Countdown to the Massacre

Countdown to the Massacre

Brain deposit for all you Yanzu bigshots → []

Takuya was shocked for quite a while before he finally accepted the fact that he had time-traveled and become Uchiha Fugaku.

After taking in all of Uchiha Fugaku's memories, Takuya frowned in deep thought. The Uchiha were exterminated in Year 56 of Konoha. There's a gathering at Naka Shrine tonight—isn't tonight most likely the Night of the Massacre?!

Takuya was panic-stricken, subconsciously reaching up to touch his eyes.

Although he possessed the Mangekyo Sharingan, the opposing side also had three Mangekyo Sharingans, giving them one more than him. If a real fight broke out, it was hard to say who would win or lose.

Therefore, he did not plan to do nothing. It was only 2:00 PM now, and everything was still in time.

He shouted in a booming voice, "Someone come."

As soon as his voice fell, a figure appeared by the window like a phantom.

This person had a calm and respectful expression and was called Uchiha Ryoichi, Uchiha Fugaku's house servant.

"Ryoichi, go fetch Uchiha Hideki and tell him I need to see him immediately for an urgent matter."

Takuya's expression was solemn.

"Yes!"

Uchiha Ryoichi acknowledged the order and vanished from beside the window with a swish.

Takuya gazed at the white clouds outside the window, his right hand rhythmically snapping his fingers to produce crisp, clicking sounds.

This was his habit when thinking through problems in his previous life.

Before long, Uchiha Ryoichi's figure appeared by the window once more.

"Lord Patriarch, Uchiha Hideki has arrived."

Almost as soon as his voice fell, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed from outside the house, accompanied by a shout.

"Lord Clan Head!"

"Enter!"

Takuya replied in a deep voice, turning his head to give instructions: "Go fetch Itachi next. No matter where he is or what he is doing, make him return here to see me immediately."

"Yes!"

The moment Uchiha Ryoichi's figure disappeared, the door was pushed open. A middle-aged man wearing a white lab coat wore a respectful expression. "Clan Head, you called for me?"

"Sit."

Upon seeing this person, the stern expression on Takuya's face finally revealed a trace of a smile.

This middle-aged man in a white lab coat was named Uchiha Hideki, one of the few medical ninjas in the Uchiha Clan, and he worked at Konoha Hospital.

Uchiha Hideki sat down apprehensively across from Lord Patriarch. Was his vision playing tricks, or was the end of the world coming? The normally humorless Lord Patriarch was actually smiling at him?

Countless thoughts raced through his mind, and he couldn't figure it out no matter how hard he tried what had happened to make Lord Patriarch smile at him.

He sat bolt upright, pulling out a forced smile. "Lord Patriarch, you called for me...?"

"Mn, I have a little matter to discuss with you."

Takuya did not talk business right away; instead, he poured Uchiha Hideki a cup of water first.

Flattered, Uchiha Hideki quickly received it with both hands.

Observing the other's expression, which had consistently remained very respectful, it seemed Uchiha Fugaku's conduct in life wasn't a total failure. Although he failed at educating his children, he still held weight in the hearts of these clansmen.

Once Takuya had a good grasp of the situation, he got straight to the point—

Hokage Building, office.

The four most powerful people in Konoha Village gathered together, with a teenager kneeling on one knee below.

He was not old, and the two tear troughs on his face made him look much more mature than his years. It was none other than Uchiha Itachi.

Bang!

The noblewoman Utatane Koharu slammed her hand hard on the table and yelled angrily, "I have reached the limit of my patience. If they dare to stage a coup to seize power, we can only purge these Konoha traitors."

Danzo, with his left eye bound in bandages, let out a cold snort. "There's no need to wait any longer. They are going to rebel tonight, and it's still not too late for us to strike first."

Sarutobi Hiruzen frowned. "Koharu, we must not jump to conclusions lightly." Hearing Danzo's words, his pipe tapped against the table, and he said with an air of displeasure, "How can we resort to indiscriminate violence against the Uchiha, who fought side by side with us in the past? We should still prioritize peace talks." As he spoke, he looked down at the respectfully gazing Uchiha Itachi below and placated, "I will come up with a foolproof plan."

Uchiha Itachi, wearing a respectful expression, kept his head lowered. The conflicts that had originally torn at him eased considerably when he heard the words of the Third Hokage.

That's right, Lord Third Hokage would definitely come up with a foolproof plan. That way, the clan and the village could still coexist in peace, and the problem Shisui worried about wouldn't happen.

A foolproof plan? Easy for you to say. Danzo watched coldly from the side, filled with disdain in his heart.

He had already sentenced the Uchiha Clan to death in his mind. Hiruzen was always like this, wanting to be a whore while setting up a monument to chastity. He decided not to drag things out any longer; he would make his move tonight. Conveniently, the Uchiha Clan was holding a gathering tonight, which gave him the opportunity to wipe them all out in one net.

Danzo's gloomy gaze landed on Uchiha Itachi, the corners of his mouth curling into an inexplicable smile.

Uchiha Itachi could become a handy knife.

Knock, knock, knock.

A knock on the door.

"Enter."

Mitokado Homura, who was closest to the door, said in a full-bodied voice.

An ANBU operative walked in, hurried behind Sarutobi Hiruzen, and whispered, "Lord Hokage, someone outside is looking for Uchiha Itachi. It's someone from the Uchiha Clan."

Sarutobi Hiruzen's gaze flickered within his eyes, and he said, "Itachi, your clansmen are looking for you. Go on ahead. See what they want with you, and if you encounter any difficult problems, come find me so we can discuss and solve them together."

"Yes, Lord Hokage."

Hearing that someone from the clan was looking for him, Uchiha Itachi felt a trace of resistance, but he had no choice.

Respectfully leaving the room, he went downstairs and immediately caught sight of the Uchiha clansman standing at the main entrance.

Uchiha Ryoichi, his father's house servant.

He recognized him at a single glance.

"Eldest young master, Lord Patriarch has an urgent matter and is looking for you. Hurry back with me."

Uchiha Ryoichi sharp-sightedly spotted Uchiha Itachi and eagerly stepped forward to greet him.

Uchiha Itachi sighed inwardly, nodding in silence.

The two of them walked one after the other, hurrying toward the Uchiha Compound.

"Lord Patriarch, the eldest young master has returned."

"Let him in."

Uchiha Fugaku's voice drifted out from the room.

A trace of complexity flashed in Uchiha Itachi's eyes. His father had hurriedly called him back; he was definitely going to ask about the situation on Lord Hokage's side again.

He felt a bit mentally exhausted. Between the clan and the village, he no longer knew how he should choose.

At that moment, the figure of that mysterious person flashed through his mind, and his devilish, seductive words felt as fresh as yesterday.

Seeing Uchiha Itachi standing frozen at the doorway in a daze, Uchiha Ryoichi called out softly, "Young master? Young master?"

Uchiha Itachi snapped out of it, meeting Uchiha Ryoichi's gaze and nodding in acknowledgment before taking a deep breath and entering the room.

"Father."

Uchiha Itachi walked submissively up to the desk with lowered eyes.

After waiting for a moment, he didn't receive the usual inquiry. Surprised, he raised his head, colliding right with Uchiha Fugaku's scrutinizing gaze.

This left him somewhat baffled, and he cast a puzzled look toward his father.

Takuya said expressionlessly, "Sit by my side."

Without overthinking it, Uchiha Itachi obediently sat down beside his father.

Then followed another bout of silence.

Uchiha Itachi sensed that his father seemed somewhat different today than usual, but he was glad for it. On one side was his father, and on the other was the village. Betraying the village's intelligence to his father was still something he couldn't bring himself to do.

"Do you think you are strong?"

His father's lingering words suddenly echoed by his ear.

Uchiha Itachi's expression remained unchanged as he calmly replied, "Not particularly, Father."

Takuya observed Uchiha Itachi. From the moment he stepped through the door, his expression had consistently remained respectful, playing the part of an obedient child to perfection. If he hadn't known the plot, it would have been hard to connect him with the Itachi who slaughtered the entire Uchiha clan.

Needless to say more, a decision had already been made, and he wouldn't change it. Itachi was already ruined, inside and out; no matter how much he lectured him now, it would only go in one ear and out the other.

He couldn't be bothered to waste the effort, nor did he want to take the risk.

"Lift your head and look at what this is."