After typing this sentence and sending it out, Shinomiya Uzumaki fell into deep thought.
Deep down, he recognized the efficiency of force.
Yahiko's desire to eliminate barriers through understanding was too idealistic and difficult to achieve in reality.
For such an approach to succeed, both parties needed a high level of self-discipline to rationally let go of hatred. But in reality, not everyone was capable of that.
When dealing with die-hards like Danzo, peaceful methods would only lead to suffering.
Compared to that, direct force was sometimes the most effective way to make people sit down and negotiate—whether they were educated or barbaric.
Of course, relying purely on force was unwise. One needed nine parts force and one part reason to be truly convincing.
His suggestion to Uchiha Itachi was an attempt at a different strategy.
Each timeline was independent, and changes in one would not interfere with the others.
Even if Itachi caused chaos in one, it would not affect any of the others.
The path Uzumaki proposed served two purposes.
First, it allowed Itachi to break free from the hypocrisy of Konoha's high-ranking officials and take direct action, granting him some measure of happiness.
Second, and more importantly, it was about the gold coins that Uzumaki was most interested in.
By following Itachi's original approach, he was essentially toying with the fate of the entire world. With each deviation from the original timeline, the trajectory of destiny was altered—resulting in an endless stream of gold coin rewards.
---
Konoha, Year 54
Uchiha Itachi slowly closed his eyes, deep in thought.
Moments later, he opened them again. His gaze, once uncertain, now shone with unprecedented determination.
"I will adopt the strategy proposed by the Shinomiya Group Leader... but with some modifications."
Without hesitation, he opened the mall interface that Uzumaki had mentioned multiple times. This was a crucial tool in his journey to dominance.
With the mall's assistance, he could undergo rapid transformations, soar in strength, and ultimately achieve his goal.
"It's dazzling..."
For a brief moment, a flicker of excitement appeared in Itachi's heart. But he quickly calmed himself, scanning through the available products and adding them to his cart. Once he had enough gold coins, he would purchase them all in one go.
After a few minutes, he closed the interface with satisfaction. He had locked in his primary targets.
The first was the Body of an Immortal.
His current physique was not outstanding, and in the future, he would suffer from the Bloodline Limitation Disease. His reliance on Ninjutsu and Genjutsu had left his physical endurance as a major weakness.
Obtaining the Body of an Immortal was an absolute necessity. A robust body would undoubtedly enhance his combat prowess.
The second was his own Mangekyō Sharingan, which would be upgraded to the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan.
With this, he would be able to use his pupil techniques without limit and unlock the final form of Susanoo.
A fully formed Susanoo, standing over a hundred meters tall, wielding the three sacred weapons, would make him nearly invincible on the battlefield—a force capable of taking on entire armies.
"I need a total of 200,000 gold coins..."
Itachi silently calculated.
The Body of an Immortal cost 100,000 gold coins, and the Eternal Mangekyō cost another 100,000.
This was no small sum.
"I'll take it one step at a time. It's still unclear how many gold coins I'll receive after dealing with Danzo."
At that moment, he heard soft footsteps approaching from behind.
Itachi immediately recognized the presence but did not turn around. Instead, he allowed a gentle smile to form on his lips.
Moments later, the person behind him suddenly jumped onto his back.
"Ha! Did I scare you?" Sasuke's voice rang out, filled with excitement.
"I knew it was you the moment you stepped through the door," Itachi replied calmly.
"Brother, you're amazing!"
Sasuke leaned on his shoulder, his face filled with joy. Spending time with Itachi always brought him happiness.
Itachi smiled warmly, rubbing Sasuke's hair affectionately.
"Did you need something?"
Sasuke was always well-behaved and wouldn't disturb him for no reason.
"Dad asked you to come over. He sent me to call you," Sasuke replied, his eyes curving into two thin lines as he smiled.
"I see. Let's go."
Itachi hoisted Sasuke onto his back and left the room, heading toward Naka Shrine.
When they arrived at the entrance, Itachi put Sasuke down.
"Sasuke, you should head back to sleep," he instructed.
Sasuke nodded obediently, his smile never fading. Without asking any questions, he turned and ran off.
Itachi watched him until his figure disappeared around the corner. His smile gradually faded.
Then, with a deep breath, he pushed open the wooden doors of Naka Shrine.
---
Naka Shrine
As the ancient wooden door creaked open, all eyes turned toward him.
Inside, Uchiha Fugaku sat at the center, surrounded by several gray-haired elders.
These men were the highest-ranking elders of the Uchiha Clan, individuals with great influence and wisdom. They assisted the clan leader in managing day-to-day affairs.
"Itachi, you've arrived," one elder greeted him warmly, patting the seat beside him.
Itachi, well-known throughout Konoha for his prodigious talent, was seen as the clan's future. Many held high expectations for him.
Sitting opposite him was Uchiha Shisui, who offered a warm smile. Itachi nodded in response before taking his seat.
Once everyone had gathered, the meeting officially began.
Fugaku was the first to speak.
"The voices of opposition in the clan grow louder by the day. What are your thoughts?"
As the clan leader, Fugaku had a broad vision, but he did not entirely support drastic measures.
If force was used, the Uchiha Clan might achieve victory, but Konoha would suffer devastating losses. Worse, external ninja villages would seize the opportunity to strike.
Even if the Uchiha Clan won, the cost of victory might leave them with nothing worth ruling over.
However, as the leader, he could not impose his will on the entire clan. The situation was spiraling out of control, and conflict seemed inevitable.
"Suppression? Why suppress?" a radical elder scoffed. "This is what the people want!"
"Hokage, Hokage—yet Uchiha, the clan best at Fire Style, has never held the title. It's a disgrace!"
"Regardless of victory or defeat, how many lives will be lost?" another elder, more conservative, countered.
"It is better to sacrifice than to live in humiliation!"
"The First Hokage broke his promise to make an Uchiha Hokage! We will not be fooled again!"
The debate quickly grew heated, elders shouting over one another.
Seeing the situation escalating, Fugaku lightly knocked on the table.
The room fell silent.
All eyes turned toward him, waiting for his decision.
Finally, he turned to Itachi.
"Itachi, what do you think?"
Slowly, Uchiha Itachi stood up.
All attention focused on him.
At that moment, an odd feeling filled the air.
Maybe it was an illusion, but—
Itachi felt different tonight.
Less burdened.
More unpredictable.
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