A Moving Story

Any major event in the world that is capable of changing history is never a sudden, accidental occurrence.

Whether it's the emergence of certain unique ideas or the success or failure of a major event, countless subtle clues will inevitably emerge before it happens.

Wise people are adept at finding the most likely future from the slightest clues.

Even though Itachi Uchiha was unwilling to believe it, reason made him believe to some extent the future described by Kato Osamu.

The Uchiha Clan...

Has it truly come to a life-or-death moment...?

He couldn't help but ask himself...

What he didn't tell Kato Osamu was that the Uchiha Clan was no longer just showing signs of splitting, but was gradually splitting into two factions.

It was because of this war that some members of the clan seemed to rediscover the "glory of the Uchiha Clan" in their hearts, and some even became more blatant about it.

Itachi Uchiha was intelligent, and he dared not think too deeply about it, but the clan's predicament seemed to involuntarily creep into his mind from all directions. If this continued for several years, the situation would inevitably become insurmountable, and the Uchiha Clan would ultimately only have two options: fight or flee...

In his mind, it seemed as if a pair of hands were etching a scene, sharp and indelible, onto his brain—in blood and fire, Uchiha Clan clansmen died one after another, their comrades-in-arms and that golden figure the ones who killed them...

The Uchiha Clan's coup attempt has failed!

"Minato Namikaze might be a suitable person to ease the conflict between the Uchiha Clan and Konoha, but if he comes to power, he will always be the Hokage first and foremost. For the sake of the village's development and the centralization of power, he will ultimately embark on the path of 'reform'."

"If he weren't a complete political Shiro..."

"For a village, a large family can be both a boon and a bane."

"He's still young, and he's definitely not like the Third was just trying to maintain 'stability.' No one in power would tolerate such obstruction."

"The Third is old; he has lost his ambition, but Minato Namikaze is only twenty years old..."

Kato Osamu looked at Itachi Uchiha and saw that he had gradually regained his composure and seemed to be accepting the possibility of this future development. Only then did a slight smile appear on his face. He stopped talking and just quietly watched Itachi Uchiha's changing expression.

"Teacher Xu, if you were me, what would you do...?"

Young Itachi Uchiha seemed to have a jumbled mess of thoughts. Recalling the changes in his clan and the few words his father had once revealed, his eyes held a last glimmer of hope. His blank face held a pitiful expression that was almost impossible for him to see as he gazed at Kato Osamu.

Kato Osamu placed one hand on Itachi Uchiha's head, a sudden glint of blue light flashing in his eyes, and gently ruffled his hair.

"Itachi, just focus on improving your strength..."

"You are still too weak, Uchiha Clan is far too weak..."

"The former head of the Uchiha Clan possessed the strength to fight Hashirama Senju, the God of Shinobi World. At that time, no one dared to target the Uchiha Clan."

"Itachi, you have great talent. Before the building collapses, you can become its strongest pillar. This is the only thing you have the hope of doing, and the only thing you can possibly do."

He was not exaggerating. He might not know enough about the Third, but he knew the methods and thoughts of the Third's most capable ' Shimura Danzō.

Uchiha Clan and possessed power second only to the Third Shimura Danzō, could never stand idly by and watch such a 'bomb'— the Uchiha Clan —exist in Konoha.

As for Minato Namikaze, to put it bluntly... he has no chance of protecting the Uchiha Clan from Danzo in his current state.

"The pillar of the family..."

"Madara Uchiha...?"

Itachi Uchiha, with his head bowed, seemed lost in thought, his fists clenching tighter and tighter, but his expression gradually calmed down.

Most people in Konoha keep quiet about Madara Uchiha, and even within the Uchiha Clan, related information is kept largely hidden.

He knew the name, knew that he had once co-founded Konoha with Hashirama Senju, but never imagined becoming someone like him.

But today, a new path seems to be unfolding before him. Unlike his resistance to a violent coup and his resentment at the direct demise of his family, he seems to have found a new way.

If he can become the pillar of the clan, a being like a god in the Shinobi World, then can the Uchiha Clan break free from its constraints and gradually integrate with Konoha according to its own will?

"I will become the strongest member of the Uchiha Clan, and... the head of the Uchiha Clan!"

"I believe the Uchiha Clan can get along well with the village..."

Kato Osamu looked at the determined young boy before him, smiled slightly, and said nothing more.

To be able to think about these things at such a young age shows that Itachi Uchiha is very intelligent and talented, but Konoha doesn't have much time left for him...

The Third Shinobi World War is drawing to a close, and the immense role the Uchiha Clan played in the war, which made the Konoha High Command hesitant to act rashly, will gradually dissipate with the arrival of peace.

However, perhaps Minato Namikaze's presence will buy this young boy some time...

"Everyone has their own path to walk, Itachi. You will become a great Uchiha Clan, just like Madara Uchiha..."

A smile appeared on Kato Osamu's face, and the gloom in her heart about the existence of Madara Uchiha dissipated somewhat.

Having an Uchiha like Uchiha Clan to meticulously analyze and study even the antagonistic Madara Uchiha was far more suitable than having an 'outsider' like him.

The jungle was silent. Iruka and Uzuki Yugao remained rooted to the spot, their faces, still immersed in the illusion, displaying complex expressions. Kato Osamu paid them no heed.

His senses spread out silently, covering the entire jungle, with the power of Yin–Yang Release subtly contained within.

Several subtle fluctuations of Chakra emanated from not far away, causing him to sneer involuntarily.

Just as he expected, he sensed the White Zetsu nearby. But Zetsu wouldn't trust him so easily.

A blue light flickered in his eyes, and the world seemed unchanged, but Itachi Uchiha, having activated his Sharingan, sensed something and looked on with a hint of doubt.

"Is this... Genjutsu?"

Kato Osamu noncommittal and offered no explanation, only a hint of hesitation in his eyes, as if he were considering something important. Under Itachi's questioning gaze, he remained silent for a long while before slowly speaking.

"Itachi, about Madara Uchiha..."

"He might not be dead!"

Itachi didn't speak, but his wide eyes were filled with immense shock. He had received far too much information today, and he seemed to vaguely understand why Kato Osamu had only told him these things in the illusion...

"In Mist Shinobi, I met an old man who called himself Madara Uchiha. He was very strong..."

"I can sense the aura of a powerful being emanating from him; I'm almost certain he is Madara Uchiha himself..."

"But I don't know his purpose in hiding in the Shinobi World..."

Watching Itachi Uchiha silently, Kato Osamu had no doubt about the shock this news would bring to the Uchiha Clan; he no longer needed to say anything more.

"Teacher Xu... Madara Uchiha, is he really still alive?"

"Highly likely, yes..."

Itachi Uchiha remained silent, seemingly processing the information. After a moment, he suddenly raised his head, his calm Itachi Uchiha replaced by a hint of confusion in his eyes.

"Teacher Xu, you should be wary of him..."

"He can know your actions..."

"Although Teacher Xu is very powerful, how did you manage to leave Madara Uchiha unharmed? What kind of deal did you make?"

Seemingly oblivious to Kato Osamu's increasingly cold gaze, Itachi Uchiha continued speaking.

"If he knows about your actions, then he must know about other things happening in the Shinobi World, and he also knows about the Uchiha Clan..."

"So, are we, the current Uchiha Clan, part of some kind of plan he's pursuing?"

Itachi Uchiha was intelligent, but too young and inexperienced. Kato Osamu had always known this, but he hadn't expected him to be so perceptive, and his eyes narrowed involuntarily.

A person like that will probably die young...

"As expected of the young head of the Uchiha Clan, his intelligence is truly extraordinary, it's astonishing..."

Sensing a vague emotion from Orochimaru's past, Kato Osamu couldn't help but chuckle softly, lost in thought.

"However, I won't hide anything from you. In this world, no matter how many secrets you know, without power, nothing will change."

"A person of such status, hiding in the Shinobi World for so many years, can only be planning a few things, most likely something like ruling the Shinobi World."

And I, by chance, encountered him. Because I was reasonably capable, barely able to serve as a henchman or a small fry, I had no choice but to become one of them. And now, I'm searching for any possible clues, hoping to loudly say no to the person who forcibly dragged me into this group..."

Kato Osamu shrugged and chuckled. "For this reason, I'm pulling my former student—someone with a high probability of becoming a strong individual and who has access to Madara Uchiha's secrets—down the path I want him to take..."

"It's probably just a cliché story like this..."

"Itachi, do you think the story I told was enjoyable?"

Itachi Uchiha suddenly chuckled softly, a strange glint in his eyes.

"Teacher Xu, your voice is more beautiful than ever before..."

The illusion quietly dissipated, and shadows covered the winding wild grass. Green vines stretched along the path, reaching past the insteps. Two people, one big and one small, stood quietly facing each other, exchanging a smile without saying a word. Behind them, the stars, faintly twinkling in the bright blue sky, seemed even brighter than in the night.

(I'm back!!!)