"So, Itachi rejected your invitation? You didn't manage to explain it properly?"
"Sorry, Yuhara. I couldn't convince him. Maybe I didn't express it well enough, and that's why he couldn't accept our ideas."
Inside a tastefully decorated room, Yuhara sat with Shisui, Elder Sō, Elder Takechi, and several others. Shisui looked visibly downcast and regretful.
He had recounted everything about his meeting with Itachi, from beginning to end. And after listening, neither Yuhara nor the elders felt he had made any mistake.
In his retelling, Shisui hadn't revealed Yuhara's identity or their real plans. He had only shared truths that most in the clan already knew: the Uchiha could not remain weak, nor should they become arrogant. They sought peace and fairness. They wanted their voices to be heard in Konoha. That was it.
But based on Itachi's reaction, it seemed all he heard was "Uchiha will oppose the Hokage," "Uchiha will defy the village."
The problem was, Hokage and Konoha were indeed connected—but they were not the same. Opposing the Hokage did not mean declaring war on the village.
Their goal was to be heard, not to start a civil war.
Itachi's stance, however, was uncompromising. He flatly rejected any course that would lead to conflict between the clan and the village. He desperately wanted peace through diplomacy.
"That boy Itachi… I've said before, he's someone with unwavering beliefs. He won't easily change his views," Elder Sō sighed, not sounding angry, just weary.
He knew the deep bond between Shisui and Itachi. This failed meeting clearly hurt Shisui. There was no point in rubbing salt into that wound.
Besides, it had been Yuhara's idea to try to reach out to Itachi. Now that it had failed, there was no sense dwelling on it.
"It's fine. You're not to blame," Yuhara said, shaking his head. "Maybe I should've let you be more direct. Next time, I'll talk to him myself."
Shisui gave a bitter smile and nodded. "Thank you, Yuhara. I'm fine."
Although it was a pity they couldn't recruit someone with Mangekyō potential, Yuhara wasn't too disappointed. Itachi was powerful—but power wasn't everything.
Besides, his thinking was far too extreme. Shisui had faltered once, yes, but at least he had never committed something as monstrous as annihilating the entire clan, leaving only one survivor.
People could dress up Itachi's actions in noble terms like "sacrificing for the greater good," but who decided what that good was?
Shaking off those thoughts, Yuhara reminded himself: in this world, everyone must live with the consequences of their choices.
"Though it's unfortunate he made that decision, there are things we can't control," Shisui continued, taking a deep breath. "What we can do is look ahead—and do our best. That's how we'll show him we were right all along."
Yuhara nodded. But what if they proved themselves right—what then?
Would Itachi come back and apologize?
Even if he did, could the elders ever forgive him?
Worse, Yuhara was certain Itachi would report this meeting to the higher-ups. Even if it wasn't damning on its own, it would still sow seeds of distrust.
Let's be honest—no one likes a traitor.
Yuhara glanced at Shisui again, musing: wasn't he once considered a traitor too?
"What is it?" Shisui caught the look and raised an eyebrow.
"Nothing, just thinking," Yuhara replied with a small shake of his head. Then he suddenly asked, "If—just if—Itachi decides to stand against us… like he said he would. If he acts on those threats… what will you do?"
Everyone went quiet. The elders turned to Shisui, curious to hear his answer.
Without hesitation, Shisui spoke.
"I'll stop him. I won't let him get in our way."
His voice was firm and resolute.
"If it comes to that, if he really chooses that path, I won't show any mercy. He has his beliefs—but I have mine. Even if I still consider him my brother, there are things I will never compromise on."
His unflinching stance made the room relax. The elders smiled faintly, reassured. With everything finally falling into place, the last thing they needed was another crisis.
Yuhara had successfully bridged the rift between the moderates and hardliners, and he had even spent time visiting the lower ranks of the clan to understand their concerns and struggles.
All that remained was tomorrow night's clan assembly—where they would challenge Uchiha Fugaku.
Attempting to unseat the current clan head was unprecedented. And yes, it made them all uneasy. But with two Mangekyō users backing them, they dared to hope.
If one of those two had wavered—especially if the one faltered was facing off against the current leader's own son—the entire effort could've collapsed.
But Shisui had not let them down.
"You don't need to dirty your hands," Yuhara said, patting Shisui's shoulder. "You don't need to prove anything. We all believe in you."
"If it comes to that, I'll deal with Itachi. I've got no emotional baggage with him. You, on the other hand, need to focus on tomorrow. That meeting is our moment."
It was true.
Tomorrow's clan meeting would mark the beginning of a new era for the Uchiha.
No matter how things turned out with Itachi, Shisui had already made his choice.
He clenched his fist tightly.
He would stand by Yuhara. He would face whatever came next. And he would prove—no matter what—it was they who were right.
"You'll see, Itachi. I'll show you."
[If you like this story, please don't shy away from adding to the collection, giving a power stone, and leaving a review.]