Just as Haruma had said.
That very afternoon, Itachi was recalled to the Anbu.
Now dressed in his Anbu uniform again, Itachi hurried toward the Hokage Building.
He recalled his conversation and agreement with that mysterious man a month ago.
He had witnessed the cruelty of war and the fragility of life firsthand as a young child.
With his deep longing for peace, Itachi naturally had not been so easily persuaded by Haruma.
After all, with his mysterious attire and his habit of remaining behind the scenes.
He seemed more like a schemer hiding in the shadows, stirring up trouble.
Even with the rebirth of his close friend Shisui and the bonds of family affection.
Itachi's longing for peace and his unwillingness to see the flames of war spread had remained unshaken.
But then Haruma had said those words.
"Your loyalty is only to Konoha, and all you hope for is peace."
"Not to the so-called Hokage or Konoha High Command."
Along with some of the secret intelligence he had shared.
The covert activities of Danzo and Orochimaru. The layers of darkness lurking beneath the seemingly peaceful village.
Somewhat shaken, Itachi had finally agreed to a three-month pact with Haruma after Shisui persuaded him.
Within three months, without damaging the village's foundations or involving too many civilians.
He would ease relations between the Uchiha Clan and the village.
He would make Konoha High Command stop blindly fearing the Uchiha Clan and make the clan's Hawk Faction abandon all thoughts of war.
If any signs of war appeared, Itachi stated that he would report to the Third immediately.
Faced with such a difficult challenge, Haruma had readily agreed without hesitation.
He had also told Itachi the entire plan.
After learning the full scope of Haruma's subsequent plans, Itachi had weighed them in his mind for a long time.
In the end, he had decided to honor their agreement.
He had temporarily withheld the various pieces of intelligence he should have reported to the Third.
It was only after the events of last night erupted that Itachi gained a little more trust in Haruma.
The peace he longed for...
Was not this sort of superficial splendor.
All that could be said was that last night's sudden incident had left Itachi somewhat disappointed in the village's leadership.
Seeing that the situation was turning against them, events ultimately unfolded just as they had in the original story.
On the second day after the matter was exposed.
The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, personally announced that Orochimaru, one of the Sannin, had defected from Konoha.
And he pinned every charge on Orochimaru.
The vast majority of the village's civilians believed this final outcome.
After the culprit defected, the village's hushed atmosphere slowly gave way to renewed life.
But the various clans were not so easily convinced.
Although they did not dare question the Third to his face, they had ultimately grown somewhat wary.
The few survivors discovered in the underground base were also taken home by their respective clans for treatment while still unconscious.
After learning that they had been taken away from Konoha's medical department, Sarutobi could only scowl and furiously curse Danzo inwardly.
He knew this was a sign that the clans distrusted the village, but he had no way to explain.
Unless he could abandon Danzo.
Abandon the darkness a Hokage had to shoulder.
Fugaku's home.
Rising steam, warm tea.
Haruma toyed with his teacup, his tone mocking. "This is the so-called celebrity effect."
"If only civilians suffer, the clans that form Konoha's backbone won't care at all whether the Hokage was involved."
"Because, ultimately, in this world where strength reigns supreme, civilian lives are like ants in their eyes."
"But when misfortune strikes their own clans, it's an entirely different matter..."
At this point, Haruma recalled a satirical news story he had read in his previous life.
A local town's missing-person cases had been investigated for three years without a single lead.
In that same town, the richest local man's pet cat had been missing for only three hours...
Vast amounts of manpower and resources went into checking surveillance footage and searching buildings.
In the end, they found traces of the cat in the richest local man's private garden.
Haruma sighed. "No matter the world, the gap between people is already decided the moment they're born."
Beside him, Shisui asked bluntly, "Haruma, are you saying everything happening now is a future you've already changed?"
"That's right~"
"I knew a long time ago that Orochimaru would defect, also because of human experimentation."
Haruma sounded slightly wistful. "But unlike now, Sarutobi wouldn't have announced the investigation's results so quickly."
"And the shinobi clans wouldn't have questioned the leadership's decisions."
Haruma set down his teacup and sneered. "With just his own power, Orochimaru managed to evade every Anbu and Root shinobi in Konoha."
"Not only did he build several underground bases within Konoha's barrier, but he also silently transported so much precision medical equipment."
"Those clan leaders aren't stupid enough to believe Konoha High Command had no involvement."
Draining what little tea remained, Haruma chuckled. "Once suspicion arises, guilt is already established."
After hearing this, Fugaku, sitting to the side, inwardly marveled at the depths of this sneaky bastard's scheming.
When it came to plots and schemes, Fugaku would call him the strongest!
Others who plotted in the shadows understood the past, observed the present, and calculated the future.
This sneaky bastard looked straight into the future.
He was practically a cheat user.
Fugaku sipped his tea and said softly, "Orochimaru isn't the only one taking the blame this time."
"If that fellow Sarutobi wants to protect Danzo, he won't be able to explain away the clans' suspicions."
"For now, it doesn't seem like much of a problem. He can simply rely on time to ease things gradually."
"But at a critical moment, those suspicions could turn into sharp knives and plunge into the chest of Konoha's unity."
"Oh!"
Shisui nodded in understanding.
Haruma looked impatiently at Shisui and snapped, "Stop sitting there going 'ah,' 'oh,' and 'mm'!"
"You can't help with the next steps involving Itachi, so there's no point in you staying here."
"Why are you still dawdling instead of getting on with the mission I assigned you?"
Shisui's face instantly turned woeful. He nodded with extreme reluctance, then turned and set out.
To save the Shinobi World!
A week later,
Although the matter of Orochimaru's defection had drawn to a close.
There were even more human experimentation laboratories hidden underground than Sarutobi had imagined.
During this time, aside from secretly destroying and searching for hidden underground bases, large numbers of Anbu personnel...
Were otherwise sent to monitor Danzo's movements and any sign of activity within the Uchiha Clan.
Public confidence was unstable right now. If the Uchiha Clan intended to rebel, this was an excellent opportunity to act.
Knock, knock, knock.
"Come in!"
Sarutobi looked up and saw Itachi wearing his Anbu mask. He asked softly, "Has something happened?"
"Setsuna sent a clansman to tell me he has an important matter to discuss."
Sarutobi frowned. "He didn't specify?"
Itachi answered, "He wants me to go to the clan compound and speak with him in person at his residence."
"Seeking you out at a juncture like this... It seems Uchiha Setsuna has picked his moment."
His brows tightly furrowed, Sarutobi continued, "Has Fugaku sent you any word?"
Itachi shook his head. "No. The grand elder sent a trusted aide with the message."
"I don't know whether my father knows about this, either."
Sarutobi considered for a moment, then said softly, "When you return, go sound Fugaku out first. See whether he's involved."
"If he isn't..."
"Then meet with Setsuna and see just what he intends to do!"
A piercing chill flashed through Sarutobi's eyes and vanished.