He had joined the village to protect his clan. Uchiha Hikaru's words had awakened something in Itachi. They made sense—he knew his family's history well enough.
But as he listened to Shisui's words again in his mind, Hikaru paused deliberately. He realized there was a deeper meaning that he had initially missed. Was Shisui trying to say they should protect both the village and the clan?
Yet he had misinterpreted it all this time—as if he needed to protect the village first and only then consider the Uchiha name.
This realization filled Itachi with dread. If he had continued thinking that way, he would have turned against his own kin today. And what of the future? Itachi dared not think any further.
Hikaru could see Itachi was on the verge of emotional collapse. He gave Fugaku a look, signaling him not to interrupt—let him continue.
Fugaku, standing silently by, furrowed his brows in confusion. What is Hikaru trying to say? Does he want me to reinforce his point?
"Itachi," Fugaku began, "Shisui never missed a single clan meeting in the past. But you—you're often absent, always out on missions."
"The clan never shunned Shisui, but they've distanced themselves from you."
Fugaku's words struck like thunder. Hikaru's eyes widened.
Well, damn. Uchiha Fugaku, you thick-browed, big-eyed fox—you've got some bite in you after all. Now you're just enjoying giving your son a hard time, aren't you? If he's really your son, you're going all in on tough love.
And just like that, Itachi's emotional dam began to break.
He thought back to it all—how he'd let Shisui die without stopping him. Every time the clan stirred, he ran to inform the Third Hokage and Danzo.
He spied on his own clan for them. If not for Hikaru's intervention…
He might've wiped out the entire Uchiha and walked the road of no return.
"Itachi," Hikaru said, his voice calm but cutting, "think about everything you've done."
"Your family asked you to infiltrate the ANBU—for their sake. But instead, you served Danzo and Hiruzen. That was disloyal."
"You let Shisui take his own life in front of you. You watched your friend stray down the wrong path. That was unjust."
"You fought against your own people. That was unkind."
"You rejected your father's expectations, even went against him, all while blindly following Hiruzen and Danzo. That was unfilial."
Disloyal. Unjust. Unkind. Unfilial. Four strikes against him.
"Uchiha Itachi breaks down emotionally and unlocks the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan?"
The system's voice echoed in Hikaru's mind.
He smirked inwardly. He'd expected to copy just the Mangekyō abilities. Instead, he got half the Eternal Mangekyō. Which meant… when Sasuke awakened his Mangekyō in the future, just a little push could unlock the Eternal Eye.
Hikaru had no siblings, and had always assumed he'd need to collaborate with someone like Orochimaru to get the Eternal Eye. But now? The system had just handed him the key.
And if that's possible... then when Obito shows up, getting the Rinnegan is just a matter of time.
He was already imagining the possibilities.
But nearby, Uchiha Itachi was no longer the same. His eyes were bloodshot, the Mangekyō patterns had formed, and blood tears traced down his cheeks.
He dropped to his knees, fists slamming into the ground, hatred and regret surging through him.
He hated his naive, arrogant self.
He hated that he'd been brainwashed by Hiruzen's words when he was only seven.
He hated that he had disappointed his father.
He hated that he couldn't save Shisui.
He hated everything.
Fugaku stepped forward. Seeing his son broken like this pierced his heart. He never wanted Itachi to fall so far.
But acting alongside Hikaru was clearly effective.
Now, it was time to lift Itachi up.
"Itachi," he said firmly, "you're my son. Get up!"
"The past can't be undone—but the future is still yours."
"Have you forgotten Shisui's final words?!"
"Have you forgotten what the clan expects from you?! Do you want Sasuke to see you like this?!"
Itachi rose to his feet. He wiped away the blood and tears. His eyes, once clouded, were now filled with determination.
"You're right, Father," he said. "I won't let down the clan. I won't let down Shisui. I won't let you down. I won't let Sasuke down!"
The "Will of Fire." The "Uchiha Threat Theory." All the lies Danzo and Hiruzen had drilled into him—shattered.
The Itachi standing here now was a far cry from the one who had sat across from them earlier that afternoon.
Thanks to the efforts of Hikaru and Fugaku, he had been reborn.
Itachi turned toward Hikaru, who still sat calmly on the edge of the cliff. His voice was solemn, but filled with hope:
"Hikaru, how exactly do you plan to save the Uchiha?"
He was composed now, but concern filled his voice.
Not just Itachi—Fugaku was watching Hikaru just as intently.
This whole performance... wasn't it just to get him to reveal his plan?
Hikaru finally stood and began to explain. It was the plan he had worked out while standing at the waterfall.
The moon had risen high into the night sky and begun its descent by the time he finished.
Fugaku and Itachi sat in stunned silence, eyes wide.
They looked at Hikaru as if they couldn't quite believe what they'd heard.
It was ridiculous. Outrageous. Yet every detail was airtight.
If carried out as planned, it would work. Without question.
But it was the kind of plan only someone like Hikaru could imagine. Neither of them could've come up with this even if they spent years trying.
Itachi turned the idea over in his mind. Not only could it save the clan—it could make the Uchiha loved and respected throughout the village. It could even...
At that moment, his eyes grew cold.
Danzo. Hiruzen. Those two...
Hikaru saw the shift in his expression and clapped a hand on his shoulder.
"Danzo must die. Hiruzen… he's not the worst. Let him live."
Hearing this, Itachi nodded in agreement.
Fugaku stood quietly, thinking back over the night's events.
Uchiha Hikaru was frighteningly clever.
He'd saved the clan.
He'd changed Itachi's heart.
Something Fugaku had been trying to do for years—Hikaru had done it in a single night.
Thankfully, Hikaru is one of us. As long as he stands with the Uchiha, the clan has hope.
If anyone dares to harm him, they'll have to go through me first.
Fugaku's resolve was set.
And Itachi felt the same.
Father and son, without saying a word, had reached the same conclusion.
Hikaru watched them, his thoughts turning back to a night he remembered from another life—the massacre that never should've happened.
I was born into the Uchiha clan. This time, I will lead it to glory.
He thought of his parents, who had raised him with care. Of the aunties and uncles selling sesame buns. Of the old man who ran the ninja tool shop, now retired.
Sixteen years of clan life—it wasn't like the anime at all. The Uchiha were proud, yes, but if you treated them with sincerity, you would find warmth and love in return.
He glanced at Fugaku and Itachi, now standing side by side.
Smiling to himself, Uchiha Hikaru turned and quietly walked away.