Uchiha Clan

Cloudy Day's face looked awful. His captain had humiliated himself so badly that he felt disgraced as well.

Unlike him, everyone else was more shocked by Kakashi's strength.

"I completely failed to notice when he cast the genjutsu. Is this Hatake Kakashi?"

"As expected of ANBU's strongest—he's terrifying!"

"He's not qualified to be called the strongest in ANBU. Shisui Uchiha is the real number one... though Kakashi isn't bad either."

"The younger generation surpasses the old. Young people these days are truly incredible. I'm getting old..."

As he listened to the praise from those around him, Itachi alone stood there with a strange expression, recalling what Kakashi had whispered into his ear earlier.

"When Cloudy Day isn't paying attention, cast a genjutsu on him. His attention will be entirely on me, so he definitely won't guard against anyone else."

"Don't worry. None of these people are skilled in genjutsu, so you can use this chance to vent a little too."

Itachi Uchiha carefully recalled Kakashi's actions and realized that Kakashi was nothing like the person he had heard about.

Kakashi looked at Cloudy Day, who was still immersed in the genjutsu, and a cold glint flashed through his eyes.

He raised his leg and viciously stomped down on Cloudy Day's knee. Cloudy Day's leg immediately bent backward at an unnatural angle.

"Ah!"

Cloudy Day let out a miserable scream. The bone-deep pain dragged him from that pleasant illusion into cruel reality.

Before Cloudy Day could react, Kakashi kicked his other knee as well. He had no ability to defend himself at all.

Cloudy Day collapsed onto the ground. Looking at Kakashi before him and his broken legs, how could he not understand that he had fallen under a genjutsu?

"Bastard, you fought dirty!" Cloudy Day snarled through gritted teeth.

"What else was I supposed to do?" Kakashi kicked the limp Cloudy Day off the arena. "We're ANBU ninja. If we don't fight dirty, should we fight fair?"

"You!" A vicious gleam flashed through Cloudy Day's eyes. "You attacked me so ruthlessly. Aren't you afraid the Third Hokage will hold you accountable?"

Cloudy Day seemed to have completely forgotten that, within the genjutsu, he had beaten Kakashi even more severely than he had been beaten now.

It was only a genjutsu anyway. There was no way to prove it!

Kakashi, I'll definitely make you pay!

"Come on~, senpai, are you really so old that you've gone senile?"

Kakashi gave Cloudy Day a surprised look. "Before we got on the arena, we already agreed that we'd bear the consequences ourselves. Plenty of people can testify to that."

"Besides, at your age and with injuries like these, can you even return to ANBU? Are you still of any value to the village?"

"Would the Third Hokage kick me out of ANBU for your sake? At most, he'll give me a meaningless scolding. What kind of outcome were you expecting?"

"You!" Cloudy Day was so furious that he spat out a mouthful of blood, then actually fainted from rage on the arena.

Seeing him in such a miserable state, Kakashi no longer had any desire to keep tormenting him. Cloudy Day had already paid the price he deserved.

Kakashi jumped down from the arena and walked straight toward Itachi Uchiha.

Every ANBU member along the way respectfully lowered their heads slightly and instinctively stepped back, making room for Kakashi.

"Itachi Uchiha, let's go," Kakashi said.

Itachi Uchiha hesitated for a moment, then nodded and followed Kakashi out.

The two wandered aimlessly for a long time before Itachi finally could not help asking, "Kakashi-senpai, why did you help me today? I know our clan is generally unwelcome in ANBU."

"Well!" Kakashi pointed at the forehead protector over his left eye. "Probably because of that guy. I have a favorable impression of your clan."

Itachi tilted his head. "Don't you think we're a cursed clan? The Sharingan is a power that can only be gained after being cursed. As long as we lose someone dear to us, we become stronger."

Kakashi shook his head. "On the contrary, I think the Uchiha Clan has love in their hearts—very pure love."

"Hm?" Itachi Uchiha stopped walking. This was the first time he had heard such an assessment from someone outside the clan.

Kakashi stopped as well and stared seriously into Itachi Uchiha's eyes. "It's precisely because you fear loss that you crave power even more, so that you won't lose anyone again. Isn't that proof that there's love in your hearts?"

Itachi Uchiha nodded without saying anything else, quietly savoring Kakashi's words.

That afternoon, Kakashi was summoned to the Hokage's Office.

As expected, the Third Hokage gave Kakashi a harsh scolding. But after hearing the full story, even the Third Hokage was rather speechless.

Cloudy Day had really picked the one topic he should not have brought up. Mentioning Rin and Obito in front of Kakashi—Kakashi had already shown restraint by not killing him for the sake of their status as colleagues...

"Young people have hot tempers. Don't act so impulsively in the future..." the Third Hokage lectured him without much force.

"Yes, you're right!"

Kakashi's attitude in admitting fault was extremely sincere, so the Third Hokage could not really say anything more.

"By the way, what do you think of that child, Itachi Uchiha?" the Third Hokage asked.

Kakashi thought back for a moment. "I haven't known him for long, but I feel that he has a lot on his mind. He seems to often be considering the relationship between the Uchiha Clan and the village."

"Oh? Is that so... I understand." The Third Hokage narrowed his eyes slightly. "Keep a close watch on him recently. Report to me promptly if anything happens."

"Yes, Third Hokage!"

After returning home, Kakashi took out Make-Out Paradise, while his thoughts drifted to the Uchiha Clan.

"Now that Itachi Uchiha has joined ANBU, the day the Uchiha Clan attempts a coup isn't far off..."

Come to think of it, Kakashi could understand the Uchiha Clan. After all, every Hokage who took office had connections.

The Second Hokage was the First Hokage's younger brother, the Third Hokage was the Second Hokage's disciple, and the Fourth Hokage was the Third Hokage's disciple's disciple...

If I were the Uchiha Clan, I wouldn't be able to stand it either!

Just kidding. The Uchiha Clan had attempted a coup because several major clans had pushed them out of the core of power. At the same time, they had always been saddled with the blame for controlling the Nine-Tails, while their work in the Police Force was looked down upon...

As the saying went, long-standing problems were difficult to resolve. The conflict between the Uchiha Clan and the village was nearly impossible to reconcile. A peaceful resolution without bloodshed was simply impossible.

After all, Naruto was still young and had yet to develop the SSS-rank ninjutsu, Talk no Jutsu.

How to deal with the Uchiha Clan was the main issue Kakashi was considering now.

Whether to let Itachi Uchiha purge the Uchiha Clan, or use his memories to make appropriate changes to the course of events, both required careful consideration.

One wrong move, and Kakashi could be dragged into this terrifying whirlpool.