Mikoto: Itachi, apologize quickly

"We are all comrades from the same village..."

A voice, sounding like a mere whisper, drifted through the air.

This sentence hit the exact moment of silence that had fallen over the room, and every person present heard it with perfect clarity.

The owner of the voice stood right beside Fugaku.

Itachi kept his head bowed, as if trying to avoid everyone's gaze, his expression melancholy as he remained otherwise silent.

"What did you just say?"

Yashiro asked.

Itachi kept his eyes lowered, not addressing anyone in particular, and spoke in a detached tone:

"The people of the Uchiha Clan and the people of Konoha are all fellow villagers; that is a fact that will never change... I believe it is better not to create unnecessary estrangement or take actions that invite conflict."

In the already dim basement, the shadows cast by the flickering braziers seemed to take on a murderous atmosphere.

Itachi seemed to notice this, but he ignored it and continued:

"If they do something to us, we retaliate. If they kill our people, we take revenge. That is how conflict begins."

"Are you speaking up for Konoha?"

"If one views matters from the perspective of 'taking sides,' one cannot see the bigger picture."

"You brat!"

Uchiha Yashiro was incensed; even if he was the son of Lord Fugaku, he had no right to utter such treasonous words.

This was a smear on Lord Fugaku's heroic image!

He stood up, intending to grab Itachi by the collar, but Fugaku stopped his subordinate.

"Captain!"

Yashiro roared, his voice thick with anger.

"Calm down."

"But!"

"Enough, I said calm down!"

Yashiro let out a deliberate, heavy sigh and sat back down.

Itachi, meanwhile, remained motionless, continuing to stand with his head bowed in silence.

"Itachi, apologize to everyone."

Everyone looked