The young man had sword-like brows and starry eyes. The tear troughs running from the sides of his nose gave him a faintly gloomy look no matter his expression. Straight black hair framed his face as he knelt on one knee, fist pressed to the ground, his ANBU mask hanging at his side and a standard short blade strapped across his back.
Under his dark grey-brown tactical vest, a red-and-white fan emblem peeked out—the crest of Konoha's prestigious Uchiha clan.
"Hokage-sama, you called for me," Itachi said, eyes lowered, gaze resting on the floor.
"ANBU Takizawa is dead. He used to be your subordinate," the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, said. He stood with his back to Itachi, looking out over Konoha's streets. Smoke from his pipe drifted out through the window and curled against the ceiling. "Some are saying he was killed because he stumbled upon the Uchiha clan's conspiracy. What do you think?"
"…I don't know."
Hearing that answer, the Third Hokage turned to face the young man. His expression mixed disappointment with relief. He shook his head slightly.
"I've said before that you have the ability to see things from the Hokage's perspective. You do have that talent… but you don't need to shoulder so much pressure alone."
He gestured at the empty room.
"I trust you. There's no one else here. You don't need to hold back. Tell me your honest thoughts."
"Although the Uchiha clan has always held resentment toward other Konoha clans, in this case… it was a frame-up," Itachi said slowly, lifting his head.
Since reporting the Uchiha conspiracy to Konoha's leadership, Itachi had been acting as a double agent, collecting information from within the clan. He was the only one who could give the most accurate answer on whether the Uchiha had killed ANBU Takizawa.
"I think so as well…" the Third said quietly. "Even while tensions between Konoha and the Uchiha escalate, someone is fanning the flames from the shadows."
Ruling out the Uchiha as Takizawa's killer clearly eased him a little. It meant the Uchiha hadn't yet stepped beyond the point of no return. There was still a faint possibility of peace.
But it also meant that the true culprit behind the Hyuga branch-family murders remained at large, and the one who killed Takizawa was still lurking, trying to ignite the powder keg between Konoha and the Uchiha.
Even with his rich experience and deep strategic mind, the Third Hokage felt irritated by how chaotic it all had become. If he hadn't known Hiashi Hyuga planned to hold a clan meeting next week to discuss countermeasures, he would have dragged the man here to scold him in person.
What kind of clan leader are you, Hiashi?
Are the Hyuga branch-family members not people?
So many incidents, and you did nothing?!
"Who do you think the killer might be?" the Third asked.
Itachi glanced at him, then silently lowered his head again.
"Is it Hyuga Neiki again?" the Third Hokage ventured, then gave a small shake of his head.
Previously, Itachi had submitted a report identifying Hyuga Neiki as the prime suspect in the murders of Tokuma and other Hyuga branch members. If Takizawa hadn't died because of the Uchiha conspiracy, then it must have been while he was investigating those Hyuga cases.
Did Takizawa find something critical?
"On what grounds?" the Third asked.
Silence filled the office for a long moment.
There were no new grounds.
It was simply a continuation of the earlier suspicion.
The Third Hokage took a light drag from his pipe, not showing any disappointment. Itachi was now fully embedded in watching the Uchiha. He had no further contact with Neiki, so of course he couldn't provide any fresh analysis. The Third let the matter drop and returned to the real issue.
"So…"
"Is there still a chance to mend the rift between Konoha and the Uchiha?"
Can it still be mended?
Itachi closed his eyes.
In truth, nothing had changed since Shisui's death two years ago. The Uchiha were a clan of powerful emotion, but that was not always a blessing.
Hatred had spread, ambition had swelled, and clan members were ready to shout "Destroy Konoha!" over any slight. The resentment that had built up over the years was like a volcano, waiting to erupt and wipe everything out.
Standing at the crater's edge, Itachi could see that future more clearly than anyone.
So his answer had never changed—not two years ago, and not now.
"…It probably can't," he said at last.
…
After explaining to the Hokage why the Uchiha rebellion had reached the point of no return, the old man who had presided over Konoha for decades remained silent for a long time. In the end, he said nothing more, merely waving Itachi away.
Although Itachi's outlook was bleak, this wasn't the first time he'd voiced such pessimism to the Third Hokage. The Uchiha clan still hadn't fully unified around rebellion, and from Sarutobi's perspective the situation hadn't yet become dire enough to justify a decisive strike.
In his view, they could afford to wait a little longer.
Itachi returned to the Uchiha district that afternoon.
The Uchiha compound lay in the northwest corner of Konoha. For a clan that had once been the most powerful in the village, being moved from the heart of Konoha out to such a remote edge was seen by many Uchiha as a humiliation.
Their exclusion from Konoha's leadership wasn't just geographical; it was political.
The Uchiha, once founding pillars of the village, had been reduced to holding posts only in the Konoha Police Force. They were locked out of real decision-making. Even ANBU—a corps that welcomed people from every background—quietly rejected most Uchiha applicants. In recent years, only a few, like Itachi and Shisui, had successfully joined.
The isolation was complete.
That suffocating feeling of being pushed away for no apparent reason, of being surrounded by cold stares, had driven many Uchiha into agitation and madness.
Walking through the district, Itachi could feel that boiling-kettle tension growing stronger and stronger.
"Hey, Itachi."
Uchiha Inabi and a few others stepped out to block his path, eyes cold.
"Where were you today?"
Itachi looked at them calmly.
They were blinded by hatred, unable to see any path forward.
He shook his head and walked around them without answering.
"Did you go sell us out?"
"Hey, we're talking to you!"
When he got home, he didn't see his father. Instead, his seven-year-old brother Sasuke came running the moment he heard the door open, grabbing onto Itachi's leg.
"Big brother! I got an A on today's test at the Academy," Sasuke said excitedly, shoving a paper at him. "You promised you'd play with me if I got an A!"
Itachi smiled faintly and tapped Sasuke's forehead with his index and middle fingers.
Sasuke yelped and fell onto his butt.
"Next time. I promise."
He turned away, leaving Sasuke sitting at the entrance, clutching his forehead and pouting.
"You always say 'next time'…"
…
Using a few small tricks, Itachi coaxed from Inabi the location of the clan's secret meeting spot. When he arrived, Uchiha Fugaku was already speaking. From his position, Itachi could hear every word clearly:
"…When the Hyuga hold their clan meeting, Konoha will lack Byakugan surveillance. That will be the perfect time to attack!"
Itachi's lips parted slightly.
Then his hand clenched into a fist.
…
So.
Is there still a chance to mend the rift between Konoha and the Uchiha?
…
No.
The volcano had already chosen to erupt.
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