Plan

"Itachi, I know you've been providing intelligence to the Third Hokage."

Itachi fell silent for a moment. "I'm sorry."

"Your desire for peace isn't wrong. Only your method was."

"Itachi, there's a lot the clan needs to deal with next. Resign from the Anbu immediately and return to help the clan."

Once someone entered the Anbu, it was not as simple as leaving whenever they wanted.

After all, the Anbu came into contact with many secrets. Without the Hokage's approval, their Anbu identity could not be changed easily.

But now that Itachi's heart was with the clan, he would find a way.

Of course, even if Itachi did not resign, he would certainly no longer have the Third Hokage's trust.

Itachi agreed.

Fugaku, standing nearby, was deeply gratified. When he had been clan head, both Shisui and Itachi had appeared to agree with him while secretly standing apart.

Fugaku had even sent Itachi to infiltrate the Anbu, only for Itachi to turn around and provide intelligence to the Third Hokage instead.

Fortunately, everything was now moving in a better direction.

It was all thanks to Natsuki.

Fugaku had already begun considering when he should hand the position of clan head over to Natsuki.

[Ding, Faction Template loaded successfully.]

Natsuki opened it and saw that Uchiha Fugaku and himself were listed at the very top.

Below them were the names and portraits of every member of the Uchiha Clan.

Natsuki tapped Itachi's icon. Uchiha Itachi.

Loyalty: High. Specialties: Combat, infiltration.

He opened the Combat tab, which gave detailed descriptions of the taijutsu, ninjutsu, genjutsu, and other skills Itachi excelled in.

As for infiltration... well, that went without saying.

Beside it was a separate column for the Mangekyō Sharingan and its related ocular techniques.

Natsuki then opened Fugaku's profile. Fugaku did not have a loyalty rating, but rather an affinity rating, which was also high.

Everything else was more or less the same as Itachi's.

Now this was good. He could see every clan member's strengths and make use of them more conveniently in the future.

He opened the pages for the two elders. In terms of specialties, the Fourth Elder handled internal affairs, while the Third Elder specialized in management.

Natsuki spoke politely. "There are many parts of the coming plan where I'll need to rely on the two elders."

Both elders lowered their heads and bowed. "Vice Clan Head, you're too polite. Please give us your orders."

At that moment, a rough framework began taking shape in Natsuki's mind.

What did a clan need to develop? Money. Other ninja clans all had businesses of their own that made money.

Akimichi Barbecue, Nara Pharmaceuticals, and the Medical System.

Aside from the Uchiha Clan's weapons being self-sufficient through the Land of Cats, Tenten's family had practically monopolized all ninja tools in Konoha.

Other clans had businesses to support themselves as well. Otherwise, doing missions alone could only feed them; development would be out of the question.

The Uchiha Clan had never engaged in production, and the assets they had accumulated during the Warring States era had gradually dwindled away.

The root cause was talent. Without suitable talent, there was naturally no way to carry out the corresponding work.

The Uchiha Clan had always been battle fanatics. No one had bothered to study such things.

During the Warring States era, they could simply take what they wanted. But now that the Five Great Nations were stable, trying to rob others would easily start a war.

Their income had dropped significantly in recent years. Though they were still wealthier than ordinary ninjas, expanding the clan would not be easy.

But now, with his Faction Template, he could see everyone's talents.

The road ahead would be much easier.

Natsuki said solemnly, "After awakening my Mangekyō Sharingan, I saw many fragments of the future. Konoha will not remain peaceful for much longer. Countless disasters will strike Konoha afterward."

"So we must make preparations early, and the clan's emotions also need an outlet."

"We can no longer cling to the Police Force, because as law enforcers, we are bound to be unpopular."

"Whether we loosen or tighten our enforcement, no one will like us. It will only increase the resentment of our Uchiha Clan Members."

Fugaku tapped his fingers against his hand. "Natsuki, speak boldly. We will cooperate with you fully."

With those words, Fugaku was essentially handing full authority over to Natsuki.

The others had no objections either. Natsuki was powerful and sharp-minded.

Natsuki pointed at his eyes.

"The future fragments my Mangekyō showed me were not only about battles. There were also many businesses that would succeed in the future."

"All we need to do now is select some people and vigorously develop our economy, gradually breaking free of Konoha's control."

Oh!?

The people present truly had not expected precognition to be used this way.

If they had ample funds, the clan could become entirely self-sufficient and would not need to be controlled by Konoha.

Considering the disasters Konoha would face in the future, economic independence was extremely important.

Everyone nodded in agreement.

Natsuki continued, "Of course, this will be a rather long-term project. Fortunately, we still have some time."

"During that time, we need to give up all of the Uchiha Clan's power and make the Uchiha Threat Theory nothing more than empty words."

Seeing their doubtful expressions, Natsuki specifically gave them a simple explanation of what the "Threat Theory" meant.

Everyone suddenly understood, and they admired Natsuki even more. That mind of his... well, it really was something.

Natsuki waved his hand.

"The current Konoha Police Force does us more harm than good. Our first step is to give up our authority over the Police Force."

"Fourth Elder, Danzo suffered such a huge loss. Tomorrow, he will definitely cause trouble within the Police Force's jurisdiction."

"Suspend every Uchiha Clan Member who has received complaints and recall them all to the clan. If anyone comes to question you, stall them. Then stall them some more."

The Fourth Elder was already completely convinced by Natsuki. He patted his chest and said, "Vice Clan Head, don't worry. I'm good at this."

"Third Elder, you have always been committed to using combat power to compete for the Hokage position. After seeing those future fragments, what do you have to say?"

The Third Elder shook his head with a bitter smile. He truly had been committed to seizing the Hokage's position through force.

But in the future fragments, he had seen that even after controlling the Nine-Tails with the Sharingan, the coup d'état had still failed.

And after seeing that world-destroying ninjutsu, Super Shinra Tensei, he had already let go of those thoughts.

"Since Konoha fears us gaining power, then we can throw all that power away. Clan Head Fugaku, you should also resign as head of the Konoha Military Police Force at the appropriate time."

"We offended too many people over this power, making many civilians completely forget the good the Uchiha Clan has done and take everything for granted."

"Now, we will retreat in order to advance."

"Third Elder, during the coming period, I need you to gather all those radicals who harbor dissatisfaction."

The Third Elder frowned. "What are you planning, Natsuki?"

Not everyone could swallow this insult. Retreating in order to advance was simply impossible for some Uchiha Clan Members. That was why the Hawkish Uchiha had emerged.

"The Uchiha Clan needs a 'rebellion' and a 'devastating loss.'" Natsuki smiled sinisterly.

"Otherwise, how will we eliminate the Uchiha Threat Theory? And how will anyone have a reason to go out and develop elsewhere?"

The two elders and Fugaku exchanged looks. "But these people will not be easy to persuade."

The three of them had never known that Shisui had awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan and possessed the ocular technique Kotoamatsukami.

At this point, Natsuki directly gave Shisui a meaningful look.

Shisui understood. Vice Clan Head Natsuki wanted to make use of his Kotoamatsukami.

He then explained the abilities of his Kotoamatsukami to the clan head and the two elders.

"Another pair of Mangekyō Sharingan?"

The two elders were numb with shock. In the past, Mangekyō Sharingan that had not appeared in decades were now appearing two pairs at once.

Fugaku's heart was in turmoil. The clan now possessed three pairs of Mangekyō Sharingan.

If they had not wanted to push Konoha out to take the blame, they would have had a very good chance of winning through direct rebellion. No wonder Danzo had wanted to take Shisui's eye.

If Fugaku knew at that moment that his son, Uchiha Itachi, had also awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan, he might have fainted from joy on the spot.

After the two elders left.

Natsuki asked, "Itachi, Shisui's left eye is with you, isn't it?"

Itachi gave a quiet acknowledgment. "As expected, nothing can be hidden from the Vice Clan Head."

He summoned a Ninja Crow, then took out the bottle containing the Sharingan.

"Shisui, we need to unite the Uchiha Clan as one, so you need to recover as soon as possible."

"Yes!"

Shisui keenly felt the weight of his responsibility.

Now that there was a way to save the clan without clashing with the village, he had to give it everything he had.

"Vice Clan Head, I suspect someone else is watching our Uchiha Clan."

Natsuki nodded. "You mean the person investigating the Shrine Secret Stone?"

Itachi was startled. He had not expected the Vice Clan Head to know already.

"This person will stir up enormous turmoil in the ninja world in the future, but I am not yet certain of his current identity."

"He has lingered around the Shrine Secret Stone many times. I suspect the writing on the stone has already been altered, so do not believe it."

Natsuki gave him the warning in advance.

"Yes, Vice Clan Head. I understand."

Late at night, after the discussion ended, Itachi walked out and saw Uchiha Izumi sitting on a bench nearby.

Uchiha Izumi had leaned against the bench and dozed off.

Itachi remembered Izumi's death in the Illusionary Realm.

His heart clenched violently.

Itachi stepped forward and patted Izumi on the shoulder. "What are you doing here?"

Izumi raised her head groggily. "Itachi?"

Then she woke up fully.

"N-No, nothing. I'm going back."

A blush rose to Izumi's cheeks as she stood up, preparing to leave in a fluster.

"Izumi..." Itachi called out to her.

"Hmm?" Izumi turned around. Under the dim light, she looked playful and adorable.

Itachi was silent for a moment. "Let's go eat Three-Color Dumplings tomorrow."

Thump! Thump! Izumi's heartbeat was unusually clear in the quiet night.

The sudden wave of happiness nearly made her mind overheat.

"O-Okay!"

Izumi covered her face and fled as if escaping. "Meet me by the river tomorrow!"

Watching Izumi disappear into the distance, Itachi showed a rare, gentle smile.