bookbashuk Chapter 242 Protecting the Peace of Konoha!
Chapter 242 Protecting the Peace of Konoha!
Chapter 243 Protecting the Peace of Konoha!
Uchiha Itachi stared into his father Fugaku's eyes, at the complex emotions contained within those double pupils.
The weight of his family responsibilities, his father's expectations, and the deep-seated helplessness almost overwhelmed him.
But a lingering doubt remained in his heart. He took a deep breath and asked the most crucial question: "Father, please allow me to confirm one last time, and please tell me honestly—has our clan truly not made any contact with that Uchiha Hikaru from the Land of Stars?"
He paused briefly, deliberately emphasizing his words: "If she were to intervene, with her power—even if it's just coercion—the success rate of the coup would certainly increase significantly, wouldn't it?"
Fugaku Uchiha met the gaze of the man looking at his son without flinching.
He slowly and firmly shook his head, his tone carrying the pride and resolve of a clan leader: "The glory of the Uchiha does not need to rely on the power of outsiders! Especially not a branch that might be connected to that Uchiha Madara!"
"I, Fugaku, disdain asking outsiders to interfere in Konoha's internal affairs! The fate of the Uchiha should be seized by the Uchiha themselves!"
Itachi's gaze fell silently on his father's face, scrutinizing every subtle change in his expression. After a long time, long enough for the last ray of light outside the window to completely disappear, he nodded slightly, almost imperceptibly.
"Yes, if Uchiha Hikari really intervenes, the situation will only get worse; it means complete loss of control and unpredictable disaster. The best news is that Father hasn't contacted her."
"I understand, Father." He lowered his eyes, concealing all the turbulent emotions within them.
In that long, intense gaze, he had already obtained the true answer.
My father had indeed never contacted that woman named Uchiha Hikaru. He had been monitoring the rebellion for so long, but he had never been able to find any relevant information.
This eased his tense nerves slightly, but what followed was an even deeper chill.
Because he knew all too well that if Uchiha Hikaru really intervened, it meant that Shura was also very likely to intervene, which would mean the worst-case scenario.
The power of Uchiha Hikaru and Shura is enough to drag the entire Hidden Leaf Village into an abyss of no return; its destructive power is far beyond that of a rebellion confined to the village.
The current situation may still offer a glimmer of hope—a chance to seek control amidst despair.
"I will do everything in my power for the future of the Uchiha clan," Itachi said with an unwavering loyalty.
A look of relief and expectation crossed Fugaku's face.
However, as Itachi turned to leave the underground chamber of the Naga Shrine, all emotions vanished from his face, leaving only a cold and resolute expression.
The heavy door closed behind him, shutting out the dim, warm light in the room and his father's heavy, mountain-like figure.
Itachi didn't linger at all, his figure quickly blending into the deepening night in Konoha. With a few leaps, he silently sped towards the Hokage Building.
He had to report the exact details of the rebellion to the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, and high-ranking advisors such as Danzo Shimura.
The atmosphere in the Hokage's office was even more oppressive than in the Uchiha mansion; the air seemed to solidify, making it hard to breathe.
Amidst swirling smoke, the pipe in the Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi's hand flickered, mirroring his gloomy and unfathomable mood.
The two advisor elders, Mitokado En and Utatane Koharu, sat solemnly to one side.
Danzo Shimura, leaning on his cane, his single eye sharp as an eagle's, was the first to break the suffocating silence.
"The situation is urgent, Hiruzen!" Danzo spoke first, his voice hoarse, his single eye flashing with cold light.
"We must act decisively before the Uchiha clan launches their rebellion! If they strike first, internal strife in Konoha will be inevitable! The resulting destruction will be far more devastating than the foolish rebellion of the Kaguya clan in Kirigakure a few years ago! We cannot afford a second 'Nine-Tails Rebellion'!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi took a deep drag on his cigarette, slowly exhaling a cloud of smoke, his brows etched with weariness and struggle.
"Danzo, the Uchiha are, after all, one of the founders of Konoha and our former comrades-in-arms—I still hope that we can find a peaceful solution through communication. Unless absolutely necessary, I will never condone raising a knife against our own people and using force." His words still carried a glimmer of hope, but his confidence seemed somewhat lacking.
Advisor Mitokado Homura adjusted his glasses, his eyes behind the lenses flashing with worry. He voiced the deepest fear in everyone's heart: "With the Uchiha's rebellion, will others join them? Perhaps the Land of Stars?"
He paused, lowering his voice even further: "That man known as 'Shura,' and—the woman beside him, whose surname is Uchiha."
The room fell silent once again.
The name was like a boulder thrown into stagnant water, stirring up a silent, turbulent storm.
The rise of the Land of Stars was mysterious and rapid. Its leader, "Shura," possessed unfathomable strength. He attacked Konoha twice and Kumogakure twice, moving freely between the two major ninja villages single-handedly, which made people wary. According to Shisui, who fought him, Uchiha Hikaru, who possessed the Mangekyou Sharingan, was likely as strong as Uchiha Madara was back then!
If Fugaku Uchiha made contact with them, Itachi Uchiha, who had been silently standing in the shadows, spoke up at the right moment, breaking the silence: "Based on my long-term surveillance and investigation, I have not found any signs of contact between the clan head and the Land of Stars. I also personally probed the clan head about Hikaru Uchiha, and his answer was a categorical denial, showing a dismissive attitude towards it."
He repeated Fugaku's words, omitting his own judgment: "As things stand, the Uchiha's actions remain confined to the clan."
Hiruzen Sarutobi's gaze swept across the faces of the advisors one by one, before finally settling back on Danzo.
"I understand. Itachi, thank you for your hard work." He said heavily, "I will carefully consider a solution. You may all leave now."
After the report, Itachi silently left the Hokage Building.
But his heart did not become lighter as a result; instead, it became even heavier.
As he passed by the famous Buddhist temple outside Konoha Village, Danzo stood there quietly, like a statue blending into the shadows, as if he had been waiting for a long time.
A bolt of lightning suddenly ripped across the sky, tearing through the heavy night, and in an instant illuminated the huge Buddha statue inside the temple. In the interplay of light and shadow, the compassionate Buddha's face even revealed a hint of ferocity, just like the complex and unpredictable nature of the human heart.
"Itachi." Danzo's voice rang out in a low voice, without any pleasantries.
Itachi stopped and looked at the other person expressionlessly: "Lord Danzo, are there any further instructions?"
"This is not an instruction, but rather a request for you to make the final choice."
"Faced with the fate of your family, have you made your choice?" Danzo's voice was deep and oppressive, his single eye flickering in the dim light after the lightning.
"The Third Hokage may have nice words, but if things really get out of control, he will not hesitate to choose to protect the village and sacrifice the Uchiha. That's the Hokage's duty and his ruthlessness." He took a step forward, his cane tapping the ground with a soft, resonant sound, questioning Itachi's heart.
"Now, you only have two paths before you: one is to stand with the Uchiha clan, join them in launching a rebellion, and then—face the inevitable fate—the annihilation of the entire clan, leaving not a single blade of grass behind."
Danzo's words were chillingly cold, leaving no room for negotiation.
"Or," he paused, his one eye fixed intently on Itachi's, "stand on Konoha's side, and before the rebellion breaks out, you personally eliminate all the Uchiha clan members. In exchange, we can make an exception and spare your brother Sasuke's life. This is the only way to protect your brother and safeguard the village's peace."
Even someone as composed as Itachi felt his heart clench when he heard about this bloody and cruel mission firsthand; the immense shock made it almost impossible for him to maintain his composure.
A deafening roar of lightning and thunder exploded in his ears.
"Kill them all—your entire clan?" He repeated those four words unconsciously.
"Everything is for the sake of protecting the village, for the sake of protecting Konoha's hard-won peace and stability." Danzo's tone was filled with an almost obsessive fanaticism.
"No matter what, we must nip the situation in the bud before the rebellion occurs! This is not only to quell the internal strife, but also to prevent the Uchiha clan from resorting to contacting external forces to interfere in Konoha's internal affairs when they are desperate!"
"You should know very well that there are at least two Uchiha clan ninjas in the Land of Stars. They are very likely descendants of a branch of Madara Uchiha that were separated from the clan. If Fugaku changes his mind at the last minute and makes contact with them..."
A deep sense of dread flashed in Danzo's single eye: "That woman named Uchiha Hikari alone, the power she possesses is enough to bring devastating damage to Konoha! It would be a catastrophe for the entire village!"
His voice was lowered, as if afraid of waking some terrible nightmare: "Just like—Uchiha Madara back then."
Finally, he once again threw the heavy choice back at Itachi: "Now, the only one who has the ability and the right to shoulder this heavy responsibility, to prevent the worst from happening, and to protect your brother's life, is you, Uchiha Itachi. Tell me, are you willing—to accept this mission? For Miha."
Another pale bolt of lightning ripped through the night sky, followed by a deafening roar of thunder that sent shivers down people's spines.
The face of the Buddha statue flickered in and out under the electric light, with compassion and ferocity appearing alternately.
Itachi stood there, the thunder deafening, yet the world seemed utterly silent, with only the heavy pounding of his own heart remaining.
He didn't answer immediately, but instead gave Danzo a deep look before slowly retreating, eventually disappearing into the endless rain and darkness.
His answer doesn't need to be stated in words right now.
The next day, the gloom still shrouded Konoha, and it also shrouded Itachi's heart.
He spent the entire night struggling and pondering painfully, barely sleeping a wink.
The bloodline of his family, the survival of his village, his younger brother's innocent smile, his parents' expectations, and the trust of his companions—countless images intertwined, collided, and shattered in his mind.
Uchiha Itachi stood silently atop a towering building near the Konoha Ninja Academy, his casual clothes fluttering gently in the breeze.
He looked down at the children who were doing endurance running training on the wide playground below.
His gaze instantly caught sight of that familiar figure: Sasuke.
His younger brother was running and bickering with Naruto Uzumaki, who had brilliant blond hair and looked defiant.
The other children around them, such as Nara Shikamaru, Akimichi Choji, and Yamanaka Namino, were all amused by them and laughed heartily. The air was filled with the unique vigor and ease of youth.
However, Sasuke's gaze quickly passed over Naruto and locked onto the figure running at the very front of the group, Menma.
That child who always ranked at the top of his class and was unusually calm for his age.
Sasuke accelerated and charged forward again, his face filled with stubbornness and challenge, launching another duel against Menma. Watching Sasuke among his companions, arguing, getting angry, yet full of energy over such a "trivial" matter, and seeing his well-protected innocence, completely unaware of the cruel fate to come, a sharp pain suddenly tightened in Itachi's heart.
This warm and ordinary everyday scene, the smile of his younger brother whom he longed to protect, forms an incredibly cruel and stark contrast with the bloody path of rebellion planned by his father and the annihilation of his entire clan foreseen by Danzo in his mind.
At that very moment, the fog that had been swirling in my mind all night suddenly dissipated.
Itachi Uchiha's eyes finally shifted from extreme pain and confusion to a deep, almost desperate determination.
He made up his mind.
In order for Sasuke to continue living under this sunlight, and to protect this seemingly ordinary yet incredibly precious peace, he was willing to bear all the sins and fall into the deepest hell.
However, real-world difficulties still loom ahead.
It would be a pipe dream for him to wipe out the entire Uchiha clan overnight with his own strength alone.
Putting aside the question of what kind of eye technique his father, Fugaku Uchiha, was hiding with his square-shaped Sharingan, the dozen or so Jonin in the Konoha Police Force who possessed the three-tomoe Sharingan were enough to pose a huge obstacle to him and even delay him for a long time.
Once the battle is delayed, the other members of the Uchiha clan will inevitably react, scattering and fleeing or organizing a counterattack.
The greater risk is that prolonged fighting will definitely alert the village's night patrolling ninjas and the swift-reacting ANBU.
At that time, the extermination operation will have completely failed, the fact of the Uchiha rebellion will be immediately confirmed, and what awaits the Uchiha is an even more thorough and chaotic massacre, and Sasuke's life will have no chance of being saved.
Therefore, the operation had to be completed in an extremely short time, so fast that the screams could not be heard beyond the clan's territory, and so fast that the patrolling ninjas and ANBU had not yet noticed anything unusual, that everything had to be settled.
He needed an accomplice, a mysterious accomplice powerful enough to instantly crush numerous Uchiha Jonin, and with unpredictable methods to maximize information control.
In an instant, a figure appeared in Itachi's mind.
The mysterious Uchiha ninja who suddenly appeared several years ago, attacked his ANBU squad with overwhelming power, brutally murdered his team leader and two teammates, and showed a strange interest in his Sharingan.
The man who called himself "Uchiha Madara".
Only he possesses such ability and means.
That night, the moon was dark and the wind was high, and even the stars were hidden from view.
On the edge of Konoha, downstream of the Naka River, not too far from the shrine where the Uchiha clan secretly gathered, lies an ancient ruin.
This place was once one of the settlements of the Uchiha clan during the Warring States period. Now it has long been abandoned, with only broken walls and wild, overgrown vegetation remaining, making it appear particularly desolate and gloomy in the wind.
Uchiha Itachi stood silently in the center of the ruins like a stone statue, suffering in silence.
His breathing almost stopped, and all his chakra was completely contained, merging with the surrounding darkness.
After an unknown period of greed, the space in the ruins suddenly and without warning began to twist strangely, like the surface of water slowly spreading out.
A figure wearing a dark cloak and with an orange tiger-striped swirling mask covering its face appeared out of thin air without a sound.
He seemed to be surveying the ruins, a complex, indescribable look flashing in his single eye, as if he were recalling something.
Itachi suddenly jumped from the filth.
it's him!
He stopped hiding and stepped out of the shadows, his footsteps sounding exceptionally clear in the silent ruins.
"Who?!" Quan Tu was clearly startled and turned around alertly in an instant. His Sharingan appeared behind the mask, and when he saw Uchiha Ran's face, he coughed in surprise. In just a few years, Uchiha Ran had actually improved to such a level that he could get so close without him noticing!
"Oi, I'd like to ask you for a favor." Itachi's voice was eerily calm, without any pleasantries or preamble. He stared directly at the masked man's strange, chaotic Sharingan and spoke bluntly.
"—Oh?" Quan Tuya was surprised, and Shi Qi regained his deliberately relaxed and eerie tone.
"How strange! A genius boy from the Uchiha clan would actually come to me, a 'dead man,' for help? Tell me about it."
When he heard Ran Shi utter the most concise and calm words, "Help me kill all the members of the Uchiha clan," the eyebrows behind the Earth Mask rose, and a strong and twisted light of interest instantly burst forth from his single eye.
"Interesting, so very interesting!" He chuckled softly, his laughter echoing through the empty ruins, filled with madness and pleasure.
"Okay, I'll help you with this!"
At the Konoha Ninja Academy, Itachi Uchiha was talking to Zento.
After today's class, the teachers suddenly notified all students to stay on campus temporarily and not to leave.
As night fell, the atmosphere in the classroom became subtly uneasy.
Professor Iruka Umino stood on the podium, his face unusually heavy and serious, even slightly pale, with fine beads of cold sweat seeping from his forehead.
He announced the upcoming emergency evacuation drill and began to explain the precautions in detail.
His demeanor was not like that of someone facing an ordinary drill; rather, it was as if he had returned to the terrifying "Nine-Tailed Attack on Mariko," where he had lost his parents and loved ones.
Most students felt it was a bit sudden, but they didn't think too much about it, since evacuation drills were one of the regular training programs at the Ninja Academy.
Only a few children, like Hinata Hyuga, vaguely sensed Iruka-sensei's hidden unease, but she simply lowered her head timidly and said nothing.
In the corner of the classroom, Menma was absentmindedly looking out the window.
When he heard the words "evacuation drill" and was asked to delay all students from going home, he turned to Uchiha Sasuke, who was sitting in the front row.
Delaying all students going home to waste time—
Could it be tonight?
The moment this thought crossed his mind, his face went numb and his body trembled almost imperceptibly.
Far away near the Uchiha Nakagawa Shrine, a shadow clone that had been concealed using special runes and natural energy deliberately dispelled the spell.
A flood of wind information rushed back to his mind. His shadow clones kept their eyes open, and the vast wind perception network, like the most sophisticated wind radar, continuously monitored all chakra fluctuations within a radius of several kilometers around the Nanga River shrine and the entire Uchiha clan territory.
Not long ago, the shadow clone clearly captured two individuals with their unique chakra clashing and converging in the ruins of the Naga River, and having a brief conversation.
One of them, cold, sharp, and familiar, is Uchiha Itachi.
The other is distorted, obscure, and filled with profound malice and a sense of temporal and spatial disorder.
All Uchiha!
When the two pieces of information were combined, the truth illuminated Mianma's mind like lightning.
"Tonight—the Clan Extermination Jury begins." Menma lowered his head, a glint of "a good start" flashing in his azure eyes.
He immediately activated the chakra network and sent a high-priority command to the Star Capital, thousands of miles away.
The order was simultaneously delivered to several specific targets: Uchiha Hikaru, Uzumaki Kaoru, and—Uchiha Shisui, the capital of ten thousand people, a military restricted area.
This place is full of futuristic technology, completely different from the traditional style of Konoha.
Deep within the military zone's underground teleportation chamber, a massive, calm, lake-like energy portal was operating steadily, emitting a faint blue glow.
This is a teleportation channel connecting Earth and the Moon for the Otsutsuki clan of the Moon, which can shorten the distance between the two locations.
Relying on the senses conveyed by the seal, Uchiha Shisui arrived here as quickly as possible.
When he entered the enormous teleportation preparation room, even though he had already seen many wonders of the Kingdom of Greedy Stars, the scene before him still shocked him.
Before the portal, more than twenty "Star Ninjas" dressed in uniform Hengshi-style chakra armor bearing the Star Country's insignia had already assembled. They silently formed three neat square formations, each exuding a powerful and capable aura, with sharp eyes and synchronized movements.
Shisui keenly sensed that these ninja servants were all at least at the level of Special Jonin, and the leaders among them had chakra levels comparable to Elite Jonin!
Including Uzumaki Kagami, Natsume, Hotaru, and Kaguya Kimimaro, as well as many other ninjas he didn't know but could clearly sense were powerful, such as that guy with a group of masked ninjas behind him and a shark-faced mess—was he a Star Ninja Anbu?
This is an incredibly formidable force; even in the Third Shinobi World War, it would be enough to determine the outcome of a major battle!
Uchiha Hikari stood at the front of the group, wearing a dark blue Uchiha clan uniform. Her beautiful face was cold and aloof, except for her scarlet Mangekyou Sharingan, which shimmered with an eerie light amidst the radiant light of the base.
She was giving a final briefing on the mission to the Star Ninja who were about to set off, her voice clear and crisp.
The arrival of Shisui caused a small commotion, and everyone turned to look at the Uchiha ninja with a Konoha headband on his forehead.
"Oh my? Isn't this Shisui-kun? It's been so long!"
Before Zheng Shui could even process the chaotic charge of this powerful force, a slightly hoarse and playful voice rang out beside him, making him shudder and almost unable to believe his ears!
Shisui suddenly turned his head and looked in the direction of the sound.
Orochimaru, who appeared to be a pale woman, was looking at him with great interest.
While talking to Orochimaru, he mentioned two people, one of whom was Kushina Uzumaki, whom he had met at Shuu's house!
And the blond man beside her, dressed as a Konoha Jonin named Ma Shen, with a gentle yet slightly ethereal smile, was none other than the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, who should have died long ago from the Nine-Tails' rampage!
"The Fourth Hokage?!" The immense shock left Shisui momentarily stunned, his mind almost completely blank.
Did the Fourth Hokage and Kushina come back to life?
And Orochimaru, what's he doing here?
"Shisui, it's been a long time." Minato Namikaze nodded to Shisui and the others, his eyes filled with a hint of apology and complexity, but he did not offer any further explanation.
Kushina tightly hugged the struggling Nine-Tails in her arms, her eyes filled with anger at what was about to happen.
Orochimaru's golden serpent eyes gleamed with interest. He licked his lips and chuckled softly, "Hehehe—it seems tonight's script will be far more exciting than anyone imagined."
What made Shisui's scalp tingle even more was that, a little behind Minato and Orochimaru, two figures wearing white cloaks and hoods stood quietly.
They exuded a deathly, icy, yet incredibly powerful chakra aura, completely different from the living.
Orochimaru followed Shisui's gaze, a wicked smirk flashing in his golden, snake-like eyes. He rasped, "Looks like you sensed it too. That's right, those two are definitely putting on a show for their 'audience.' It took me a lot of effort to invite them. I imagine tonight's 'performance' will make them—very 'gratified.'"
Shisui felt a chill run up his spine.
"Specially rude to the audience"?
Just then, Uchiha Hikaru's mission briefing seemed to have ended.
She turned around, her Mangekyou Sharingan scanning everyone present, finally landing on Shisui, and she nodded slightly.
"Ready to depart." She stated succinctly, without any unnecessary emotional turmoil: "Proceed according to the plan. In case of any unexpected situations, contact me immediately or implement the backup plan!"
"Yes, sir!" The crowd accepted the order.
The enormous portal's light began to fluctuate violently, like the surface of a lake to which a boulder has been thrown.
A strange, bluish light shone on the faces of several people, each with a different expression, yet all conveying a resolute determination to face an unknown destiny.
The first Star Ninja team was the first to enter the portal, their figures instantly swallowed by blue light and disappearing.
Next came the second team, then the third team—
Orochimaru examined the portal with great interest, pondering the principles of its operation. He licked his lips, then smiled at the two cloaked "audience members" behind him, saying, "Please welcome us to comment on the exciting drama about where the 'Will of Fire' is headed."
The two reanimated Hokage silently strode towards the portal.
Orochimaru let out a low, pleasant chuckle, which followed closely behind.
Uchiha Hikaru, Namikaze Minato, and Uzumaki Kushina followed closely behind, stepping into the portal.
Shisui took a deep breath, suppressing all the shock, doubt, and turbulent emotions within him.
He knew that from the moment he chose to be rescued by Menma and stay in the Land of Stars, he had embarked on a completely different path.
"Itachi—don't let me down—" Shisui touched his right cheek. His eyes, now transformed into three-tomoe Sharingan after the transplant, were no longer hesitant. He strode towards the teleportation portal that led to his homeland and the land of Hanfeng, the place of annihilation.