Chapter 82: Obito: Then, Pleasure Doing Business With You
Hokage Tower, inside a dim meeting room, the atmosphere was somewhat heavy.
Sarutobi Hiruzen and the three other Konoha higher-ups sat in the main seats.
Before them, a figure knelt on one knee, head lowered, his expression hidden in the shadows.
Aside from Danzō, whose eyes held a slight amusement, the other three all wore serious expressions.
"The Uchiha clan has decided to launch a coup!"
Uchiha Itachi laid out Uchiha Fugaku's plan in its entirety.
-- Fugaku intended to use his ANBU status to quickly control the Konoha leadership, then achieve a bloodless revolution, establishing a regime belonging solely to the Uchiha clan.
After listening to Uchiha Itachi's brief account, both Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura's faces changed.
Although they knew some Uchiha clansmen harbored ill intentions, they never imagined the Uchiha would go as far as a coup.
Shisui, Itachi, Fugaku, and Hiruzen – weren't they constantly mediating between the village and the Uchiha, doing their best to maintain that fragile balance?
How could it now...
However, compared to the two of them, Sarutobi Hiruzen and Shimura Danzō appeared much calmer.
"It seems the situation brooks no delay. We must strike first before they launch the coup."
Danzō, his right arm missing, looked towards Sarutobi Hiruzen, suppressing the joy in his heart, and said gravely: "It's time to make a decision, Hiruzen."
That guy Orochimaru kept using "no Sharingan" as an excuse, repeatedly delaying and refusing to help him transplant a new arm.
Now, as long as the Uchiha clan is completely destroyed, won't there be as many Sharingan as he wants?
"Wait a little longer."
Sarutobi Hiruzen took a troubled puff from his pipe, saying heavily: "The Uchiha were once comrades-in-arms. I want to resolve this through communication, not resort to force."
Although he always liked to eliminate dissidents, this time was different from the past.
The Uchiha's personality was indeed arrogant, but they were, after all, one of Konoha's founding families, and also an indispensable combat force.
If they were wiped out directly before the Uchiha rebellion, it might very well cause panic among other clans.
Moreover, Konoha losing the Uchiha would be like severing its own arm.
"Still wait? If we wait until they actually make a move, the damage to Konoha will be even greater!"
Danzō and Hiruzen met eyes, neither backing down.
"Danzō! Don't say such things in front of Itachi!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen reprimanded Danzō, then turned back to Itachi.
He said earnestly: "Itachi, I must trouble you to continue monitoring the Uchiha clan's movements. If any abnormality occurs, report to us immediately. I will do my best to devise a countermeasure during this time."
"The future of the village and the clan rests on you."
Hearing these words, Uchiha Itachi's eyes flickered slightly, then he nodded gently.
"Lord Hokage, I shall take my leave then."
As his voice fell, Uchiha Itachi's figure flashed.
He was already gone from the council chamber.
"Hmph!"
Seeing Uchiha Itachi leave, Danzō snorted with some dissatisfaction.
Then, ignoring Hiruzen and the other two discussing "countermeasures,"
He directly flicked his robe sleeve, rose from his seat, and left without a word.
And deep in his heart, he had already made a decision.
"Since you, Sarutobi, can't bring yourself to do it, then just like before, I will be the villain."
...
After leaving, Uchiha Itachi did not return directly to the Uchiha clan grounds.
Instead, he arrived expressionlessly at Root Headquarters.
"Itachi, you came after all."
Itachi looked at the man before him, hailed as the "Darkness of Shinobi", a trace of hatred flashing in his eyes.
This man was one of the culprits who killed Shisui back then.
Now, the culprit stood right before him, back turned, less than three meters away.
"Just one Amaterasu, never extinguished, could burn him completely to ashes."
But, reason told Itachi he couldn't do it.
Killing Danzō would achieve nothing.
Besides, Konoha needs the Darkness of Shinobi...
"You should be very clear about the Third Hokage's style of resolution by now."
Danzō turned around, speaking calmly to Itachi: "Don't mind the Third Hokage's nice words. At the critical moment, he will still choose to protect Konoha. But by then, it will be too late."
Since the Uchiha have resolved to launch a coup, there is already no turning back.
If they really wait until the Uchiha make their move, even if Konoha wins, it will definitely suffer heavy losses.
A Shinobi World War might very well break out again.
Such a scene was definitely not what Itachi wished to see.
"So I hope you make a choice."
Danzō's gaze was sharp, his words filled with pressure: "Will you stand with the Uchiha and participate in the rebellion, perishing with your family? Or will you stand with Konoha and assist in wiping out all Uchiha clansmen?"
Hearing Danzō's cold words, Uchiha Itachi's body suddenly tensed.
Although he had anticipated it, hearing this order so abruptly still sent a chill through his heart.
Wipe out the Uchiha clan...
Those two words, "wipe out", are easy to say, but to actually do it...
That means not just killing all the Uchiha clan ninja.
Uchiha Itachi knew very well.
As long as any Uchiha clansman survived, the hatred of their clan's extermination would accompany them for life.
For Konoha, that would mean countless hidden bombs.
So, he would also have to kill... those hundreds, thousands of Uchiha civilians, the old, weak, women, and children.
"Danzō, you..."
Uchiha Itachi's face darkened, about to say more.
But just then, Danzō smiled again: "Although the Uchiha clan will definitely be exterminated, your younger brother... can live."
Younger brother? Sasuke!
Just now it was "kill all Uchiha clansmen", but now Sasuke could actually live, preserving the Uchiha's spark.
Then...
Instantly, Uchiha Itachi's mind was in complete turmoil.
And Danzō could clearly perceive his struggle, a mocking smile touching the corners of his lips.
"Itachi, those who harbor darkness in their hearts will inevitably be controlled by me."
Uchiha Itachi was not as indestructible as he himself imagined.
His ideals, his Sasuke – these were all his weaknesses.
"To protect the village, no matter what, the matter must be suppressed before chaos erupts. Only you can bear this heavy responsibility. Are you willing to accept this mission?"
Danzō's words echoed continuously in Itachi's ears, constantly eroding the last vestiges of conscience in his heart.
Choose to perish with the Uchiha?
Or sacrifice the clan, save the village, and leave Sasuke?
This... seemed like there was no choice at all from the very beginning.
"You... remember your promise."
As his voice fell, Uchiha Itachi's entire spirit instantly dissipated, his eyes becoming dim.
"Of course. In the future, you will be the hero who protects Konoha from the shadows."
Looking at the disheartened Uchiha Itachi, a trace of mockery flashed in Danzō's eyes.
Truly a useful tool.
Unfortunately, just too foolish.
...
"Truly a useful tool. Unfortunately, just too naive."
In the Forest of Death, sounds of hitting constantly echoed from beside a small stream.
Naruto watched Uchiha Sasuke continuously attacking him, a smile on his face, but a hint of contemplation in his eyes.
He could feel his physical abilities constantly strengthening, and his taijutsu and ninjutsu training was progressing very smoothly.
Moreover, it felt like he had touched upon some kind of power bottleneck.
But even so, Naruto was still not satisfied with his own strength.
Because he had already sensed it.
Menma-nii... might be leaving him very soon.
Although he had long anticipated this day, as the day of parting drew nearer, Naruto's mood became increasingly agitated.
Unfortunately, a fledgling eagle must sooner or later leave the warm nest, leave the protection of the powerful eagle.
What Naruto could do now,
Was to present a satisfactory "answer sheet" before Menma-nii left.
During this period, Naruto had already won the acknowledgment of all his classmates, becoming like a popularity king throughout the junior grades.
Whether teachers or students, their attitude towards him was very friendly.
Including the Ino-Shika-Chō trio, and also that Mizuki.
Oh, wait...
That is, except for a certain Byakugan young lady.
"Brat, you'd better not mess with me. The moment I see your face, I'm reminded of a certain annoying fellow."
Recalling those words from Hyūga Hinata, Naruto felt his shoulder ache faintly again.
That Byakugan young lady was different from him.
She could display her strength unscrupulously, but he could not.
This led to their spars where, although he won in the end, Naruto, being constrained, got beaten up quite badly by Hinata.
Since then, Naruto never proactively approached Hinata again.
However...
"Seeing my face, reminds you of a certain annoying fellow?"
Naruto parried another of Sasuke's strikes, frowning.
Could that young lady... be talking about Menma-nii?
Although she says she dislikes him, it sounds more like resentment/pining.
Thinking this, Naruto shook his head with a chuckle.
Boom!!
"Alright Sasuke, that's enough taijutsu training for today!"
Naruto, with an effortless punch, directly knocked Uchiha Sasuke back.
Although Sasuke still looked somewhat unwilling, in the end, he didn't pester unreasonably.
Just being stubborn-mouthed as usual: "Tch, is that all you've got? I'll definitely beat you next time!"
Naruto's lip twitched. He turned his head to look aside.
"Nine hundred eighty-one, nine hundred eighty-two..."
He saw a guy in a white training uniform with a pair of thick eyebrows still doing sit-ups on the stone platform.
"Little Lee, you should rest a bit too. Don't forget, too much is as bad as too little."
Hearing Naruto's words, Rock Lee, face flushed red, replied: "I'll be done right away!"
Watching Rock Lee, trembling all over yet still persisting, Naruto didn't stop him either.
Rock Lee was an upperclassman one year his senior; the two met coincidentally during a training session.
Towards this simple and hot-blooded fool, always striving to become an outstanding ninja, Naruto also held some admiration.
Being with such a pure guy, Naruto felt relaxed from the bottom of his heart.
"Can't use ninjutsu or genjutsu, no innate bloodline ability either, but possesses tenacious spirit. In the future, perhaps also a help."
Who says a hardworking genius isn't a genius?
A short while later, the three finished training and walked along Konoha's streets.
While ignoring the strange gazes from their surroundings, Naruto secretly frowned.
"What's going on? Why is someone surveilling me again?"
After thinking back carefully, he was sure his usual disguise hadn't been exposed.
Naruto's frown deepened further.
So, those people aren't surveilling him.
Then, it can only be Sasuke, being an Uchiha.
"Although the Uchiha clan's reputation is terrible, Sasuke is still a child. Why waste manpower surveilling him?"
With doubts in his heart, Naruto and the other two slowly headed towards the barbecue restaurant.
But, in a place they couldn't see,
A figure sat crouched on a high utility pole.
Uchiha Itachi watched the three laughing, playing, and walking together, watching his younger brother with a smile on his face.
"You've made friends, huh, Sasuke."
A smile also appeared on Itachi's face.
However, thinking of the clan and the village, thinking of the Danzō gave him,
The smile on his face gradually faded, his expression becoming deep and cold.
"For Sasuke... for Konoha... I..."
...
Night gradually fell. Uchiha Itachi, treading on tree shadows, arrived at the depths of the forest.
A figure wearing a black long robe and a striped mask, revealing only one eye, stood there.
Hearing footsteps behind him, the masked man slowly turned around.
Itachi's eyes were grim, revealing cold killing intent.
"That look in your eyes... do you want to kill me, to avenge your comrade?"
Uchiha Obito's lips curled: "Then, hurry up and do it."
Looking at the man before him claiming to be "Uchiha Madara", Uchiha Itachi forcefully suppressed the hatred in his heart.
He said, word by word: "I need your help."
Uchiha Obito's tone was indifferent: "The Uchiha have finally reached this step after all."
"Is everything now also within your grasp?"
Uchiha Itachi frowned and asked back.
Uchiha Obito, hearing this, said with feigned authority: "When the clansmen chose to stay in Konoha back then, instead of following me, I already foresaw their end."
Looking at the man before him claiming to be "Uchiha Madara", a trace of apprehension and doubt also flashed in Itachi's eyes.
Although unsure if this furtive fellow was truly that Asura of the Ninja World,
His pupil power, stronger than even the Mangekyō Sharingan, could not be faked.
"I will make my move next Sunday night. I hope you can help me deal with the Uchiha clansmen in the Police Force."
Itachi's tone was flat, yet the words he spoke were utterly cold and cruel.
The corner of Uchiha Obito's mouth, hidden beneath the mask, curled up slightly.
"Then, pleasure doing business with you."
...
Meanwhile, in Menma's underground laboratory.
"There's no mistake. This is the Power of All Creation."
Menma looked at the test report in his hand, reactivating the sealing formula on the Hashirama cells.
On the operating table before him lay a humanoid physical body in a mostly stable state.
However, green grass sprouts could still be faintly seen emerging from the flesh.
Though the growth rate was slow, it was still visible to the naked eye.
"The All Creation formula for the White Zetsu body has been derived, but the formula for the Hashirama arm is still needed as a control group. It's not completely stable yet."
He didn't lack Hashirama cells, and he also had one Mangekyō Sharingan.
But after multiple experiments, Menma confirmed that this Hashirama arm contained not only Hashirama cells and Sharingan, but also a special substance.
This special substance played a good role in harmonizing the Hashirama cells and Sharingan, able to greatly restrain the powerful life force of Hashirama cells and the Sharingan's drain on physical energy.
"Uchiha Shin's physique?"
Menma narrowed his eyes slightly, sealing the Hashirama arm back into the scroll.
Coincidentally, I still need an experimental assistant.
Then I'll pay a visit to "Uncle Snake".
(End of Chapter)
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