Chapter 81: It is Kindness That Leads People to Hell
"Did you know?"
Menma spoke again: "Often, it is those kind wishes that lead people into a hell on earth."
Kind wishes often carry an expectation for a certain outcome; this is an ideal.
Reasonable ideals often align with reality and can be realized. Such kind wishes are then judged by reality as feasible because they can help reality improve.
But unrealistic ideals often face various challenges during their implementation, and the outcome may not necessarily be achieved.
Even if achieved, they might plant hidden dangers for reality.
Because such kind wishes often overlook many influencing factors that should be considered.
Vainly attempting to build a heaven on earth while underestimating human nature will only lead to a hell on earth.
"Is it often those kind wishes that lead people into a hell on earth?"
Setsuna froze upon hearing this, then, snapping back, couldn't help but laugh out loud.
"Hahahaha! Very good! Today's food is very good!!"
Yes.
It's truly laughable, come to think of it.
Back then, Lord Madara's ultimate goal in deciding to establish Konoha with Senju Hashirama,
Wasn't it precisely to protect his own clansmen?
But what was the reality?
With Konoha's establishment, the Uchiha clan's strength, compared to the Warring States period, not only didn't improve at all but instead declined severely.
Time after time, in Shinobi World Wars, Uchiha clan ninja would be at the forefront of the battle.
The Uchiha clan's strength was continuously diminished, yet the Uchiha clan, having paid such a price, was still ostracized by the village.
"Ha..."
Setsuna shook his head, smiling bitterly: "Lord Madara, is this our retribution for not choosing to follow you back then?"
Lord Madara also possessed love, but his love was deep and profound, not effusive like Senju Hashirama's.
Senju Hashirama's love was merely a castle in the air, a flower in the mirror and moon on the water – beautiful but illusory, built on strength.
This so-called "love" only made Uchiha Setsuna feel nauseous.
It would only lead the Uchiha clansmen into a beautiful fantasy, ultimately drowning them in this ridiculous illusion.
To this day, whether the Uchiha conservatives or radicals, both were naive to a degree that made Uchiha Setsuna feel helpless.
Naively believing that as long as they maintained good relations with the Konoha higher-ups, as long as they reclaimed the Hokage position, they could return to their peak and possess everything.
But, how could that be possible?
Konoha... no longer had the soil for the Uchiha clan to survive.
"Speak then."
Thinking this, Uchiha Setsuna took another bite of food and said in his mind: "Tell me your plan."
"Even if the Uchiha clansmen must die, they can only die on the battlefield!"
Hearing this, Menma also smiled.
"Indeed, Uchiha Setsuna."
At such an advanced age, still worrying about the Uchiha clan's affairs, still providing guidance and advice to the Uchiha radicals from prison.
This elder, on the verge of death, his heart was clearly not as frail as his appearance suggested.
At least, the ambition of his youth had not yet dissipated.
About half an hour later.
Menma's figure was no longer in the prison.
"Grandfather..."
Uchiha Inabi stood before Setsuna, his expression very complex: "Is there... no other way?"
"Inabi, I taught you not to be timid, not to hesitate."
Setsuna's face was calm, his eyes incredibly profound as he said: "I am already old. With our current strength, we cannot even preserve the last embers."
Although he didn't want to admit his age, he was just an old relic who had barely survived from the previous generation.
He no longer had the ability to save all his clansmen from dire straits.
Moreover, that sentence from "Ame-no-Minakanushi": Often, it is those kind wishes that lead humanity into a hell on earth.
It made him, originally somewhat hesitant, completely make up his mind.
You see a beggar on the roadside, and your heart wishes to offer him some help. Your wish is to help him out of his predicament.
But he might be an organized and disciplined conman, or after accepting your charity, he might think begging is a good profession to exploit others' kindness.
Kind wishes are often born from people's expectations of good results.
And hell on earth is a possible outcome when combined with reality.
If he hesitated any longer, then when the "poison" spread throughout the body, the entire Uchiha clan would die from its effects.
What's more...
"If our Uchiha clan truly perishes, then the Uchiha clan's resources and property will just benefit those executioners."
Uchiha Inabi couldn't help sighing upon hearing this.
If not absolutely forced, he really didn't want to reach this step.
...
Rustle rustle rustle~
Menma's figure sped through the Forest of Death, heading towards his laboratory via Body Flicker.
"Would Sarutobi Hiruzen and the others really have the heart to kill the old, weak, women, and children?"
Suddenly, the Nine-Tails' voice sounded in Menma's mind.
It had witnessed the entire scene just now.
Including Menma using genjutsu to toy with everyone.
But even so, the Nine-Tails still couldn't believe the Konoha higher-ups would be ruthless enough to kill all the old, weak, women, and children.
"Kurama, although you're hailed as the embodiment of malice, you still don't understand human nature well enough."
Menma sneered nonchalantly: "Believe me, once Shimura Danzō starts, Sarutobi Hiruzen will just go along with the situation, pretending to be helpless."
Sarutobi Hiruzen was no longer the Shinobi Hero who had secured the Hokage position amidst chaos.
A person's will gradually declines as their body ages.
The current Sarutobi Hiruzen lacked the confidence to resolve the conflict between the Uchiha clan and the village.
Since he couldn't resolve the conflict, he could only resolve the people creating the conflict.
"Can human malice really reach such a degree?"
The Nine-Tails' tone held some lingering fear: "I have always not hesitated to speculate on humanity with the worst malice, yet I still did not expect, nor believe, it could be so savage."
"Well now?"
Menma paused upon hearing this, then couldn't help but raise an eyebrow, teasing: "Seems like studying is useful after all. Kurama, you can actually steal famous quotes now?"
As soon as these words were spoken, the Nine-Tails instantly bristled again, sputtering indignantly.
"Steal? Can't be counted as stealing! A Tailed Beast's affairs, can that be counted as stealing?!"
Followed by a string of difficult words, like "The superior man is firm in distress," and "Zhe Hu" (archaic particles) and the like.
Causing Menma a wave of helpless laughter.
Shaking his head, the smile on Menma's face gradually faded.
"Regardless, I've already given Uchiha Setsuna a chance to choose. If they aren't stupid to the extreme, they'll do as I said."
Menma's dark blue eyes were very profound, appearing exceptionally bright in the darkness.
"Now, all that's needed is to wait for the right time."
...
The sky gradually turned blood red with the setting sun; the horizon looked as if a great fire was burning.
Inside the Uchiha clan grounds, Uchiha Itachi walked into the residence, his face grave.
Uchiha Sasuke happened to be walking out from inside and met Itachi.
"Brother, you're back!"
Seeing his older brother, his eyes instantly lit up, showing delight: "I was just about to go train! Brother, come with me!"
During the time his brother was away, he had actually also trained with Naruto.
But after witnessing Naruto's training volume and methods, which could only be described as cruel and inhuman,
His first reaction was – I can do it too!
As it turned out, he really couldn't...
Even going all out, Sasuke could only complete one-fifth of Naruto's training volume.
He had lost a whole circle of weight during this period, so he wanted to take this opportunity to "rest" well.
However, hearing his younger brother's request, a faint smile appeared on Itachi's face.
He patted Sasuke's head: "Brother just finished a mission and is really too tired."
"How could brother be tired."
Uchiha Itachi paused upon hearing this.
Snapping back, Itachi smiled bitterly, poked Sasuke's forehead with his finger: "Forgive me, Sasuke. Next time."
Afterwards, he turned and walked towards the courtyard without looking back.
How could I not be tired?
Even I get tired.
"You should know there's a clan assembly in three days, right?"
Itachi was just about to push open the door to his room when a voice suddenly came from behind.
Tsk...
Uchiha Itachi turned around, somewhat annoyed.
He saw Uchiha Fugaku standing behind him, arms crossed, expression complex.
He spoke: "After the assembly, go to the Naka Shrine alone. Don't bring ANBU members."
"I have to leave the village for a mission starting tomorrow."
Uchiha Itachi frowned, subconsciously wanting to decline.
"Don't evade."
Don't... evade?
Itachi stopped his departing steps, asking in a low voice: "Evade what?"
"Evade your fate as an Uchiha."
Uchiha Fugaku said in a low tone: "I will wait for you at the Naka Shrine. Don't disappoint me."
Looking at his father's back.
Uchiha Itachi suddenly felt a wave of desolation and bleakness.
Naka Shrine?
That place... is truly repulsive.
...
When the sun completely set, a moon exuding a faint blood-red hue gradually rose.
Under the faint moonlight, several figures wearing masks could be vaguely seen standing on the trees in front of the Naka Shrine.
Rustle!
Uchiha Itachi also suddenly appeared before the Naka Shrine.
He subconsciously glanced towards where the ANBU were positioned, then nonchalantly shifted his gaze back.
Stepping into the shrine, then entering the shrine's secret room.
Torches on the walls dispelled the darkness, illuminating the Uchiha clan emblem.
Itachi felt somewhat unable to bear the atmosphere here.
Every time he came to the Naka Shrine, it made him feel irritated and oppressed.
At this moment, Uchiha Fugaku stood with arms crossed before the stone tablet said to have been passed down since ancient times.
Not long ago, Uchiha Itachi had already observed that stone tablet.
Besides records of the Uchiha clan's history, it also contained the conditions for an ordinary Sharingan to evolve into a Mangekyō Sharingan.
Namely, awakening the Mangekyō Sharingan after personally witnessing the death of one's closest kin.
As for the remaining content, his current pupil power was still insufficient to decipher it.
"You should have already seen this stone tablet, right?"
Uchiha Fugaku, back turned to Itachi, said in a deep voice: "Only those in the clan with Sharingan can read this tablet, but even then, only a part of it."
Uchiha Itachi frowned.
He didn't understand why his father was telling him these things.
But his next sentence instantly stunned Itachi.
"With your Mangekyō Sharingan, you should be able to read even more."
How is that possible?
Father... how could he possibly know I've awakened the Mangekyō?
"When was I exposed?"
Uchiha Itachi forced himself to remain calm, but his voice still trembled slightly: "Father, do you want me to tell you the content below?"
He didn't deny possessing the Mangekyō.
Although he didn't know how his father found out,
Since he asked directly, it indicated he didn't mind his concealment.
Denying it might actually backfire.
"That won't be necessary to trouble you."
Uchiha Fugaku shook his head, turned slightly sideways, and looked at Itachi behind him.
However, the next scene nearly made Itachi lose his composure again.
"Mangekyō Sharingan... Father... actually also has the Mangekyō!?"
He saw the three tomoe in Uchiha Fugaku's scarlet pupils spin rapidly.
Finally transforming into an intricate, hollowed-out pattern.
That incomparably powerful pupil power – without a doubt, it was the Mangekyō Sharingan, just like his.
Seeing Itachi's shocked, composure-lost face, Fugaku's tone was very heavy: "During the Third Shinobi World War, my friend saved me at the cost of his life."
"Accompanied by blood and tears, I awakened the Mangekyō."
He didn't elaborate on the details of awakening the Mangekyō; perhaps that was his eternal pain.
Fugaku turned back, looking again at the stone tablet.
"This tablet records the Uchiha clan's path to salvation. But even with the Mangekyō Sharingan, one cannot read the content beyond. It seems we can still go further."
But Fugaku's tone suddenly shifted: "Although I've only read a part, I can already see what a mistaken situation the Uchiha clan is currently in."
"Because of Uchiha Madara, the Konoha leadership is still terrified of that former wraith, and out of fear, they have isolated us."
Fugaku clenched his fists, looking at the Uchiha clan emblem, saying seriously: "Since they are afraid, then we must be the ones to take power."
Hearing this, the originally stunned Uchiha Itachi instantly snapped back.
His eyes hardened abruptly as he questioned sharply: "Meaning, Father, you intend to seize the Hokage position by force?"
Itachi looked up, meeting Fugaku's eyes.
"Because this is the clan's expectation, I cannot stop them."
Fugaku's expression was complex. Finally, he just sighed again, somewhat helplessly.
Itachi's expression instantly froze.
So, Father never wanted to launch a coup from the beginning?
From the very beginning, Father was coerced by the clan's expectations...
Then everything Big Brother Shisui did back then... was it all useless effort?
Just as an uncontrollable wave of sorrow and bewilderment surged in Uchiha Itachi's heart,
"But, Itachi, we still have other ways!"
Uchiha Fugaku abruptly turned around, looking at this son who had never once disappointed him.
"As long as you can catch them off guard and control the higher-ups, although small-scale battles are unavoidable, as long as you, who are in ANBU, help out, the bloodless revolution can be completed!"
His tone, unconsciously, had also taken on a hint of madness.
"Itachi, you are my son! Please! Help the clan!"
Bloodless... revolution?
Uchiha Itachi slowly lowered his head, his long sidelocks obscuring his eyes.
"I'm sorry, Father."
No matter what, he could not watch helplessly as the Uchiha clan dragged Konoha into the abyss.
...
Inside the Hokage Tower's council chamber.
Shimura Danzō, Utatane Koharu, Mitokado Homura – the three were gathered, looking at Sarutobi Hiruzen who couldn't stop smoking.
Utatane Koharu spoke first: "Hiruzen, it's so late. Why did you call us over?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen sat there, taking a drag from his pipe.
After exhaling smoke, he spoke to the empty space before him: "Itachi, recount what you know."
As his voice fell, Itachi, dressed in ANBU attire, silently emerged from the shadows.
Uchiha Itachi knelt on one knee before the four, saying seriously:
"The Uchiha clan... has decided to launch a coup!"
(End of Chapter)
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