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Shizune warmed a pot of wine and served it to Tsunade.
Tsunade glanced at Itachi and, seeing that he was too young, didn't offer him a cup. Instead, she had Shizune pour him some tea.
"Between the Uchiha clan and Konoha, which would you choose?" Tsunade took a sip of wine and asked.
"Can I… choose both?" Itachi replied.
"Of course. The choices you see at a glance are the simplest, but not the best. The best choice is something you have to find for yourself. Wouldn't it be easier for me to gamble a few rounds outside? Why did I rush back if not to find the best solution to this problem? What is the stance of the Uchiha's higher-ups? Rebellion?" Tsunade pressed.
Itachi fell silent.
The question was difficult to answer.
If he denied it, yet the Uchiha clan truly did rebel, then no matter what he did, it would be futile.
If he admitted it, it would be tantamount to betraying his clan.
After all, even among the higher-ups, the Uchiha's rebellion was still only in the planning stages—there was no concrete evidence. His answer could very well determine the fate of the entire clan.
"Still trying to evade the question?" Tsunade could read his hesitation from his expression. "There's no more time to waste. I've heard that Shisui was an exceptional man. Someone like him… must have had a hard time within the Uchiha clan, right?"
"You know, before I returned, I met a rogue ninja from Kirigakure—a formidable one. He escaped the village alone despite facing the might of Kiri's forces. Many of the things he told me still stick in my mind. Yes, he once said that a clan's betrayal is far more complicated than an individual's, because even the most united clan has its share of clear-headed people. And those are the ones who suffer the most. They understand the consequences of betrayal all too well, yet against the madness of their own clan, they're powerless."
"You trust that person a lot…"
"Whether I trust him or not is irrelevant. Even if I knew he was innocent, there was nothing I could do to help him. Otherwise, it would've dragged Konoha into the mess, and then it wouldn't just be his problem with Kirigakure—it would become Konoha's problem. He might even be branded a 'Konoha spy.' By then, no matter what he did, he'd never be able to clear his name. Yes, fate was unfair to him, but what could be done?"
Tsunade fixed her gaze on Itachi.
"After returning to Konoha, I looked into Shisui. I know about his situation. I even know about the efforts he made. Are you willing to let Shisui's sacrifices go to waste?"
Itachi opened his mouth to speak, but the image of Shisui's final moments flashed in his mind—along with Danzō.
Such a good man, dying so pitifully… and all because of Danzō's schemes.
Could Konoha's higher-ups really be trusted?
Itachi was torn once more.
"The reason the higher-ups distrust your clan—I've investigated the records thoroughly. As things stand, all evidence points toward the Uchiha. Do you want to know?" Tsunade asked.
"Please."
"First, there are very few ways to control the Nine-Tails, and the Sharingan happens to be one of them. Of course, if that were the only clue, the blame wouldn't have fallen on the Uchiha. But that night, where was the 'Police Force' that was supposed to protect Konoha? Had they been there, even if Kushina was in danger, Minato might have been able to save her."
Itachi's expression grew graver.
He remembered that night—his parents were absent, leaving him alone to care for the newborn Sasuke.
"In that battle, even the most ordinary shinobi fought without holding back. But the Uchiha… not a single one died that night." Tsunade chose her words carefully. "Of course, that's not even the strangest part. The seal on a jinchūriki is weakest on the day of childbirth. Meaning, had it not been that exact day, the tragedy might never have happened. So the question is—why did it happen on that day? Who leaked the information about Kushina's delivery? My teacher's wife once mentioned that before Kushina gave birth, she had met your mother…"
At that moment, Itachi felt as though his soul had left his body.
He never imagined the conversation would lead to his own mother.
"Of course, none of this proves that the Uchiha were responsible for the 'Nine-Tails Incident.' But it does show that Konoha's distrust of your clan didn't form overnight. If both sides refuse to speak openly, the conflict will never be resolved. But saying it is easy—doing it is hard. If even you can't be honest with me, how can I expect Fugaku to speak his mind?"
"I… the Uchiha clan…" Itachi struggled to respond.
If he admitted the Uchiha had rebellious intentions, wouldn't that confirm their involvement in the Nine-Tails Incident?
"In the past year or two, have any Uchiha shinobi left the village for extended periods without returning?"
Tsunade sighed inwardly.
At this point, both Konoha and the Uchiha were at an impasse.
One wrong step, and it would be a plunge into the abyss.
She understood Itachi's hesitation.
"No," Itachi shook his head, unsure why Tsunade had suddenly shifted the topic.
"Earlier, I mentioned the rogue ninja from Kirigakure, didn't I?"
"Yes."
"Do you know why he became a rogue ninja?" Tsunade asked.
Itachi forced a smile. "Aren't you making it hard for me? I'm not from Kiri."
"What exactly happened in Kirigakure isn't something I should discuss—it's their internal affair. But I can tell you this: it involved a man who claimed to be 'Uchiha Madara.'"
"Impossible! He's… long dead." Itachi waved his hand dismissively.
Had she used another name, he might have believed it. But Uchiha Madara? No way.
"I know. The name 'Uchiha Madara' isn't important. What matters is who's using it. Oh, and he also wielded the Sharingan. Do you understand what I'm saying? The true mastermind behind the Nine-Tails Incident might not have been someone from Konoha's Uchiha clan. But this speculation doesn't solve anything—the conflict between the Uchiha and Konoha remains a dilemma."
Itachi's spirits lifted slightly.
If this really was connected to "Uchiha Madara," then at least he had a direction to pursue.
"Where is 'Uchiha Madara'?" Itachi asked.
Tsunade shook her head. "Rather than searching for him, it'd be better to find that rogue ninja."
"Where is he, then?" Itachi pressed.
Again, Tsunade shook her head.
Who could have guessed the situation would be so convoluted? Had she known, she would've dragged Midorima back to Konoha by force.
Itachi puffed his cheeks in frustration.
Why don't you know anything?