"The village… the clan… the shinobi…"
Uchiha Itachi's shadow clone sat in a quiet room, leaning against the wall, lost in thought.
Even though he was only playing a role, hesitation filled his heart. The weight of the choice was real.
Another clone appeared within the Uchiha compound.
There, a man in a dark blue robe and a single-eyed mask patterned with swirling orange-red lines — the "Madara" mask — emerged, radiating mystery.
"Tonight we act," the masked man declared.
"Fine. As agreed, I'll help you," Itachi replied coolly.
"Then, keep your end of the bargain."
Itachi turned his face aside, unwilling to let the masked man see his true expression.
"The reason I agreed to this massacre isn't only about revenge. There are other purposes. Just… act like you didn't see them."
The masked man folded his arms, amusement in his tone.
"You're asking me not to record your deeds with my Sharingan?"
"That's right. And this will also prove I left your little brother alive. A child without Sharingan is useless to me."
"…Sasuke has awakened his eyes."
"Oh? That's the first I've heard of it. Just a single tomoe? Fine, for your sake, I'll spare him."
"Then I can rest easy. I have no choice but to trust you."
As Itachi walked away, the masked man's gaze sharpened with a strange gleam.
"If despair consumes you… come to my organization."
"Your organization?"
"It's called Akatsuki."
"Akatsuki, huh? The name's a bit like our Red Sun Society — dawn's light. But the way they operate… it's nothing more than terrorism."
Naruto slammed his palm on the table and stood.
"Itachi, get ready. Before the operation begins, send me the signal. I'll relocate the entire Uchiha clan to Red Sun Town, and prepare housing for them there. You'll leave a clone to meet them. Shisui, I'll need your help."
Naruto fixed his eyes on Itachi, his voice grave.
"Itachi, remember — even though their lives will be spared, you're still dealing with people of flesh and blood. They'll scream, beg, cry, and bleed. This isn't child's play. If your heart can't endure it, stop now."
"If it comes to that, I'll take the direct route: overthrow the Third Hokage and the elders by force, and seize Konoha myself. It'll leave some dangers behind, but nothing compared to the weight of genocide on your shoulders."
Shisui's eyes filled with worry as he looked at Itachi. His voice caught in his throat — he wanted to protest, but couldn't.
Even though he had watched events unfold step by step, everything still felt like a dream.
How much pressure had been forced onto Itachi?
If he hadn't clung to life — if he'd chosen suicide instead — how desperate and alone would he have been?
Shisui's chest ached with sympathy.
"Itachi… let me do it instead. I'll transform into your likeness. No one will ever know."
"Brother Shisui, don't worry."
Itachi smiled faintly.
"President… I've made up my mind. This mission is inevitable."
He bowed deeply to Naruto.
"President, thank you. If not for you, I would have already fallen into the abyss, with no chance of ever seeing the light again. Truly… I am grateful."
Straightening, Itachi turned and walked away, his steps steady, his back carrying both sorrow and unwavering resolve.
"…It really tears him apart," Shisui whispered, eyes wet.
Naruto exhaled. "No more sighs. Let them play out their performance in the first half of the night. But in the second half — we deliver the finale. This is the Red Sun Society's first step into history. Don't mess it up."
His eyes burned with fierce fire as he gazed toward Hokage Rock.
The sun sank low.
The afterglow of dusk bathed the Hidden Leaf in golden light. But to those who blinked, the halo looked more like blood than sunlight.
From the shadows, Itachi watched Sasuke from afar at the academy. He lingered a long moment… then vanished again.
According to the plan, Sasuke would be kept at the academy under the teacher's excuse, safely away from the night's carnage.
At least Sasuke would be spared the sight of blood.
Naruto strolled out of school with Hinata.
"Hinata, have a good dream tonight. Don't go wandering around."
"I will, Naruto-kun," she said softly.
Naruto smiled, waved, and walked home. No one noticed the storm hidden beneath that smile.
Inside the Hokage's office, Hiruzen Sarutobi stood by the window, his gaze fixed toward the Uchiha compound. His eyes were deep and cold.
"The curtain is about to rise… Let's hope we harvest plenty of Sharingan tonight. Hahaha…"
From the roof of a tall building, the masked man looked down on Konoha, laughter echoing wildly.
The village had changed, its buildings newer, its faces different — but its scent was the same. The memory of that night long ago burned inside him, filling him with hunger for destruction.
"Itachi, he didn't come home for dinner tonight. And Sasuke isn't back either."
"…I see."
"Fugaku…"
"Don't dwell on it, Itachi. He will always be our son."
"…Yes."
Their voices were gentle, but carried a sorrow too deep to hide.
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