Itachi, What's Your Plan?

Whoosh!

Uchiha Itachi struck Baki down with his blade. He was the last Sand Ninja.

I hope Shikamaru and the others can stop Gaara's group, Kakashi thought, looking in their direction.

Unlike before, neither Naruto nor Sasuke had gone after them this time. How would things turn out?

"Kankuro, get Gaara out of here! I'll hold them off!"

Temari pulled out her Three-Star Fan and planted herself in their pursuers' path.

"Wind Release: Sickle Weasel!"

The fierce wind cut like blades. Great trees crashed down all around them, blocking Shikamaru and the others.

"You two go! Neji and I will stay here!"

"The village is settling down. I'm going to check on Lord Hokage!"

With a few leaps, Uchiha Itachi reached the rooftop.

"Lord Itachi!"

The Anbu nearby recognized him.

"What's the situation?"

"Lord Hokage is in trouble. Orochimaru seems to have summoned the previous Hokage with a Forbidden Technique!" the Anbu Ninja said respectfully. "And we can't break through this barrier Ninjutsu!"

"Then let me try."

Itachi's Sharingan shifted into a shuriken pattern. He was about to burn through the barrier with Amaterasu and go to the Third Hokage's aid.

Then he remembered what Uchiha Yoru had told him.

Before the Chunin Ninja Exams.

"Brother Itachi, no matter what happens to the Third Hokage, don't reveal your Mangekyō. Don't even step in to help him! Will you promise me?"

Itachi hadn't seen a problem with it at the time, so he had nodded.

So this was what he'd been planning?

Itachi was torn. Most of the important decisions had always been made by Uchiha Yoru, or guided by the hints Yoru gave him.

Those decisions had invariably proved to be the best ones. But Itachi couldn't bear to watch Orochimaru kill the Third Hokage, either.

"Sorry, Monkey!"

"Water Release: Water Severing Wave!"

Tobirama Senju! The stream he fired from his mouth was as sharp as a blade!

"Earth Release: Earth Flow Rampart!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi immediately raised an Earth Release defense.

Unlike before, Orochimaru had preserved the minds of both former Hokage, allowing them to retain far greater strength!

The Earth Flow Rampart was sliced apart with ease, and Hiruzen Sarutobi nearly lost an arm.

"Wood Release Secret Technique: Nativity of a World of Trees!"

Trees burst from the ground beneath Hiruzen Sarutobi. Vines surged toward him, seeking to bind him and drain his Chakra.

Sorry, Yoru!

"Seriously, why won't you listen? I laid everything out for you!"

An Anbu behind Itachi suddenly lunged and grabbed him around the waist. Itachi quickly broke free, but he never got the chance to use Amaterasu.

Itachi! I never thought it would come to brother fighting brother!

The Anbu Ninja surrounded Uchiha Yoru. It was obvious to everyone that there was a traitor among them.

"If you're going to show yourselves, now's the time!" Uchiha Yoru shouted.

Several masked Ninja stepped forward.

Don't blame me, Itachi!

Itachi desperately wanted to shout Uchiha Yoru's real name and tell him to leave. But he couldn't. If Yoru's identity was exposed, wouldn't the Uchiha Clan end up right back where it had been?

"Fire Release: Fire Dragon Flame Bullet!"

"Water Release: Water Formation Wall!"

A slender masked figure stepped in front of Itachi.

"I'll leave him to you, Deer!"

"Yes, my lord!"

With Karin's strength now, keeping Itachi occupied should be easy enough!

Itachi was stunned. What's going on with Genin these days? Naruto and Sasuke were ridiculous enough, and now you're telling me this is Karin, the girl brought home just a few days ago?

Karin now carried the presence of a Kage Level Ninja. She was nothing like the timid girl who had arrived at his home not long ago. The difference was night and day.

Uchiha Yoru left to check on the situation elsewhere. He had already explained how to handle Itachi: they only needed to keep him occupied. He had also left a clone behind to watch over things.

Karin charged with a Kunai in hand. Relying on her sensory abilities, she never looked directly into Itachi's eyes. She could even react the instant he tried to use Amaterasu.

Itachi couldn't bring himself to strike her down, so he drew a Kunai and faced her.

Then Karin suddenly surged forward. Golden chains appeared behind her and shot toward Itachi, trying to bind him.

Why does that Ninjutsu look so familiar?

Itachi remembered the Night of the Nine-Tails. Those very chains had bound the Nine-Tails.

Red hair! A surviving child of the Uzumaki Clan!

Elsewhere, Gaara had completely lost control, and Shukaku had been released.

Shukaku was helpless in the matter. The Seal was too loose, and Gaara still hadn't fully adapted to his powers. At this rate, that bowl-cut kid would beat Gaara to death.

"Your great Lord Shukaku is finally out!" Shukaku roared. His beady eyes darted around, checking whether Uchiha Yoru was still there. If Yoru was, Shukaku would grovel at once. If not, he could finally call the shots.

Yoru wasn't there!

"Wind Release: Drilling Air Bullet!!!"

Shukaku gathered a dense mass of Chakra in his mouth and blasted it toward Rock Lee and the others on the ground.

We can't dodge it!

Too fast!

Neji and Rock Lee saw the Chakra gathering in Shukaku's mouth and knew they were in trouble. They turned and ran without a moment's hesitation!

They had caught up with Gaara before he reached the village's crowded areas. That was the one stroke of luck in this disaster.

"Water Bullet!"

The massive water projectile collided with the wind projectile. The shock wave sent Neji and Rock Lee flying, though fortunately neither was hurt.

"I am Jiraiya, Toad Sage of Mount Myōboku!"

"All of you, get out of here! This isn't a fight for kids like you!" Jiraiya shouted.

"Gamabunta, I found you Shukaku of the Sand! Happy?"

"You summon me and immediately throw an opponent like that at me?" Gamabunta grumbled, a twig clenched between his teeth.

"I was worried all that time on Mount Myōboku had made you rusty!"

"Fine, then. Tanuki Hot Pot's on the menu today!"

"Jiraiya's tied up fighting Shukaku, too!"

The farce ends here. Everything is going according to plan, Uchiha Yoru thought from the shadows.

Uchiha Itachi, I've done everything I can to put you in the Hokage Position!

Don't disappoint me again!

Once the Hokage died, Itachi could "kill" Orochimaru. Avenging the Hokage, on top of his record of missions, would give him a clear path to the Hokage Position.

Even Shimura Danzō wouldn't be able to stop him.

As for Root, once Itachi became Hokage, he could slowly squeeze it out. He could even find some pretext to throw Danzo in prison.

Shisui Uchiha had used Kotoamatsukami to make Hiruzen Sarutobi protect the Uchiha Clan and Itachi. But Kotoamatsukami altered a person's will; it didn't control him completely.

So even if Hiruzen Sarutobi stepped down, he would still protect Shimura Danzō. And given what Itachi owed Hiruzen, Itachi would have to spare Danzo too.

As long as Shimura Danzō lived, he would remain a thorn in Yoru's side. There was no telling what he might pull!

So if Hiruzen died, Danzo could go with him. Perfectly reasonable, right?