Right now, looking at the boy before her—the one she once considered her younger brother,
the one she had vowed to protect with all her heart.
Yet now, he possessed such incredible strength.
He not only led more than half the clan in a rebellion against Konoha,
but also built an entirely new ninja village from nothing.
He created a new home for his clanspeople.
Just how strong must he have become?
As for herself—since becoming a Genin, she had grown complacent.
Her duties were nothing more than helping the daimyō's wife care for pets,
or assisting officials in the Land of Fire with moving house—simple, mundane tasks.
She wasted her days away, making barely any progress at all.
It was truly shameful!
"Izumi... I..."
"Do you think our clan was wrong to leave Konoha, Izumi-nee-san?" Shimoku asked with a smile, happily devouring his meal.
This older sister of his had endured enough hardships too.
At age five, during the Nine-Tails attack, her father died protecting her before her very eyes,
and she awakened her Sharingan.
At age seven, during a school lunch break, she stood up for Itachi when he was bullied by upperclassmen and ended up unconscious on the ground.
At eleven, because Itachi bluntly told her that as a girl, she shouldn't become a ninja, they argued bitterly and parted unhappily.
At twelve, after Shisui's suicide, she braved the rain to visit the clan leader's house in search of Itachi. He wasn't there, but Fugaku met her and said, "Itachi doesn't have many friends. I hope you won't abandon him." And she agreed.
At thirteen, during a clan gathering, Itachi faced hostility and isolation from other clan members. She felt torn and helpless...
Then came The Night of the Massacre.
This emotionally sensitive, brave yet stubborn, gentle and delicate girl ultimately died at the hands of her lover, passing away with regret in her wide-open eyes.
Wasn't that just another tragedy?
Now, Shimoku's actions did change this tragic fate.
But as for Izumi Uchiha,
her inner struggle between love and loyalty remained unresolved.
After all, she had always been firmly pro-Konoha.
Her father was a ninja from outside the clan, while her mother was a member of the Uchiha Clan. Having lost loved ones during the chaos, she deeply understood the pain Konoha suffered during the Nine-Tails attack—and the hatred it bred.
Though blessed with decent talent, she lacked the extraordinary brilliance of geniuses like Shisui or Itachi. Within the Uchiha Clan, no one truly listened to what she had to say.
Although she supported Konoha, she felt powerless facing the overwhelming resentment sweeping through the entire clan;
although she hoped Itachi could turn everything around, begging him to speak to the elders again, even Itachi couldn't persuade them, leaving him no choice but to walk a far crueler path.
This was the helplessness of being caught in the middle, the sorrow of the weak.
In this brutal Ninja World,
weakness isn't just a flaw—it's a crime!
"...At first, I really believed fleeing was wrong!"
"But since I've been here these past few days, I've seen people filled with unprecedented enthusiasm, children with genuine, heartfelt smiles—a place brimming with life and hope."
"Perhaps... leaving Konoha wasn't actually the wrong decision..."
Compared to before,
these recent experiences have helped Izumi mature greatly.
And the flourishing Homura Hidden Village further shook the beliefs she had held for so long.
Everything here seemed to confirm it.
Konoha was wrong! It was evil!
His own Uchiha Clan should've defected long ago! Should have resisted all along...
Shimoku cast a glance at Izumi.
At first, he had thought it would take a lot of effort to convince her.
Unexpectedly, the changes in the village and the clan had already convinced this young girl for him.
If that's the case...
Then Quan-oneesan probably only couldn't let go of one person—Itachi.
"So Quan-oneesan, you're worried about Itachi now, right?"
"Eh! Shimoku, little brother... you, you know everything?"
Izumi Uchiha was startled, her delicate cheeks slightly blushing.
Shimoku smirked.
"Do I seem like someone that dumb?"
"Let's be honest, Itachi is technically my cousin, after all. I can at least see that much..."
"T-That..."
Shimoku waved it off.
"Don't worry. Itachi and the elders won't be in any real danger for now."
"Konoha feels threatened simply because we managed to defect. That's the only reason they haven't dared touch those who stayed behind in Konoha."
"And besides, if not for our escape, Itachi might've already turned his blade against his own people."
"What?! No way... Itachi would never..."
"He never really had many choices—to be pressured by Konoha's leadership on one side, and criticized by the clan's radicals on the other..."
"Be grateful! If not for our successful escape, he'd probably already be bloodied by the lives of his own kin."
Izumi was stunned.
Hearing Shimoku's shocking words left her nearly unable to think.
She'd always known how agonizing it was for Itachi, caught between Konoha and his own people.
But she hadn't expected...
That Konoha would actually push Itachi into making such a brutal, bloody decision.
If Itachi truly crossed that line, she herself would likely have collapsed mentally.
"Enough. Don't dwell on it, Quan-oneesan."
"What you need to do now is take good care of Aunt Hazuki, help build up our New Village."
"And most importantly, grow stronger!"
"Only when you're strong enough can you rise to protect your family and village in times of crisis!"
Shimoku's words...
Gradually brought clarity back into Izumi's confused eyes.
That's right!
If she could become as powerful as Shimoku, possess sufficient strength...
No matter what came her way, she could face it calmly?
At the very least!
She could become someone the clan, Itachi, even Shimoku himself could rely on!
"I understand now! Thank you, Shimoku."
"Oh, right. As for the clanspeople left behind in Konoha, I'll also make targeted contact and arrangements."
"I'll find a way to rescue all of them..."
"Ah! Really?!"
Delighted, Izumi's eyes sparkled with excitement.
"Of course."
"That's great! Shimoku, little brother—you're the best!"
Izumi happily approached Shimoku, ruffling her younger brother's hair playfully.
Then, cheerful once again, she turned and walked away.
"I'm heading back now! Be sure to eat well!"
"Hey! Quan, tomorrow I want teriyaki chicken!"
"Sure thing!"
...
Watching Izumi leave joyfully, Shimoku shook his head with an amused chuckle.
He wasn't lying to Quan, though.
Once Konoha began pressuring the remaining Uchiha clan members to hunt him and his companions down,
the Homura Hidden Village would inevitably come into contact with Fugaku, Itachi, and others.
At that time, he definitely planned to make good use of the situation.
After all,
to destroy Konoha and overturn the entire ninja world,
he couldn't do it alone!
Moreover, considering Itachi's talent, even without experiencing the Uchiha massacre night, he could still shine brilliantly.
"Eh, I'll think about those things later."
"Time to dig in!"
"Aunt Hazuki's cooking is just as good as always!"
Shimoku happily continued eating his dinner.
Soon enough,
right after finishing his meal, another message arrived.
Orochimaru and Kabuto had returned.
...
A few minutes later,
Shimoku had finished putting away the dishes
and sat cross-legged inside his room.
Before him, Nonou and Kabuto sat on their knees in seiza style, awaiting judgment.
Neither woman entertained any thoughts of escape.
Although they didn't know exactly how strong this young man was,
or why he controlled an entire ninja village,
and even made one of the legendary Sannin—Orochimaru—work under him,
there was no doubt in their minds: they stood no chance against him!
Escape meant certain death!
"I am Shimoku Uchiha, Young Master of the Homura Hidden Village. Good evening to both of you."
"Greetings, Lord Shimoku!"
"Don't be so stiff. Look up when I'm speaking to you."
"So then, Dean Nonou, Kabuto… Orochimaru must've filled you in on everything by now, right?"
"Do you have any thoughts? Or perhaps, anything to say about betraying Konoha?"
"Speak freely. Your safety here is guaranteed!"
Shimoku lifted one eyebrow slightly, clearly intrigued as he asked.
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