Itachi froze.
Shisui also looked at Uchiha You.
Although Uchiha You had mentioned this before, saying it in front of Itachi now carried an entirely different meaning.
Itachi frowned.
"Continue staying in the ANBU?"
Uchiha You nodded.
"That's right."
"Not only do you need to remain in the ANBU, you need to act as though you're even more loyal to the village than before."
Itachi's gaze narrowed slightly.
"Why?"
Uchiha You said calmly:
"Because Konoha's higher-ups still think you're a blade they can use against the Uchiha Clan."
"If you suddenly side with the clan, they'll become alert immediately."
"The Uchiha Clan Extermination Plan might be brought forward, or it might be canceled. It could even turn into a far larger-scale purge."
"If that happens, we won't be able to get evidence against them."
Itachi's eyes shook.
He instantly understood what Uchiha You meant.
Uchiha You continued:
"So, you need to keep being that blade."
"But the blade's edge must be held in Uchiha hands."
Shisui said gravely:
"Have Itachi act as an informant."
Uchiha You nodded.
"Correct."
"If the higher-ups tell you to monitor the Uchiha Clan, then monitor them."
"If they tell you to report on the clan's situation, then report."
"But what you report to them must be what we want them to know."
"Mix real information with false information."
"Wrap true intentions in false information."
"Make them believe that the Uchiha Clan is still in disarray."
"That the clan head is still hesitant, that although Shisui is wavering, he has not completely chosen a side, and that although I am dangerous, the clan has not entirely begun listening to me."
Itachi fell silent.
Uchiha You looked at him, his tone terrifyingly calm.
"We need to make Danzo and the Third Hokage think they still have a chance."
"Only if they think they still have a chance will they continue advancing the Uchiha Clan Extermination Plan."
"Only if they advance the Uchiha Clan Extermination Plan can we round up every participant the night they make their move."
Itachi was deeply shaken.
The Uchiha Clan Extermination Plan.
When those words came from Uchiha You's mouth, they sounded unbearably harsh.
But now, he could no longer completely deny it.
Danzo's actions tonight had already shown just how deep the higher-ups' malice toward the Uchiha Clan ran.
If the situation continued to worsen, the so-called Uchiha Clan Extermination Plan might truly come to pass.
Itachi asked quietly:
"What if they really order me to attack my clansmen?"
Uchiha You's eyes turned cold.
"Agree."
Itachi's pupils contracted.
Shisui's expression shifted as well.
Uchiha You continued:
"Agree on the surface."
"Make them think you've been forced into having no choice but to carry out their orders."
"Put Danzo at ease."
"Make the Third Hokage remain silent."
"Have Root and the ANBU enter the Uchiha Clan Grounds according to the original plan."
"After they enter..."
His voice paused slightly, and a chilling smile appeared at the corner of his lips.
"Then tell them."
"The blade changed masters long ago."
Itachi's heart jolted violently.
He finally understood.
Uchiha You did not simply want to turn him against them.
He wanted to turn him into a piece that would explode in reverse.
The higher-ups believed Itachi would be the executor of Uchiha Massacre Night.
In reality, Itachi would become the key to the counterattack on Uchiha Massacre Night.
When the time came, Root would think Itachi would help them open the gates of the Uchiha Clan Grounds.
But after entering, what awaited them would not be an unprepared Uchiha Clan.
It would be a killing formation laid out long in advance.
This move was ruthless.
And perfectly suited for dealing with Danzo.
Shisui took a deep breath.
"Itachi, this is dangerous."
Itachi said quietly:
"I know."
Uchiha You looked at Itachi.
"So you can refuse."
"You can keep believing in the Third Hokage."
"Keep believing that Danzo won't threaten you with Sasuke."
"Keep believing that Konoha's higher-ups will grow a conscience at the last moment."
Itachi raised his head.
Uchiha You's voice turned cold.
"But if you lose that gamble."
"You won't be the only one who dies."
"It will be the entire Uchiha Clan."
"It will be your parents."
"It will be Sasuke."
At last, Itachi clenched his fists.
The name Sasuke was his final bottom line.
He could sacrifice himself.
He could even bear every slander and disgrace.
But he could not accept Sasuke being used as a bargaining chip by Danzo.
Still less could he accept becoming the murderer who destroyed everything Sasuke had.
After a long while, Itachi slowly closed his eyes.
When he opened them again, his gaze had changed.
There was no longer any confusion.
Instead, there was a trace of cold clarity.
"I can continue staying in the ANBU."
Shisui's heart shook.
The corners of Uchiha You's lips lifted slightly.
The first step had succeeded.
Itachi continued:
"But I have conditions."
Uchiha You asked:
"Speak."
Itachi said in a low voice:
"No innocent villagers can be harmed."
"Sasuke cannot learn of this."
"The clan cannot take the initiative to start a war."
Uchiha You nodded.
"Agreed."
"My target has never been ordinary villagers."
"Nor has it been all of Konoha."
"It is Danzo, Root, and everyone truly involved in the Uchiha Clan Extermination Plan."
Itachi looked at him.
"Does that include the Third Hokage?"
Shisui also looked at Uchiha You.
This was crucial.
Uchiha You was silent for a moment before saying calmly:
"If the Third Hokage merely acquiesces, he can live."
"But he must pay a price."
"If he gives the order himself."
"Then there is no Hokage, only an enemy."
Itachi did not refute him.
Before this, he would certainly have considered those words treasonous.
But after tonight, he could no longer view Konoha's higher-ups through the eyes he once had.
Shisui said quietly:
"For now, only the three of us know about this?"
Uchiha You nodded.
"The clan head can be told part of it, as appropriate."
Itachi frowned.
"My father?"
Uchiha You said:
"The clan head must know that you have not truly betrayed the Uchiha Clan."
"Otherwise, the hostility toward you within the clan will spiral out of control."
"But he cannot know all the details."
"The more he knows, the less natural his reactions will be."
Itachi was silent for a moment, then nodded.
"Fine."
Uchiha You continued:
"Starting tomorrow, you need to act more distant."
"Keep your distance from the clan's arrangements."
"If necessary, you can even question me openly."
Shisui froze.
"Question you openly?"
"Of course."
"If Itachi suddenly says nothing at all, that would be even stranger."
"He is already in the ANBU."
"He already stands between the village and his clansmen."
"Now that Shisui is wavering, I am rising, and the clan is on guard."
"If Itachi has no reaction at all, Konoha's higher-ups will grow suspicious."
Itachi immediately understood.
"So, I need to keep playing the ANBU member the clan doesn't trust."
Uchiha You nodded.
"Not only that."
"You also need to make Danzo think you and I are at odds."
Itachi looked at him.
Uchiha You's lips curled upward.
"Better yet, make him think you're willing to stand against me for Sasuke's sake."
Itachi's gaze darkened slightly.
"You want me to use Sasuke?"
Uchiha You looked at him.
"Not use Sasuke."
"Use Danzo's belief that he can use Sasuke."
Itachi fell silent.
The wording was a little roundabout.
But the meaning was clear.
Danzo would definitely use Sasuke to threaten him.
Since that was the case, they might as well make Danzo believe the threat would work.
As long as Danzo believed Sasuke was holding Itachi back, he would be more willing to entrust the Uchiha Clan Extermination Plan to Itachi.
This was sowing discord.
It was also luring the enemy.
Itachi took a deep breath.
"I understand."
Uchiha You said,
"One more thing."
"If ANBU comes to speak with you, don't act too agitated."
"You can be shocked by Danzo taking the eyes, but you cannot show outright disgust."
"You must still maintain respect toward the Third Hokage."
"Toward the Uchiha Clan, show concern, even disappointment."
"If necessary, submit some intelligence on the clan's radicals to the Hokage Building."
Shisui frowned.
"Wouldn't that harm the clan?"
Uchiha You shook his head.
"Give them the intelligence we prepared."
"For example, a few radicals who were already under ANBU surveillance."
"Make them think Itachi is still diligently carrying out his ANBU duties."
"But the real combat squads, the evacuation routes for women and children, the secret shelters—not a single word can be revealed."
Itachi nodded.
"I'll handle it."
Uchiha You looked at him, his gaze calm.
"Itachi."
"From now on, every word you say and every expression you make will affect the fate of the entire Uchiha Clan."
"You aren't acting."
"You're fighting Danzo for the knife."
Itachi said gravely,
"I know."
Uchiha You suddenly smiled.
"Good."
"Then the first act begins tomorrow."
Itachi asked,
"What act?"
Uchiha You said blandly,
"In the clan compound, have a public argument with me."
Itachi: "..."
Shisui: "..."
Uchiha You looked at their expressions, his smile growing more pronounced.
"What?"
"Can't argue?"
Shisui gave a bitter smile.
"Itachi might genuinely be bad at it."
Itachi stared expressionlessly at Uchiha You.
Uchiha You waved a hand.
"It's fine."
"Just play yourself."
"Keep a cold face and say I'm too radical, that I'll bring ruin upon the Uchiha Clan."
"Then I'll curse you as a knife raised by the Hokage Building."
"After that, turn around and leave."
"Remember to make your expression look a little uglier."
Itachi: "..."
For some reason, he suddenly felt this plan was absurd.
Uchiha You continued,
"ANBU will definitely report this matter upward."
"When that happens, the Third Hokage will breathe a sigh of relief."
"Danzo will think he still has a chance to win you over."
"The clan will also continue believing that you and I are at odds."
"That way, Uchiha Massacre Night will continue moving in the direction we need."
Shisui looked at Uchiha You and could not help saying softly,
"You."
"You really accounted for everyone."
Uchiha You said blandly,
"Not everyone."
"At least, there are some people whose calculations aren't finished yet."
Shisui froze.
"What?"
Uchiha You did not explain.
Some things were not yet the time to tell them.
He merely looked at Itachi.
"Remember."
"Right now, you don't need to make Konoha believe the Uchiha Clan is harmless."
"You need to make Konoha believe they still have a chance to wipe out the Uchiha Clan."
Itachi's gaze darkened slightly.
Those words were cruel.
But he knew this was the most effective method.
If the enemy thought you were invincible, they would hide.
If the enemy thought you could be killed, they would walk willingly into the trap.
Danzo was best at schemes.
Then let him die in his own scheme.
Before you continue