Shisui's death.

At this moment, he desperately wanted to rush over and kill him, but he ultimately suppressed his burning rage.

He still had the system and resurrection cards; it would be fine. Resurrecting someone was simple enough for him.

Don't be angry, don't be angry. He will die a miserable, miserable death.

Once he lost his temper, it would negatively impact his relationships with others. Everyone knew he and Shisui were close. If Danzo Shimura died inexplicably, it might be linked to Shisui's death, leading to a series of troublesome complications.

"Damn it!"

"I told this guy long ago to be wary when dealing with the higher-ups. Good grief! Where did all that learning go? Is his brain made of pig slop? And you! Itachi! Didn't you try to talk him out of it? Couldn't you have kept an eye on his actions? Or do you two think that just because you have talent and ideological awareness beyond your peers at this age, you can control everything? You think you can handle anything?"

"N-no..."

"No?! If not, then how could you pull such a stupid stunt?! Ah! Tell me! When I was your age, I already had the strength to kill you both with ease! Now, I even have the power to flatten Konoha! But even so! I have never reached the point where I thought I could control everything!"

"Even I don't think that way, so where did you get the confidence? What made you think you could resolve the conflict between the village and the Uchiha on your own?"

Itachi Uchiha fell silent.

The death of his close friend Shisui had dealt him a heavy blow. They had thought their own efforts could turn the situation around. But reality had told him: You're dreaming!

"Then... are the Konoha higher-ups all untrustworthy?"

"The Third Hokage is trustworthy most of the time. The Second Hokage handed the Police Force to you because he wanted the Uchiha clan to integrate into Konoha and become a true part of the village. Unfortunately, his few pathetic disciples misunderstood his intent. Of course, the Uchiha's own paranoid nature is half the reason. If you had set aside your arrogance and treated the commoners with a calm heart, you wouldn't be facing this. A paranoid nature, the potential to overthrow Konoha, and a tendency toward restlessness—if they don't target you, who would they target? They certainly don't have the strength of the First Hokage or the Second Hokage."

Itachi Uchiha had a sudden realization.

In the end, it was the Uchiha clan's own fault. Most of the higher-ups had trusted the Uchiha initially. After all, they had made significant contributions to Konoha.

But because of their arrogance, they faced such a disaster, which made him feel angry toward the "pig-brained" members of the Uchiha.

They lacked the strength to back it up, yet they still strutted around, putting on airs and bringing disaster upon the Uchiha.

"Can't even the Third Hokage be fully trusted? Then the others!... Heh, how truly pathetic."

"Politics corrodes the heart. He is only now beginning to rediscover the grand ambitions he had when he first became Hokage. By the time he regains his status as the 'Professor,' the Uchiha will likely be gone."

"Is there any way? Master, you must... have a way, please... save the Uchiha! If the situation continues to develop, Konoha will fall into civil strife, and that could trigger a catastrophe even greater than the Nine-Tails Incident."

Fei Shi shook his head.

Although he had mentored Itachi Uchiha, his mindset remained unchanged. He still prioritized Konoha above all else, with his clan coming second.

What a headache!

If they weren't useful to him, he wouldn't even bother with them.

Ever since that major draw, he had felt a tightness in his chest. Tsunade had examined him and was surprised to find his body perfectly healthy, with no signs of illness.

After asking the system, he learned that his existence had caught the attention of the World Will.

His soul was an outsider; although he was a descendant of people from this world, their original trajectory had changed because of him, and the world had begun to reject him.

However, the situation improved slightly when he was around Tsunade and Shizune.

If he wanted to integrate into this world, he had to stay with the important characters of this era and build good relationships with them. The fortune they carried would protect him, slowly allowing him to merge with this world.

Furthermore, when he did things beneficial to the development of this world, the rejection would also weaken.

As long as he didn't unleash his full power, that rejection was as good as non-existent.

He was utilizing these super-popular characters he had seen on screens in his past life. But this was a real, tangible world; even if he was using them, feelings would inevitably develop through frequent contact.

Just like Zabuza and Haku...

It was the same for Itachi and Shisui... though his concern for Shisui was not as deep as Itachi's.

"I have a plan. I will go to the Third Hokage and have him pressure the Uchiha clan, condoning their coup d'état to give them a reason to act, and then use this operation to legitimately wipe out the hawks."

"This... this..."

"Don't be hasty. The hawks can be considered the cancer within the Uchiha clan. If they are removed, it will be much easier for the Uchiha to integrate into Konoha. And the ones doing the cleaning won't be Konoha Village or the Uchiha doves, but you, Itachi Uchiha!"

Itachi Uchiha: "!!!"

Fei Shi continued: "Eliminate the hawks, intimidate the doves. Your father is the clan head and also a dove. They will understand. Is it better for everyone to die, or to excise the tumor and rebuild from the ashes? They should be able to figure that out. Otherwise... all that awaits the Uchiha is total annihilation. That guy Danzo Shimura doesn't want the Uchiha clan to live; he will find a way to intensify the conflict between the village and the Uchiha before Hiruzen Sarutobi can act."

"I understand. But what happens after we clear out the tumor? According to what you said, Master, the Uchiha clan cannot remain in Konoha."

Achoo!

Fei Shi yawned, his demeanor becoming lazy and sluggish as he spoke unhurriedly: "Go to my bases. I have bases in the Land of Fire, the Land of Water, the Land of Snow... the Land of Earth, the Land of Hot Water, and elsewhere. Each base has thousands of people preparing for my revolution."

"Revolution?"

Itachi Uchiha didn't quite understand. Why was his master starting a revolution, and with bases spread all across the Ninja World... it must be something truly monumental.

Fei Shi took a new book on red ideology from his system space and solemnly placed it into Itachi's hands.

Seeing his teacher's expression, Itachi's own demeanor became serious. He took the book and, after glancing through a few pages, was shocked by the content.

For the current system, this was treasonous... It seemed Brother Fei Shi was serious; otherwise, he wouldn't have built so many bases.

"Take the book with you and prepare after you've finished reading it. Even if you don't take the initiative, there will be people who can't wait to force your hand."

"What about Sasuke? Will he come with me?"

His younger brother was currently studying under a master, and he had no idea how he would be handled.

"Do not let him know. The Uchiha clan—the deeper the love, the deeper the hatred. By the time the plan is set in motion, he will be nearing the age to awaken his eyes. He has great talent, the potential to surpass you, but he lacks guidance. Once the plan is executed and the Uchiha are 'wiped out,' he will grow stronger fueled by his hatred."

"No!"

"Rest assured, I am here. I will guide him slowly, letting him seek the answers himself; this will help him grow. If he gains your maturity and composure, he will be even more suited than you to be the clan head."