Chapter 84
His father, who was determined to change his strategy to peaceful evolution… Itachi had never felt he was so terrifying.
"Then, it's decided."
Just before the secret meeting ended, his father stood up and faced the clan members.
"Tomorrow… we will go to Hokage-sama and force… oh no, persuade Hokage-sama to let our Uchiha Clan protect the 'Priestess-sama'…"
This was a test of the Konoha higher-ups, and also a form of coercion.
The Uchiha, who had proven themselves on the Kumogakure battlefield, no longer needed to be obsequious!
Chapter 24: Yūgao's Personality Collapse
Early morning.
"Chirp chirp…"
Birdsong echoed in her ears.
"!"
Yūgao suddenly woke up.
The sun outside shone into the room.
This was the top floor of a residential house at the end of the Shopping Street.
The room had almost no furnishings, only a simple futon and some daily necessities.
Clearly, this was the residence arranged for her by the higher-ups.
Through the large floor-to-ceiling window, she could directly see Naruto's daily life across the way.
Who am I, where am I?
Yūgao stood blankly in front of the window, letting the sun shine on her.
Her dilated pupils and vacant expression indicated that her mental state was not 100% healthy.
After a while, she finally realized her situation.
"Ah, I'm back at the surveillance post…"
So, what time is it now…?
Yūgao took some more time to think. It should have been several days since that night she went to visit Hayate.
Is that so… Then, what happened these past few days?
Unlike the previous amnesia.
This round, the Yin Release + Nine-Tailed Chakracreated some kind of even more special effect.
Fragments of memory suddenly surged into her brain.
Blurry memories… accompanied by the flow of fragments, gradually began to piece together.
Yūgao remembered those things.
Being fed milk.
Manually forming hand seals to help her release Water Release.
Her own frantic self-rescue.
Being fed milk again to rehydrate.
And finally… the full-body deep tissue massage that stretched muscles and invigorated blood, enough to cause bruising, or even purpling, on a person's body.
So, she must look like a patient right now.
An uninformed person might even think she had been brutally beaten.
Yūgao turned around, her dilated pupils looking at the full-length mirror.
This human-sized mirror was crucial for her changing routine; she would always check herself here after getting ready.
Her reflection in the mirror showed her wearing an Anbu uniform, her mask resting diagonally on the side of her head, with her fair, lotus-root-like arms exposed.
Yūgao raised her hands, opened her Anbu uniform, and began to examine her body.
She found no traces of bruising or purpling.
Her skin, as fair as a porcelain doll, was enough to make others envious.
So, was it a hallucination? Or a delusion?
No, her memory told her that it did happen.
In other words, for some reason, her body recovered very quickly?
But no matter what.
"Naruto helped me, that's a fact…"
In the mirror, Yūgao's reflected face showed a slightly broken smile.
The new power formed by Yin Release + Nine-Tailed Chakra permanently altered some of Yūgao Uzuki's characteristics, leading to… a personality collapse.
It was like a form of brainwashing, or a change in common sense.
And this was just the beginning of the collapse… Hokage Building.
Early in the morning, Hiruzen Sarutobi had finished his affairs and was preparing to meet the Priestess.
However, before he could leave, a familiar figure walked into his office.
"How is it? Hiruzen, Itachi's situation is just as I said, isn't it…"
As soon as Danzo entered, he brought up Itachi.
Not long after becoming a Chunin, Itachi completed an A-rank mission… which was the mission to protect the Priestess on her journey to Konoha.
He performed excellently in the mission.
Even better than most people.
Even Asuma and Yuhi were astonished by Itachi's talent.
"Indeed, Danzo… just as you said, Itachi being a Genin for two years was indeed a loss for the Village…"
Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded.
If he had known this earlier, he would have directly made Itachi a Chunin.
"I received an interesting application a few days ago…"
Danzo showed a satisfied smile and pulled out a document from his in my arms.
"It's from Uchiha Fugaku. He hopes his son, Itachi, can join the Anbu…"
"Oh?" Hiruzen Sarutobi showed a surprised expression.
"Homura and Koharu strongly oppose it… After all, back then, the Second Hokage…"
Danzo didn't finish his sentence.
Because some things were not suitable to be said directly.
But Hiruzen Sarutobi knew exactly what he meant.
That proposal was "the establishment of the Police Force to exclude the Uchiha Clan from the center of Konoha."
This was the Second Hokage's intention; he hoped the Uchiha would never touch the center of power.
"So, you also…"
Hiruzen Sarutobi thought Danzo had the same idea as Koharu and Homura.
After all these years, Danzo had always been hostile towards the Uchiha.
"No, there's no harm in letting that kid join…"
Danzo's answer was uncharacteristically surprising, almost making Hiruzen Sarutobi drop his jaw.
In fact.
Danzo originally wanted Itachi to join the Anbu… Root.
No matter what means.
In his plan, Itachi was indispensable. If he actively recommended Itachi to join the Anbu, it would instead make Uchiha Fugaku suspicious.
However, the Kumogakure War, and the Uchiha's meritorious performance… made them swell with pride.
Which directly led to Uchiha Fugaku's proactive application and probing.
It must be said that his desire to have Itachi join the Anbu became quite fortunate.
"Itachi is a genius since the Village's founding, even surpassing 'Fourth Hokage Minato Namikaze.' It would be too wasteful to keep him hidden…"
Danzo sighed.
Hiruzen Sarutobi looked pleased, thinking Danzohad developed a love for talent.
Itachi's talent made him have to acknowledge the Uchiha.
After all… Itachi could think like a Hokage at seven years old.
Perhaps… Itachi could become the Uchiha's first Hokage.
Hiruzen Sarutobi was in a good mood, so he laughed heartily: "Danzo, then you must have already persuaded Koharu and Homura, right…"
"That is inevitable."
Danzo took several days, with great difficulty, to make Koharu and Homura compromise.
To achieve this, he also specifically mentioned his plan to them.
Koharu and Homura knew he wanted to destroy the Uchiha, which is why they agreed.
And the only one still in the dark, the big fool, was Hiruzen.
Danzo: "Next, I will let Itachi join the Anbu, and I will personally lead him."
"That's for the best…"
Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded in satisfaction.
Danzo valued talent so much that he even wanted to personally guide Itachi.
It seems the Uchiha Clan's situation is about to change completely.
Hiruzen Sarutobi was smiling.
Danzo was also smiling.
Danzo: "We… all have a bright future."
Then who doesn't have a future?
I won't say it, and no one will know that the Uchihahave no future.
Danzo turned and quickly left the office; he was already impatient to have Itachi join the Anbuimmediately.
Chapter 25: Naruto: The Noble Priestess-sama
Konoha in the early morning.
The main road leading directly to the Hokage Building was already crowded with people early in the morning.
The Priestess-sama from the Land of Demonsmade the villagers curious; they all wanted to catch a glimpse of her beauty.
As the Priestess, dressed in a luxurious white divine robe with gold trim and a golden crown on her head, passed by, the clamor of the scene froze.
The villagers stood rooted to the spot, staring blankly as the noble woman passed.