Chapter 42 – Sasuke's Deep Resentment (Part 2)
"Izumi. Uchiha Izumi…"
Sasuke's aura of resentment was practically materializing into black mist.
"I can't believe big brother took her to the dango shop. That's just too much!"
"Pfft—!"
Sakura, mid-sip, spat out her tea.
"Wait, hold on. You've been sulking this whole time just because your brother took Uchiha Izumi out for dango?!"
"First it was Shisui, and now there's Izumi…"
Sasuke mumbled bitterly.
In his eyes, anyone who tried to get close to his brother was the enemy—someone trying to steal Itachi away from him.
Sakura didn't even know how to respond.
Sasuke's full-blown terminal-stage bro-con syndrome was completely beyond help at this point.
She vaguely remembered Izumi from her past life watching the anime—a kind girl, and arguably childhood friends with Itachi.
If not for the series of tragic events that followed, the two of them might really have ended up together.
But in the end, she died.
Just like that, a well-matched, likable girl vanished from the world.
Danzo truly deserved a thousand deaths.
Sakura quietly made another mental note in her "Danzo must die horribly" list.
Looking at Sasuke, who was still full of bitter jealousy, she had no idea how to even begin comforting him.
"Look, I think you might be overreacting a little. Your brother's a grown man—don't you think it's time he found someone? You can't expect him to stay single forever, right?"
"Anyone who steals my brother's attention is nothing but a seductive fox spirit. Hmph!"
Sasuke pouted in righteous fury.
Sakura was this close to turning to Naruto and saying, "You're the real fox spirit here!"
"Tell you what—tomorrow I'm organizing a picnic. Why don't you invite Itachi and his… girlfriend? I actually have something I need to discuss with all of you."
Sakura glanced at the people sitting around the table.
It was time to set her plan into motion.
"She's not my sister-in-law! My brother belongs to me!"
Sasuke huffed, then suddenly eyed Sakura with great suspicion.
"You called him 'big brother' just now. Are you trying to steal him too?!"
"Oh, I get it now."
Sakura's eyebrow twitched.
"All Uchiha brothers are like this—the younger ones are hopeless bro-cons, and the older ones are just as bad with their doting."
She nearly smashed her teacup in frustration.
"Hmph. You wouldn't understand—you don't have an older brother! My brother's amazing, you know…"
"Blah blah blah…"
"Yup. He's a lost cause."
Sakura exchanged a look with Ino, both of them sighing and rolling their eyes.
Ever since she'd tricked Sasuke into cross-dressing that one time, he'd fallen into his "cold and aloof" phase—barely talking, rarely smiling.
But when it came to talking about Itachi, he suddenly became very animated.
He could go on and on for hours, all by himself.
"I'm telling you, my brother is the best, blah blah blah…"
"Alright, everyone, let's wrap it up. Go get ready for tomorrow's picnic—I'm heading to the Hokage's office to collect our mission reward!"
Sakura's words cut through Sasuke's endless monologue like a lifeline, prompting the group to scatter.
Ino and the others quickly fled, eager to escape the sound of Sasuke's endless praise for his brother.
---
Meanwhile, in the Hokage's office, a heated argument was underway between the Third Hokage and Danzo.
"Danzo! Why did you send people to ambush Sakura and Kakashi?!"
Hiruzen's voice was sharp, filled with righteous anger.
"Hiruzen," Danzo said calmly, "according to my intelligence, ever since that girl—Haruno Sakura—visited the Uchiha compound, something has shifted. Their attitude has changed. It reeks of rebellion.
I believe Sakura may be behind it all.
We must act before it's too late."
Danzo stood his ground, completely convinced he had done nothing wrong.
"They're already openly trying to win over other clans in the village. We can't just sit back and watch—we must impose new restrictions on the Uchiha immediately!"
"Enough, Danzo!"
The Third Hokage's voice was sharp and firm.
"The Uchiha clan choosing to engage and reconcile with the village is a good thing. Stop slandering them without proof!"
If the Uchiha heard this kind of baseless accusation, it would only undo the fragile peace that had just begun to form.
"This isn't slander," Danzo replied coldly.
"I have agents within the Uchiha. According to their reports, the clan elders are plotting a coup against the village. Any change in their behavior must be taken seriously."
His tone was laced with menace.
"They're clearly trying to rally other clans to their side and prepare for rebellion.
Hiruzen, you're too soft! The Uchiha are a dangerous, unstable force—they must not be allowed to continue unchecked!"
"That's enough, Danzo."
The Third Hokage's eyes gleamed with hawk-like intensity before softening with a deep sigh.
"More than anything, I believe in Kagami."
"Kagami, huh…"
Danzo's grip on his cane tightened.
Uchiha Kagami—once their comrade, a fellow student of the Second Hokage.
"You're not to speak like that again. And another thing—under no circumstances are Root operatives allowed to attack fellow Konoha shinobi. That's my bottom line."
Hiruzen's voice was weary but resolute.
In the end, he simply waved Danzo off.
"Hmph. You'll see, Hiruzen," Danzo muttered as he walked out of the Hokage's office, slow and unwilling.
"One day, I'll prove I was right."
The Third sighed again, turning to stare out the window.
"You saw all of that, didn't you?"
"Yup. Got the whole show."
Sakura leapt in through the window, her brows furrowed.
"Grandpa Third, how can you just let him get away with this?
The Uchiha are one of Konoha's most powerful assets! If Danzo wipes them out, it'll weaken the village's fighting strength drastically!"
She wasn't wrong.
Despite the strained relationship between the Uchiha and the village, the clan had always stood up in times of crisis.
If they were gone, Konoha's defenses would suffer a huge blow.
"Danzo… he's my friend."
The Third gave a bitter smile.
Of course he understood everything Sakura was saying.
But Danzo had been his companion—his comrade.
How could he just dispose of him like that?
"Friend? More like… very special friend,"
Sakura mumbled under her breath, rolling her eyes.
Their bond was something else entirely.
In the original timeline, Danzo had done countless unforgivable things—even tried to have the Hokage assassinated.
Yet Hiruzen had always turned a blind eye, dismissing it with a smile.
That kind of loyalty defied logic.
"So, what brings you here?"
The Third changed the subject—he clearly didn't want to keep talking about it.
"Oh right—Grandpa Third, you haven't paid me yet!
I did just avert a war, you know!"
Sakura crossed her arms and shot him a suspicious look.
Was the Hokage trying to weasel out of her reward?