Under the forest's shadow, two figures, one tall and one short, stood facing each other, seemingly exchanging words.
Even after the figure vanished from his sight, Uchiha Itachi still leaned against the edge of a tree trunk, lost in thought for a long time.
Everything that happened tonight left Uchiha Itachi feeling bewildered and helpless.
What he found most difficult to face was the long conversation at the end.
During this discussion, Aizen outlined a path for him to fully integrate the Uchiha into Konoha.
As long as he could make up his mind.
Village, clan, family.
These tangled bonds intertwined in his mind, transforming into an immensely heavy burden of emotion.
Uchiha Itachi clenched his fists tightly and slammed them on the ground.
"Damn it!"
He gritted his teeth and whispered, his body trembling.
No matter how much he dreaded facing it, the undeniable, overwhelming power Aizen inadvertently displayed had subconsciously made him believe his lies.
Uchiha Itachi's thoughts were in turmoil, and he sat still like a stone statue.
After an unknown amount of time, he finally staggered to his feet.
'In any case, I'll try it first.'
'If reality doesn't unfold as he described, I still have a chance to back out.'
Uchiha Itachi pressed his lips together, as if he had made a decision.
Even at this moment, Uchiha Itachi still hadn't realized what kind of treacherous path he had inadvertently embarked upon... Under the moonlight.
Aizen Sōsuke quietly watched Uchiha Itachi's departing back, his gaze gentle.
Hyuga Hizashi stood beside him.
Only when Uchiha Itachi's figure gradually disappeared into the forest did he cautiously speak in a low voice:
"Aizen-sama, is it really alright to let him go back just like that?"
Honestly.
If there was anyone in all of Konoha, besides Aizen himself, who most wished for him to completely change this Village, it was probably Hyuga Hizashi himself.
As the head of the Hyuga Branch Family, and also someone who had once 'died' for his elder brother under the coercion of power, he truly hoped for all of this to change.
Therefore, seeing Aizen-sama let this child go so easily, Hyuga Hizashi couldn't help but feel a surge of unease.
Even the pure white pupils he directed at Uchiha Itachi inadvertently carried a hint of killing intent.
"Don't worry, Hizashi."
"Itachi-kun has no other choice."
Aizen's voice was always as calm and peaceful as ever, as if he would never be flustered by anything.
Unlike others' observations of Aizen.
Aizen Sōsuke, who had been silently watching this Village for over twenty years, perhaps understood its inhabitants better than many of them understood themselves.
Uchiha Itachi was just one of them.
Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo Shimura were the same.
Sometimes, with just a few gentle pointers, he could roughly deduce their ultimate reactions.
Today was just a small attempt for him to gradually step into the spotlight.
Upon hearing this, Hyuga Hizashi immediately withdrew his gaze and bowed deeply:
"Yes."
His response was without the slightest hesitation.
The reason was simple.
Up until today, Aizen-sama's judgment had never been wrong.
Absolute correctness naturally only leads to absolute obedience.
Aizen didn't pay attention to Hyuga Hizashi's reaction, turning his head to look towards the center of Konoha—the direction of the Hokage's Office Building.
Next, it was time to see if the Third Hokage's performance would be satisfactory... "...After being attacked last night, due to severe injuries, my subordinate first retreated to the clan territory for treatment, which is why there has been a delay until now."
The next day.
Uchiha Itachi knelt in the center of the Hokage's Office, meticulously reporting the entire process of being attacked by Root last night.
Hiruzen Sarutobi, seated at the desk opposite, had a calm expression, smoking his pipe puff by puff, his face clearly displeased.
"Root again."
"And, it was three entire squads."
Hiruzen Sarutobi muttered in a hoarse voice, a hint of anger in his downcast eyes.
This kind of force could have a good chance of succeeding in ambushing some S-rank rogue ninja, yet it was used against their own people.
Moreover, this happened after he had 'fully taken over' Root and stripped Danzo of his position.
Hiruzen Sarutobi knew exactly what this meant.
He looked ahead with a heavy expression; Itachi-kun's injuries were clearly not fully healed, and he still walked with a slight limp, indicating how critical the situation had been yesterday:
"Itachi-kun."
"It is my fault that such things happen in the Village."
"Besides those three Root squads, did you discover any other clues?"
Uchiha Itachi's voice paused.
For a moment, it seemed that the finger that had blocked his full-power attack flashed through his eyes once more.
And, behind that seemingly effortless movement, lay a terrifying power that mortals simply could not contend with.
His gaze, hidden beneath the Anbu mask, was somewhat complex, but after that brief pause, his voice was resolute:
"None were found."
"Is that so..."
Hiruzen Sarutobi could understand.
Although Itachi-kun was an unparalleled genius, it was already difficult for him to survive and counterattack against three Root squads.
Kakashi Hatake back then could only achieve this much.
Asking him to observe carefully after the battle was indeed a bit too much.
Once the tobacco burned out, Hiruzen Sarutobi tapped his pipe with a serious expression and ordered:
"Kakashi."
"Here."
Kakashi Hatake, hidden in the back, appeared and knelt beside Uchiha Itachi.
"Please take a squad and Itachi-kun to inspect yesterday's battlefield."
"Yes."
Kakashi calmly nodded.
Hiruzen Sarutobi then turned his head to Uchiha Itachi, his tone sincere:
"Itachi-kun."
"Even a Hokage cannot have absolute authority in the Village; this is an unavoidable reality."
"However, since this has happened, I will definitely seek justice for you."
"As long as I am here, this Village will not tolerate such petty schemes."
"Thank you, Third Hokage!"
Uchiha Itachi bowed deeply, seemingly deeply moved.
However, the expression beneath his mask remained largely unchanged.
He had grown somewhat tired of these words.
Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded solemnly and instructed:
"Go."
"Yes."
After the two figures disappeared, Hiruzen Sarutobi unhurriedly refilled his pipe with tobacco and lit it again.
His gaze, hidden beneath the wide brim of his Hokage hat, seemed a bit weary.
In reality, ever since he found nothing in the Root base last time, he had started to suspect.
But even now, he hadn't identified a definite suspect.
Was Shisui's Kotoamatsukami not as powerful as he thought, and Danzo had already broken free, with Shisui unaware?
Or did that child, Uchiha Shisui, include some unknown factors in Kotoamatsukami from the very beginning?
In his twenty years as Hokage of Konoha, even if Hiruzen Sarutobi himself was unwilling to admit it, he had already been transformed into a creature of power who could trust no one.
Danzo's selfish motives, he knew perfectly well.
And while Shisui seemed loyal, he was still a member of the Uchiha Clan and had even reported Itachi-kun's change in ideology to him before.
So, whose ideology had changed?
Now, Root's attack on Uchiha Itachi further deepened his suspicion; he dared not trust anyone in the slightest.
'Attacking Uchiha Itachi, who would benefit enough from that?'
Hiruzen Sarutobi pondered with a frown, then suddenly remembered something, opened his desk drawer, and took out a letter.
On the envelope, a name was written.
Uchiha Fugaku.
Ever since the coup d'état rumors began within the Uchiha, he and Uchiha Fugaku had maintained a very close relationship.
Although the tension between the two sides had not lessened, he had made many personal promises to Uchiha Fugaku.
Among them was the safety of his family, especially Itachi-kun's safety.
The condition was simple.
That was the failure of the 'coup faction'.
If Itachi died, then the last line of defense between the Village and the Uchiha Clan would be completely severed.
Had this matter been exposed?
Was someone among Danzo and Shisui trying to force him and the Uchiha into an all-out war?
At this thought, Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression grew even heavier.
Whether it was acting against his old friend Danzo based on his own speculation, or being forced to sacrifice Shisui, his loyal subordinate, both were very difficult decisions.
He couldn't make up his mind.
Since he couldn't judge, naturally, there was only one final decision.
"Shinnosuke."
"Here."
Another dark figure flashed out from behind him and knelt in the center of the Hokage's Office.
Hiruzen Sarutobi solemnly placed the envelope in front of him and said in a deep voice:
"Tell Fugaku."
"To do as he wishes."
"The Uchiha problem has reached a point where it must be resolved."
"Yes."
Sarutobi Shinnosuke nodded deeply.
If he couldn't identify the person who might be causing problems, then he might as well just solve the problem itself.
After all, that's what he had been doing all these years.
Hiruzen Sarutobi stood up from his seat and turned to gaze at the distant Hokage Rock.
As long as he pushed the painful decisions onto others, he could still remain the gentle, benevolent, yet ignorant.
Third Hokage who was always passively reacting with remorse.