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After Fugaku accepted the Hokage's proposal, the entire Uchiha clan quickly split into two distinct factions. One group fully supported Fugaku's decision, viewing it as a valuable opportunity to reconcile with the Hidden Leaf Village and ease the long-standing tensions between them.
Within this supportive faction, not everyone believed that the deep-seated conflicts with the Leaf would magically disappear overnight. Instead, they recognized that the current situation made open confrontation with the Hidden Leaf unwise. The clan needed time to grow stronger, to "develop" their capabilities quietly before considering any aggressive moves.
The opposing faction, however, held a much harsher view. They argued that the Uchiha clan had not even been given a real chance to voice their opposition or negotiate on equal terms. They felt the clan was being forced into a corner with no room to maneuver.
The frequent and heated arguments between the two sides left even young Sasuke feeling deeply frustrated and disgusted by the constant discord within his own family.
"Has Father returned yet?" Sasuke asked as he stepped back into the house and saw only his mother there.
"No, not yet. He'll probably be home very late tonight… Dinner is already prepared. Would you like to eat first?"
Sasuke desperately wanted to know what his mother thought about the whole situation, but the words caught in his throat. Even if he asked, she probably wouldn't give him a straight answer.
He mechanically shoveled a couple of mouthfuls of rice into his mouth, barely tasting anything, then retreated to his room and went to bed.
Some time later, in a half-awake daze, Sasuke heard voices coming from outside. He forced his eyes open and listened carefully. Recognizing his father's voice, he quietly slipped out from under the covers, crept out of his room on tiptoe, and made his way to the edge of the living room. He knelt down on the floor, pressing his ear tightly against the wall to eaves drop.
"…How did it go? What did the Hokage say?"
"It wasn't the Hokage's idea for me to meet with Ebizo from the Hidden Sand. It was Jiraiya who suggested it," Fugaku explained.
"Him? Why would he do that?"
"The clan members keep insisting that the Kazekage was not killed by anyone from the Uchiha. Since we're making that claim so strongly, we should at least present some kind of explanation or evidence when facing the actual representative from the Sand Village. Otherwise, how are we supposed to clear our name?" Fugaku said.
"But… that's impossible. We have no evidence at all."
"Even if we don't, we still have to go through with it. This is one of the few opportunities we have left…" Fugaku continued, his voice heavy. "The Hidden Leaf Village has already lost trust in the Uchiha clan. And as you can see, I've reached a point where I'm almost a failed clan leader… The people below keep pushing for resistance. They're forcing me forward, and it's becoming nearly impossible to turn back. This is one of the few remaining chances we have. If we fail to seize it… Do you believe me when I say I can already see the destruction of the entire Uchiha clan approaching?"
"Destruction…" Sasuke whispered to himself, unconsciously drawing in a sharp breath.
"Who's out there?!"
Sasuke jumped up in panic. Without bothering to muffle his footsteps, he hurried back to his bed and dove under the covers. His mind was in complete turmoil, replaying his father's words over and over. Tears began to flow uncontrollably down his cheeks.
"It's Sasuke…"
"Hmm."
"He must have heard everything just now…"
"A shinobi must eventually face death—whether it's witnessing the departure of loved ones or confronting their own end. He needs to start thinking about these things too."
"If Itachi were still here…"
"Don't mention him," Fugaku interrupted his wife sharply. "If it weren't for him, we wouldn't be in such a rushed and desperate position, without even enough time to properly resist the Hidden Leaf Village."
His wife remained silent, lowering her head quietly.
Fugaku downed a cup of clear sake in one gulp, but his mood only grew heavier and more troubled.
He now faced a critical dilemma.
Although he didn't know the Hokage's true intentions, the fact that Uchiha shinobi had been tasked with protecting the safety of the "Five Kage" during the upcoming summit raised a dangerous question: Did this mean they might have an opportunity to eliminate all five leaders in one decisive strike?
However, considering the vast difference in power between the Uchiha clan and the combined strength of the five major villages, even if every Uchiha ninja mobilized, they might not be able to kill the Five Kage in a short enough time. If they failed, the entire Uchiha clan would face the wrath and encirclement of all five great ninja villages. There would be no place left in the entire shinobi world for the Uchiha to hide or survive.
But if the summit concluded peacefully, how would the Hokage view him afterward?
It was truly agonizing.
Fugaku downed another cup of sake in frustration, his heart sinking deeper into gloom.
While Fugaku wrestled with these heavy thoughts, not far away on a nearby rooftop, a lone figure sat perched on the roof ridge, quietly observing the shadows cast by the lights below.
"Aren't you going to say something to your father?"
"What is there to say?" Itachi replied, turning his gaze toward Kisame.
"You still have family. Don't you miss them? Your parents and your little brother—they must miss you too, right?"
"My father and mother won't miss me. As for my brother…" Itachi countered, "Would you dare to touch him?"
"I have no interest in killing a child. That's boring," Kisame shrugged. "I still don't know which little genius came up with the brilliant idea of letting the Uchiha clan handle security for the Five Kage Summit. Aren't they afraid the Uchiha might rebel?"
"It's not that simple," Itachi shook his head. "Do you really think the leaders of those ninja villages are fools? Besides, the Uchiha clan isn't as overwhelmingly powerful as you seem to imagine. And believe me—if the Uchiha make even the slightest suspicious move, the risk of total annihilation is very real."
"Are you feeling regretful?"
"After all, they are still my clansmen."
"In two days, they might become the main topic of conversation among the villagers."
"It has nothing to do with me. But if any of you dare to lay a hand on Sasuke…"
"Can he even continue living in the Hidden Leaf Village?" Kisame suddenly asked. "If the Uchiha clan betrays the village, do you think the Leaf will allow him to survive?"
"He won't die," Itachi frowned. "He will live."
"You're not planning to betray the Akatsuki, are you?" Kisame interjected abruptly.
"How could I?" Itachi shook his head. "I've already made my choice. I've returned to where I belong."
"In two more days, everything will change."
Itachi shook his head again and fell silent.
...
Once the leaders of the five major ninja villages had finalized their respective arrangements, every decision was made with one common goal in mind: ensuring mutual safety and preventing any surprise attacks.
The Hidden Leaf Village was equally on high alert. The Hyuga clan dispatched thirty of their clansmen to thoroughly inspect the surroundings of the meeting venue, checking every corner and eliminating any potential threats or suspicious areas. On the day before the Five Kage Summit officially began, the core shinobi of the Uchiha clan took over responsibility for securing the entire location.
Following Midorima's earlier warning, Jiraiya positioned himself hidden high up in a large tree nearby, carefully monitoring the movements and activities of the Uchiha personnel.
The Five Kage Summit was scheduled for three o'clock in the afternoon. The venue was a massive wooden building located just outside the bustling main streets of the Hidden Leaf Village. To ensure maximum security, the Uchiha clan had mobilized a full two hundred shinobi to guard every aspect of the meeting site.
Around two o'clock in the afternoon, the delegation from the Hidden Cloud Village arrived first. The Raikage brought only Samui with him.
Not long after, Terumi Mei and Midorima made their entrance.
Midorima's status was somewhat unique. He was not attending merely as Terumi Mei's subordinate or escort. Instead, he had been personally invited by the Hokage, which gave him a position roughly equal to that of the Mizukage herself.
As they were about to enter the meeting hall, Midorima spotted Fugaku standing at the entrance. A faint spark of anticipation rose in his chest.
The delegation from the Hidden Sand Village would be arriving soon. He wondered how Fugaku would handle facing them.
Once inside the hall, the Raikage was already seated. When he saw Midorima and Terumi Mei enter, he shifted his chair slightly but did not stand up. Noticing that Midorima also pulled over an extra chair and sat down, the Raikage looked mildly surprised. "Is that extra flesh meant for you?"
"Otherwise, why would there be an extra chair here?" Midorima replied with a calm counter-question.
"I may have underestimated you," the Raikage said with a slight nod, a half-smile playing on his face.
"Rest assured, having me sit here will only bring benefits," Midorima said with a smile.
"In that case, I'll be watching your 'performance' closely."
Midorima gave a small nod in return, smiling without saying anything further.