Ever since the disaster ended, Kei had stayed hidden in the shadows of Naka Shrine. Itachi had never been able to see his face clearly.
But people were emotional creatures. The moment Itachi learned that Kei had such high hopes for him, he lost the judgment that came with a clear head.
In Itachi's mind, Kei was the biggest obstacle between Konoha and the Uchiha Clan. If he could gain Kei's support, then anything was possible in the future.
"Big Brother Kei, no matter what the Uchiha went through in the past that made you so dissatisfied with Konoha, what's happening now isn't something the Uchiha Clan can bear alone."
Kei's approval gave Itachi a great deal of courage.
"The four surrounding nations have always coveted the Land of Fire. In the past, there was simply no reason for them to unite. But now we've done something that has left the entire Shinobi World at a loss. That gives the four nations a chance to reach an agreement. This is no longer just an Uchiha Clan matter. It concerns all of Konoha."
The more Itachi spoke, the more natural and self-assured he became.
"Big Brother Kei, let go of your prejudice!"
That was the strongest appeal Itachi could make.
Unfortunately, Itachi would never know about Arthas, and so he had no idea how much malice Kei's hopeful-sounding words contained.
While everyone thought Kei had high hopes for Itachi's future, in truth, Kei had already given up on him completely.
The people who always demanded selflessness from others were the most selfish of all. The Third Hokage was like that, Danzo was like that, and so was Itachi.
But Itachi was different from them. They held power in Konoha, while Itachi was someone Konoha wanted to eliminate. Your position determined your