Winding his way through the village, Rukawa finally found the Uchiha district tucked away in the farthest, most desolate corner of Konoha—just as he remembered.
Years ago, the village leadership had conspired with other clans to isolate the Uchiha.
They'd been forced to relocate from Konoha's prosperous center to this bleak, forgotten fringe.
No wonder they rebelled in the original story.
They were one of Konoha's founding clans, yet they'd been denied real power—and ostracized instead.
Of course, they revolted.
Too bad it ended in tragedy. Itachi got manipulated, and Hiruzen and his allies wiped out the Uchiha without lifting a finger.
Looking back now, Rukawa couldn't help but scoff.
If even one person in the clan had thought critically and made preparations, there's no way a thirteen-year-old Itachi could've soloed them all.
And Itachi himself? How did he get swayed so easily? That was just absurd.
Was the Will of Fire really that brainwashing?
Whatever the original story's excuses were, Rukawa—with Indra's full-power strength—wasn't going to let history repeat itself.
He stepped into the clan compound, resolved.
Meanwhile, deep in an alley within the Uchiha district—
"Speak! Where is that bastard Itachi?! We've got a score to settle!"
"That's right! This time, there's three of us—we're ready. He won't get the drop on us again!"
"The way he humiliated us that day... We'll make him pay until he can't walk straight!"
Uchiha Tekka, Uchiha Yashiro, and Uchiha Inabi stood fuming, cornering Uchiha Izumi.
"P-please calm down! Itachi-kun would never hurt his own clansmen like that... There must be some misunderstanding!"
Izumi trembled, fear plain in her voice.
She was only thirteen. Of course, she was scared.
Even so, she still tried to defend Itachi.
She just couldn't believe he would attack his own people without reason.
"Misunderstanding?! Are you blind?! You think I faked these injuries?!"
Inabi growled, ripping off his shirt.
His torso, wrapped in bloody bandages, was a clear sign of serious wounds.
"You see this?! This is what that bastard Itachi did to me!"
"T-this can't be..."
Izumi covered her mouth in shock.
"N-no... Itachi-kun would never... I believe he must've been provoked. He would never strike without reason."
She hesitated but forced herself to say it.
It sounded like blind devotion—but she was actually right.
These three were the same clan members from the original story who had suspected Itachi after Shisui's death.
They'd tried to intimidate him with numbers.
Instead, thirteen-year-old Itachi beat the crap out of all three.
"You little brat! Still defending him?! He's a traitor! Shisui's death was his doing!"
Yashiro, fuming with rage, activated his three-tomoe Sharingan. His eyes burned red.
"Enough! Tell us where that traitor Itachi is—or don't blame us for what happens next!"
"I-I don't know where he is!"
Izumi backed away in fear.
"Don't know or pretending not to?!"
The three closed in, their killing intent pressing down like a suffocating fog.
"I really don't know!"
Tears welled in her eyes. She was terrified.
But even if she did know, she would never tell them. Not to protect Itachi from these monsters.
"If that's the case, so be it."
Izumi relaxed slightly.
But then Tekka continued:
"We've heard you're close with Itachi. Childhood friends, right? That traitor must care about you."
Inabi's eyes lit up with sudden realization.
"Great idea, Tekka. Hehehe."
"So, Izumi-chan, we'll be taking you with us. Don't resist—it's pointless."
Yashiro added with a sleazy grin, his eyes roving up and down her figure.
Itachi's little girlfriend. Thirteen, yeah, but already well-developed.
If Itachi could humiliate them that badly, wasn't it only fair to take a little revenge?
Touching his girl, shaming his pride, and getting their payback—all in one go.
The thought alone made them feel smug.
Without a word, the three exchanged knowing glances, wicked smiles spreading across their faces.
They closed in on Izumi.
"Y-you can't do this!"
She panicked. She had never expected things to spiral out of control so fast.
Their malicious intent was written all over their faces.
She knew—if she fell into their hands, it would be a nightmare.
She had to do something. Fast.
She had to save herself.