In the conference room.
"That's all the information on what Tōshirō has been up to in the clan recently."
Itachi knelt on one knee, having reported all the information he had gathered on Tōshirō over the past few days to the four elders in front of him. He concluded with a final summary:
"This is all the intelligence I have collected."
After his report, Itachi quietly and discreetly observed the elders' expressions.
After understanding the situation, Hiruzen Sarutobi compared Itachi's intelligence with the information gathered by Ushitora and Uma. It was clear that Itachi wasn't lying.
Ushitora and Uma were members of the Anbu Root, a pair of twins who disguised themselves as junior Uchiha members. They worked in the police force's logistics, rotating shifts 24 hours a day to continuously feed information to the elders.
As for the real junior Uchiha member, he had been dead for a long time...
Hiruzen Sarutobi symbolically asked Danzō for his opinion, letting him state his radical views to maintain his persona. Then, he asked Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatane. After listening to their different opinions, he emphasized his benevolent and righteous image: "This is good, Itachi. Please continue to monitor the Uchiha. If it's possible, the village really doesn't want to fight the Uchiha."
"I understand..."
After giving a disingenuous answer, Itachi inwardly muttered, "How hypocritical..."
In the past, he would have firmly believed this kind old man, but ever since his best friend Shisui died, he had grown to distrust the Konoha elders more and more.
Hiruzen Sarutobi expressed concern, "You must be exhausted these past few days. Go home and get some rest today."
"Yes."
Itachi didn't pretend to be strong and accepted the offer.
He was indeed exhausted these past few days, and a little relaxation would do him good.
After Itachi left the conference room, only the four elders remained. Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at Danzō. Without any outsiders, they could have a genuine discussion about Tōshirō.
Danzō's face was grim. He spoke first: "This is not good. This guy returned to the village and didn't cause a stir. Instead, he's been quiet and well-behaved. He must be plotting something."
If Tōshirō had returned to the village and caused a riot, the village could have directly condemned him. But now, they had no way to act.
Hiruzen Sarutobi closed his eyes and listened quietly.
Homura Mitokado asked, "Danzō, didn't you personally confirm his death?"
When asked about this, Danzō fell silent, full of regret.
If he had been more careful, the Uchiha clan might have already been history.
"Alright, alright, what's done is done. Let's think about how to deal with his revenge."
As Koharu Utatane said, blaming him was useless now. Hiruzen Sarutobi slowly opened his eyes and looked at Danzō: "Tell us about Tōshirō's dōjutsu. Since you faced him directly, you should know the most."
Danzō recalled the event, still feeling a sense of dread. He opened his mouth slightly and began to share information about the Soul Fire.
Homura Mitokado's face became serious: "A terrifying dōjutsu that can devour a person's soul..."
Koharu Utatane felt a bit of relief: "But at least he has lost his Tailed Beast."
"Don't be too careless. This guy reappeared in this state, who knows what other trump cards he's holding."
Since Tōshirō managed to survive the last encounter, Danzō's attitude towards him was now extremely cautious.
Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatane looked at Danzō, muttering to themselves that it wasn't his place to lecture them, since his recklessness had caused the problem in the first place.
Danzō, seeing what they were thinking, snorted coldly: "This guy Tōshirō dared to kidnap the Fire Daimyō's son and extort him at that age. If he gets the chance, I can't even imagine what he would do. Can you?"
These words carried a subtle threat, warning the two of them not to try and distance themselves from the situation.
Tōshirō was not someone to be trifled with. If he found out that the elders intended to exterminate the Uchiha clan, with his vengeful personality, he would definitely retaliate and exterminate their families in return.
Thinking about this, Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatane trembled slightly and suggested, "This guy isn't in the village right now. Should we take this opportunity..."
Hiruzen Sarutobi rejected the idea: "Don't act recklessly."
The two of them still wanted to try: "But..."
Based on his assessment of the situation, Hiruzen Sarutobi calmly responded: "If he devours a soul, he will only get stronger."
Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatane's faces broke out in cold sweat as they thought of something: "Are you saying this guy left the village specifically to find powerful opponents to devour and increase his strength?"
"..."
Silence hung over the four of them.
The thought of this man's strength constantly increasing while they could do nothing but wait, with their own strength declining as they aged, was tormenting. This agonizing situation made Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado feel more and more fear: "Is there really no way to deal with this guy?"
"Calm down..."
Danzō and Hiruzen Sarutobi spoke at the same time.
Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado were overjoyed to see the two of them so calm. Had they already come up with a plan?
Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzō exchanged a look, a tacit understanding passing between them.
"Have you two come up with a plan?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi was noncommittal: "In any case, don't act rashly to avoid giving this guy an opportunity to strike."
He was both reassuring the two of them and warning Danzō.
The Sharingan has the ability to peek into memories. After a moment of relief, Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado no longer asked any more questions, leaving the next steps to Hiruzen and Danzō.
After Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado left, only Danzō and Hiruzen Sarutobi remained in the room to discuss countermeasures.
"Danzō, it seems you've already thought of a plan," Hiruzen Sarutobi asked.
"Haven't you?" Danzō countered.
Hiruzen Sarutobi was silent for a moment, then asked, "What do you plan to do?"
Danzō said with a deep meaning, "The only thing that can deal with the Mangekyō Sharingan is another Mangekyō Sharingan..."
Hiruzen Sarutobi narrowed his eyes: "What do you mean..."
"I don't need to explain further, do I?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi pondered for a moment: "...You were the one who killed Shisui, weren't you?"
"That's right. I couldn't allow a person with such an ability to run free, especially since he was an Uchiha. This kind of power must be held in our hands."
"...So you have acquired the Mangekyō Sharingan."
Hiruzen knew about Shisui's Mangekyō Sharingan.
It possessed the strongest genjutsu, Kotoamatsukami.
It could directly invade the opponent's brain and modify their will without them even knowing. Once hit by this jutsu, the target would forever become a puppet of the user.
Danzō was silent, seemingly unwilling to reveal the truth.
"Danzō, you better not be hiding anything. Right now, we must be completely open and not make any mistakes. Otherwise, if Tōshirō gets the chance, it's not just us who will suffer; our families will be exterminated with us. Knowing Tōshirō's personality, he would absolutely do something like that."
Danzō was swayed. He opened his mouth and said with some regret, "Half and half."
"What do you mean?"
"I only obtained one of Shisui's Mangekyō Sharingan."
Hiruzen Sarutobi frowned: "What happened?"
"I can only say that he truly lived up to his nickname, 'Shisui of the Body Flicker.' Even with a sneak attack, he still managed to get away."
"..."
"But he was hit by my subordinate's poison. He couldn't have had enough time to find an antidote. He's definitely dead."
Hiruzen Sarutobi deduced from his words: "During the process, you only managed to get one of his eyes?"
Danzō nodded and continued, "Among all his abilities, Tōshirō is least proficient in genjutsu. Using Kotoamatsukami on him is undoubtedly the best method.
"I just don't know how effective Kotoamatsukami is against a Mangekyō Sharingan of the same level. To be safe, it's best to have a pair of Mangekyō Sharingan."
According to the data, the Sharingan's true power is only unlocked when a pair is together, and the same goes for the Mangekyō Sharingan.
"From your tone, it seems you know where the other Mangekyō Sharingan is?"
"Yes."
"Where is it?"
"Itachi..."
"Itachi!?"
"Based on my understanding of Shisui, if that eye still exists in this world, it can only be with Itachi."
Soon after Shisui's death, Itachi had confronted him about it. Danzō could easily deduce that Shisui must have met with Itachi before his death, and entrusting the eye to him would have been a logical step.
He had originally planned to use Itachi and then take the remaining Mangekyō Sharingan from him, but Tōshirō's sudden appearance had ruined his plan.
As if he had guessed Danzō's next move, Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes widened: "Are you suggesting that you're going to..."
A sinister glint appeared in Danzō's one eye: "There's no other way. Itachi is on our side for now, and Tōshirō doesn't know about Kotoamatsukami and won't be on guard.
"But if we drag this out, can you guarantee that Itachi will stay on our side?
"When that happens, and the balance of power shifts, do you think we still have a chance of winning?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi fell silent.
After years of animosity, the village and the Uchiha clan were at a point of no return.
Itachi still held on to some illusions about the village and was on their side. But once that illusion shattered, and he no longer carried the blame for Shisui's death, the Uchiha clan and the village would inevitably erupt into the largest civil war in history.
For this ticking time bomb that could threaten the village at any moment, Danzō, who had no qualms about acting against Shisui, would naturally not hesitate to target Itachi to eliminate the future threat.
"Hiruzen, I've told you my thoughts. Now you should tell me yours."
Hiruzen Sarutobi knew that this was not the time for hesitation. He uttered a few words: "Reaper Death Seal..."
"Reaper Death Seal..."
Danzō put a finger to his chin, pondering the feasibility of this plan.
No matter how powerful the enemy, their soul was incredibly fragile. If they were hit by this move, no one could survive.
"If you use that jutsu, you will..."
"If it truly comes to that, for the stability of the village, that's what I'll have to do..."
(End of Chapter)
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