Plan

The next day, news about the Uchiha had not spread. The atmosphere remained as tense as ever. Ordinary people were like cattle and sheep, untouched by the turmoil above.

At the academy, Naruto had barely sat down when he greeted Hinata.

"Morning, Hinata."

"Morning, Naruto."

Hinata replied softly, but then she looked at Naruto and frowned.

Why does Naruto feel different? Am I imagining it?

"What is it, Hinata?"

Naruto was a little puzzled. This girl had never dared look at him for so long before.

"You..."

Hinata wanted to say something, but in the end, she said nothing.

She saw through me?

Naruto froze when he saw her expression. His real body was still studying the Sharingan, so this one was naturally a clone.

But Naruto's clone was different. Empowered by qi, not even the Byakugan could see through it, let alone the Sharingan.

Although the original story said Hinata's eyes had the highest purity, her personality had kept her from displaying much of their potential. Moreover, in the Shinobi World, the Sharingan was somewhat more formidable.

By comparison, the Byakugan lacked those flashy abilities, but its power could not be underestimated.

The fact that every member of the Ōtsutsuki clan possessed the Byakugan showed just how extraordinary it was.

Perhaps chakra is what limits her. Should I give her a hand?

Naruto suddenly became a little interested.

But there was no rush.

The day at the academy had only just begun.

Today, Sasuke Uchiha kept his brows tightly furrowed and often drifted off.

Though he did not know what was happening within the clan, he was not stupid. He could sense the change in the situation from the details.

Noon came.

"Naruto, would you like to have lunch together?"

Just as Naruto was about to stand, Hinata finally gathered her courage.

Even Naruto was taken aback.

His real body no longer needed food, and his clone needed it even less. He had been planning to wander around before returning, but he had not expected Hinata to speak up.

Turning to look at the head-bowed Hinata, Naruto saw worry, fear, and inferiority in her.

His gaze could not help but waver. He knew this girl liked him, but he could not understand why she was so timid.

Idiot, you have the noblest bloodline. You're the Hyuga family's eldest daughter.

Though he wanted to say something, Naruto understood.

"Sure, Hinata."

Naruto smiled. At the same time, he understood that this was the first time she had worked up the courage to ask him. If he refused, she would only become even more timid.

He also made up his mind to help her.

At least in Naruto's eyes, so-called cowardice came from a lack of strength.

The instant Hinata heard Naruto agree, she raised her head, only to lower it again immediately.

"Let's go."

Naruto said nothing more. Carrying their lunch boxes, the two went outside, found a quiet place, and began eating.

Hinata did not dare speak, and Naruto did not know what to say either.

Besides, there was no use preaching grand principles to a child.

As for increasing her strength, Naruto was in no hurry. They merely had mutual affection now; any talk of deep feelings would be empty.

Though neither spoke, their bond quietly grew much closer.

Meanwhile, on the Uchiha clan's side.

At this moment, every Uchiha in the clan grounds had gathered in the ancestral hall.

Everyone wore grim expressions.

Uchiha Daohuo was among them.

"Daohuo, tell us what happened yesterday one more time."

The Great Elder spoke with a dark expression.

Daohuo recounted the events of yesterday in detail once more.

"Elder, Danzo has gone too far. He must be behind this."

Uchiha Shui immediately said angrily.

"That's right. That suicidal style could only be Root."

"Kill Danzo. At worst, we'll kill the Hokage too."

With one voice after another, everyone was thoroughly enraged.

Uchiha Fuyue remained silent.

The Great Elder's brows were drawn tight.

Although the Great Elder supported a coup, he was not brainless. After witnessing the strength around the Third Hokage yesterday, even he had lost some confidence.

Most crucially, Itachi Uchiha was still standing with the Third Hokage.

That made them wary of acting rashly.

The other clansmen did not know, but the few of them did: Itachi Uchiha possessed the Mangekyō Sharingan. Naruto had not given them false information on that point. He had even told them about Itachi Uchiha's Mangekyō techniques.

Precisely because they knew, they found the matter difficult.

For spiritual attacks, he had Tsukuyomi. For physical attacks, Amaterasu.

Even Uchiha Fuyue, who also possessed the Mangekyō Sharingan, had no confidence in defeating him with such a setup.

That was why they remained silent.

"You may all leave for now. We'll discuss this matter first."

The Great Elder waved his hand, dismissing the ordinary clansmen.

Though unwilling, everyone left one after another.

"Ah! Fuyue, do you have any other ideas?"

The Great Elder sighed.

"I'm sorry. I failed to educate him properly."

Fuyue fell silent. He felt helpless over Itachi Uchiha.

But what he truly found hardest to accept was that Itachi Uchiha had chosen to massacre his own clan. Worse still, the two brothers had both died in the end.

Seeing that outcome had completely broken Uchiha Fugaku.

And now, Itachi Uchiha still refused to change, yet they could do nothing about him.

"After this, Danzo will probably strike at us again."

"Should we strike first?"

"No. Danzo is an elder. If we attack him, we'll be completely tearing our relationship apart."

The Great Elder objected.

"What if..."

Uchiha Daohuo looked toward Uchiha Fugaku.

The Great Elder froze, then immediately understood.

His expression flickered uncertainly.

Uchiha Fugaku also understood what Daohuo meant.

The other three had not caught on yet, but when they saw the clan head's ugly expression, they seemed to understand.

Their eyes flickered.

Since the traitor refuses to obey, we might as well replace him.

At that moment, all of them had the same thought.

The Mangekyō Sharingan was the spiritual symbol of the Uchiha clan.

More importantly, it could be used by others.

If they seized Itachi Uchiha's eyes,

their side would have two pairs of Mangekyō Sharingan.

"Clan Head, this is originally your family matter. But if you cannot make up your mind, we can help you."

Having thought it through, the Great Elder resolved to take Itachi Uchiha's eyes.

Uchiha Fugaku's expression was somewhat ugly. That was his son, the son he had been proud of.

Unlike Sasuke, Itachi Uchiha had displayed exceptional talent from a young age.

He had always been proud of this son.

But now...

"Fuyue, don't let your emotions cloud your judgment. Think of Sasuke Uchiha. He has the potential to awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan. Do you want him to walk the same path?"

With age came wisdom. One look at his expression was enough for the Great Elder to know what he was thinking.

The palm and the back of the hand were both flesh; he had to choose one.

And if he did not choose, they would very likely return to the old path.