Evil Uchiha Itsuki

"Elder!" 

Kakashi said, "Lord Akimichi Torifu will become an elder of Konoha!"

"Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado..."

"Yes!" 

Kakashi nodded again, "The two advisors, one Jonin to assist, and four elders will form Konoha's power structure."

"Four?"

"Yes, Lord Jiraiya will also become one of Konoha's elders."

"Oh!"

Itsuki nodded repeatedly, saying, "Kakashi, you as the Hokage feel more like a puppet to me."

Kakashi shrugged, unconcerned, and said, "Lord Itsuki, there's something I'd like to discuss with you."

"No discussion!" 

Itsuki shook his head without hesitation, "There's nothing to discuss between me and Konoha; the only thing left is to meet on the battlefield."

Kakashi: "..."

Everyone else: "..."

Did they misunderstand his intentions earlier?

It really seemed like Itsuki was hinting at having a good relationship with Konoha, even directly stating he didn't want to see Konoha fall into civil war.

But now, after just a few minutes, his tone changed again? 

How can you be more fickle than a woman?

Itsuki yawned and said, "Alright, Konoha's battle is over, I should leave. You all can play Hokage or whatever, as you like."

After saying that, he looked at Danzo, winking exaggeratedly, "Lord Danzo, you didn't become Hokage again. Ah, what a shame!"

Damn it!

The veins on Danzo's forehead throbbed wildly.

He had missed the Hokage seat once again—a lifelong regret.

How many times had this happened now?

Once during the Second Hokage! 

That time, he hesitated for a mere moment, and the Hokage position was gone.

Once during the Third Hokage! 

When the Third got old and a new Hokage was needed, Danzo focused on Orochimaru, but unexpectedly, Minato Namikaze took the position.

Once during the Fourth Hokage! 

After Minato died, Danzo thought he had a chance, but the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, reclaimed the title.

And once again during the Third Hokage! 

This time, he even launched a civil war, but still didn't succeed in becoming Hokage!

He was furious.

Heaven and Earth, why are you so unfair!

Itsuki shrugged again and said, "Don't rush, don't be angry, Lord Danzo. You need to be calm, because… you no longer have any chance of becoming Hokage. Getting worked up won't help."

"Huff, huff…" 

Danzo's single eye filled with bloodshot rage.

Uchiha Itsuki, he must kill you, he absolutely must kill you.

"See, see, I told you, don't get all worked up..."

"Enough!" 

Hiruzen Sarutobi shouted, "Uchiha Itsuki, you can leave now."

Itsuki didn't even glance at him and said nonchalantly, "Lord Danzo, you'll never become Hokage, have you considered being some other kind of Kage?"

"Hmm?"

Everyone present froze at his words.

Immediately, Hiruzen Sarutobi yelled angrily, pulling out his black staff, "Uchiha Itsuki, are you looking to die?"

Itsuki merely gave him a calm look.

Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh! 

Hiruzen quickly retreated, cautiously eyeing Itsuki.

"Why so tense?" 

Itsuki chuckled lightly, "If I wanted to kill you, you couldn't escape, even if you hid under Danzo's pants!"

He turned again, looking at Danzo, "Danzo, I founded Fire Hidden Village, Orochimaru founded Sound Village..."

"Wait!" 

Jiraiya couldn't help but interject, "Sound? Are you saying Sound Village belongs to Orochimaru?"

"You didn't know?" 

Itsuki shrugged, "Well, I know you don't believe me, but it's true. Though I'm not sure if Orochimaru can become the Sound Kage."

Everyone's faces turned grim.

When Itsuki launched the Konoha Collapse Plan, the Sound Village also attacked Konoha, causing considerable damage.

If Orochimaru was indeed the leader of Sound Village, then it was all on his orders.

Damn it!

"What are you thinking?" 

Itsuki glanced at them, rolling his eyes, "Orochimaru's original goal was to kill Hiruzen Sarutobi and cripple Konoha. It's just that your plans got in his way."

He looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi, "Who suggested asking Orochimaru for help? Honestly, I admire them."

Hiruzen couldn't help but smile, but in the next moment, his expression darkened.

"If not for that fool thinking to recruit Orochimaru, it would have just been the Konoha Collapse Plan. You would've only needed to deal with Orochimaru, Sound, and Suna."

"But you chose to face me. How did that turn out? I'm way stronger than Orochimaru, right!"

Itsuki's words were filled with pride.

"Shut up, Uchiha Itsuki, you can leave now!" 

Hiruzen shouted angrily, "Otherwise, don't blame us for being rude!"

The others looked at Hiruzen oddly.

Rude? 

What do you mean, rude? 

How exactly would you be rude? 

If you were truly capable, you wouldn't talk so much—you'd act.

What's all this blabbering for?

They'd surrounded Itsuki for so long, but had he even budged?

You're surrounding him, but would you dare make a move?

Would your 3,000 Sarutobi soldiers dare attack?

Stop shouting! 

It only makes you look more foolish!

"Enough!" 

Itsuki waved his hand dismissively, "I really should leave now. My visit to Konoha this time, hmm, was quite fruitful!"

Hearing this, several people's faces darkened.

They had one thought in their minds: **He's looted and scooted!** 

Of course, a few remained unfazed.

Not because they were deep thinkers, but because they believed that although Itsuki gained something, they didn't lose—perhaps they even profited.

At least, the civil war had ended!

Without Uchiha Itsuki's intervention, they would have continued fighting, and Konoha's only fate would be destruction by other villages.

Itsuki had stopped their mutual destruction.

That was worth any price!

"Alright, I'm leaving, I'm leaving!" 

Itsuki casually grabbed a scroll from the side, "Thanks for everything, Konoha. Remember, holding hands and being friends is good, isn't it? Why go at each other's throats? A brain is a good thing, you know!"

With that, Itsuki vanished in an instant.

And the people of Konoha stood in silence.

What could they say? 

There were simply no words!

"Actually, he's right. We really should be thankful he stopped us from fighting further," 

Shikaku tried to lighten the mood, breaking the awkward silence.

"Hmph!" 

Danzo snorted coldly, "If not for you all, this fight wouldn't have happened."

"You really dare say that?" 

The Third Hokage glared coldly at him, immediately responding, "Wasn't it you who started the war, Danzo?"

"Monkey, who are you accusing of starting the war?"

"I'm talking about you..."

"Enough!" 

Kakashi shouted, drawing everyone's attention, "Everyone, we need to inform the Daimyo, and considering Konoha's heavy losses, we need funding to accelerate our recovery. That's the most important thing right now."

With this exit provided by Kakashi, everyone snorted and turned away.

They each had their own tasks.

Danzo continued to manage the Root division while overseeing Konoha's intelligence. 

The Third Hokage handled the ANBU and was also in charge of finances.

The two of them controlled Konoha's most important departments, taking away a large portion of its power.

Jiraiya and Shikaku also had their own responsibilities, such as logistics or mission assignments, and holding Jonin meetings.

The mission department was huge; not all missions were issued by the Hokage.

Konoha had tens of thousands of shinobi. If every mission had to go through the Hokage, he'd be exhausted beyond belief.

As for Kakashi, this Hokage position felt more like a puppet role.

Even the ANBU, directly under the Hokage, was still controlled by Hiruzen Sarutobi.

This was one of the terms of the peace deal!

Kakashi was only Hokage in name.

Of course! 

He didn't mind at all.

"Alright, everyone!" 

Kakashi clapped his hands, addressing the ninja, including those from the Hyuga clan, "Please follow Shikaku's arrangements. Konoha has suffered greatly, and Iwagakure, Kumogakure, and Sunagakure may make a move. Please be cautious. I'm counting on you!"

"Yes, Lord Hokage!"

The other ninjas also sighed in relief.

Although Konoha was still full of conflicts, a new Hokage had appeared, which meant Konoha was moving toward a new chapter.

Difficulties would always pass.

Whoosh! A figure appeared again.

It was none other than Itsuki, who had just left.

He looked at the backs of several people and smiled slightly.

This is just right! The plan is going smoothly.

Whoosh! He disappeared once again, but this time, there was a small note in his palm, picked up from the spot where Sarutobi Hiruzen and the others had been standing.

And Itsuki truly returned to the Hidden Leaf Village.

A big show was about to unfold, and he needed to be ready to enjoy it thoroughly.

The Akimichi Clan.

Akimichi Torifu sighed, looking at Nara Shikaku, and said, "Konoha is basically divided. Hiruzen is still in power, and Danzo's influence has grown stronger than before. Even we..."

"At least there's no civil war!" Shikaku's voice was calm.

"Sigh!"

Akimichi Torifu said helplessly, "How did it come to this?"

"Yeah, how did it come to this!?" Shikaku's expression turned cold as he said, "Sarutobi Hiruzen and Shimura Danzo are one thing, but Uncle Torifu, why did we also take part in the civil war? Don't you think it's strange?"

"Hmm?"

Akimichi Torifu's expression became serious as he asked, "Shikaku, what do you mean by that?"

"We were probably manipulated!"

Nara Shikaku's face turned pale as he said, "It wasn't until Kakashi stood up and stopped the civil war that I suddenly realized—why did I get involved in the civil war? That was such a foolish move."

His expression was terrifying.

With his capabilities, there were many ways to prevent the civil war.

Even using force to stop it would have been possible in various ways.

But he got involved, fighting to the death with the opposition.

It was simply...

Was he really that crazy and foolish?

"What do you mean?" Akimichi Torifu stood up in shock and said, "Are you saying, could it be..."

"Genjutsu!" Nara Shikaku gritted his teeth. "I was likely under a Genjutsu, deliberately manipulated. Maybe Sarutobi Hiruzen and Shimura Danzo have also been influenced in this way."

"This, this..." Akimichi Torifu was too shocked to speak.

Nara Shikaku was a jōnin! And not just any jōnin—he was an elite jōnin!

His strength was something that even Akimichi Torifu couldn't ignore.

He was definitely close to Kage-level, if not already there.

Even Kakashi might not be his match.

For someone that powerful to tell him he'd been manipulated—possibly under the control of Genjutsu—was this even possible?

Who had that kind of ability? It seemed Nara Shikaku had read Akimichi Torifu's thoughts. He sighed and said, "Uchiha Itsuki!"

Only him!

The Uchiha Clan was naturally skilled in Genjutsu.

And Uchiha Itsuki was among the best of them.

Konoha's former Genjutsu master, Yūhi Shinku—his daughter, Kurenai Yūhi, is now Itsuki's woman!

In other words, Uchiha Itsuki may have inherited Yūhi Shinku's legacy!

Two different Genjutsu techniques, combined—they would be even more terrifying.

No matter how you think about it, there's only Uchiha Itsuki! "The scariest part is..." Nara Shikaku's voice became distant, as if coming from the clouds. "Even if we know this, what can we do?"

In fact, the idea that he was under Genjutsu was just a guess.

Akimichi Torifu would probably believe it.

But would others?

Would Sarutobi Hiruzen believe it? Would Shimura Danzo believe it? If they ran over now and told them, "You've been affected by Genjutsu."

Those two would surely laugh and point at the door: "Get out!"

Nara Shikaku chuckled bitterly and murmured, "I was careless!"

Indeed, he had been careless.

Yamanaka Inoichi, a master of mind techniques, had always been by his side.

Nara Shikaku himself also possessed considerable strength.

So, he never thought he'd be affected by Genjutsu.

Thus, not only did he fail to stop the civil war, but he also participated in it, causing Konoha's power to greatly decline.

The toll had not yet been fully counted.

But!

Nara Shikaku's preliminary estimate was that this civil war had cost them at least two thousand ninjas.

For Konoha at this time, that loss was no small blow.

The worst part was that the opposition had indeed succeeded in dividing Konoha.

"I don't understand something!"

Akimichi Torifu's breathing became heavy as he said, "Uchiha Itsuki caused the civil war through Genjutsu, then came out to stop it and pushed Kakashi to the Hokage seat, forcing us to unite—why?"

"Everything is under his control!" Nara Shikaku sighed and said, "Konoha doesn't need to be too strong. Half-crippled, half-functional is fine. All Uchiha Itsuki needs is a village that can help him and stand between him and Iwagakure and Kumogakure."

"Also, without this civil war, do you think Kumogakure and Iwagakure would have targeted Konoha?"

"Before the civil war, Konoha was already half-crippled, but we still had over ten thousand ninjas, and we could unite."

"At least, when facing external enemies, we were willing to follow Sarutobi Hiruzen's command."

...As long as Sarutobi Hiruzen paid some price and sent members of his own clan to the battlefield.

"So, the chances of those two villages attacking us were only fifty-fifty."

"But now, there's no doubt!" Nara Shikaku sneered coldly. "Iwagakure and Kumogakure will definitely attack Konoha. Just wait—we'll hear the news within three days at the latest."

(End of Chapter)