Your Way of Comforting People Is Quite Unique

Itachi stood where he was, utterly still.

Only after Danzo's figure had completely disappeared did the hand hanging inside his sleeve slowly unclench.

His palm had already been pierced bloody by his nails.

A flash of scarlet flickered deep in his eyes, then vanished.

Danzo.

So you really did treat Sasuke as a bargaining chip.

Uchiha Clan Grounds.

Late at night.

The underground chamber beneath Nanga Shrine.

This was one of the Uchiha Clan's most secretive locations.

A stone tablet stood silently in the darkness.

Torchlight burned, illuminating several figures.

Uchiha You.

Shisui Uchiha.

Itachi Uchiha.

Fugaku Uchiha.

The four had gathered together.

This secret meeting had been specifically arranged by Uchiha You.

Only the four of them knew about it.

Even Uchiha Chuan did not know the details.

Because what they were about to discuss was the most crucial link in the entire counterattack plan for Uchiha Massacre Night.

Standing beneath the firelight, Itachi recounted everything that had happened in the Hokage Building without omitting a single word.

Especially the part where Danzo had threatened him with Sasuke.

After hearing it, the underground chamber fell into a deathly silence.

Fugaku Uchiha's face darkened so much it seemed ready to drip with water.

"Danzo... actually dared to use Sasuke to threaten you."

His voice was low.

But anyone who knew him understood that Fugaku was truly angry.

Sasuke was not only Itachi's younger brother, but also his son.

Danzo making Sasuke a bargaining chip had already crossed Fugaku's bottom line.

Shisui's expression was equally grim.

Although he had long known Danzo had no limits,

he still felt chilled to the bone upon hearing that Danzo had used Sasuke to threaten Itachi.

"What You said was all true."

Shisui spoke softly.

"Danzo's next move really is Itachi."

Itachi said nothing.

His expression remained calm, but the coldness deep in his eyes could no longer be concealed.

Leaning against the stone wall, Uchiha You said lightly,

"Congratulations, Itachi."

"You've finally gotten hold of the knife handle Danzo handed you himself."

Itachi looked at him.

"What do you mean?"

Uchiha You said,

"By threatening you with Sasuke, he has shown that he believes you can be controlled."

"He told you to watch me, investigate my Mangekyo Sharingan, investigate the clan's arrangements, and investigate the clan head's stance."

"What does that tell us?"

Fugaku said in a deep voice,

"It means he is ready to go further against the Uchiha Clan."

Uchiha You nodded.

"That's right."

"Danzo has not given the final order yet, not because he is merciful."

"It's because he still thinks the time isn't ripe."

"He still needs more intelligence."

"And Itachi is the source of intelligence he considers most suitable."

A flicker passed through Itachi's eyes.

"So I need to give him intelligence."

Uchiha You smiled.

"Right."

"Give it to him."

"Give him intelligence convincing enough to put his mind at ease and push his plan forward."

Shisui frowned.

"False intelligence?"

Uchiha You said,

"Half true, half false."

"If it's all false, he won't believe it."

"If it's all true, we'll die."

"The best lie is nine parts truth and one crucial part falsehood."

Fugaku looked at Uchiha You.

"What do you intend for Itachi to report?"

Uchiha You raised a finger and listed them one by one.

"First, the Uchiha Clan really is secretly on guard."

"That cannot be concealed, and there is no need to conceal it."

"Second, the clan's radicals are indeed extremely dissatisfied with the higher-ups."

"That is also true."

"Third, Clan Head Fugaku is still wavering and has not resolved himself to stage a coup."

Fugaku fell silent for a moment.

In a sense, that was true as well.

It was only that his current hesitation was no longer over whether to resist, but how to resist.

Uchiha You continued,

"Fourth, although Shisui is disappointed in Danzo, he still does not want the Uchiha Clan and the village to go to war."

Shisui nodded.

That was true as well.

He truly did not want the war to spread throughout all of Konoha.

"Fifth, I, Uchiha You, have gained influence within the clan, but I have not taken control of all clan members."

"There are still quite a few people in the clan who do not trust me."

Fugaku frowned.

"That is false."

Uchiha You smiled.

"But Danzo will be willing to believe it."

"Because he needs to believe that I have not completely taken control of the Uchiha Clan."

"Otherwise, he would not dare continue acting."

Itachi said slowly,

"What is the crucial false intelligence?"

Uchiha You looked at him.

"Tell Danzo."

"The Uchiha Clan's secret plan to transfer the women and children is progressing slowly."

"The clan's evacuation routes have not yet been completed."

"Although the Police Force's combat squads have begun forming, their coordination is chaotic."

"If he intends to act, he must do it before the Uchiha Clan is fully prepared."

Itachi's gaze sharpened.

Shisui understood as well.

They were luring Danzo into speeding up.

Making him think the Uchiha Clan was not yet prepared.

Making him feel the urgency that if he didn't act now, it would be too late.

Fugaku said in a low voice,

"This is very dangerous."

"If Danzo acts early and the clan is insufficiently prepared, there will be casualties."

Uchiha You looked at Fugaku.

"That is why our preparations must advance faster than the intelligence suggests."

"Slow on the surface."

"Fast in secret."

"Have Itachi report that the clan is in disarray."

"But in reality, we must complete the evacuation and defensive deployment in the shortest possible time."

Fugaku fell silent.

This was a massive gamble.

They were gambling that Danzo would act according to the pace they had designed.

Gambling that Konoha's higher-ups would believe the intelligence Itachi passed on.

Gambling that no information would leak from within the Uchiha Clan.

But it had to be said that this was more proactive than simply waiting for the higher-ups to act.

Uchiha You continued,

"We also need to make Danzo believe one thing."

Itachi asked,

"What?"

Uchiha You looked at him, a cold smile appearing at the corner of his mouth.

"Make him believe that Sasuke, your weakness, is gradually crushing you."

"Make him believe that for Sasuke's sake, you might truly raise your blade against the Uchiha Clan with your own hands."

The atmosphere in the underground chamber sank slightly.

Fugaku's expression was complicated.

As a father, hearing someone tell his eldest son to pretend he might slaughter his own clan was not a pleasant feeling.

Yet Itachi only remained silent for a moment before nodding.

"I can do it."

Uchiha You looked at him.

"Are you sure?"

Itachi said quietly,

"As long as I can protect Sasuke and protect the clan, I can bear the clan's misunderstanding."

Shisui frowned.

"Itachi..."

But Uchiha You gave a cold laugh.

"Here we go again."

Itachi looked at him.

Uchiha You said bluntly,

"Don't put on that self-sacrificing look."

"I'm asking you to act, not to wallow in pain and move yourself."

"Remember this."

"This time, you are not carrying everything alone."

"The entire Uchiha Clan is counterattacking together."

"You are not a sinner."

"You are bait."

Itachi: "..."

Shisui: "..."

Fugaku: "..."

The heavy atmosphere in the secret chamber was shattered by Uchiha You's blunt declaration: "You're the bait."

Itachi remained silent for a long while before finally speaking.

"Your way of comforting people is rather unique."

Uchiha You replied flatly,

"I wasn't comforting you."

"I was only reminding you not to lose your way."

"People like you are most likely to turn a plan into a tragic suicide."

"I don't need tragedy."

"I need you alive—to lure Danzo in, then personally cut down his Root."

A flicker of emotion finally appeared in Itachi's eyes.

After a moment, he nodded.

"I understand."

The system notification sounded.

[Itachi Uchiha's understanding of the path of self-sacrifice has shifted.]

[Defection progress increased.]

[Current Side Quest Two progress: 75%.]

[Behind-the-Scenes Points obtained: 6000.]

[Current Behind-the-Scenes Points: 80000.]

Uchiha You's heart stirred slightly.

Eighty thousand Behind-the-Scenes Points.

There was still some distance to go before the main quest reward of the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan, but the amount he had accumulated was already quite substantial.

More importantly, Itachi's fate had clearly begun to shift.

As long as he kept pushing forward, the butcher's blade of Uchiha Massacre Night could be completely turned around.