Promotion to Platoon Captain, the Third Hokage's Brainwashing of Itachi

Two weeks later, numerous members of the Hawk Faction, led by Elder Uchiha Yashiro, jointly nominated Uchiha Yao.

With the Hawk Faction's unwavering support, Uchiha Yao was promoted from Squad Leader to Platoon Captain.

A Platoon Captain was already a high-ranking position with considerable authority, holding deployment authority over twelve squads. Together with the original twenty training camp members and some logistics personnel, Uchiha Yao now commanded nearly a hundred people.

Ding! Congratulations to the host on successfully being promoted to Platoon Captain of the Uchiha Police Force!

Ding! The host has performed outstandingly. Reward: 80,000 Clan Honor Points!

A string of system notifications rang out in Uchiha Yao's mind.

"Eighty thousand Honor Points!"

Uchiha Yao's eyes lit up.

Added to the Honor Points he had accumulated before, his total Clan Honor Points had now reached an unprecedented height—260,000 points!

Clan Honor Points: 260000

Ding! Detected that the host's prestige within the Uchiha Clan has reached a new peak!

Ding! The host's formidable strength, exceptional leadership ability, and absolute loyalty to the clan have caused some previously neutral Uchiha clansmen's loyalty to the host to rise significantly!

Uchiha Setsuna: Loyalty increased from 40 (Neutral) to 75 (Admiration)!

Ding! Some formerly radical members of the Uchiha Hawk Faction highly approve of the host's "pragmatic toughness" philosophy. Their loyalty has increased substantially!

Uchiha Yashiro: Loyalty increased from 65 (Observing) to 88 (Support)!

Strength and methods truly were the best weapons for winning people's hearts.

"System, filter out the clansmen whose loyalty is currently above 85 and who possess the potential to become jonin."

Ding! Filtering complete. A total of 8 clansmen meet the conditions.

Looking at the names on the list, Uchiha Yao nodded.

He spent some Honor Points to precisely enhance the Chakra reserves, ninjutsu mastery, and Sharingan potential of those eight clansmen.

Elsewhere.

Uchiha Itachi.

As an ANBU Squad Captain and the eldest son of Uchiha Clan head Uchiha Fugaku, he bore burdens beyond what ordinary people could imagine.

Uchiha Yao's rise—both his rate of growth and his way of doing things—gave Itachi a faint sense of unease.

"Yao's rise is a good thing for the Uchiha." That was what his father, Uchiha Fugaku, had told Itachi.

But Itachi did not see it that way.

A good thing? The belief Itachi upheld—that for the sake of the village's peace, part of the clan's interests could be sacrificed when necessary—was completely at odds with Uchiha Yao's undisguised philosophy of "the clan above all else."

If... if Yao could take another path, one that could ensure the clan's survival while maintaining the village's stability... would everything I bear still be necessary?

Itachi had once privately reported Uchiha Yao's situation to his father, Uchiha Fugaku.

"Itachi, continue observing him. But remember, do not interfere lightly."

"Shisui, do you think Yao's path is viable?"

Itachi found Shisui at the training ground, hoping Shisui could resolve his doubts.

"Yao's philosophy is too radical," Itachi said in a low voice. "Once he completely falls out with the village's high command, the Uchiha will face utter destruction."

Shisui sighed softly. "Itachi, we both know that Konoha High Command's wariness toward the Uchiha has never disappeared. After the Nine-Tails' attack, that wariness reached its peak. The clan was isolated, and the Police Force's authority was weakened. Those are facts."

"Peace... cannot be achieved through one-sided compromise alone." There was a hint of weariness in Shisui's voice. "Yao's path may be a dangerous one."

"What if... the final outcome is the destruction of the Uchiha?" Itachi's eyes were filled with pain.

Shisui patted Itachi's shoulder. "We all hope to avoid the worst outcome. If it truly comes to that, I will stop it from happening."

Hokage's Office.

Hiruzen Sarutobi sat behind his desk, smoke curling from the pipe in his hand.

He looked out at Konoha's nightscape through the window, his gaze profound.

"Itachi, you're here." Hiruzen Sarutobi's voice carried the kindly warmth of an elder.

Uchiha Itachi entered the office and bowed respectfully.

"Third Hokage-sama."

"Sit." Hiruzen Sarutobi pointed at the chair in front of the desk.

Itachi sat down and looked at the Third Hokage. He knew that every time the Third Hokage summoned him, it meant there was something important.

"Recently, what are your thoughts on the Uchiha Clan's movements?" Hiruzen Sarutobi did not beat around the bush and went straight to the point.

Itachi's heart tightened. He knew what the Third Hokage meant. Uchiha Yao's rise, as well as the Hawk Faction's growing activity, had inevitably drawn the village high command's vigilance.

"The Hawk Faction's influence within the clan has risen somewhat, and Uchiha Yao's personal influence is expanding rapidly," Itachi reported what he had observed. "Yao acts decisively, and his dissatisfaction with the village high command has resonated among the clansmen."

Hiruzen Sarutobi took a light puff from his pipe and exhaled a thin cloud of smoke.

"Yao's growth is indeed surprising." He paused, and his tone became meaningful. "However, the Uchiha Clan's power is ultimately a part of Konoha. Any act that attempts to break away from Konoha, or even threaten Konoha's stability, is intolerable."

The Third Hokage's words directly targeted Uchiha Yao's philosophy of "the clan above all else."

"I know that you have always been striving for peace between the village and the clan." Hiruzen Sarutobi's voice became even gentler. "You possess the Uchiha Clan's finest bloodline and wisdom, as well as awareness far beyond your peers."

The Third Hokage paused, staring directly into Itachi's eyes.

"Konoha's peace did not come easily. It was bought with the lives and blood of countless predecessors. And the Uchiha Clan, as an important part of Konoha, has also made tremendous contributions to the village's construction."

The Third Hokage's voice lowered, carrying a trace of regret.

"Yet as time passed, the rift between the Uchiha Clan and the village only grew deeper. After the Nine-Tails' attack, that rift reached its peak."

The Third Hokage set down his pipe and leaned forward slightly.

"Itachi, do you understand? Once the Uchiha Clan launches a rebellion, all of Konoha will descend into turmoil. The Fourth Shinobi World War may even break out ahead of time because of it."

"Itachi."

"You are the only one among the Uchiha Clan who can see the bigger picture and make the right choice. You possess the resolve to protect Konoha's peace, and the determination to protect your younger brother, Sasuke."

"For the village, for your younger brother Sasuke, and for all innocent civilians, you must make a choice."

Protecting Konoha and protecting Sasuke had already become unshakable beliefs in Uchiha Itachi's life.

"I understand, Third Hokage-sama." Itachi's voice was somewhat hoarse, but his eyes became exceptionally resolute.

As he walked out of the Hokage's Office, the night wind swept past, leaving Itachi's heart icy cold.

Then let me bear all of this!

Itachi gazed at vibrant Konoha, and with a whoosh, his figure vanished from the spot.