Chapter 80: Remnants of the Old Era
"The Uchiha... have been under their control from the very beginning?"
Thinking this, Uchiha Itachi couldn't help but shake his head, a bitter smile appearing.
Indeed, a coup is absolutely hopeless.
The radicals within the clan think they are plotting in secret, little knowing their every action is right under the enemy's nose.
Fortunately, I never once harbored wishful thinking of joining those guys in a coup.
"Remember, no matter which ninja clan you come from, you are now only an ANBU of Konoha."
Tenzō sighed inwardly, patting Itachi's shoulder: "Once you put on the mask, you must discard everything and consider all matters from the village's standpoint."
Although he didn't understand why Lord Hokage wanted Itachi to carry out surveillance on the Uchiha, such matters weren't for him to ponder.
Other problems... better leave them to that guy Kakashi.
"Yes, I understand."
Itachi nodded, his expression beneath the mask resolute.
If those radicals in the clan knew they were under ANBU surveillance the entire time, it would definitely provoke their already sensitive and irritable nerves.
The Uchiha, having lost Big Brother Shisui, no longer have hope.
The only thing he could do now was to try his best to delay the Uchiha clan's overconfident rebellious actions.
And before that, find the best solution.
"I now bear Big Brother Shisui's will."
Uchiha Itachi's eyes hardened, the three tomoe spinning rapidly, faintly connecting.
In fact, he was constantly suppressing his anger at every moment.
Even without personally seeing Big Brother Shisui killed by Root members, there was simply no other possibility.
Although he desperately wanted to avenge Big Brother Shisui, indulging in pointless hatred would only take him further from his ideals.
He still carried Shisui's will; finding a way to stop the meaningless conflict between the village and the Uchiha was what he ought to do.
"Don't think too much. Lord Hokage still trusts you greatly."
Tenzō shook his head, then assigned Itachi before several screens.
Images from within the Uchiha clan grounds reflected in Itachi's cold pupils.
Only when he saw a familiar figure appear at his own front door did his pupils tremble slightly, a strange light flashing through them. (This likely refers to a later observation when Inabi is actually at Setsuna's effective "door" - his prison cell area, or Inabi's own home, rather than Itachi's.)
"Uchiha Inabi went to Konoha Prison once today."
"Uchiha Inabi?"
Tenzō paused upon hearing this, then recalled the target's intelligence.
Uchiha Inabi, a member of the Uchiha radical faction.
However, unlike the impulsive and recklessly arrogant Yashiro, his personality was relatively more prudent; he was even once a member of the conservative faction.
But what was most noteworthy about him was his identity as Uchiha Setsuna's grandson.
"You've only been here a short time, so it's normal even if you don't know."
Tenzō said calmly: "His grandfather, Uchiha Setsuna, is imprisoned in Konoha Prison. According to our ANBU intelligence, he visits Uchiha Setsuna every Sunday."
"Did Uchiha Inabi do anything strange?"
"Unfortunately, no."
Tenzō shook his head: "Initially, we also thought that old fellow Uchiha Setsuna still harbored evil intentions and was conspiring with his grandson on some dangerous plan detrimental to the village."
"But after so many years, all their conversations have been monitored by us. The topics they discuss are all domestic trivialities."
Of course, there are also bitter curses against the Second and Third Hokage, and dissatisfaction with the disappointing performance of the Uchiha descendants.
Watching the man in his forties on the surveillance screen, Uchiha Itachi couldn't help but narrow his eyes.
At this moment, Uchiha Inabi looked like an ordinary civilian, his smile kind and gentle, playing with a group of Uchiha children.
He really did look harmless.
"Am I being oversensitive?"
Tenzō smiled, patting his shoulder: "Don't put too much pressure on yourself. Uchiha Inabi's strength isn't great, and he's a fence-sitter between the conservative and radical factions. As for Uchiha Setsuna, he's older than Lord Third and is just dragging out an ignoble existence now."
On the Uchiha surveillance list, Uchiha Yashiro and Uchiha Tekka had higher priority than Uchiha Inabi and Uchiha Setsuna.
After all, ANBU was already short-staffed; otherwise, they wouldn't have resorted to using surveillance equipment.
There was absolutely no need to waste energy on people like Uchiha Inabi and Uchiha Setsuna.
"Relax a bit. Making you monitor your own clan is already asking a lot."
"This was my own choice. Naturally, it's no trouble."
Hearing Uchiha Itachi's reply, a trace of helplessness flashed in Tenzō's eyes.
He couldn't help but pat Itachi's shoulder again before turning to leave.
Uchiha Itachi watched Uchiha Inabi strolling leisurely on the screen.
Unsure why, an inexplicable sense of irritation suddenly rose in his heart.
"Uchiha Inabi, Uchiha Setsuna... I hope these two truly aren't plotting anything."
...
Meanwhile, after leaving Konoha Prison, Uchiha Inabi did not return to the Police Force.
Instead, he leisurely came to his own home alone.
After entering the residence, the relaxed expression on Inabi's face instantly vanished, replaced by a grim and solemn one.
He walked into a room, activated a mechanism on a bookshelf.
A passage leading underground appeared. Inabi quickly descended this secret path.
In the secret room that should have been empty, a figure had inexplicably appeared.
Wearing a black and white mask with a three-eyed fox face, clad in a black cloak, looking very mysterious.
He stood before a piece of calligraphy, looking up at it, seemingly deeply engrossed.
"Actually hung a character for 'Love'?"
The masked man looked at the character 'Love', then suddenly smiled: "Seems the Uchiha clan has smart people too."
Truly, having an old person in the family is like having a treasure.
Judging by this calligraphy work with the character 'Love',
Uchiha Setsuna, that fellow who dragged out an ignoble existence from the Second Hokage's era until now – his understanding of the Sharingan probably far surpasses Uchiha Fugaku's.
Most people believe the Senju clan views love as power, while conversely, the Uchiha clan places the power of ninjutsu first.
But the truth is actually not so.
No clan's love runs deeper than the Uchiha's.
Once an Uchiha clansman understands love, their long-suppressed emotions are released, and power surpassing the Senju clan awakens as a result.
But an Uchiha clansman who understands love, upon losing that intense love, will have their affection replaced by even stronger hatred. Their entire personality changes drastically, consumed by darkness, walking down an extreme path.
Therefore, what makes Uchiha clansmen stronger isn't 'hate', but its opposite, 'love'.
Clearly, Uchiha Setsuna had preliminarily realized this.
"You are Ame-no-Minakanushi?"
Uchiha Inabi didn't hide his tracks, arriving gravely behind the masked man.
Hearing Inabi call out his codename, Menma turned slightly.
The deep blue eyes behind the mask, like the deep sea, made Uchiha Inabi's heart tremble involuntarily.
"Uchiha Inabi?"
Menma stared at Inabi's three-tomoe Sharingan, praising: "Your eyes are quite good."
He could clearly sense the pupil power within these eyes was very strong.
"You said before that the Uchiha clan's coup was already within the Konoha leadership's grasp?"
Inabi ignored his meaningful words, instead asking gravely: "And, the genjutsu you showed me – was that your so-called future for the Uchiha clan?"
On his way to visit his grandfather just now, he was suddenly pulled into a genjutsu world.
Three-tomoe Sharingan – completely powerless to resist.
He didn't even realize when he fell under the genjutsu.
And in that genjutsu, Inabi watched a good show as an onlooker.
"Uchiha Itachi massacred the entire clan, not even sparing the old, weak, women, or children. And Uchiha Fugaku, the clan head, actually chose to stretch out his neck to be killed, surrendering without a fight."
Menma shook his head and smiled: "You are one of the few sober ones in the Uchiha clan. You should clearly understand the Uchiha have already been forced to a dead end by themselves and the Konoha leadership."
"Even without Uchiha Itachi, there would still be Uchiha Rat, Uchiha Wolf."
The reason Menma chose to find Uchiha Inabi wasn't just because of his identity as Uchiha Setsuna's grandson.
It was also because he was more like an "ordinary person".
Knew how to hide his capabilities, had a steady personality, and a relatively high degree of understanding of the situation.
For the Uchiha clan, full of paranoids and psychopaths on average, this was simply invaluable.
"..."
Inabi fell silent for a moment upon hearing this, then said bitterly: "But, to completely destroy the Uchiha clan... how could the Third Hokage allow such a thing to happen? Isn't he trying to repair the relationship between the village and the Uchiha?"
Such a bloody and brutal1 event... what kind of vicious heart would it take to do it?
"Stop struggling. You must have already asked Uchiha Setsuna, right?"
Menma said, unsurprised: "Since you chose to come here alone, doesn't that mean you already believe the future I showed you?"
As soon as these words were spoken, Uchiha Inabi, whose body was tense, instantly relaxed.
He couldn't help but slump onto a nearby chair.
He once again recalled the words his grandfather had spoken to him.
"That brat Sarutobi Hiruzen, and that stinking rat Shimura Danzō, are just jackals from the same hill."
Uchiha Setsuna said disdainfully: "Sarutobi Hiruzen only learned Senju Tobirama's hypocrisy, but not Senju Tobirama's decisiveness and sense of responsibility. Letting Konoha's darkness spread unchecked – Konoha will sooner or later be destroyed by his indecisiveness."
Indecisiveness?
Indeed, one should understand this without even thinking.
The Third Hokage always tried to maintain balance, but he was, after all, not a saintly figure like Senju Hashirama.
When it came to his own interests, the Third Hokage would show favoritism.
Root was the darkness born from his indulgence and hesitation, now a problem too big to handle.
Menma spoke again: "If you cannot make a decision, then take me to Konoha Prison to see Uchiha Setsuna."
"I think that old man should understand what it means to sacrifice the chariot to save the king, to sever an arm to survive."
Uchiha Inabi clutched his head, helplessness showing on his face.
Grandfather, at his age, should be enjoying his twilight years.
But now, the Uchiha clan is already on the edge of a cliff.
And he, this incompetent and unworthy descendant, actually needs an old man on the verge of death to step forward to make the final decision.
...
Konoha Prison, located next to ANBU Headquarters. The Police Force was once also nearby.
But now...
"Inabi? Visiting your grandfather again?"
"Yes. The old man is getting on in years, and I'm his only remaining grandson."
The jailer responsible for guarding stood before the prison gate, chatting smilingly with Uchiha Inabi.
Inabi's personality wasn't arrogant like other Uchiha.
On the contrary, he was quite friendly and steady.
Over time, the jailers had also come to approve of this filial Uchiha.
"I won't delay your work then."
Uchiha Inabi smiled honestly: "Otherwise, if I make the old man wait too long, I'll get scolded again."
"You know the rules, right?"
"Relax, visits are only for an hour. I know."
The jailer said no more, stepping aside to let him pass.
Inabi carried a thermos flask filled with food and walked into the prison as usual.
As he went deeper, a dark, profound corridor unfolded before him.
On both sides of the corridor were cells with iron bars for doors, each individually holding various kinds of prisoners.
Imprisoned here were Konoha's criminals, as well as some spies from other countries, each wearing heavy leg shackles and handcuffs.
"Ooh ooh ooh, it's that Uchiha again!"
"Hahaha, I could smell the food from a mile away!"
One ferocious-looking prisoner after another gripped the bars of their cells, grotesque smiles on their faces, staring deadly intently at Inabi.
"Good afternoon, everyone."
Uchiha Inabi greeted them nonchalantly, strolling towards the deeper parts of the prison.
Only when he saw an old man with grizzled hair and a face full of wrinkles did Uchiha Inabi stop.
"Grandfather."
Hearing Inabi's voice, the old man only then opened his turbid eyes.
"Inabi, ah." He asked in an aged, hoarse voice: "The food I asked you to bring, did you bring it?"
"Brought it."
Setsuna frowned, a sharp glint appearing in his eyes.
Seeing no one behind Inabi, he was just about to question him,
"Elder Setsuna, we meet for the first time."
Hearing the voice that suddenly appeared, Setsuna froze.
This voice... it didn't come from beside his ear.
Rather, it seemed to appear directly in his mind, as if through some kind of genjutsu.
In just the blink of an eye.
A figure had suddenly appeared beside Inabi at some unknown point.
Menma sized up the old man before him, who looked on the verge of death, a profound meaning flashing in his eyes.
Uchiha Setsuna.
Currently, the only Uchiha in the clan who had lived from the Second Hokage's era until now, and was once even a member of the Konoha Police Force.
Personality sinister and cunning, inherited Uchiha Madara's will, extremely dissatisfied with Senju Tobirama's policies for governing the Uchiha clan, always yearning to seize back sovereignty from the Senju clan's hands; a hawkish Uchiha clansman.
However, his incitement of Uchiha clansmen to rebel was keenly detected by Senju Tobirama. Ultimately arrested by ANBU members dispatched by Senju Tobirama and sentenced to life imprisonment in Konoha Prison.
"You are Ame-no-Minakanushi?"
Setsuna frowned deeply, not speaking aloud, but testing by thinking to himself.
"Yes, Elder Setsuna. You can call me Ame-no-Minakanushi."
Hearing the response in his mind again, a thoughtful look flashed across Setsuna's face.
Not mind-reading? It seems I must open my mind for him to perceive my thoughts.
Thinking this, he then sneered inwardly: "A furtive character like you dares to speak presumptuously of our Uchiha clan's future?"
As his thought fell,
Unsure if it was an illusion, Setsuna faintly heard a soft chuckle.
"You'd best show me more trust. I have no patience to watch an old man put on a long face for me."
Setsuna's face instantly darkened.
But in a flash, a smile returned to his face.
"What is your purpose?"
"Naturally, to make a deal with you."
"What deal?"
"Use your Uchiha clan's resources in exchange for your Uchiha clan's future."
While Menma and Setsuna conversed silently,
Setsuna also didn't forget he might be being monitored.
He took out the food, saying with feigned dissatisfaction: "Brat, the food's all cold! Remember to come earlier next time!"
Simultaneously, he asked in his mind: "Use our Uchiha resources to exchange for our future? You think our Uchiha clan has no future left, correct?"
Last week, that brat Inabi had already communicated with him using secret hand signals.
This man calling himself "Ame-no-Minakanushi" before him was extremely strong.
Able to deceive everyone's sight, he must possess extremely formidable genjutsu abilities.
"You should know better than I."
Menma's slightly amused voice entered Setsuna's mind: "The Uchiha are like a runaway mad horse. No one can rein this mad horse in anymore."
Ahead lies a bottomless precipice, yet they are oblivious to their imminent death.
(End of Chapter)
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