Evil Uchiha Itsuki

"What's going on with Iwagakure and Kumogakure?"

"Itsuki sighed, 'They made demands of Konoha, saying they wouldn't go to war if Konoha agreed.'"

Yugao Uzuki thought for a moment and then sneered, "It sounds like they made some harsh demands. Judging by your expression... Hmph, Konoha really is hopeless now. They'll agree to anything just to avoid a war."

She held a certain bitterness toward Konoha.

It was the kind of frustration one feels when something they love disappoints them.

She had defected with Itsuki without hesitation, largely because of her disappointment in Konoha.

As an Anbu member, Yugao was all too familiar with Konoha's darkness.

Seeing too much had numbed her, drained her hope, and so she left with the man she loved.

Moreover, deep down, she felt a growing impulse—to destroy Konoha.

To rebuild a new Konoha and make it glorious again.

After all, it was her lifelong belief.

"No! That's actually why I'm surprised," Itsuki sighed. "Their demands weren't as harsh as you'd expect. In fact, I'd call them reasonable, at least for the current Konoha."

"How could that be?" Yugao was stunned.

After Itsuki explained the conditions Iwagakure, Kumogakure, and Sunagakure had made to Konoha, Yugao frowned deeply.

"Something feels off."

"You're right about that!" Itsuki replied, after thinking for a moment. "I'm not sure what those two villages are thinking, but there's definitely something going on. It's impossible they'd just let Konoha regain its strength."

After all, how could an enemy genuinely wish for their rival to recover?

The villages' relationships were more like wanting the other to perish as soon as possible.

"And Sunagakure..."

"Sunagakure saw that Iwagakure and Kumogakure weren't following the original plan, so their envoy made a simple request: money, to fix a river!"

Itsuki paused and added, "And Konoha actually agreed."

"A war that seemed inevitable didn't happen, and it ended with just conditions. It feels off," Yugao said calmly. "I don't know why, but it seems like it would've been better for Konoha to fight."

"I think so too."

"So what should we do?" Yugao suddenly asked, "If Iwagakure and Kumogakure aren't going against Konoha, will they come after us?"

The current state of the Fire Shadow Village couldn't handle a war.

At least, not an all-out one.

Itsuki led Yugao to the wall where a map of the ninja world hung, and said, "The countries nearest to us are the Land of Rivers, the Land of Bears, the Land of Craftsmen, and Konoha. It's unlikely any of them would attack us."

"Next are the Land of Iron and the Land of Hot Water. If either of these makes a move, that means the Land of Lightning will as well. As for the Land of Earth, it's far away, so it's not very likely."

Yugao stared at the map and mumbled, "Taking on the Land of Lightning... It's not that difficult."

"Heh." Itsuki laughed, "So, no need to worry too much. On the contrary, it's the Land of Water, Kirigakure..."

He frowned slightly, muttering, "It's been so long, and they're still in a closed state. The 'Village of the Bloody Mist' should have ended by now."

"Should I send someone to investigate?" Yugao asked.

"No." Itsuki didn't hesitate before refusing. "Kirigakure is extremely xenophobic. Any outsiders who enter are guaranteed to be discovered—and none make it out alive."

Yugao frowned. "Fine, then. I'm not that concerned about Kirigakure anyway. From what I remember, after all that time under the 'Bloody Mist,' they must be exhausted. How much strength could they still have left?"

"No." Itsuki shook his head seriously. "Yugao, do you understand? Konoha is the largest village in the ninja world, but Kirigakure is the only one with the potential to surpass it."

Unlimited potential!

That was Uchiha Itsuki's assessment of Kirigakure.

They were second only to Konoha in terms of ancient bloodline limits.

They had plenty of secret techniques too.

But, unfortunately!

Their growth had been severely hindered.

Successive Mizukages had adopted incorrect policies, and due to the influence of Tobi and Uchiha Madara, the village had almost collapsed twice.

If not for Itsuki, Kirigakure might still be under Tobi's control.

Itsuki sighed in resignation.

"Iwagakure has Sunagakure tying them up. Kumogakure is not seen as much of a threat by Fire Shadow Village. So, just keep an eye on Kirigakure."

"Let's do this—send Shisui. No one's more suitable than Shisui of the Body Flicker."

After Itsuki finished speaking, he noticed Yugao staring intently at him.

"What is it?" he asked, puzzled.

"Have I become even more handsome?" he said jokingly.

This was a bit troubling.

He was already handsome, and if he became even more so, wouldn't that add more women trying to get close?

"Do we really need to send Shisui? If I remember correctly, there was a woman from Kirigakure who showed up around you," Yugao said coldly. "Who is she? She's probably an important figure in Kirigakure, right? With her around, are you really worried about getting intel on Kirigakure?"

Itsuki paused awkwardly, then said, "You still remember that?"

"What do you think? Just seeing that woman gives me a headache."

Not that her chest was particularly large, nor was her butt particularly shapely, yet her body proportions were perfect.

She seemed to have no weak points.

An absolute rival!

Yugao said irritably, "Tell me, who is she?"

"Well..." Itsuki looked around and then whispered, "The Mizukage!"

Yugao was speechless.

"You expect me to believe that?"

A Mizukage who ignores official duties and spends her time wandering with you?

Who would believe that?

"Why wouldn't you believe it?" Itsuki said, surprised. "Her name is Mei Terumi, and she is the Fifth Mizukage of Kirigakure."

"Really?"

"Yes, really," Itsuki shrugged helplessly.

Yugao gasped, "Wow, you really went all out—you even slept with the Mizukage?"

"Uh, cough!" Itsuki coughed twice and said awkwardly, "At the time, she wasn't the Mizukage yet. I didn't think too much of it. Who knew she'd suddenly tell me one day that she had to go back and become Mizukage... I was quite surprised myself."

Of course, that was a lie.

The story wasn't wrong, but still!

Itsuki had read the original events and knew from the start that Mei Terumi would be the Fifth Mizukage.

Of course!

His approach to Mei Terumi wasn't because of her future position, but purely because he was attracted to her.

"Is that so?" Yugao asked, with a cold laugh, and then something seemed to dawn on her, and she paused.

"What is it?" Itsuki asked, puzzled.

"I was thinking..." Yugao began seriously, "The Fifth Kazekage is also yours, isn't she?"

"Pakura once 'fought' alongside me, what do you think?" Itsuki teased.

Yugao, ignoring his joking tone, continued seriously, "You built a village as powerful as any of the Five Great Shinobi Nations, didn't you?"

"Yeah." Itsuki nodded, beginning to grasp what Yugao was getting at.

"Now you tell me that even the Mizukage is yours," Yugao sighed. "Of the six great shinobi villages, you have control over half. The other three are on the brink of war, and after they fight, win or lose, their power will surely diminish."

"Itsuki, what are you trying to do—unify the shinobi world?"

"Heh." Seeing Yugao's serious expression, Itsuki couldn't help but smile.

"Yugao, you overestimate me."

"First of all, I don't have such grand ambitions."

"Second, I doubt I have the ability to unify the shinobi world, let alone govern it properly. My ability probably doesn't surpass that of Hashirama by much."

"I just want to protect those I love and who love me."

Seeing the sincerity in his eyes, Yugao smiled gently.

"If you wanted to unify the shinobi world, I'd help you," she said quietly. "Maybe, once unified, it could be better. Do you think it could be a world without war?"

Itsuki still shook its head and said, "I don't know what the ninja world will be like after unification. I have no ambition in that regard, so I don't care to find out either."

The world!

Long divided, it must unite; long united, it must divide!

That's what many people often say.

But!

In Naruto, it's different.

From beginning to end, the ninja world has never truly united!

No one has ever achieved unification.

Hashirama Senju didn't succeed.

Madara Uchiha didn't succeed.

They were the ones closest to unifying the ninja world.

Going further back, Kaguya didn't succeed, nor did the Sage of Six Paths.

Even after Naruto defeated Kaguya and Sasuke, he still didn't unify the ninja world.

Some people lacked the ability, and some had the ability but chose not to.

It almost feels like an invisible force is preventing them.

Is that really the case? Itsuki doesn't know, and he isn't interested in knowing.

Anyway, he genuinely has no plans to unify the ninja world.

His goal is to make the Village Hidden in the Fire even stronger.

...

After some discussion, Konoha agreed to the three villages' conditions.

One wanted weapons!

One wanted money!

One wanted bloodlines!

Kakashi was assigned to go to the Hyuga clan and discuss sending a clan member as part of the "conditions."

It goes without saying, once this person was taken to Hidden Cloud, they would undoubtedly be used as a "seed" to create a new branch of the Hyuga clan in Hidden Cloud.

"Well?" Kakashi took a sip of tea, speaking calmly, "What does Lord Hiashi think of my proposal?"

Hiashi Hyuga looked at Kakashi strangely and said, "Doing this will anger Hiruzen Sarutobi and the others, and the Hyuga clan will not support you."

"I am well aware!" Kakashi replied calmly, "But I can't just stand by and watch as the Byakugan of the Hyuga clan falls into the hands of Hidden Cloud."

Support from the Hyuga clan?

Don't make me laugh.

Since the founding of Konoha, the Hyuga have always been a clan without much backbone.

The Branch House has some backbone.

But the Main House...

Ironically, it's the Main House that controls the Hyuga.

"Fine!" Hiashi Hyuga slapped the table after a long silence and said, "The Hokage has given an order, and the Hyuga clan must obey!"

Kakashi chuckled.

Disgusting!

Clearly, it's his own unwillingness, clearly, he wants to maintain his lofty position, yet he shifts all the responsibility onto him.

Obey the Hokage's orders?

Is this the only time?

Whatever!

Kakashi did what he had to do—so what? Hiruzen and the others' dissatisfaction didn't matter to him. If they had the guts, they could try making the Fifth Hokage disappear right now!

After Kakashi "convinced" the Hyuga clan, Hiruzen Sarutobi and others gathered enough money and weapons to send to Hidden Sand and Hidden Stone.

When the Hyuga clan member was brought over, everyone's expression changed.

It was a Hyuga with no eyes!

"What is the meaning of this, Konoha?" the Hidden Cloud envoy shouted in anger.

"What do you mean?" Kakashi stood up suddenly, shouting back, "Hidden Cloud envoy, watch your tone, or I'll kill you! Try me!"

Kakashi's eyes were filled with endless killing intent.

It was genuine killing intent.

The Hidden Cloud envoy instantly fell silent.

Hiruzen and others watched Kakashi warily.

They could tell Kakashi genuinely wanted to kill.

If the Hidden Cloud envoy were to die at this point, everything they had given up would be in vain.

They would never allow that.

"Kakashi, calm down," Shikaku Nara said seriously.

"How can I stay calm?" Kakashi looked at Shikaku coldly and said, "Konoha and Hidden Cloud are both among the six great ninja villages, and yet he dares yell at me, the Hokage? He's trampling Konoha's dignity underfoot. You may not care, but I do. I will protect Konoha's dignity."

A few words from Kakashi left Hiruzen and the others feeling embarrassed.

In their hearts, they had always looked down on Kakashi, considering the young Hokage to be their puppet.

So they instinctively ignored Kakashi.

They hadn't even cared when Hidden Cloud was shouting.

Looking back now, it indeed seemed inappropriate.

Kakashi is the Hokage!

Regardless of their personal opinions, Kakashi is still the Hokage—he represents the highest power and status in Konoha.

He also represents Konoha itself.

If he's humiliated, then Konoha is humiliated.

The Hidden Cloud envoy quickly realized his mistake and said, "I never intended to insult the Hokage. I was just angry. Konoha agreed to our condition, so why go back on it? It's an insult to Hidden Cloud."

"We agreed. When did we go back on it?" Kakashi said coldly. "You wanted a member of the Hyuga Main House, right? There he is."

He pointed to the Hyuga member with the gouged-out eyes.

The Hidden Cloud envoy gritted his teeth and said, "Fine, I lost my composure. Please forgive me, Hokage."

He bowed deeply.

"Hokage!" Seeing this, Hiruzen and the others all turned to Kakashi.

Their intention was clear—they hoped Kakashi wouldn't pursue the matter any further.

They wanted peace.

Even if that peace carried some shame.

"Sigh!" Kakashi sighed internally and said calmly, "Alright. Your conditions are fulfilled; I hope you will announce it soon."

"Of course!" The Hidden Stone and Hidden Sand envoys responded quickly.

The Hidden Cloud envoy, though feeling uncomfortable about the blind Hyuga member, still nodded.

Kakashi left without looking back.

But inside, he was sneering.

This was only the beginning. The Hidden Cloud envoy wanted the Hyuga bloodline—it was a good idea, but unfortunately, they wouldn't succeed.

He had quietly prepared for what was to come, waiting for the storm to arrive.

(End of chapter)