Itachi!

Just then-

Uchiha Itachi's cold, unwavering killing intent nearly froze the already frigid secret chamber solid.

The Three Tomoe spinning in his eyes and the cold gleam of the Ninja Blade drawn half an inch from its sheath made one thing unmistakably clear.

He was neither joking nor playing along.

In Itachi's mind, already hardened by Anbu missions and the crushing pressure of his clan, Genya's threat to "slaughter the idiots"-

Had become an option worthy of serious consideration, one that might break the deadlock.

The face of his younger brother Sasuke flashed through Itachi's mind, innocent-or so he believed.

His mother Mikoto's gentle figure from behind, his father Fugaku's heavy sighs.

If... we removed these diseased elements that did nothing but bark and constantly push the clan toward the edge of a cliff...

Could we really buy more time for Sasuke, for the clan?

The path Genya described was uncertain and full of unknowns, but compared with the certain death of a coup, could it truly offer a faint glimmer of hope?

This tense standoff, with the clan on the verge of splitting apart, might be the perfect opportunity to purge the rot within and force everyone onto the same page...

Once that thought took hold, it spread like wildfire, impossible to contain.

Itachi's killing intent grew increasingly palpable. He stepped forward, taking a position beside and slightly behind Genya, setting up a pincer attack.

He looked at the Hardline Faction elder slumped in his chair.

"Genya, I understand your concerns. But sometimes, removing a diseased part requires decisive action. Now... may be the time. If you can't bring yourself to do it, I can do it for you."

His voice was utterly calm.

Genya: "!!!"

Genya's heart lurched, and he nearly lost control of his expression.

He snapped his head toward Itachi and saw the depth in his gaze. This was no bluff!

Holy shit!

Seriously, Itachi?! You actually mean it?!

Genya ranted frantically to himself.

I was only trying to scare them!

Killing a few elders would be easy, but what about the clan splitting apart afterward, everyone panicking, and Konoha High Command seizing the chance to move against us?

And I'd leave the village? Go rogue? Become wanted across the entire Shinobi World?

Take my parents and Nami's family on the run with me?

Don't you know what it's like out there?

That brute of a Raikage in Kumogakure, that research-obsessed freak Orochimaru, and those monsters in the Akatsuki... it's a hundred times more dangerous outside Konoha!

He realized that his harsh talk about "leaving Konoha," combined with his death threats against the Hardline Faction, had gone a little too far.

He had led Itachi-a truly ruthless man who had experienced darkness and tended to think in terms of the "optimal solution"-straight down the wrong path!

Unless he steered the discussion back on track and put something concrete on the table-

Itachi might actually "discuss" sending the core members of the Hardline Faction to the afterlife tonight!

"Ahem!"

Genya hurriedly cleared his throat. As he turned, he subtly blocked Itachi's view of the elder.

At the same time, he adjusted his expression, replacing his murderous look with weary disbelief that seemed to say, "You actually took that seriously?"

"Itachi, calm down. Please, calm down."

Genya lowered his voice.

"I was just... well, expressing my strong opposition. If we really disposed of them all, the clan would fall apart immediately. That would play right into certain people's hands."

He gave Itachi a meaningful look, directing his attention toward the other clan members around them. Though frightened, their eyes darted about, clearly shaken by the talk of "leaving" and a "purge."

As Itachi faltered and his killing intent eased slightly, Genya immediately turned to address the room, his voice becoming clear and persuasive again.

"Everyone! That argument just now-whether it was my harsh words or Itachi's... serious consideration-came from our deep concern for the clan's future! But arguing and wearing ourselves down from within won't solve anything!"

He drew a deep breath and began laying out the concrete ideas he had long been developing to break the deadlock.

"Our most urgent task is to break the vicious cycle of isolation and suspicion surrounding the Uchiha!"

"How do we do that? I have a few preliminary proposals for everyone to discuss!"

"First, win over potential allies, especially the Hyuga Clan!"

"After Hizashi's sacrifice, the Hyuga Clan also has deep rifts and distrust between itself and the village leadership!"

"What they're feeling now has something in common with what we Uchiha are experiencing! Although I clashed with Hiashi, the Hyuga Clan Leader, today, the conflict arose from differing views on his clan's internal problems, not fundamentally opposing interests."

"In fact, my connection with the Hyuga Clan Heiress might, in a way, give us an opening to communicate with them!"

"If we try to build closer ties with the Hyuga, share intelligence, and develop an understanding or even a common stance on village affairs, the united voice of two great Dōjutsu Clans will carry far more weight than ours alone!"

"This would also show the village that the Uchiha aren't aloof and unreasonable, but capable of coexisting with other great clans and maintaining stability within the village!"

"Second, use external conflicts to divert or ease the pressure on us from within!"

"Konoha cannot afford to rest easy! Kumogakure has never abandoned its desire to destroy us, and border clashes have never stopped."

"The rogue ninja Orochimaru and his forces are operating in the shadows, and other forces are watching hungrily for an opening."

"The Uchiha are one of Konoha's strongest spears and shields! When our value is demonstrated in defending against external enemies, a little internal suspicion and exclusion may be temporarily set aside or even fade in the face of a greater threat!"

"Third, genuinely and proactively integrate into Konoha, rather than passively accepting isolation!"

"Beyond combat and policing, could talented Uchiha become teachers at the academy? Could they take part in building and maintaining the village's infrastructure?"

"Could some of the noncombat ninjutsu or skills our clan possesses be shared with the village on a limited basis, or developed jointly?"

"Let the Uchiha's presence be felt not only on battlefields and in prisons, but in every aspect of everyday life in Konoha."

"Let ordinary villagers and ninja see that the Uchiha aren't just Sharingan users and battle maniacs, but also Konoha's builders and protectors. This means breaking some of our own insular traditions, but it's worth trying!"

At this point, Genya grew especially serious and identified the most important "enemy."

"We must clearly recognize that the force targeting the Uchiha most aggressively, using the most insidious methods, is the faction centered on Shimura Danzō and his Root!"

"They see the Uchiha as a destabilizing factor and won't rest until we're eliminated. Their hand is behind many of the obstacles we face."

He shifted the discussion, turning to assess their highest leader.

"As for Lord Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi... he may not be the direct architect of this, and he may even feel some regret about the Uchiha's predicament."

"But the Hyuga Clan incident makes it clear that he is no longer the commanding, courageous Shinobi Hero he was in his youth."

"Age, conservatism, and an excessive concern for so-called overall stability and political balance have made him indecisive, even somewhat... weak."

"When faced with radical proposals from Danzo and the others, he often chooses compromise and delay, hoping time will soften the conflicts."

"That weakness and vacillation have effectively enabled Danzo and the others, while allowing the Uchiha's situation to grow steadily worse."

Genya concluded.

"Therefore, our strategy should be to unite every force we can, actively take responsibility for external threats to demonstrate our value, and shift the focus."

"We should proactively integrate into village life to improve our image, while clearly recognizing that our main opponent is Danzo. As for the Third Hokage, we should use his desire for stability, showing him that the Uchiha are both harmless and indispensable to win his tacit approval or limited support-or at least keep him hesitating, buying us more time and room to maneuver!"