Chapter 18: Uchiha Itachi
The next clan leader of the Uchiha had already been determined, so the invitation from the current young clan head, Uchiha Fugaku, was naturally difficult to refuse. Moreover, Gen Uchiha had already been planning to speak with Uchiha Fugaku, so he accepted the invitation with ease and a pleasant demeanor.
However, the meeting was set for the afternoon, leaving Gen Uchiha with free time in the morning. He wandered through the Hidden Leaf Village, indulging in local street snacks, shopping leisurely in the village market, and relaxing at the hot springs frequented by Konoha's shinobi.
It was almost two o'clock in the afternoon when he returned to the Uchiha district. Gen Uchiha brought with him a neatly wrapped box of traditional sweets as a respectful gesture.
Uchiha Fugaku's residence was centrally located within the Uchiha compound, a placement that mirrored his high standing—like the pole star surrounded by constellations. However, the house itself was not ostentatious. It was a two-story wooden estate, larger than most but retaining the traditional Uchiha architectural style, its spacious yard accentuated by simple, well-kept landscaping. It was hardly different from the homes of many other Uchiha clansmen.
Unlike the Hyūga clan, which maintained strict hierarchical divisions between the main and branch families, the Uchiha clan, though led by a powerful head, upheld a comparatively more egalitarian atmosphere.
The Uchiha did recognize distinctions between core clan members and the broader family, but the lines were not as rigidly drawn. Those who had awakened the Sharingan were considered part of the inner circle, while those who hadn't whether ninja or civilian were seen as more peripheral.
Civilians without shinobi training often relied on various trades for their livelihood, shielded by the clan's influence.
Ninja without the Sharingan could still serve within the Konoha Military Police Force, albeit as regular officers, benefiting from the family's protection and prestige.
However, those who awakened the Sharingan were eligible for advancement to leadership positions within the Police Force and the clan squad captains, deputy captains, chief captains, elders, and even the role of clan head.
Of course, Sharingan alone wasn't sufficient; shinobi needed both combat and leadership skills. Otherwise, they would remain elite fighters without significant administrative authority. Still, their compensation was generous, ensuring financial security uncommon for most ninja.
This stability was the product of centuries of Uchiha dominance and prestige in the shinobi world. Regular ninja, in contrast, had to constantly undertake dangerous missions just to make ends meet.
Shinobi life came with both high risk and high expense failing to save or plan financially could be fatal.
Ding-dong...
Gen Uchiha stood at the front gate and pressed the doorbell. Moments later, the door opened to reveal a woman with long, straight black hair, deep black eyes, a serene expression, and a composed, graceful bearing.
"Lady."
Gen Uchiha offered a courteous smile, bowed slightly, and greeted her with respectful formality.
"Ah, Gen-kun, welcome," Uchiha Mikoto replied warmly, her gentle voice like a soothing breeze. "Please, just call me Mikoto-san."
"Please, come in."
Gen Uchiha, adopting a more familiar tone, replied, "Thank you, Mikoto-san."
Though Uchiha Mikoto appeared gentle and unassuming, Gen did not underestimate her.
Mikoto was not only a skilled kunoichi but also a wielder of the Sharingan.
Moreover, according to Gen's understanding from clan history, Uchiha Mikoto was the daughter of Uchiha Setsuna.
Setsuna had been a staunch proponent of Uchiha autonomy, deeply opposed to the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju's policies of limiting Uchiha power. Setsuna's repeated attempts to incite rebellion were eventually discovered by Tobirama's ANBU, resulting in his capture and long-term imprisonment. Though Setsuna remained behind bars, his fervent ideology and defiant spirit continued to inspire many within the Uchiha who shared hawkish views.
As his daughter, Mikoto symbolized the will of Uchiha's hawk faction after her father's downfall. Her support had been a decisive factor in cementing Uchiha Fugaku's leadership as the next clan head.
Gen Uchiha followed Mikoto through the courtyard, removed his sandals, and stepped into the traditional tatami-floored house. As he entered, a young boy was descending the stairs.
"Itachi, we have a guest," Mikoto said softly. "This is Gen-niisan."
The boy, Uchiha Itachi, gave a polite bow and greeted him respectfully, "Gen-niisan."
Gen Uchiha smiled faintly. "Hello, Itachi."
Ah, who would have thought that this quiet, courteous boy would one day massacre his entire clan?
To be honest, from Gen's perspective, he didn't particularly like the idea of Uchiha Itachi. After all, Gen himself was part of the clan that Itachi would eventually betray. Still, there was no sense in harboring hostility toward the present Itachi.
He was still just a child, his views and loyalties not yet fully formed. There was still time to guide him in a different direction. If not—well, then Gen would bide his time and wait for the right opportunity to deal with him.
Uchiha Fugaku was also a lunatic. Why would he take a three- or four-year-old child to a battlefield?
If one were to bring a child, especially at that tender age, to the frontline of the Third Shinobi World War—the cruelest place in the ninja world, where death lurked at every corner it would be no surprise if something went horribly wrong.
The ninja world indeed forced its inhabitants to mature far earlier than normal, but this was overwhelming, leaving growth distorted.
In Gen Uchiha's opinion, Uchiha Itachi was too naïve, too extreme, and too self-assured.
He believed he had seen through everything, that he knew the truth of the world, that he could control everything, and that his actions were inherently correct and just.
Konoha's upper echelon—Hiruzen Sarutobi, Danzo Shimura, and the elders like Homura and Koharu masters at reading human nature, had long seen through Itachi's nature. They cleverly manipulated his psychology, and he played right into their hands, unaware of how thoroughly he was used.
Truthfully, without Itachi Uchiha's "cooperation," would Konoha's leadership really have dared to annihilate the Uchiha?
No matter how suspicious Konoha's top brass were about the Nine-Tails' attack on Konoha (with Uchiha Madara or someone with a Sharingan as the likely culprit), they had no solid evidence implicating the Uchiha.
Indeed, the Sharingan was a hallmark of the Uchiha, and they were the prime suspects, but the Uchiha had existed for generations. Who could guarantee there wasn't some rogue survivor, perhaps even someone akin to Uchiha Obito, lurking outside the village's knowledge?
Without concrete evidence implicating Konoha's Uchiha in the Nine-Tails attack, there was no legal pretext for their destruction.
Konoha's upper echelon acted against the Uchiha without proof what would the other clans think?
If today Konoha's leadership wiped out the Uchiha clan without due cause, what guarantee would the other clans have that tomorrow it wouldn't be their turn?
Such actions would shatter the delicate balance of trust holding Konoha together. Disloyalty would fester, and the village's very unity would start to crumble.
In the feudal world whether in Fire Country or anywhere else wholesale exterminations were never carried out recklessly. First came arrest, then investigation and trial. Only with irrefutable evidence could justifications be made for mass punishment.
Any power, any government, that dares to kill indiscriminately without justification, will eventually collapse under its own corruption.
Once the rules and order are broken, those at the top will inevitably face the fiercest backlash.
Without Itachi Uchiha's intervention, Konoha's upper brass would have been forced to wait until the Uchiha clan openly rebelled before moving against them. And yet what was the Uchiha's strategy like?
They talked of seizing power but hesitated year after year. Fear of retaliation from the village's other forces the Hyūga, the Sarutobi, the Shimura, the Nara made them hesitant. Their plans were vague, riddled with indecision, more like a child's fantasy than a calculated coup.
In reality, even Konoha's higher-ups were aware of the Uchiha's vague intentions. Some within the Uchiha clan talked loudly of rebellion, but did little to actively push for it.
They hoped that by threatening rebellion, they could force Konoha's leadership to compromise, lifting the surveillance and restrictions on the clan, or even giving them more authority than what they had as the Police Force.
Without Itachi's betrayal, the Uchiha might have continued under Konoha's watchful eyes, disgraced and cornered, but at least surviving.
When Tsunade, Kakashi, and eventually Uzumaki Naruto ascended to the Hokage position in later years, the Uchiha's situation could have gradually improved.
If Uchiha Itachi had stood with his clan rather than betraying them for Konoha, even Tobi Uchiha Obito could not have succeeded in the massacre.
The destruction of the Uchiha was the result of a three-pronged assault: Konoha's upper echelon manipulating the situation, Obito executing the actual attack, and Itachi providing the final blow from within. Even Uchiha Fugaku's eventual surrender facilitated the silent erasure of his own clan.
After the massacre, Uchiha Itachi outwardly appeared calm, but in truth, he lived in unimaginable pain and guilt.
It wasn't until he experienced his own death and was later reincarnated via Kabuto Yakushi's Edo Tensei during the Fourth Great Ninja War that Itachi finally understood the full extent of his errors.
When reunited with Sasuke, Itachi confessed: "It doesn't matter if you don't forgive me. No matter what you do from here on out, I will always love you."
The unspoken message was clear: Even if Sasuke chose to abandon Konoha, to burn it down and erase its legacy, Itachi's love would remain unwavering.
To hell with the Will of Fire, to hell with the village my brother matters more than anything else!
Gen Uchiha had despised the Itachi of old, and though his opinion softened after Edo Tensei Itachi revealed his true regrets, he still couldn't bring himself to truly like him.
This was Gen Uchiha's honest reflection on Uchiha Itachi and the Uchiha clan's tragic downfall.
Despite the thoughts whirling in his mind, Gen maintained a composed exterior. He smiled faintly, waved goodbye to Uchiha Itachi, and followed Uchiha Mikoto into the reception room.
Children's hearts were sensitive, especially those like Uchiha Itachi, burdened by genius and precocious insight.
One couldn't let a child sense animosity. Once they felt it, it would become far more difficult to influence them later. Everyone instinctively guarded against those who harbored hidden ill intent.
Just a simple reflection. If it doesn't resonate with you, don't take it to heart.
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