Persuading Uchiha Itachi

"Itachi, are you refusing me?"

At first, Yun Xi assumed that Uchiha Itachi's refusal was simply because he felt Yun Xi was too weak to be involved in the Uchiha clan's annihilation.

That was why Yun Xi had taken the initiative to challenge Uchiha Itachi to a spar.

But to Yun Xi's surprise...

The spar had already taken place.

And his performance had clearly satisfied Uchiha Itachi.

Yet the result...

It was not at all what Yun Xi had imagined.

Uchiha Itachi had still decisively turned him down.

"Hmm, this matter is not as simple as you imagine..."

Faced with Yun Xi's questioning, Uchiha Itachi spoke directly, then walked slowly to a wide, open space, gazing toward the distant Hidden Leaf Village with an incredibly complex look in his eyes.

Seeing this, Yun Xi followed behind him.

The two remained silent for a long time.

A sense of conflict permeated the air between them.

In the end, it was Uchiha Itachi who spoke first.

Glancing at Yun Xi beside him, Uchiha Itachi asked in a strangely sorrowful tone, "Yun Xi, what do you think of this village, the Hidden Leaf?"

"It is bad, and it is also good."

Upon hearing Uchiha Itachi's question, Yun Xi was momentarily stunned.

He had not expected Uchiha Itachi to ask him such a thing.

Although Yun Xi did not understand what was going through Uchiha Itachi's mind at that moment, he still gave his honest answer.

"Bad? And good?"

The moment Yun Xi gave his reply, a flash of confusion crossed Uchiha Itachi's face, and he asked, puzzled, "What does that mean?"

"Admittedly, there are many bad things within the Hidden Leaf, and there is unavoidable darkness and corruption, but there are always those who pay a painful price to protect this village, even sacrificing their own lives."

"The wind in the Hidden Leaf is somewhat peaceful; compared to that, the trace of darkness seems insignificant..."

Yun Xi spoke slowly, and after finishing, he pointed toward the streets of the Hidden Leaf in the distance, adding, "Everything has two sides. If you are wandering in the darkness, you might as well try to find a glimmer of light within it..."

"Yun Xi, you are truly not simple..."

Looking at the smiling Yun Xi, a bitter smile appeared on Uchiha Itachi's face as he murmured, "Darkness, light..."

"How will you know if it won't work if you don't try?"

Yun Xi did not explicitly bring up the Uchiha clan's annihilation, but from the moment Uchiha Itachi asked his question, Yun Xi had already guessed what was on his mind.

Judging by the original Naruto story, Uchiha Itachi was clearly in a state of deep conflict.

On one hand, there was the village and peace.

If his own clan were to incite a war, the Hidden Leaf would undoubtedly have to pay a heavy price to resolve the situation.

For someone like Uchiha Itachi, who loved peace, this was absolutely unacceptable.

On the other hand...

Danzo and certain high-ranking officials of the Hidden Leaf were using Uchiha Sasuke as a threat, forcing Uchiha Itachi to act as a double agent.

This was even more unacceptable to him.

Furthermore, although the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, had always wanted to resolve the conflict between the Uchiha clan and the village leadership through negotiation...

In reality, the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, had not put much genuine effort into the matter.

Ultimately, this indirectly led to the tragedy of the Uchiha clan.

The seemingly innocent, yet actually sanctimonious, Third Hokage bore an undeniable responsibility for the Uchiha massacre!

Although in the original Naruto story, Uchiha Itachi chose to slaughter every member of the Uchiha clan except for Uchiha Sasuke.

But looking at Uchiha Itachi now, it was not hard for Yun Xi to guess that this was definitely not the outcome Uchiha Itachi wanted to see!

Therefore!

Yun Xi wanted to change all of this.

He wanted to change such a tragic ending!

Why should Uchiha Itachi be forced to make such a heart-wrenching decision?

As his only friend in the world of Naruto, Yun Xi naturally could not watch this guy continue down the path set by the original story!

"This isn't something that can be tested..."

After a long silence, Uchiha Itachi spoke again. Gazing toward the distant Hidden Leaf Village, he said to Yun Xi, "Sometimes, a person cannot choose whether they reside in the light or lurk in the deep shadows. Every choice demands a price."

"Yun Xi, you are the only friend I have besides Shisui. I cannot drag you into the darkness as well..."

At these words, Yun Xi could clearly sense a trace of sorrow appearing on the usually aloof Uchiha Itachi!

A sorrow born of helplessness!

This was absolutely the first time in the week that Yun Xi had spent with Uchiha Itachi that he had seen such negative emotions on his face!

Seeing this, Yun Xi could no longer hold back!

He strode up to Uchiha Itachi and casually gathered the power of fire elements into his fist.

In an instant, a dazzling flame erupted upon Yun Xi's hands.

Yun Xi slowly raised his hands and said, "So-called darkness is merely a state of confusion. If there is truly darkness and oppression ahead, then we shall use the flames in our hands to dispel it!"

With that, Yun Xi threw a heavy punch, and a brilliant burst of flame instantly manifested in mid-air...

Standing beside Yun Xi, Uchiha Itachi's expression shifted subtly as he witnessed this scene...

"Itachi, give me one week. I will accompany you to dispel the darkness in your heart..."

Seeing Uchiha Itachi in this state, Yun Xi struck while the iron was hot, directly voicing his thoughts!

"This..."

Looking at the confident Yun Xi before him, Uchiha Itachi found it hard to believe that this boy had been called the dead-last of the Ninja Academy just a week ago!

He had been underestimated by everyone!

A long time passed.

Uchiha Itachi's hands were clenched into fists, his face full of conflict. Though he did not speak, Yun Xi could sense that Uchiha Itachi was deep in thought.

Seeing this, Yun Xi did not urge him, but simply stood by Uchiha Itachi's side, watching him calmly...

"Yun Xi, I agree."

About ten minutes later, Uchiha Itachi seemed to have reached a conclusion, and the expression on his face shifted instantly.

The initial conflict transformed into a faint smile.

Slowly approaching Yun Xi, Uchiha Itachi murmured, "You gave me an unprecedented shock before; this time, I choose to believe in you!"

The moment Uchiha Itachi finished speaking, a new notification flashed in Yun Xi's mind.

"Congratulations to the host for triggering a unique choice--Change/Maintain?"

{Option 1: Help Uchiha Itachi oppose Danzo, change the original plot, Reward: Two-Tomoe Sharingan...}