Konoha: Start from untying the caged bird

Page 159

I'm sorry... I'm so sorry...

Not long after.

Outside the clan, the sounds of battle could also be heard intermittently.

The rest of the Anbu and the guards, with expressions of grief and shock, quickly returned some of the Uchiha corpses to the Uchiha clan's territory.

Those Uchiha who were still able to muster their spirits now had only numbness on their faces.

The Uchiha people who were sent back showed no signs of pain on their faces. In fact, most of them didn't even have a single wound on their bodies, and they even wore a somewhat eerie happy smile.

but...

But they really were all corpses by now.

Finally, one of the Uchiha clan members could no longer bear it and cried out to the ninjas who were returning the bodies: "Why? Why did they die?"

"It was the decision made by Lord Itachi Uchiha, the head of the Security Department... The charges... treason, disloyalty to the village... Due to the overwhelming evidence and the extremely high level of danger, there's no need to hand him over to the interrogation department for questioning..."

When a member of the Hyuga clan working in the security department spoke the reason with a sigh and deep empathy, the Uchiha people fell silent once again.

They wept silently as they gathered the corpses.

Soon, except for some of the Uchiha members in the guard unit who were turned into corpses and sent back to their clan.

Many Uchiha members who now serve in Root have also turned into corpses and been sent back to their clan territory.

The open space in front of the ancestral hall has been completely covered with dense white cloths.

One corpse after another was wrapped in white cloth and temporarily placed in front of the Uchiha clan's ancestral hall.

The pale moonlight was shrouded by a drifting dark cloud.

In the intermittent moonlight.

With great difficulty, Itachi Uchiha stepped into the Hokage Building.

Amidst a complex array of gazes—some strange, some fearful, some respectful, and some silent.

I pressed the button to go up to the third floor.

He stood silently in the elevator with his head down, noticing the dark brown footprints left in the clean elevator. Expressionless, he took out a half-red handkerchief from his pocket, gently wiped it clean with the clean end, and then wiped his shoes clean as well.

This is the new office building that Yuzuru had been longing for for a long time and which has just been completed.

It's not good to get it dirty.

Itachi, who had only looked up when the elevator doors opened, stopped in his tracks, his steps faltering as he was about to step out of the elevator.

Hinata Yuzuru stood quietly in front of the elevator.

Neither of them said a word.

Until Itachi lowered his head and said, "I'm sorry..."

Hyuga Yuzuru didn't say anything, but gently reached out and placed his hand on Hyuga's shoulder, applying slight pressure. Then, he gave an apologetic smile, seemingly wanting to say something but stopping himself, "It's my fault..."

He took Itachi and left the elevator.

Walk through the clean, spiraling corridor.

Push open the brand-new, heavy wooden door.

The two entered the Hokage's office one after the other.

The office was empty at that moment.

Hyuga Kaoru has gone to the streets to organize and comfort some of the frightened civilians and ninjas, and to clean up the traces.

A few people who knew the truth, such as the elite ninjas of the Anbu, the ninjas of Root, and some of the guards, were also given a gag order.

The truth about this matter will be kept secret.

No one died in the Uchiha clan's 'internal strife'; it was just that the 'friendly' sparring session resulted in a lack of control over the power.

However, due to the significant impact, a fine was imposed and a public reprimand was issued, but that was all.

Fugaku Uchiha will 'die of illness,' and some Uchiha ninjas will gradually appear on the list of Konoha's fallen ninjas 'sacrificed in the line of duty.'

There were no rebels, and no Uchiha clan member ever attempted to 'rebel' or 'rebel'.

As night passed, the sun rose in the east.

The leaves of Konoha will remain unchanged.

However, the Uchiha people who remain will gradually and truly integrate into the village of Konoha.

This is Hyuga Yuzuru's way of repaying Itachi and Shisui, and his way of compensating the Uchiha clan.

Itachi was pinned down on the sofa by Hyuga Yuzuru.

Although he was somewhat resistant, he couldn't truly defy Hyuga Yuzuru, so he could only silently take off his coat and sit down, holding the coat with the Uchiha clan crest and Konoha symbol in his arms.

Hyuga Yuzuru opened the minion wave, grabbed a bottle of chilled orange juice, opened it, and placed it on the table. He then sat on the sofa, and together with Yuzuru, they stared blankly at Konoha through the floor-to-ceiling window not far away.

half an hour.

It was Itachi Uchiha who spoke first.

His eyes, weary and silent, gazed out the floor-to-ceiling window. The village, now brightly lit due to the sudden commotion, seemed to whisper, almost inaudibly, "How beautiful..."

“Yes…” Hinata Yuzuru echoed softly.

Neither of them wanted to talk about what happened tonight.

Hinata Yuzuru clearly understood why things had come to this conclusion. He wasn't surprised, but... he felt somewhat guilty.

Itachi chose to take matters into his own hands to stop it all... but the most important reason was not that he truly believed that he had to do it himself to eliminate any future troubles.

It was for Konoha, and also for...him.

Itachi Uchiha did not want the people who would bear this burden of killing to be the ninjas of Konoha, and he did not want this fire of hatred to spread to Yuzuru Hyuga, who was the Hokage.

His act of murdering his own parents.

Appalling.

It was an absolutely heinous act that no one could possibly understand.

But because of this, he bore the hatred of all the Uchiha people.

Some Uchiha people may hate him for this, some may distance themselves from him because they don't understand him, and some may despise him for his disloyalty and lack of filial piety—but all of this came to an end with him.

The Uchiha people today cannot blame all of this on the injustice of Konoha.

Even though the Uchiha are now littered with corpses, no one harbors hatred towards him as the Fifth Hokage. After all, this was a power struggle and massacre within the Uchiha clan.

If nothing unexpected happens, Itachi Uchiha will later carry out the traitorous act of changing the ancestral system, completely eradicating most of the long-standing customs of the Uchiha clan, and making the Uchiha people completely synchronize with the other clans of Konoha, just like other clans.

The Uchiha clan, severely weakened, now only have two remaining top-tier members: Itachi Uchiha and Shisui Uchiha. Both are staunch loyalists to the Hokage. In the election of a new clan leader, it is impossible for one of them to fall into the hands of another.

However, even if it's a choice between two options, Itachi Uchiha will likely never be able to become the head of the Uchiha clan again in his lifetime.

After Shisui took office...

He will quietly integrate Hyuga Yuzuru's Will of Fire into the clan.

Over time, the Uchiha were able to fully integrate into the village.

but...

Uchiha Itachi will forever remain an unforgivable traitor in the eyes of many in the clan.

This hatred can probably never be resolved or forgiven.

And he did indeed betray his family—whether his mother, Uchiha Mikoto, or his younger brother, Uchiha Sasuke, would still consider him family was an unknown.

Itachi Uchiha killed more than just his father.

At the same time, he also personally killed Itachi Uchiha, who belonged to the Uchiha clan.

The two gazed silently out the floor-to-ceiling window.

Until the village of Konoha returned to peace.

One by one, the bright lights went out again.

Moonlight swept past the dark clouds and once again bathed the village, reflecting a soft and sacred glow.

“Let Kai handle the work in the police department. He’s fair and just, a true man with the Will of Fire, and he treats everyone the same.”

Hinata Yuzuru's soft words only elicited a slight nod from Itachi, who was gazing at the scenery outside the window, somewhat lost in thought.

"You'll take over the root section."

Hinata Yuzuru spoke softly, looking out the window with him.

Where the firelight shines, the leaves thrive and grow.

Where there is light, there will be shadow.

Although I had previously streamlined the Root into an intelligence department with only intelligence investigation authority.

But after you take office, you will still have the same law enforcement and investigative powers as before.

Itachi, since you've decided to immerse yourself in darkness... don't forget where our path leads.

Itachi Uchiha simply nodded.

Hyuga Yuzuru looked up at the ceiling, and after a long while, said, "But before that, I'm going to give you a mandatory leave."

"Forced...leave?"

Itachi looked at him blankly.

"For the next month, I forbid you from participating in anything related to the family or Konoha."

Let's take Sasuke and Mrs. Mikoto... for a walk outside the village.

His suggestion silenced Itachi.

Hyuga Yuzuru didn't give him a chance to refuse, and simply said, "Everything that happened today... was done on the Hokage's orders."

Uchiha Itachi wanted to retort, but Hyuga Yuzuru just stared at him with an unyielding gaze: "If you can't make Sasuke and Mikoto understand everything you've done—I will never allow it. You will lose your life because of me."

"...Is this what they call 'the shadow bears the burden'? Sorry, this time, I won't give you the chance."

Itachi's voice, though hoarse, was trying his best to tease him in a light and teasing tone.

Hinata Yuzuru looked dejected.

"sorry."

He knew it, and Itachi knew it too.

The reason why Hyuga Yuzuru has repeatedly refrained from reacting to the Uchiha clan is probably to see just how many people within the Uchiha clan are truly trustworthy.

And the objects of this 'look' naturally included Itachi and Shisui.

Logically speaking, this is a good choice.

But out of emotion.

He felt guilty about their past relationship.

Itachi just looked at him, and after a while, he lowered his head and chuckled wryly: "I didn't mean to blame you."

I just want to see what the future you're talking about is really like.

The older you get, the more sentimental you seem to become—compared to ten years ago, you actually suit the look of yourself wearing those glasses better now.

He pinpointed the change in Hyuga Yuzuru in his words, but his words carried only an indescribable, faint sense of ease and joy.

This was the first time Itachi had felt a more genuine emotion from Hyuga Yuzuru, one that was different from anything he had felt before.

That's why.

Itachi reached out, picked up the chilled juice, drank it down gently, let out a soft sigh, then stood up, took one last look out the window, and straightened his body.

"Lord Godaime...

Yuzuru...

Please let me see it with my own eyes...

The future you're talking about.

If only I could live in such a world, even for just a moment.