"Mangekyō Sharingan..." Uchiha Madara's relaxed tone was tinged with surprise. "I can't believe that after so many years, I would see these eyes in another clansman. You truly are special..."
Itachi revealed his trump card, staring at the man with his Mangekyō Sharingan as a threat.
If he didn't agree, Itachi would immediately use the Tsukuyomi.
Uchiha Madara laughed. "Is that what you're relying on?"
"Yes."
Itachi's expression was tense.
"Fine..." Uchiha Madara's tone changed. "However, it's not because of your Mangekyō Sharingan. It's for the sake of your brother, Sasuke..."
Itachi frowned, his expression puzzled.
Uchiha Madara smiled. "Don't look at me like that. I am a man who deeply loved my younger brother."
"..."
"In other words, I see my past self in you."
Itachi's heart eased slightly.
The Tsukuyomi was the strongest genjutsu recorded by the Uchiha, and it might even be the strongest in the ninja world.
But against the man in front of him, Itachi wasn't very confident.
Uchiha Madara laughed. "Since I've agreed not to harm the village or Sasuke, will you also agree to something for me?"
Itachi frowned. "What?"
"After this is done, I want you to join my organization and work for me."
"What organization?"
"Akatsuki..."
Itachi's face remained neutral, but he was shocked inside. This was the same organization Danzō wanted him to join. He was surprised that Uchiha Madara had created it.
"What does this organization do?"
"Don't be so impatient. You'll find out when you get there."
"..."
"How about it? After you do this, you won't have a place in this world, and I can offer you protection."
"Alright..." Itachi had no choice.
"Good."
To seal their deal, Uchiha Madara extended his hand for a handshake.
Itachi ignored it.
Being rejected so bluntly, Uchiha Madara didn't mind and pulled back his hand. "The action will be on the night before the Uchiha launch their coup. That's when they'll be most unprepared. Is that acceptable?"
"Yes."
"Then I'll see you then..."
A vortex of a spiral-like distortion formed around Uchiha Madara, sucking him in and making him disappear without a trace.
The moon hanging in the night sky was covered by dark clouds, and Itachi closed his eyes, his face becoming a pitch-black silhouette.
After tonight, his life would be completely changed.
His peaceful days would also come to an end.
It doesn't matter anymore...
He had decided to bear all the sins of this act.
In the darkness, his crimson eyes gleamed, confirming his resolve.
The day before the Uchiha coup.
The sun was setting in the west, and the light of dusk shone on the courtyard of the Anbu Root headquarters.
Danzō leaned on his cane, looking up at the sky, watching the sun set. Soon, the Uchiha would fall just like this sun.
His long-cherished wish was about to be fulfilled perfectly by his hands. Danzō's breathing became rapid with excitement.
"How are things progressing?"
He glanced at the ninja kneeling on the ground, wearing a cloak and a mask. They were all members of the Root.
"Everything is going very smoothly."
A low voice came from the mask. The report pleased Danzō greatly.
To ensure tonight's success, he had set up this plan long ago.
First, he had a company inform the Uchiha in advance that they would be upgrading the equipment for the Police Force and would need to enter to do so.
Because of this, the Police Force would be going home earlier than usual, which they were happy to do, given that they were about to stage a coup the next day.
Afterward, Danzō had a Root member, disguised as a Ninja Academy teacher, delay Sasuke's after-school practice by training with him.
Everything was so perfect. Danzō felt that even the air he breathed was sweet.
Now it's your turn...
Uchiha Itachi...
Don't disappoint me...
Danzō's dark and profound eyes flickered.
Meanwhile, in the Uchiha clan's compound.
In the forest.
The evening sky was already covered in a thin layer of twilight. The sun was setting, indicating that he had almost run out of time.
Itachi looked away. For the upcoming action, he closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
"Are you ready?"
A voice from behind interrupted his thoughts. Itachi turned around. A figure emerged from the shadows of a tree, wearing an orange mask with a pattern on it.
It was Uchiha Madara.
"Try to leave the women, the elderly, and the children to me..."
Itachi said firmly, "You take the east side, and I'll take the west. We'll stick to the plan we agreed on."
"Don't push yourself too hard."
Madara's feigned concern at this moment made Itachi very uncomfortable. "Shut up."
"You're still young. If you carry too much darkness, you'll break."
I've already broken—!
Itachi suppressed the hysterical roar in his heart.
He looked at Uchiha Madara, whose expression was completely hidden by the mask.
He stared coldly at the mask, trying to see what kind of expression was behind it.
"My affairs are not for you to worry about."
Uchiha Madara said in a relaxed tone. "I'm not worried. This is to ensure the mission goes smoothly."
Itachi's gaze sharpened. "Are you underestimating me?"
"No, on the contrary, I have a very high opinion of you. That's precisely why I don't want you to waste too much energy on unnecessary things. This is a choice based on efficiency."
Itachi thought of his brother and decided he needed to finish this before Sasuke came home from school. "Whatever you want..."
"Good."
Itachi closed his eyes, planning his route.
First, he would kill Izumi. This would allow him to abandon his last bit of doubt—not his attachment to the clan, but his uncertainty about their relationship.
After that, he would kill Inabi and Yashiro, not because of any friction he had with them, but because they were his father's right-hand men and had leadership abilities.
After killing them, he would kill his parents, completely severing all ties.
Without these three leaders to guide them, the Uchiha clan would descend into chaos.
Thinking about this, Itachi's heart became incredibly heavy, and the air he breathed felt as heavy as lead.
Itachi gritted his teeth.
Why am I still hesitating now?!
He screamed in his heart, driving away the last bit of his doubt.
Uchiha Madara watched Itachi struggle with himself.
The expression under the mask was one of pure delight.
"Let's begin."
At Uchiha Madara's urging, Itachi took a light breath and said calmly, "Let's go."
Itachi took a step.
BOOM—!
Just as the two were about to split up.
A massive, earth-shattering sound came from the direction of the Uchiha clan compound, like a meteorite hitting the ground.
Uchiha Madara: !?
Itachi: !?
"What in the world is that..."
Hearing the loud noise, both of them were stunned. They looked in the direction the sound came from.
Has the attack already started!?
As soon as the thought crossed his mind, Itachi immediately dismissed it.
Danzō wouldn't cause such a huge commotion. It would only attract unnecessary trouble.
Besides, he and the Root had an agreement. He would make the first move, and they would handle the aftermath.
"This is bad..."
Madara's calm voice was now tinged with trouble.
Causing such a disturbance, especially near the Uchiha compound, would draw all the clansmen there, which would be very unfavorable for their plan.
"It looks like tonight's plan will have to be postponed."
Madara's voice showed a hint of helplessness.
Knowing he wouldn't have to kill his clansmen tonight, Itachi felt a huge sense of relief.
But the thought that the coup wouldn't be averted still weighed heavily on his mind.
"Let's go. Let's see what it is that's causing such a commotion."
As if nothing had happened, Uchiha Madara's tone returned to its usual casualness.
Itachi nodded.
He was also confused about what could have caused such a loud noise.
(End of Chapter)
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