Those missions had already worn away his patience.
If this dragged on any longer, the Uchiha Clan would see no way out at all.
The same went for him. He could no longer pretend he was still following some "path."
Shisui's suicide note had been turned over and over in Itachi Uchiha's hands, its corners nearly crushed to pulp.
Whenever he thought of how the entire Uchiha Clan had dumped all the blame on Shisui, rage surged straight to his head.
"Clan this, clan that. What the hell do people who say things like that think they are?"
Itachi Uchiha crouched in the darkness, muttering to himself. The Mangekyō Sharingan behind his mask spun in a way that sent chills down one's spine.
"You have no idea how deep my capacity runs. You can't even beat me, yet you still have the nerve to think about a coup."
He stared at the Uchiha clan members moving in and out of Naka Shrine, the jealous fire in his chest crackling fiercely.
If not for these people, how could Shisui have died without anyone knowing the truth?
"My capacity for this boring clan ran cold long ago."
"Dad, why isn't Sasuke coming to the shrine gathering?"
A crisp child's voice suddenly pierced Itachi's ears.
Itachi Uchiha abruptly came back to himself, and a tenderness rose in his eyes that made one's hair stand on end.
"Sasuke, I'll win you a peaceful Konoha. See clearly with your own eyes, Sasuke. See just how shallow this clan's capacity truly is."
With that, Itachi Uchiha vanished from where he stood with Body Flicker.
Two ANBU subordinates disappeared along with him.
A full year had passed since Naruto first left the village on a mission beyond its borders.
The first time he left the village, he