Acting, the Awakened Fugaku

Itachi pulled out two blunt objects to knock his parents unconscious, then drew a specially crafted kunai and infused it with chakra.

Swish!

A handsome man with blonde hair, blue eyes, and a white trench coat appeared before Itachi.

It was none other than the former Hokage, now the deputy leader of the Revolution Base, Minato Namikaze.

"Is it all done? Are there any slip-ups?"

Minato's expression was grave.

After all, this was a major event concerning the future of the Uchiha Clan; any mistake could potentially expose Minato and the revolutionary cause.

"Rest assured, Lord Fourth. Everything is proceeding according to plan, and Master is handling the cleanup."

"Good! I believe that the Uchiha Clan will be reborn and flourish even more, I guarantee it! You go ahead and continue your mission; leave the rest of the Uchiha Clan to me."

Minato placed a hand on Itachi's shoulder, smiling to reassure him.

After all, they were his own kin; if circumstances allowed, Itachi would not have wanted them to die. But of all the paths available, they had chosen a dead end, and Itachi had no choice but to strike first to prevent a larger conflict.

"Thank you, Lord Fourth."

"Ha, no need for thanks. Your Aunt Kushina was friends with your mother, and your father and I were on good terms as well. I couldn't just stand by and watch when something like this happened."

Minato scratched his head.

"Oh, right. Tell Fei Shi that the few Uchiha children he asked to be sent to his home have been delivered. Well then, I'm off."

With that, Minato departed, taking Uchiha Fugaku and his wife with him.

"Now, I just need to follow the script. Wait for Sasuke, find the Third Hokage, then send a letter to Danzo, and finally head to Master's place."

Returning from the academy, Sasuke was gripped by panic upon seeing the burning clan grounds.

Where were the clansmen? Why was no one putting out the fire? His father should have been organizing people.

Could it be... No! Impossible!

Sasuke ran toward his home, seeing many blood-soaked corpses burning in the streets. His heart grew increasingly frantic, and when he rushed into his house, he froze.

He saw a scene he could not believe.

His own brother... was pulling his blade... away from their mother's neck. Another figure lay nearby—it was his father. His dear brother... had killed their parents... killed them, killed them.

"Oh~ Sasuke, you're back."

Itachi's expression was cold, looking at Sasuke as if he were trash.

In reality, however, the corners of Itachi's mouth were twitching wildly. Fei Shi and Shisui were sitting to the side watching the show, barely able to hold back their laughter, which Sasuke, trapped in the genjutsu, failed to notice.

"Why? Why! Why is this happening!"

Sasuke covered his hands in Armament Haki and charged forward, only to be struck back with even greater speed.

He went in, he was insta-killed, and he was sent flying back.

Itachi activated his Mangekyo Sharingan and used Tsukuyomi, forcing Sasuke to relive the night of the massacre.

Seeing his clansmen—the elderly men and women who had greeted him when he left for school that morning—cruelly slaughtered by Itachi Uchiha, their bodies stabbed repeatedly even after death, Sasuke Uchiha was consumed by rage... and then, unable to bear it, he collapsed into unconsciousness.

"Stick to the script. Take care, Itachi."

"Many thanks, Master."

"Take care, Itachi."

"You too, Shisui."

After leaving, Itachi sought out the Third Hokage, and after receiving the Third Hokage's assurances, he left a letter and headed for Fei Shi Manor.

By now, Naruto, Neji, and Hinata had been awakened by the commotion Fei Shi was making.

"You've got some nerve, Itachi. Patricide and matricide! You're really something! Do you know I actually want to kill you right now!"

"Of all my five disciples, I had the highest expectations for you! And this is the result? I taught you so much, yet you killed your parents for the sake of power!"

"I really want to kill you right now, kill you!"

Fei Shi roared incessantly, while the little ones huddled by the door, eavesdropping on this earth-shattering news.

"Master..."

"Don't call me Master!"

Fei Shi lunged forward and kicked Uchiha Itachi away.

Itachi flew backward, snapping several trees before he finally came to a stop.

Blegh!

Uchiha Itachi spat out a mouthful of blood.

"You!... Sigh!... Go. From this day on, you are no longer my disciple... If we meet again, I will personally purge you from the sect. Get out!"

Uchiha Itachi slowly stood up, leaped into the trees, and vanished in a few swift movements.

"Sigh, what a wicked disciple."

Fei Shi wore a troubled expression as he reclined on his lounge chair, pulling bottles of wine from the System Space to pour down his throat.

One bottle, two bottles, three bottles...

Naruto, Neji, and Hinata were still peeking, trying to figure out what was going on.

Bang!

Fei Shi smashed a wine bottle against the ground.

"Damn it! What kind of mess is this!"

"Senior, what's wrong?"

"Ah, haha, nothing, nothing. Uh, sorry for bothering you."

Yugao shook her head.

"Senior must have encountered something troublesome."

"You, ah, forget it! I won't think about it! I'll worry about it tomorrow."

He scooped Yugao up and headed toward the house.

"Let's go to sleep, hehe."

"Ah! No~"

"I'm not going to eat you..."

"Hiss! My head hurts! Where is this place?"

Uchiha Fugaku raised his head in a daze to observe his surroundings.

"Hahahaha! Clan Head Fugaku, you're awake?"

The newly awakened Uchiha Fugaku looked toward the source of the laughter and saw a familiar figure.

"Minato Namikaze?!"

"This, this, this... could this be the Underworld? That's right, I was killed by Itachi, so of course I would end up in the Underworld. But..."

Fugaku looked at the sunlight outside the window; the sun felt truly warm.

"Brother Fugaku, you're perfectly fine, don't overthink it. This is a letter Itachi wrote for you."

Then, Minato called out toward the door:

"Shisui, come in."

"Shisui? Didn't he die two years ago?"

Click!

The door opened, and a young man walked in. Fugaku was shocked to see him, as in his understanding, Shisui Uchiha had died two years ago.

"Clan Head Fugaku, long time no see."

"Shisui! You, you, you, you didn't die?!"

"I should have died, but I was saved by someone. Let me clear up your confusion."

Over the next half hour, he learned the beginning and end of the matter.

He fell into deep thought.

His son had slaughtered nearly half of their clansmen; even if it was for the greater good of the clan, there were still friends and family among the survivors.

As a father, he was proud that his son possessed such resolve. But as the clan head, he could not bring himself to be happy.

"Let me see that 'Red Ideology' of yours; I need to soothe my mood."

"Clan Head Fugaku, please take a look."

Shisui handed Fugaku a book and opened one for himself. As Fugaku read, Shisui explained the content and meaning to him.

"Incredible, truly incredible. This Fei Shi is a monster; his strength is immense and his ideology is far ahead of its time. I must thank him properly. If not for his help, the Uchiha... would likely have been wiped out entirely."