Itachi's Choice
"So that's how it is..." A faint voice suddenly calling in her mind pulled Kato Osamu out of her thoughts. She lightly touched her brow, and a series of messages passed through the 'relay devices' where Kato Osamu planted the Soul Seed, quietly reaching her mind.
Information about the Uchiha Clan, the death of Shisui Uchiha, the current situation in Konoha —everything that Yamakaze knew was thoroughly understood by Kato Osamu ...
"Uchiha Shisui's Mangekyou Sharingan technique... Kotoamatsukami... can it completely alter a person's will?" Yamakaze was already like Danzo Shimura's right-hand man; now, aside from some of the most secret matters handled personally by Danzo, he knew almost nothing about Root...
And he had no secrets from Kato Osamu either...
"You have to eat one bite at a time, and walk one step at a time... It seems that another mystery is about to be completely solved..." Instead of being annoyed by being disturbed, Kato Osamu wore a smile.
"Some things just have to be settled..." Feeling the Yin-Yang Release Technique had become even more profound, Kato Osamu put away the Truth-Seeking Orb, which had shrunk in size, his eyes revealing a hint of sharpness.
Countless inspirations began to surge through his mind, and the prototypes of powerful Ninjutsu started to take shape in his mind...
If you were to look down upon the entire Shinobi World from the sky and highlight the entire information network that Kato Osamu built through the Soul Seed, you would see that the crisscrossing chains of spiritual energy throughout the Shinobi World resemble a giant spider web, almost completely enveloping the entire Shinobi World.
Among them, the soul links between Konoha and Kirigakure and Hidden Spirit Village are the most dense. At this moment, the Soul Seed in Konoha are constantly moving, seemingly converging on a relatively remote area of Konoha —the gathering place of the Uchiha Clan...
During his years traveling the Shinobi World, Kato Osamu had casually planted some spies, who are now using themselves as 'reconnaissance tools,' bringing Kato Osamu news and information about various parts of the Shinobi World...
At this moment, Konoha was completely unaware of this, and didn't even doubt the ninjas 'loyal' to Konoha. Moreover, the vast majority of the hosts of the Soul Seed were also oblivious to the imperceptible 'seed' residing in the hidden corners of their own souls, continuing to uphold their loyalty to Konoha...
For example, Itachi Uchiha is currently deeply embroiled in some kind of inner struggle...
In a corner of the Konoha Ninja Academy's training grounds, young Sasuke Uchiha was playing some ninja games with his classmates, completely unaware that on a nearby high-rise building, a young man was leaning against a telephone pole, looking at him with obvious affection. This man was his beloved older brother, Itachi Uchiha.
A gentle breeze ruffled Itachi Uchiha's hair as he watched Sasuke Uchiha frolicking in the Ninja Academy. An unprecedented sense of relaxation instantly cleared his mind of all distractions. He simply gazed at his younger brother, whom he had practically raised since childhood...
I spliced together the transitions between the beginning and end of the animation.
In this tranquil moment, a crimson eyeball suddenly appeared in Itachi Uchiha's hand. The eyeball, submerged in nutrient solution, merely rose and fell, causing Itachi Uchiha's heart to rise and fall along with it.
Staring silently at the Mangekyō Sharingan mark on his eyeball, Shisui's despair before his death seemed to wash over him as well. Itachi Uchiha stood there blankly for a long time, and unknowingly, he seemed to have quietly made a decision in his heart, a decision that would likely change the entire Uchiha Clan, the entire Konoha, and even indirectly change the entire Shinobi World's landscape—to betray the Uchiha Clan and completely side with the Third...
After taking one last look at Sasuke Uchiha, Itachi Uchiha vanished from the spot...
"Was there... just now?" As if vaguely sensing something, Sasuke Uchiha raised his head, only to see a jet-black crow, carried away by the gentle breeze, silently flying into the distance...
"Arrogant Sasuke! I will never lose to you again this time!" The voice from behind brought Sasuke Uchiha back to his senses. Looking at Naruto Uzumaki, a certain feeling he had been holding suddenly disappeared, leaving only a hint of disdain.
"You bottom-of-the-class kid! What did you say?!"
The sounds from the Ninja Academy's training grounds could no longer reach Itachi Uchiha's ears, but just as he was about to head to the Hokage Building, he sensed a subtle killing intent in the jungle. Kunai instantly appeared in his hand, but before he could make a move, a figure hidden in the jungle slowly revealed itself...
"Itachi! It was really difficult to find you..." Yashiro Uchiha, Tekka Uchiha, Inabi Uchiha surrounded Itachi Uchiha in a triangular formation, their faces all bearing scrutiny and suspicion...
"Is there something you need...?" Itachi Uchiha asked expressionlessly, merely glancing coldly at the three of them.
"Tell me, did you kill Shisui! You traitor!" Itachi Uchiha was no longer trusted, and Shisui Uchiha was even a member of the clan sent to monitor Itachi Uchiha. Shisui Uchiha had already told Itachi Uchiha about this.
Even Itachi hadn't imagined that his clan would suspect him of Shisui's death. Suddenly, the death of his close friend, the suspicion of his clan, and the inner turmoil seemed to converge at this moment. His eyes were filled with deep disappointment in the Uchiha Clan, and his resolve to side with the Third only strengthened...
"Hopeless..." With a soft snort, Itachi Uchiha had no intention of explaining further and lightly stepped away.
"Hmph, Itachi, do you even remember you're from the Uchiha Clan? You don't even spare your own clan members... aiding and abetting evil... you traitor!"
As they spoke, the three attacked instantly. An ordinary Jonin would have been Jonin by the combined assault of three Uchiha Clan Itachi Uchiha, but Itachi remained expressionless. Only a fleeting crimson windmill pattern flashed in his eyes before his figure shifted abruptly. Inabi Uchiha and Tekka Uchiha Kunai already deeply embedded in their opponent's body. The Yashiro Uchiha's gaze faltered slightly; a suspicion formed in his mind, and he stared at Itachi Uchiha in disbelief...
"It's the Mangekyō Sharingan... You've awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan!"
"So, we're still going to make a move...?" Inabi Uchiha and Tekka were also incredulous. As the possessors of the Three-Tomoe Sharingan, they hadn't even realized when they were under Genjutsu...
"Itachi... the clan needs your strength! Remember, you will always be a member of the Uchiha Clan!"
Seeing that the three had stopped attacking, Itachi Uchiha completely ignored Yashiro Uchiha's voice and left the jungle, heading straight towards the Hokage Building...
"Damn it! Itachi really betrayed the clan! And about the Mangekyō Sharingan, report this to the clan head immediately..."
After the Yashiro Uchiha and his companions left, a clearly visible human face suddenly appeared among the trees in the forest, but it was black and white, extremely strange...
"It seems we arrived just in time..."
A sudden distortion appeared in the space, and a person wearing a one-eyed mask silently appeared beside Zetsu. As the figure walked towards the Hokage Building and was about to disappear, the Sharingan in the one-eyed mask suddenly began to spin.
"Itachi Uchiha, huh? What a formidable junior..." Obito Uchiha Mangekyō Sharingan at some point, seemingly shattering like glass. The entire space instantly crumbled, and the environment where Zetsu and Obito Uchiha had been standing subtly shifted. Meanwhile, Itachi Uchiha, who should have vanished, reappeared before their very eyes...
In his eyes, the Sharingan pattern of a giant windmill was spinning wildly...
"Who are you...?"