Uchiha Massacre Night, About to Begin!

Deep beneath the Root Base.

Under the dim lights, Danzo sat in the shadows, a fresh intelligence report spread out before him.

The source of the intelligence was Itachi Uchiha.

[Uchiha You has frequently used the Mangekyo Sharingan recently and is suspected to be suffering from ocular power depletion.]

[Although the Uchiha Clan has begun taking precautions, its consolidation is progressing slowly.]

[Fugaku remains hesitant.]

[Although Shisui is wavering, he still has concerns for the village.]

[The transfer of the clan's women and children has not yet been completed.]

[There are still some conservatives within the Uchiha Police Force.]

Danzo stared at the final line, his gaze growing colder and colder.

"Just as I thought."

He spoke slowly, his voice hoarse.

"No matter how strong Uchiha You is, it does not come without a cost."

A Root ninja beside him lowered his head.

"Lord Danzo, should we immediately..."

"Not yet."

Danzo cut him off.

A sinister light gleamed in his lone eye.

"He has not fully consolidated the Uchiha Clan yet."

"We cannot move directly yet."

"But the more forceful he becomes, the more it proves he is draining himself."

"The Mangekyo Sharingan is not a perpetual-motion machine."

"The more frequently it is used, the greater the depletion of ocular power."

"If we push him one more time, he will reveal an opening."

The Root ninja asked,

"What about Shisui Uchiha?"

Danzo sneered.

"Shisui has already lost their trust."

"Though Uchiha You is dangerous, he has not yet had time to unite everyone into a single force."

"The best approach now is not to deal with You alone."

"It is to force Hiruzen into making a decision with us."

He slowly rose to his feet.

The newly transplanted Hashirama Cells in his right arm still writhed slowly, carrying a scorching vitality.

Though it was still unstable, this new arm was usable at least.

Danzo flexed his fingers, his gaze turning even colder.

"Uchiha You thinks he can buy time."

"Unfortunately, he overestimates himself."

"Before he is fully prepared, this old man will strike first."

Konoha, Hokage Building.

Morning.

The Third Hokage had just taken his seat when hurried footsteps sounded outside once again.

"Lord Hokage."

"Lord Danzo is here."

The Third Hokage frowned.

"Let him in."

Before long, Danzo entered the office, leaning on his cane.

He had only just received his new arm transplant, and his face was still somewhat pale, but his eyes were colder than before.

Like a venomous snake that had just crawled out of the mud.

The Third Hokage looked up at him and said gravely,

"How is your arm recovering?"

Danzo replied coldly,

"I am still alive."

"That is enough."

The Third Hokage frowned.

"You came to see me because of the Uchiha matter?"

Danzo did not waste words. He placed a scroll directly on the desk.

"This is the latest intelligence from Itachi."

The Third Hokage unfurled the scroll, and his expression soon darkened.

Danzo spoke in a low voice.

"Uchiha You's Mangekyo Sharingan has already shown obvious signs of depletion."

"His frequent actions recently show that he is forcing himself to endure."

"The Uchiha Clan's internal consolidation is progressing slowly."

"Fugaku remains hesitant, and Shisui has not completely sided with the clan."

"This is an opportunity."

The Third Hokage set down the scroll and slowly said,

"What are you trying to say?"

Danzo stared at him.

"We cannot delay any longer."

"If we keep delaying, once Uchiha You recovers, the Uchiha Clan will truly become a united force."

"By then, the cost of making a move will be even greater."

The Third Hokage fell silent for a moment.

Of course he knew what Danzo meant.

But the matter with Shisui had only just been suppressed.

If they acted against the Uchiha Clan again at this time, the situation would likely spiral completely out of control.

The Third Hokage said gravely,

"Now is not the most appropriate time."

Danzo sneered.

"The most appropriate time?"

"Hiruzen, how long do you intend to wait?"

"Until Uchiha You's Mangekyo Sharingan recovers?"

"Until Shisui completely turns to the Uchiha Clan?"

"Until Itachi is pulled back as well?"

"Or until the Uchiha Clan Grounds become an impregnable fortress?"

The Third Hokage's frown deepened.

"I have already said that we cannot act rashly."

Danzo stared at him, his tone icy.

"Then how long are you planning to drag this out?"

"Uchiha You has already begun consolidating the clan, and the Police Force is redeploying its defenses."

"Give them a few more days, and the entire clan grounds will become a hedgehog."

"By then, whoever moves will die."

The Third Hokage's expression darkened.

Danzo continued to pressure him.

"Moreover, Uchiha You has been deliberately showing weakness lately."

"Itachi's intelligence clearly states that he has been using the Mangekyo Sharingan frequently, and his ocular power depletion is worsening."

"What does that mean?"

"It means he can no longer hold on."

"It also means he is putting up a bluff."

The Third Hokage remained silent.

Danzo sneered, his voice carrying undisguised pressure.

"Hiruzen, Uchiha You is not Shisui."

"Shisui hesitates. He considers the bigger picture."

"But Uchiha You is different."

"He is too sharp, and too dangerous."

"If we do not act while he has yet to truly consolidate the Uchiha Clan, it will be too late for regrets once he recovers."

The Third Hokage closed his eyes.

He knew very well that Danzo's words were not entirely without reason.

Uchiha You truly was too forceful.

Forceful enough to begin changing the atmosphere within the Uchiha Clan.

If this continued unchecked, the consequences would be impossible to predict.

Yet on the other hand, the Third Hokage feared that if they truly acted, the Uchiha Clan would retaliate without restraint.

Especially where Shisui was concerned.

Shisui was no longer as easy to control as before.

Though Itachi was still in the ANBU, his position had also become delicate.

If they joined forces completely, the balance between Konoha and the Uchiha Clan would be shattered at once.

The Third Hokage said gravely,

"Wait another two days."

Danzo's face sank.

"Hiruzen!"

The Third Hokage raised his eyes to him.

"I said, wait another two days."

"At the very least, we must confirm whether Uchiha You has truly reached his limit."

Danzo stared at him, and a cold glint passed through his lone eye.

Two days.

That would be enough.

Given only two more days, he could force the Uchiha Clan to the table.

And this time, he would not give them another chance to catch their breath.

Uchiha Clan Grounds.

The training field outside Nanga Shrine.

Uchiha You sat on a high tree branch, idly turning a kunai in his hand.

Below, Uchiha Chuan was leading several clan members as they continued setting up the Police Force's hidden lines.

Shisui stood on the other side, using genjutsu to adjust the chakra fluctuations of the outer barrier.

Itachi was there as well.

He still wore an indifferent expression on the surface as he spoke with several members of the Uchiha Police Force.

Everything appeared perfectly normal.

But Uchiha You knew.

Over at the Hokage Building, Danzo was already losing his patience.

The system notification rang out in his mind.

[Danzo has confirmed the intelligence regarding the host's ocular power depletion.]

[Danzo has pressured Hiruzen Sarutobi.]

[Konoha's upper echelons have accelerated the advancement of the "eliminate the Uchiha Clan" plan.]

The corner of Uchiha You's mouth lifted slightly.

"They are finally getting anxious."

He murmured to himself.

Shisui, beside him, heard it and looked up at him.

"What is getting anxious?"

Uchiha You did not answer directly. He merely jumped down from the tree.

"There should be movement from the Hokage Building soon."

Shisui's expression turned grave.

"So soon?"

Uchiha You nodded.

"That old dog Danzo is best at kicking you when you're down."

"He thinks my ocular power is severely depleted, and the Uchiha Clan hasn't finished consolidating internally."

"In his eyes, this is the best time to strike."

Hearing this, Uchiha Chuan's expression immediately darkened.

"Should we make a move first, then?"

Uchiha You shook his head.

"No."

"It's not time yet."

Itachi stood some distance away and gave him a cold look.

"What are you waiting for now?"

Uchiha You glanced at him.

"For Danzo to hand us the knife himself."

Itachi's brows furrowed slightly.

Uchiha You did not explain further.

It was not yet time to make things clear.

He had to make Danzo believe that he truly was weakened, that he was really stalling.

Only then would the other side take the initiative to speed things up.

And to make Danzo believe it even more, he had to put on this act once again.

Uchiha You raised a hand and pressed it against his brow.

"Training ends here for today."

Shisui asked, "You don't look well?"

Uchiha You coughed softly.

"A little tired."

The moment he said that, both Shisui and Uchiha Chuan's expressions changed.

Itachi's gaze also sharpened slightly.

Uchiha You slowly raised his head. Though there was still spirit in his eyes, they clearly carried a trace of exhaustion.

He did not overdo the act on purpose.

If it looked too fake, Danzo would not believe it.

He only needed to show the slightest sense of barely holding on.

Uchiha Chuan hurriedly said, "You, go rest first."

Uchiha You waved his hand.

"It's fine."

"I've just been using my eyes too much lately."

As he spoke, he even deliberately rubbed the corner of his eye.

Yet that small gesture made Itachi's heart sink slightly.

He knew Uchiha You was acting.

But it looked too real.

If he had not known the truth beforehand, even he would have almost believed it.

Shisui said quietly, "Do you want me to continue the defenses for you?"

Uchiha You nodded.

"That'll do."

"Also, starting tonight, expand the outer barrier another two layers outward."

Shisui froze.

"Why?"

Uchiha You said calmly, "Because Danzo will think I can't hold on."

"Once he thinks that, he'll become more desperate."

"So let him be desperate."

Shisui quickly understood.

Uchiha You was deliberately creating the illusion that his ocular power was running short.

He wanted Danzo to think he could still stall for time and wear Uchiha You down.

In reality, the longer things dragged on, the more stable the Uchiha Clan became.

Uchiha Chuan immediately said, "I'll arrange it."

Itachi looked at Uchiha You and suddenly spoke.

"Are you really all right?"

Uchiha You turned back to look at him.

"What?"

"Afraid I'll die too early?"

Itachi: "..."

He had only asked instinctively.

Yet after being snapped at like that, he was left somewhat speechless.

Uchiha You said blandly, "Don't worry."

"I won't fall before Danzo dies."

With that, he turned and left the training ground.

But after taking only a few steps, his stride paused slightly.

Then he braced himself against a tree trunk and let out a soft breath.

That subtle pause was seen clearly by Itachi in the distance.

Itachi's eyes shifted.

Was he really exhausted?

Or was he still acting?

He could not tell.

But if Danzo received similar information, he would probably become even more certain that Uchiha You had begun to weaken.

That was enough.

Root Base.

Danzo received new intelligence.

[Uchiha You has used the Mangekyo Sharingan multiple times recently and has shown signs of fatigue afterward.]

[The clan barriers have been expanded further.]

[The Uchiha Police Force has begun strengthening covert patrols.]

[Uchiha You is suspected of having begun reducing his public appearances.]

After reading it, a cold smile slowly appeared at the corner of Danzo's mouth.

As expected.

That brat could not hold on any longer.

He knew it.

No matter how powerful a Mangekyo Sharingan was, it could not be used recklessly.

Especially that bizarre ability.

It eroded chakra, corrupted the chakra pathways, and enhanced his own recovery.

Every aspect of it consumed an enormous amount of ocular power.

Uchiha You had used the Mangekyo Sharingan continuously at high intensity recently. There was no way he could be completely unaffected.

"Very good," Danzo said quietly.

"It seems the time is almost here."

A Root ninja beside him asked, "Lord Danzo, should we inform the Hokage now?"

Danzo pondered for a moment.

"No."

"Wait a little longer."

"I want Hiruzen to see with his own eyes that Uchiha You no longer has the means to keep delaying."

"I want him to understand that the Uchiha Clan, this hidden danger, must be dealt with."

The Root ninja lowered his head.

"Yes."

Danzo slowly leaned back in his chair, his one eye filled with icy calculation.

He could see things more and more clearly now.

No matter how strong Uchiha You was, he was still only a young man.

A young man's greatest weakness was wanting too badly to hold on.

The more he tried, the more likely he was to expose a flaw.

And a flaw was a fatal weakness.

The following evening.

Inside the Hokage Building, the Third Hokage, Koharu Utatane, Homura Mitokado, and Danzo convened another small closed-door meeting.

On the table lay the latest "Uchiha intelligence" compiled by Root.

Danzo pushed the scroll to the center of the table, his voice low.

"Hiruzen, we can't delay any longer."

The Third Hokage picked up the scroll and scanned it. His brows furrowed deeper and deeper.

Its contents were nearly identical to what Danzo had said before.

Uchiha You was suspected of having exhausted too much ocular power.

The Uchiha Clan Grounds had yet to be fully consolidated.

Shisui and Itachi had not completely sided with the Uchiha Clan for the time being.

Fugaku was still wavering.

This was an opportunity.

The Third Hokage was silent for a long time before finally speaking.

"If we truly act, we must ensure that every core member of the Uchiha Clan is eliminated."

A cold glint flashed through Danzo's eye.

"Of course."

"Fugaku, Uchiha You, and Shisui must be dealt with first."

The Third Hokage asked, "What about Itachi?"

Danzo said heavily, "Itachi can continue to be used."

"He is our last key to entering the Uchiha Clan from within."

Koharu Utatane frowned.

"But Itachi's relationship with Uchiha You seems to have become complicated again recently."

Danzo sneered.

"That is merely superficial."

"Itachi is still passing along intelligence according to plan."

"And he understands Sasuke's importance better than anyone."

"As long as Sasuke is there, he cannot escape."

The Third Hokage closed his eyes and said slowly, "One final confirmation."

"If the Uchiha Clan makes no move to stage a coup, no large-scale action is permitted."

Danzo did not argue.

But his silence had already said everything.

As long as he believed the Uchiha Clan was about to rebel, he could strike first.

Who would make that judgment?

Of course, it would be him.

The Third Hokage understood this perfectly well, but he did not pursue the matter further.

Because Danzo had already swayed him.

Uchiha You's existence was indeed too dangerous.

If he continued uniting the Uchiha Clan, the situation would only become harder to control.

The Third Hokage said in a low voice:

"Then make the preparations."

"First, compile all the evidence."

"Then have Itachi confirm the situation within the clan one more time."

"If everything is as you say..."

He opened his eyes, his gaze complicated.

"Then we must make a decision."

Danzo nodded.

"This old man understands."

The meeting ended.

As Danzo walked out of the Hokage Building, the night wind rushed toward him.

He raised his head toward the Uchiha Clan Grounds, his single eye brimming with icy killing intent.

Uchiha You.

You put on quite a performance.

Unfortunately, this old man has already seen through your weakness.

Now, let's see how much longer you can keep pretending.

Uchiha Clan Grounds.

On the rooftops.

Uchiha You stood in the wind as the system prompt sounded again.

[Konoha's higher-ups have entered the final evaluation stage.]

[Danzo has concluded that the host's ocular power has been severely depleted.]

[Hiruzen Sarutobi has begun to waver.]

[The Uchiha Eradication Plan has entered formal preparations.]

[Main quest: Prevent Uchiha Massacre Night. Progress increased.]

A cold glint flashed through Uchiha You's eyes.

"Have you finally made up your minds?"

He spoke softly.

"Good."

"The more desperate you are, the closer you are to your graves."

The wind swept through the clan grounds.

One by one, the patrol lights of the Police Force lit up.

Shisui Uchiha set up genjutsu nodes along the edge of the barrier.

Uchiha Chuan checked the relocation list.

On the surface, Itachi remained as cold as ever, but in secret, he continued sending false information to Danzo.

Deep within the clan grounds, Fugaku began truly mobilizing the last of their elite forces.

Everything was tightening.

Like a net that had long been laid out.

And Danzo was walking step by step toward its center.

Uchiha You looked toward the Hokage Building, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly.

Danzo.

You think you've seen through the weakness of the Mangekyo Sharingan.

In truth, you've only seen the opening I wanted you to see.

The day you truly make your move...

His gaze deepened as the black-and-red Mangekyo Sharingan slowly spun in his eyes.

I'll show you.

What it means to lift a rock only to smash your own head.