Uchiha Madara and Uchiha Obito: "…"
No, absolutely not. No one wants to gather the Tailed Beasts and unify the shinobi world for peace more than I do!
But hearing Itachi's speech, both of them fell silent. Could it be… that there really was a hidden hand behind the mysterious deaths of Uchiha Kagami, Uchiha Shitori, and Uchiha Shisui?
Shisui:I clearly took my own life… But what if someone was manipulating Danzo from the shadows all along? Determined to destroy the Uchiha…
Shitori:I died in battle… but now I wonder—was I set up?
Kagami:Was my death on the battlefield also part of an enemy's plan?
The more they thought about it, the more unsettling it became. All three fell into grim silence, as a cold realization settled in.
Itachi looked around solemnly. "Whoever's behind this has hidden themselves deeply. I fear their goal is nothing less than the extermination of the Uchiha Clan."
"If—no, when—that moment comes, you must do everything in your power to protect our bloodline."
"We must carry out the Love and Peace plan. The future of the Uchiha… and of the entire shinobi world… depends on you."
He bowed low before his kin.
"We swear to you, Clan Leader Itachi!" the Uchiha responded in unison. "We'll pass on this plan to every generation! For the future of the ninja world!"
In that moment, the Uchiha stood united.
With one heart, one will.
Even if the enemy was cunning and unseen, they would forge a path forward—for peace, for the clan, for the future.
"You can count on us, Itachi," said Uchiha Tajima, Uchiha Izuna, Kagami, Shitori, and Shisui. "We will protect the Uchiha name!"
"I'll do the same," Shisui added sincerely.
"Thank you, all of you," Itachi said, bowing once more.
Meanwhile, Madara and Obito felt like they'd swallowed glass.
Damn… we're the ones plotting in the shadows… If the clan finds out, we'll go down as traitors to our own blood.
But Itachi's speech rattled them too. What if they were being manipulated? What if they were also just pawns?
But if so… then who's the true mastermind behind the curtain?
Itachi took a deep breath. "From now on, we hold our ground. We don't act unless they make the first move. Focus on training. Stay patient. We strike when Danzo and his allies show their hand."
"When the moment comes—we purge the shadows, strike down Danzo, and take back our rightful place at Konoha's center."
"From there, we'll unify the shinobi world."
"Yes, Clan Leader!" the Uchiha roared, their spirits blazing.
Itachi held up a scroll. "Tomorrow, I want every clan member listed here to step down from the Konoha Police Force."
Those listed were Uchiha radicals—hot-headed, aggressive types. But precisely because of their ferocity, they were perfect for the next task.
"You'll be reassigned to a mission that could determine the fate of the entire clan."
"Yes, sir!" they replied without hesitation.
As the clan meeting came to a close, each Uchiha left with fire in their hearts. For the first time in years, their eyes were filled with hope.
Tonight, they had a new Clan Leader.
Tonight, they had a clear path forward.
Tonight, they'd found their rallying point.
Tonight, they learned the truth behind the Sharingan's evolution.
Tonight, they received their ancestral forbidden jutsu—Izanagi.
Tonight… everything changed.
—
That night, at home…
"Hachidai, you look so happy today. What happened?" his wife asked, surprised to see him smiling for once.
Uchiha Yatsushiro—called "Hachidai" by kin—was always the serious type. Since the Nine-Tails attack, she hadn't seen him this relaxed even once.
"It's nothing," he replied, unable to hide his joy. "Just… good news."
"What kind of news?"
"…A colleague became a father today," he said with a chuckle.
—
Elsewhere, Fugaku sat beside Itachi, still a little uneasy.
"Itachi… aren't you worried? You revealed Izanagi, and even the entire Love and Peace plan. What if someone leaks it?"
"Don't worry, Father," Itachi said calmly. "During my speech, I had Tajima, Izuna, Kagami, Shitori, and Shisui activate their Mangekyō. They cast a genjutsu over the entire audience."
"If anyone leaks what happened here tonight…"
"…then that person no longer has the right to exist."
It wasn't just the others. Itachi had kept his own Mangekyō active the whole time—quietly weaving genjutsu into everyone's subconscious.
"…I see." Fugaku nodded with new understanding.
No wonder the elders barely spoke the entire time—they were casting illusions.
This is my son. So meticulous…
"You did well handing him the title of Clan Leader," Tajima said warmly. "It's the wisest thing you've done, Fugaku. The clan will survive… thanks to your son."
Fugaku tried to play it cool, but his grin nearly split his face.
He hadn't smiled this much in years.
—
"So Itachi… how do you plan to use us next?" Tajima asked.
Itachi looked at the reanimated ancestors and spoke solemnly. "That hidden enemy… they won't stop. I believe their goal is the same as with the Senju and Uzumaki—they want to eliminate us entirely."
"Unlike the Uzumaki, we still have Konoha's protection."
"But like the Senju, we could be slowly eroded from within—manipulated into extinction."
"I suspect Danzo is merely the puppet. The Nine-Tails attack was likely only the beginning of their plan."
Madara:Huh? Am I… not the final boss? Someone more secretive than me?
"…That makes sense," Fugaku agreed.
The others nodded solemnly.
"What should we do next?" Fugaku asked.
"…I have a request," Itachi said. "From now on, I'd like each of you to remain hidden. Wear black. Cover your eyes. Take new names."
"Train the clan from the shadows. Watch and wait."
"I promise, Danzo and whoever's behind him won't be able to hold back much longer. They'll strike. And when they do… the moral high ground will be ours."
"With the element of surprise and your support, no clan in the shinobi world will be our equal."
"When the time is right, we'll march into Konoha's power center under the banner of justice."
"Under the cry of: Purge the Shadows. Destroy Danzo."
"Understood," Tajima said firmly.
"We'll follow your lead," Izuna added, burning with renewed purpose.
"Now then," Itachi murmured, "it's time to clean out the rats."
In a blur of movement, Itachi vanished.
The others turned—only to see him already standing by a large tree.
He swung his kunai once.
Crack.
The tree split in two—revealing a White Zetsu clone, now severed at the waist.