I Want to Lead the Entire Clan Away from This Place

Itachi Uchiha crouched atop a utility pole more than ten meters high, looking down over Konoha's intricate network of streets.

"I never expected there to be so many experts. Konoha truly is a place where dragons and tigers lie hidden."

With his keen perception, he could sense immensely powerful forces lurking in certain dark corners. Countless eyes were watching this seemingly peaceful village of the Hokage.

He already had a plan for what to do next.

Reviving the Uchiha Clan could not be done with mere lip service, but without persuasion, it would be absolutely impossible.

The Uchiha Clan members patrolling the streets alongside the Konoha Police Force personnel had noticeably weaker presences by comparison. Still, that was only natural. Since the Second Hokage's time, the Uchiha Clan had been deliberately targeted, isolated, and driven away from the center of power. They had even been publicly humiliated on countless occasions. Under such open suppression, the clan's talent had gradually withered away.

"This guy..."

Fugaku Uchiha seemed to sense something and looked up into the distance. The figure atop the empty utility pole had already faded away like ink.

He understood this son of his less and less, especially after Itachi had joined the Anbu. The wars that had erupted across the Shinobi World these past years had forced the Uchiha children to grow up too quickly. At eleven, they should have been playing in the mud.

Thinking of it that way, he suddenly felt a pang of heartache as a father.

"What? Itachi Uchiha, do you know what you're saying?!"

Inside the dimly lit Naka River Shrine, several hundred clansmen had gathered. On the backs of their clothes was a strikingly vivid red fan.

The Uchiha Gunbai!

Fugaku sat cross-legged at the front, listening to the opinions of the clansmen. Yet he had never expected his usually quiet son to speak up in public this time.

And just moments ago, Itachi had directly opposed their proposal for a coup and even suggested leaving this place.

"Yes, I said nothing wrong."

Itachi Uchiha nodded. Several prompts appeared before his system panel.

[Choice One: Retract your words and say that you were confused and had not thought things through—Speech Success Rate: 100%, but it will invite everyone's scorn and lower your prestige within the clan. There is a certain chance of obtaining the title: Coward Who Talks Big]

[Choice Two: Propose launching an Uchiha Clan coup and attempt to seize control of Konoha's upper ranks—Success Rate: ?????, Triggered Event: ???]

[Choice Three: Continue arguing on reasonable grounds and attempt to clearly explain the plan for the clan's migration—Chance of Gaining Approval: 29%, but it will arouse everyone's displeasure,

There is a certain chance of triggering the "Uchiha Migration Incident"

There is a certain chance of triggering the "Terrifying Eye-Stealing Battle"

There is a certain chance of triggering "Gaining the Favor of the Clan's Girls"

There is a very small chance of triggering the "Fourth Shinobi World War"]

Friendly Reminder: Should the system experience a spacetime disturbance, it is possible for all events to occur simultaneously.

The system's utterly emotionless reminder made cold sweat break out all over Itachi Uchiha. He had never imagined that right at the start, he would be forced to make a crossroads-like choice.

Choosing to confront them head-on was definitely impossible. The Anbu's strength alone was enough to contend with the Uchiha Clan, not to mention the tangled forces of the major clans Konoha had gathered over the years.

And the Uchiha had always done thankless work, offending those clan powers—Sarutobi, Hyuga, Aburame...

They had long resented the Uchiha Clan's usual arrogance. At a time like this, they would only kick them while they were down.

Because of that one sentence Itachi had spoken in public, every clansman turned to look at him. As all those gazes converged, it felt as though needles were pressing against his back.

Itachi Uchiha unhesitatingly selected Choice Two. In that instant, an indescribable ripple spread through the air. Many people present seemed to be bound by some nameless force.

Time itself seemed to slow.

But Fugaku Uchiha's eyes twisted slightly at that moment.

"Elders, loyal advice is unpleasant to hear, so please allow me to explain. If we do not move the entire clan, where will we have a place to stand? These past years, this so-called police force has only pushed the Uchiha Clan out of the center of power. It seems that we possess inherited authority and a foundation to rely upon, but in truth, we have also lost the right to place our clan's talents in various positions. And as for—"

"Besides, if we move the entire clan and seek refuge elsewhere, we do not necessarily have to join any shinobi village. We could survive on a remote island, such as the Land of Waves. I have already marked the corresponding terrain and various conditions on the map. Please, take a look."

Without caring whether the others agreed, Itachi Uchiha overstepped his bounds and unfurled an enormous map across the shrine wall.

The vast island, its terrain, and its mineral resources were all displayed in painstaking detail, like a shy girl stripped bare of her covering and laid out before them.

Even Fugaku Uchiha, Shisui Uchiha, and the younger generation of Uchiha could not help stepping closer in curiosity.

Quite a few members of their clan had indeed been forced to leave home. But it was said that those who escaped the village met grim ends, because the Uchiha Clan had committed too many wrongs and thus faced persecution from many sides.

Nearly every clansman who left home would later be followed by horrifying news that their eyes had been gouged out, echoes of it lingering throughout the village. Those symbols they had once been proud of had instead plunged nearly every one of them into fear and gloom.

"Itachi Uchiha, when did you obtain this strategic map? Did you already have such thoughts long ago?"

Fugaku's voice was somewhat agitated. He had always felt that his son was strange, influenced by certain ideas from Konoha and not particularly concerned with clan affairs.

The clansmen were also extremely emotional.

They whispered among themselves and exchanged glances. In many eyes, terrifying tomoe spun without end. They were all Sharingan!

In the darkness, they blazed like clusters of black ghostfire!

"Surely all of you have realized that our conflict with Konoha has reached an irreconcilable point. Any wishful thinking or delay will only make our losses more severe. Rather than wait helplessly for death, we should sharpen our blades."

Itachi Uchiha's voice turned cold. Suddenly, an incomparably sharp killing intent burst from his eyes. The slowly rotating crimson Three-Tomoe Sharingan connected together at that instant, and unparalleled power bloomed from his body.

[Congratulations, Host. Your choice has inadvertently earned you the corresponding beginner reward.]

[Mangekyō Sharingan unlocked ahead of time.]

[Strength: +1]

[Speed: +1]

[Agility: +1]

[Height: +1]

[Length: +1]

The instant those red eyes opened, a chill ran through nearly everyone's hearts.

"The Mangekyō Sharingan—the strongest heavenly eyes that see through the three realms, a world-shaking ocular technique... My god."

Someone among the clansmen cried out. Even Fugaku Uchiha was filled with shock, so overwhelmed with gratitude that tears nearly streamed down his face.

"A genius who awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan at eleven—the Uchiha Clan has hope!!"