Itachi slowly nodded.
"I'll do it."
The system notification sounded again.
[Itachi Uchiha has accepted the covert infiltration plan.] [Side Quest Two: Turn Itachi Uchiha, progress increased to 65%.] [Behind-the-Scenes Points obtained: 8000.] [Current Behind-the-Scenes Points: 69000.] [Hint: If Itachi Uchiha successfully misleads Konoha's higher-ups and turns against them on Uchiha Massacre Night, a perfect conversion can be achieved.]
A trace of satisfaction flashed through Uchiha You's eyes.
Sixty-five percent.
It wasn't enough.
Although Itachi had agreed to cooperate, it would still take one final blow to make him fully choose a side.
That was for Danzo himself to threaten him with Sasuke.
Only when the 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 keep him on a leash.
Uchiha You looked toward the Hokage Building, a cold smile curling at his lips.
"Danzo."
"You'd better make your move soon."
"I'm waiting for you to push Itachi to my side with your own hands."
The next day.
Uchiha Clan Grounds.
Police Force training grounds.
Many Uchiha Clan members were training.
Ever since the clan meeting, the clan members' spirits had clearly changed.
They had once trained 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 clan members.
Just then, Itachi walked in.
His arrival instantly made the atmosphere at the training grounds subtle.
Many clan members stopped what they were doing and looked at him.
Ever since Itachi joined the ANBU, his relationship with the clan had already been delicate.
After Danzo's attempt to take Shisui's eye last night, Shisui had clearly sided with the clan, while Itachi's stance remained unclear.
Many clan members were secretly guessing.
Whose side was Itachi on?
Uchiha You looked at Itachi, his expression calm.
"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 the conflict with the village."
Uchiha You's gaze turned cold.
"Calm?"
"Danzo nearly dug out Shisui's eye last night, and today you're telling me to stay calm?"
Itachi said in a deep voice.
"Danzo has already been suspended, and Lord Hokage has agreed to investigate."
Uchiha Chuan snapped.
"What kind of punishment is suspension?"
"He wanted to take Shisui's eye!"
Itachi said flatly.
"If the clan expands its operations now, it will only make things worse."
The Uchiha Clan members' expressions darkened.
"Itachi really is still on the village's side."
"Even now, he's still speaking for the Hokage Building."
"He's spent so long in the ANBU that he really thinks he belongs to the Hokage."
Whispers broke out.
Itachi remained expressionless, as if he had heard nothing.
But Uchiha You suddenly let out a cold laugh.
"Itachi."
"Are you speaking as a member of the Uchiha Clan right now?"
"Or as a member of the ANBU?"
Itachi looked at him.
"I only hope the Uchiha Clan won't head toward destruction."
Uchiha You took a step forward.
"What truly leads the Uchiha Clan toward destruction is not resistance."
"It's the naivety of people like you, still placing your hopes in the higher-ups' conscience."
Itachi's eyes darkened slightly.
"You, you're too radical."
Three tomoe appeared in Uchiha You's eyes.
"And you're too much like a blade raised by the Hokage Building."
Boom!
The atmosphere in the training grounds instantly exploded.
Those words were far too harsh.
The looks many clan members gave Itachi became even angrier.
Itachi's expression also turned cold.
The two stared at each other.
It felt as though sparks were flying through the air.
On a distant rooftop, an ANBU agent concealed in the shadows took in the entire scene.
His gaze lingered especially on Itachi and Uchiha You.
After a moment, Itachi withdrew his gaze.
"If that's 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 guy Itachi!"
"At a time like this, he's still acting that way!"
Uchiha You watched Itachi's departing back, his face icy.
Only after the ANBU agent in the shadows quietly left did an almost imperceptible smile flash through his eyes.
Not a bad performance.
Though Itachi truly was not good at arguing.
That cold face of his was naturally convincing.
Next, the Hokage Building should receive word that—
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 after, the ANBU report arrived.
After hearing it, the Third Hokage finally let out a slight breath of relief.
"Itachi and You had a conflict?"
The ANBU agent lowered his head.
"Yes."
"Itachi believes Uchiha You is too radical and will worsen the conflict between the village and the Uchiha Clan."
"Uchiha You, meanwhile, publicly condemned Itachi as a blade raised by the Hokage Building."
The Third Hokage fell silent for a moment before saying softly.
"Itachi is still clearheaded."
Utatane Koharu also said.
"It seems the Uchiha Clan has not been completely controlled by Uchiha You."
Mitokado Homura nodded.
"Itachi remains the key."
In the corner, Danzo's one eye narrowed slightly.
Itachi and Uchiha You were at odds.
Very good.
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, more importantly, a younger brother.
People like him were the easiest to control.
Danzo said quietly.
"Hiruzen."
"It's time to have Itachi get more deeply involved."
The Third Hokage frowned.
"I'll speak with Itachi."
Danzo did not argue.
But in his heart, he had already begun calculating another plan.
Itachi Uchiha.
You'll understand.
If you want to protect Sasuke, you must obey the village's orders.
At the same time.
Outside the Uchiha Clan Grounds.
Itachi entered 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.
"Not a bad performance."
Itachi turned his head.
Uchiha You leaned against the wall, his arms folded across his chest.
Itachi was silent for a moment.
"The clan members will hate me even more."
Uchiha You said flatly.
"It's better for them to hate you than to 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 was icy:
"Then remember every word he says."
"When Uchiha Massacre Night comes, I want you to throw those words back at him right in front of Danzo."
Itachi slowly clenched his fists.
"I understand."
Uchiha You patted him on the shoulder.
"Itachi."
"From this moment on, the more you resemble an enemy..."
"The more it will hurt when you slap them in the face later."
Itachi: "..."
He realized that Uchiha You truly liked the phrase "slap them in the face."
But he had to admit it.
If that night really came.
If Danzo believed he would raise his blade against his clansmen.
Only for him to turn around and strike at Root instead.
That expression would indeed be quite spectacular.
The system notification sounded.
[The host has successfully guided Itachi Uchiha through his first infiltration disguise.] [Konoha's upper echelon misjudgment rate has increased.] [Danzo's intent to use 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 needed to keep making Danzo believe.
That Itachi was still his blade.
That the Uchiha Clan was still his prey.
As for the true Uchiha Massacre Night...
The Mangekyo Sharingan flashed in Uchiha You's eyes, then vanished.
It would not be the Uchiha Clan's funeral.
It would be Root's graveyard.
Before you continue