Powerful Support from the Paradise Organization

[Outside Konoha, downstream on the Naka River, Itachi Uchiha appeared silently by the water in the light of the setting sun.]

[Before long, another figure—Shisui Uchiha—appeared not far from him, using a Body Flicker Technique so fast it was almost impossible to follow.]

[They stood a few paces apart, looking out at the flowing river. For a while, neither spoke.]

[A heavy, tense silence hung in the air.]

[At last, Itachi broke it. "Why did you ask me here?"]

[Shisui sighed softly and lowered his voice. "Itachi, I want to know what you really think."]

["How likely is it that the Uchiha will launch a coup?"]

[At the word "coup," Itachi's body tightened almost imperceptibly. After a long silence, he finally spoke, his voice so calm it was nearly detached.]

["The Uchiha's resentment toward the village is growing. If the village keeps things as they are, the Uchiha may reach the limit of their patience."]

[Shisui turned to look at Itachi. "If the village changes its policies, will the Uchiha change their approach?"]

[Itachi shook his head with a bitter smile. "It's no use. Unless the Uchiha change first, the village won't change either. As long as both sides continue to distrust each other, things will only get worse."]

["I want to put an end to that distrust!" Shisui looked at Itachi with determination.]

["Do you think you can?" There was a trace of hope in Itachi's question that he did not notice himself.]

[Shisui paused, then spoke quietly. "I don't know. But I have to try. If the Uchiha launch a coup, it will end in tragedy for both the clan and Konoha."]

[Itachi nodded. "I'm against the coup too. But stopping it will take unconventional measures."]

["I know," Shisui replied firmly. "But Itachi, you mustn't act rashly."]

["Why?" Itachi asked, puzzled.]

[Shisui lowered his voice to a near whisper. "The Military Police Force already suspects you. They've ordered me to keep watch on you!"]

[Itachi fell silent. The sound of the river seemed to swell around them.]

[He could feel the weight of Shisui's gaze. It held concern, warning, and an unspoken understanding of the immense pressure he bore.]

[After Shisui left, Itachi remained alone by the river for a long time.]

[The scene abruptly shifted to a secluded Stone Chamber in the Uchiha Compound, where the Four Elders stared intently at the strange Remote Control.]

[The moment the First Elder, Setsuna Uchiha, pressed its button, the cold Blue Holographic Projection formed before them once more.]

["It seems you've made a wise choice." Morpheus's voice was steady and devoid of emotion, as though he were merely stating a fact.]

[The First Elder took a deep breath and stepped forward to speak for the others. His aged face looked especially resolute in the blue light.]

["Emissary of the Paradise Organization, you said you could give the Uchiha the power to survive. But words aren't enough. What exactly can you provide, and how?"]

[Morpheus nodded slightly, as though he had expected the question.]

["I can provide three kinds of support." He raised three fingers, his tone as cool and objective as someone presenting a product.]

["First, individual enhancement." He pointed toward one of the elders. "Using our technology, I can forcibly unlock the physical potential of a group of Uchiha clan members you select, provided they meet the requirements."]

["Their Taijutsu speed and strength, their reflexes, and their accuracy with throwing weapons will rise far beyond those of an ordinary Chunin. They may even approach the level of a Special Jonin."]

["Bear in mind that this applies only to Taijutsu and throwing weapons. It will not increase their Chakra reserves or improve their Genjutsu or Ninjutsu."]

["The enhancement is also temporary. Once it wears off, they will suffer a prolonged period of weakness."]

[The Four Elders' eyes lit up. They could forcibly create a group of Ninja approaching the level of Special Jonin?]

[Even with a time limit, they would be a devastating spearhead at the crucial moment of an assault!]

["Second, material support," Morpheus continued. With a sweep of his hand, blue light traced three-dimensional images of Kunai, Shuriken, Explosive Tags, and other weapons in the air.]

["We can generate standard weapons and Explosive Tags in bulk—enough to arm every clan member capable of fighting."]

["These items, too, are temporarily sustained by our energy. Like Shadow Clones, they have a limited lifespan. When their time runs out, they will vanish."]

["But they should last long enough for you to carry out an intense assault."]

[The elders' breathing grew heavier.]

[Supplies were one of their greatest problems. A large-scale coup would require enormous quantities of weapons, and buying them in bulk would inevitably alert ANBU.]

[The Paradise Organization's temporary weapons had arrived just when they needed them most!]

["Third, a fallback." Morpheus lowered his hand. "If the plan goes awry, or if you need to leave the village temporarily to regroup..."]

["We can give you the coordinates of an absolutely secret rendezvous point beyond the borders of the Land of Fire."]

["It has enough basic supplies for any survivors to lie low."]

[Three of the elders were stunned by support far beyond anything they had expected. They could barely contain their excitement and longing.]

[Only the Second Elder retained a final measure of caution. He stared hard at Morpheus's projection and asked the most important question in a hoarse voice.]

["What's the price?"]