The Uchiha Radical Faction stood with arms crossed, staring coldly at Hiruzen without a word. In their eyes, the Konoha High Command was their enemy, respect was out of the question.
Meanwhile, members of the Conservative Faction hurriedly bowed and called out somewhat uneasily, "Hokage-sama."
They were very anxious, wondering why Hiruzen, as the Hokage, would suddenly come to the Uchiha Clan Compound. Hopefully, no trouble would arise.
Naruto couldn't sense the terrifying atmosphere before him. He was particularly happy today. Not only had Sasuke invited him to play, but even Grandpa Hokage had come.
"Grandpa Hokage, can I play with you tomorrow? Sasuke finally invited me for once." Naruto said, looking at Hiruzen expectantly.
Anyone could see that Naruto really wanted to play with Sasuke.
Hiruzen couldn't help but glance at Sasuke. This made Sasuke feel strange, and he turned his head away.
He didn't want to play with a dead last!
But his eyes still couldn't help stealing glances.
Hiruzen knelt down and said earnestly to
Naruto, "Naruto, there are some things you'll understand when you grow up. Grandpa won't hurt you. Will you come home with Grandpa?"
Naruto looked into Hiruzen's eyes, then turned to look at Sasuke, his mouth opening and closing.
"B-but..."
In the end, he compromised.
"Okay."
Then, he turned to Sasuke and said, "Sorry, Sasuke, can you come to my house to play?"
"Naruto..." Hiruzen said.
"Is that not okay either..."
Naruto's face was full of disappointment, and his shoulders slumped in defeat.
He didn't know why he couldn't even invite a friend to play at his house. He only knew that Grandpa Hokage wouldn't hurt him.
"Sasuke, sorry for letting you down."
After saying that, he turned and left all alone, looking very lonely.
Seeing this, Hiruzen breathed a sigh of relief and felt at ease.
He glanced at the Uchiha Clan Members, showing a gentle smile and nodding slightly. Then he also turned and left.
However, no one saw his eyes narrow slightly, seemingly revealing a flash of anger.
The Uchiha's hands... have reached too far!
...
This matter quickly spread throughout the entire Uchiha clan.
"What does the Third Hokage mean!"
"Not even a child can enter our Uchiha Clan Compound?"
"Does everyone who wants to come in have to get their approval first?"
"Is this compound still our Uchiha's compound!"
"It's one thing to be monitored, but even whether others can enter has to be agreed upon by them!"
"How are we supposed to live like this!"
Through this incident, Hiruzen vividly demonstrated the High Command's distrust of the Uchiha clan.
The slogan for a Coup détat within the clan grew louder as a result.
There was no longer any need for Hiromi to go look for Naruto. There had been enough provocation.
And Sasuke was, unsurprisingly, interrogated by Fugaku.
"Sasuke, why did you invite him?"
Fugaku knew Sasuke's personality. As a dead last, Naruto was someone Sasuke would never associate with.
Sasuke's eyes and body trembled slightly. He kept his head down, biting his lip and staring at his knees. He hadn't expected that just by inviting Naruto, everyone's reaction would be so intense.
"Sasuke! Tell the truth, did someone make you bring him here?" Fugaku's angry shout made Sasuke turn pale with fright.
He told the whole story.
"Hiromi... why did you help him?" Fugaku frowned.
He remembered that Sasuke and Hiromi had no previous dealings.
"I wanted to ask him a question." Sasuke said guiltily.
"What question?"
"His eyes..."
"You saw them?!" Fugaku was startled, his gaze becoming incredibly piercing, making Sasuke tremble.
"Yes... that day Hiromi was right beside me."
"Is that so..." Fugaku closed his eyes, looking somewhat weary.
While Sasuke was filled with anxiety, time passed second by agonizing second.
After what felt like dozens of seconds or perhaps several minutes, Fugaku spoke, his tone softening, "The Sharingan is divided into one-tomoe, two-tomoe, and three-tomoe. Above that, there is the Mangekyo."
"Then his eyes are..." Sasuke's eyes lit up.
"Yes."
Sasuke became a bit excited.
Fugaku briefly explained the Mangekyo to him, causing the uneasy Sasuke to be quickly filled with his father's sudden care and guidance.
When he left the room, a happy smile still hung on his face.
...
Itachi was the one who knew everything but he had never made a choice.
He had allowed Sasuke to listen to Hiromi. He had allowed Sasuke to bring Naruto to the Uchiha Clan Compound. The consequence was that the slogans for the Coup détat became even more intense.
He didn't know that Naruto was the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, but he knew that Naruto's status was special.
'Why did I allow it?'
'Was it because I couldn't find an answer myself?'
'Or... was I testing them?'
Itachi's pupils trembled as he looked at the sunset before him.
Does this sunset truly represent the Uchiha?
The Uchiha.... should be the invisible stars nearby.
Konoha... is the one about to set.
His blood-red three-tomoe sharingan spun uncontrollably and rapidly, eventually shedding two lines of bloody tears.
A pair of windmill-like Mangekyo looked at the sunset with a daunting and calm gaze.
—
Hiromi seemed to have vanished. Sasuke didn't even get the chance to give him an angry "Hmph."
Within the clan, meetings became more frequent. Secretly, various armaments were being increased.
Having awakened the Mangekyo, Itachi's expression remained normal as he performed his usual duties: monitoring the Uchiha and reporting Uchiha affairs. He hadn't changed at all.
This made Hiromi's heart feel a bit restless.
[Mission Name: You've awakened your eyes and you're still acting as a double agent?]
[Mission Content: Kill Uchiha Itachi!]
[Mission Reward: Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan]