The decision had long been made: Itachi and Shisui would lead a portion of the clan away from the village. Kawasaki and Fugaku would remain to guard their interests in Konoha. Fugaku had initially wanted Kawasaki to take charge, but Konoha was teeming with talent he still needed to win over. It was the only way to secure their future on their own terms.
Itachi accepted the sealing scroll, his heart a mix of complex emotions. His perspective had undergone a dramatic shift recently, as if a new world had opened up to him. He now realized how narrow his view had been, confined to the village of Konoha.
He couldn't bear to leave Sasuke, but Shisui's gentle nature made him unsuitable for the heavy burden of leadership. Shisui was a warrior, but the mantle of command had to fall to Itachi, with the Third Elder assisting him. Fortunately, with Senior Kawasaki present, he felt at ease.
"Don't worry, Father, Senior. I will do my best," Itachi said. "Senior, please take care of Sasuke for me."
Kawasaki waved a hand dismissively. "Don't be so dramatic. This isn't a final farewell. Your father is still here; he'll look after Sasuke." He then turned. "Clan Head Fugaku, please assemble the others."
...
The Naka Shrine.
"I know everyone here wants to see the Uchiha clan grow stronger and more prosperous," Kawasaki began. He sat at the head of the room, with the others seated on either side. The Uchiha clansmen gathered below were mostly radicals, many of them former members of the Military Police Force.
"But Konoha's long-standing suppression has denied us the treatment we deserve."
"In all of Konoha's history, there has never been an Uchiha Hokage."
"We haven't even been granted a position among the village elders."
Kawasaki's words made the breathing of the Uchiha in the room grow heavy. The Uchiha were an emotional people, easily stirred.
"A few days ago, I had the Fourth Elder suspend your duties to make you all understand one thing."
"Konoha cannot function without us, the Uchiha!"
"We must fight for the rights we are owed!"
Uchiha Yozuki asked, "But Vice-Chief, how do we acquire these rights?"
Kawasaki secretly gave Shisui a hand signal. Shisui's Sharingan began to spin rapidly. At the same time, Kawasaki covertly activated a Dōjutsu Amplifier to enhance the power of Kotoamatsukami.
"The key to gaining power is to become strong enough ourselves. What the Uchiha lack is autonomy."
"As long as we are confined to the Military Police Force, a thankless job that only makes enemies, we will never ascend to the position of Hokage!"
"We Uchiha cannot be mercenaries forever! We must build our own enterprise!"
"We must become stronger! So strong that Konoha will not dare to ignore us!"
"Why is our Land of Fire constantly besieged by other nations, yet remains powerful?"
"Because the Land of Fire is the richest, most prosperous nation!"
"We have countless lives to spare!"
"The Land of Fire can sacrifice innumerable people, while other nations would crumble from the slightest loss!"
"We must develop our economy! Increase our population! Make Konoha beg us to become Hokage!"
Kawasaki's words were delivered with force. From Shisui's Mangekyo Sharingan, dōjutsu poured out like quicksilver. The strain of Kotoamatsukami was immense, especially when targeting so many people. Even with the aid of the Dōjutsu Amplifier, blood and tears streamed from Shisui's eyes.
Seeing that Shisui was about to collapse, the Third Elder, Takuya, immediately shouted, "Develop the economy! Revitalize the Uchiha!"
As the clan members roared in response, Shisui issued the final command through Kotoamatsukami—to pledge loyalty to Kawasaki—before collapsing.
...
Hokage's Office.
An Anbu member was delivering a report.
"Lord Third, the Uchiha gathered today for an unsanctioned meeting. The participants were mostly radicals, and their purpose is unknown. However, shortly after they gathered, they began chanting 'Revitalize the Uchiha' with an unnerving fanaticism."
The Third Hokage rubbed his forehead, looking weary. Weren't the Uchiha trying to make amends? Many of them had even resigned from the Military Police. What on earth was Fugaku up to?
Boom!
A massive explosion echoed from the distance, and an immense wave of chakra pressure rolled through the village. The Third's expression tightened. That was the Uchiha district.
Thick smoke billowed into the sky above the Uchiha compound. An Anbu operative quickly received a message from a summon.
"Lord Third! Fighting has broken out within the Uchiha clan! The conflict is widespread, and the ones fighting are Uchiha Itachi and Fugaku."
"The jutsu they're using are too powerful for our scouts to get close."
"It's suspected to be the legendary Susanoo."
"Susanoo!" The Third's hand clenched into a fist.
"Assemble the Anbu! Move out to the Uchiha district immediately."
The Third Hokage flickered out of the window.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
As he raced through the village, a series of deafening impacts reached his ears. By the time he reached the edge of the Uchiha clan's territory, the scene before him was staggering.
Vast swaths of Uchiha buildings had been reduced to rubble. Through the thick, swirling dust, an enormous, orange-red Susanoo was clashing violently with another, deep purple one.
The two titans slammed into each other, and the resulting shockwave sent a hurricane of dust and debris expanding in all directions.
"How is this possible..."
The Third Hokage was dumbfounded. How could a Susanoo be this terrifying?
He recognized the Susanoo, of course. The Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama, had explained it to him in detail. It was a power that only an Uchiha who had awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan could wield. The Power of a God!
Fugaku and Itachi both possessed the Mangekyo Sharingan? Fugaku had hidden his power for all these years. And Itachi... how old was he? He had already become a master of the Mangekyo Sharingan.
And then there was Shisui! The Uchiha clan had produced three Mangekyo Sharingan users!
Before his eyes, nearly half of the Uchiha district lay in ruins. The Third's mind reeled. The Fourth was dead, Orochimaru had defected, and both Tsunade and Jiraiya were away from the village. Could he really expect the other clans to risk their lives for the Uchiha?
The dust obscured his vision, and the oppressive chakra pressure prevented anyone from getting closer, making it impossible to know what was happening inside. Itachi's voice drifted faintly from within the smoke.
"Father, what is there left to cherish in a village like this?"
"They dared to make a move on Shisui. You will be their next target."
Fugaku's sharp retort cut through the air. "Silence! The Uchiha have been part of Konoha since its founding. What happened to Shisui was an accident! The Third will give us..."
His remaining words were swallowed by the wind and dust, but another thunderous crash immediately followed.
A crowd was gathering at the perimeter of the Uchiha district, the Hyuga clan being the first to arrive. Hizashi activated his Byakugan, but all he could see were two massive clumps of chakra. The specifics of the confrontation were impossible to discern. The others couldn't even get close.
After what felt like an eternity, the two Susanoo vanished.
From the settling smoke, Itachi's voice was heard one last time. "I'm sorry, Father."
Then, silence.
At that moment, the Third waved his hand, and everyone surged forward.