Itachi Uchiha's Weakness

Meanwhile.

Inside the Hokage's office.

The atmosphere was so oppressive it was almost suffocating.

Danzo sat in a chair, his right arm temporarily sealed by medical ninja.

That arm was still wrapped in strange black-red chakra, like some kind of festering poison blotch.

Whenever chakra flowed through it, Danzo's face twitched.

It hurt.

But what he found truly unbearable was not the physical pain.

It was the humiliation.

He was Konoha's Darkness, the Hokage's advisor, the leader of Root.

Yet Uchiha You had severely wounded him before Shisui and the other Uchiha, then forced him to hand over Root files related to the Uchiha Clan.

This was not a simple defeat.

It was like having a layer of skin publicly stripped from his body.

Koharu Utatane frowned.

"Hiruzen, things cannot continue like this."

"Shisui has clearly begun to favor the Uchiha."

Homura Mitokado also spoke gravely.

"After Uchiha You revealed his Mangekyo Sharingan, the Uchiha Clan's morale surged."

"And now Danzo's attempt to seize an eye has happened."

"If they are not kept under control, the Uchiha may launch their coup ahead of schedule."

The Third Hokage sat behind his desk, the embers in his pipe flickering uncertainly.

He looked far older than usual.

"I know."

Danzo said coldly.

"Hiruzen, it is not too late yet."

"Shisui can no longer be trusted."

"Uchiha You must be eliminated."

"But Itachi is still in the ANBU."

"As long as we control Itachi, we can still stop the Uchiha."

At the mention of Itachi, the Third Hokage's gaze shifted slightly.

Itachi Uchiha.

He was one of the Third Hokage's last hopes for the Uchiha Clan.

Unlike Shisui's innocence, Itachi was calmer and more rational.

Moreover, Itachi understood the village better than most Uchiha.

If the situation truly reached its worst point, Itachi might still stand on the side of the village's greater good.

The Third Hokage said heavily.

"Do not use Root's methods on Itachi again."

Danzo snorted.

"I naturally will not be as careless as I was tonight."

The Third Hokage frowned.

"Danzo!"

Danzo closed his single eye, his voice chilling.

"Hiruzen, do you still not understand?"

"The Uchiha are no longer a problem that can be solved through conciliation alone."

"Shisui is wavering."

"You is out of control."

"Fugaku remains silent."

"The clan's radicals are eager to make their move."

"The only one who can still resolve the Uchiha issue from within is Itachi."

The Third Hokage fell silent.

He had to admit that Danzo was right.

If Itachi also sided with the Uchiha, there would truly be no buffer left between Konoha and the Uchiha.

So Itachi had to be kept steady.

The Third Hokage slowly said.

"I will speak with Itachi personally."

Danzo narrowed his single eye.

"Not enough."

The Third Hokage looked up.

Danzo said coldly.

"Doesn't Itachi have a younger brother?"

The Third Hokage's expression changed instantly.

"Danzo, what are you planning?"

Danzo replied blandly.

"I am merely reminding you."

"If someone has something they wish to protect, then they have a weakness."

The Third Hokage's voice sank.

"Sasuke is still a child."

Danzo's face remained expressionless.

"Precisely because he is a child, Itachi will better understand what choice can preserve the person most important to him."

The Third Hokage said nothing.

The smoke in the office grew thicker and thicker.

Only after a long while did he speak wearily.

"Do not touch Sasuke for now."

The corner of Danzo's mouth lifted almost imperceptibly.

"Hiruzen, you are still too weak."

The Third Hokage said coldly.

"Danzo, I have already told you. Do not act on your own again."

Danzo did not argue.

But his silence itself did not mean obedience.

Late at night.

Itachi had just returned home.

Uchiha Mikoto was clearing the dishes from the table.

Sasuke was already asleep.

The house was quiet.

Yet that quietness felt strangely heavy to Itachi.

He had already heard about what happened tonight.

Danzo had arranged to meet Shisui.

He had intended to seize Shisui's Mangekyo Sharingan.

Uchiha You had stopped him on the spot.

Danzo was severely injured, and his right arm had been crippled.

The Hokage Building had been forced to suspend Danzo from duty and hand over part of Root's files.

This incident had shaken Itachi deeply.

He knew Danzo was extreme.

He also knew how dark Root was.

But he had not expected Danzo to truly make a move against Shisui.

Who was Shisui?

He was someone who had always worked to reconcile the relationship between the Uchiha and the village.

He was the one who least wanted the Uchiha Clan and Konoha to go to war.

If even an Uchiha like Shisui could have his eye stolen by Danzo—

What about the other clan members?

What about himself?

What about Sasuke?

At the thought of Sasuke, Itachi's gaze darkened slightly.

The Root surveillance list from the clan meeting surfaced in his mind once more.

Sasuke's name had been on it.

That matter was like a needle lodged in him, leaving him unable to find peace.

Just then, Mikoto softly called out.

"Itachi."

"Mother."

Mikoto looked at him, her eyes gentle yet unable to conceal her worry.

"You should already know about what has been happening in the village and the clan lately."

Itachi nodded silently.

Mikoto said softly.

"I do not understand many of the judgments you ninja have to make."

"But I know Sasuke has missed you lately."

Itachi paused slightly.

Mikoto continued.

"While practicing shuriken today, he even asked me when his brother could practice with him again."

Itachi's gaze softened for an instant.

Sasuke.

The softest place in his heart.

Mikoto looked at Itachi and said softly.

"No matter what becomes of the village and the clan, I only hope that both of you brothers can survive."

Itachi did not answer.

Because he did not know how to answer.

Just then, a faint sound suddenly came from outside the window.

Itachi's expression changed instantly.

He gripped a kunai almost instinctively.

Yet the next moment, a familiar voice came from outside.

"It is me."

Shisui Uchiha.

Itachi's expression shifted slightly.

Mikoto glanced at Itachi. She did not ask any questions, only said softly.

"Go."

Itachi nodded.

In the next instant, his figure vanished from the house.

By the Naka River.

The night was deep.

Shisui stood by the riverbank, and Itachi landed behind him.

"Shisui."

"How are your injuries?"

Shisui turned around.

"I am fine."

Itachi looked into his eyes.

Both eyes were intact.

That made him breathe a sigh of relief.

"Danzo really attacked you?"

Shisui was silent for a moment, then nodded.

"Yes."

Itachi's fingers tightened slightly.

"Why?"

Shisui gave a bitter smile.

"He said that power like Kotoamatsukami shouldn't be in the hands of someone ruled by emotion."

"For Konoha, I should hand over my eye."

Itachi's pupils contracted slightly.

Those words were like a cold wind blowing into his heart.

For Konoha.

Again, for Konoha.

Shisui looked at Itachi and said softly:

"Itachi, You warned me before that Danzo wanted my eyes."

"I didn't believe him."

"I thought You was too extreme."

"But tonight, I nearly lost one eye."

Itachi fell silent.

Shisui continued:

"If it hadn't been for You, I might already be dead."

Itachi looked up, his expression complicated.

"You came too?"

Shisui nodded.

"He'd already guessed Danzo would make a move."

"And nearly every word he predicted, Danzo actually said."

Itachi's heart shook.

Uchiha You.

Just how far ahead had he seen?