Oscar Owes You a Little Gold Man!

Itachi slowly nodded.

"I'll do it."

The system prompt sounded again.

[Itachi Uchiha has accepted the covert infiltration plan.]

[Side Mission Two: Win Over Itachi Uchiha. Progress increased to 65%.]

[Behind-the-Scenes Points obtained: 8000.]

[Current Behind-the-Scenes Points: 69000.]

[Tip: If Itachi Uchiha successfully misleads Konoha's higher-ups and turns against them on Uchiha Massacre Night, a perfect conversion can be achieved.]

A glimmer of satisfaction flashed through Uchiha You's eyes.

Sixty-five percent.

Not enough.

Although Itachi had agreed to cooperate, it would take one final blow to make him fully choose a side.

That blow would be Danzo personally threatening him with Sasuke.

Only when that blade was truly held to Sasuke's throat would Itachi completely understand!

Konoha's higher-ups did not want him to protect Sasuke.

They wanted to use Sasuke to leash him.

Uchiha You looked toward the Hokage Building, a cold smile curling across his lips.

"Danzo."

"You'd better make your move soon."

"I'm waiting for you to personally push Itachi to my side."

The next day.

Uchiha Clan Grounds.

Police Force training grounds.

Many Uchiha clansmen were training.

Ever since the clan meeting, the clansmen's spirits had clearly changed.

They used to train for missions.

Now, they trained to survive.

Uchiha You stood in the middle of the training grounds, assigning covert patrol duties to several Three-Tomoe Sharingan clansmen.

Just then, Itachi walked in.

His arrival immediately made the atmosphere at the training grounds subtle.

Many clansmen stopped what they were doing and looked at him.

After joining the ANBU, Itachi's relationship with the clan had already become complicated.

After Danzo's attempt to seize Shisui's eyes last night, Shisui had clearly sided with the clan, while Itachi's stance remained uncertain.

Quite a few clansmen were secretly speculating.

Which side was Itachi on?

Uchiha You's expression remained calm when he saw Itachi.

"You're here."

Itachi looked at him, his voice cold.

"I heard you were arranging covert operations within the clan."

Uchiha You nodded.

"Yes."

Itachi frowned.

"Doing this will further provoke the village."

The training grounds instantly fell silent.

Uchiha Chuan frowned.

"Itachi, what do you mean by that?"

Itachi did not look at him. He only looked at Uchiha You.

"What the Uchiha Clan needs most right now is calm, not further deepening its conflict with the village."

Uchiha You's gaze turned cold.

"Calm?"

"Danzo nearly dug out Shisui's eyes last night, and today you're telling me to stay calm?"

Itachi said in a low voice,

"Danzo has already been suspended from duty, and Lord Hokage has agreed to investigate."

Uchiha Chuan snapped,

"What kind of punishment is suspension?"

"He wanted to dig out Shisui's eyes!"

Itachi said flatly,

"If the clan continues expanding its operations now, it will only make things worse."

The Uchiha clansmen's faces all darkened.

"Itachi really is still on the village's side."

"Even now, he's still speaking for the Hokage Building."

"He's been in the ANBU so long, he really thinks he belongs to the Hokage now?"

Whispers rose around them.

Itachi remained expressionless, as though he had heard nothing.

Then Uchiha You suddenly let out a cold laugh.

"Itachi."

"Are you speaking now as a member of the Uchiha Clan?"

"Or as an ANBU operative?"

Itachi looked at him.

"I only hope the Uchiha Clan does not head toward destruction."

Uchiha You took a step forward.

"What truly leads the Uchiha Clan toward destruction is not resistance."

"It is naïveté like yours, still placing hope in the conscience of the higher-ups."

Itachi's eyes darkened slightly.

"You, are too radical."

Three tomoe appeared in Uchiha You's eyes.

"And you are too much like a blade raised by the Hokage Building."

Boom!

The atmosphere at the training grounds exploded at once.

Those words were far too harsh.

The looks many clansmen gave Itachi became even angrier.

Itachi's expression cooled as well.

The two stared at each other.

Sparks seemed to crackle in the air.

On a distant rooftop, an ANBU operative hid in the shadows, taking in the entire scene.

His gaze was especially fixed on Itachi and Uchiha You.

A moment later, Itachi withdrew his gaze.

"If that is what you think, then I have nothing more to say."

With that, he turned and left the training grounds.

Uchiha Chuan gritted his teeth in anger.

"That bastard Itachi!"

"At a time like this, he's still acting like that!"

Uchiha You watched Itachi's departing back, his face icy.

Only after the ANBU operative hidden in the shadows quietly departed did an imperceptible smile flash through his eyes.

Not bad acting.

Though Itachi truly was not good at arguing.

That cold face of his was deceptive enough on its own.

Next, the Hokage Building should receive this report:

Itachi Uchiha and Uchiha You had conflicting ideals.

Itachi still opposed the clan's radical actions.

That was exactly what Uchiha You wanted them to see.

Hokage Building.

Not long afterward, the ANBU report arrived.

After listening, the Third Hokage finally let out a slight sigh of relief.

"Itachi and You had a conflict?"

The ANBU operative lowered his head.

"Yes."

"Itachi believes Uchiha You is too radical and will intensify the conflict between the village and the Uchiha Clan."

"Uchiha You, meanwhile, publicly berated Itachi as a blade raised by the Hokage Building."

The Third Hokage was silent for a moment before speaking quietly.

"Itachi is still clear-headed."

Koharu Utatane also said,

"It seems the Uchiha Clan has not been completely controlled by Uchiha You."

Homura Mitokado nodded.

"Itachi is still the key."

In the corner, Danzo's lone eye narrowed slightly.

Itachi and Uchiha You were at odds.

Excellent.

That meant Itachi still had value.

Shisui had wavered, Uchiha You was uncontrollable, and Fugaku was indecisive.

But Itachi was different.

Itachi had reason, pain, and most importantly, a younger brother.

People like him were the easiest to control.

Danzo said quietly,

"Hiruzen."

"It is time to let Itachi become more deeply involved."

The Third Hokage frowned.

"I will speak with Itachi."

Danzo did not object.

But in his heart, he had already begun calculating another plan.

Itachi Uchiha.

You will understand.

If you want to protect Sasuke, you must obey the village's orders.

At the same time.

Outside the Uchiha Clan Grounds.

Itachi walked into an empty alley.

The coldness on his face gradually faded, replaced by a trace of complexity.

The next moment, a voice came from behind the wall.

"Your acting was decent."

Itachi turned his head.

Uchiha You leaned against the wall with his arms folded.

Itachi was silent for a moment.

"The clansmen will hate me even more."

Uchiha You said flatly,

"Better for them to hate you than suspect you."

Itachi did not refute him.

Uchiha You continued,

"The ANBU have already left."

"The Hokage Building will soon learn that we're at odds."

Itachi asked,

"What now?"

Uchiha You looked at him.

"Now, we wait for them to come to you."

Itachi's gaze darkened slightly.

"If Danzo uses Sasuke to threaten me..."

Uchiha You's tone turned icy.

"Then remember every word he says."

"When Uchiha Massacre Night comes, I want you to throw those words back in Danzo's face."

Itachi slowly clenched his fists.

"I understand."

Uchiha You patted him on the shoulder.

"Itachi."

"From now on, the more you resemble an enemy..."

"The more it'll hurt when you slap them in the face."

Itachi: "..."

He realized that Uchiha You truly liked the phrase "slap them in the face."

But he had to admit—

If that night really came,

If Danzo thought he would raise his blade against his own clan,

Only for him to turn around and strike at Root instead,

That expression would indeed be spectacular.

The system notification sounded.

[The host has successfully guided Itachi Uchiha through his first undercover disguise.]

[Konoha's higher-ups' misjudgment rate has increased.]

[Danzo's intention to exploit Itachi Uchiha has intensified.]

[Behind-the-Scenes Points obtained: 5000.]

[Current Behind-the-Scenes Points: 74000.]

Uchiha You looked toward the Hokage Building, a cold smile on his lips.

Good.

The fish had begun to bite.

Next, he only had to keep making Danzo believe—

Itachi was still his blade.

The Uchiha Clan was still his prey.

As for the real Uchiha Massacre Night...

The Mangekyo Sharingan flashed in Uchiha You's eyes, then vanished.

That would not be the Uchiha Clan's funeral.

It would be Root's graveyard.