I'M NARUTO UZUMAKI

The Will of the Root

"How do you plan to stop the Uchiha's rebellion by yourself?"

The elderly Mitokado Homura sat back as Koharu Utatane spoke bluntly. She did not believe that Uchiha Itachi could handle the entire Uchiha clan alone. Even if the ANBU forces under the Hokage's direct command were fully mobilized, subduing the Uchiha would be a monumental task.

Facing the councilor's skepticism, Itachi did not answer immediately. Instead, he activated his Mangekyō Sharingan.

The slowly rotating kaleidoscope pattern radiated an ominous power, instantly drawing the attention of Konoha's elders. Koharu and Homura inhaled sharply, falling into momentary silence.

"Another one…"

Over the years, the number of those who awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan—a dojutsu once thought to be a rarity—had grown unsettling. First, it had been Shisui of the Body Flicker; now, Itachi. The Uchiha clan's prodigious talent was undeniable, yet, at the same time, the number of promising young shinobi outside their bloodline, particularly in the Hokage faction, seemed to dwindle.

Danzo Shimura narrowed his only visible eye. He had initially assumed that Itachi relied solely on Shisui's remaining eye, but reality had exceeded his expectations. Itachi had awakened his own Mangekyō Sharingan.

Yet, despite this unexpected development, Danzo remained unfazed. The Uchiha had already been driven to the edge, and he had successfully manipulated Itachi into a corner—a corner from which only the path of darkness remained.

After a brief pause, the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, spoke solemnly.

"Itachi, tell me your plan. If you require assistance, say so. The village cannot afford civil strife."

Itachi raised his head, his voice unwavering.

"There will be no rebellion tonight. The Uchiha Clan was not eradicated by Konoha's forces… but by Uchiha Itachi himself."

His next words were delivered with finality.

"In exchange, I want my younger brother, Sasuke, to be spared. Let him grow up in the village, unharmed."

A heavy silence fell upon the room. Koharu and Homura exchanged uneasy glances, their gazes filled with a mixture of fear and awe.

Compared to Itachi's absolute solution, their previous discussions about "containing" the Uchiha seemed laughable. They had merely intended to force the clan into submission, squeezing them for more power and influence. But Itachi?

Itachi sought to erase the Uchiha entirely.

"The Uchiha Clan is inherently dangerous… They should never have been trusted with power," Koharu murmured, recalling the teachings of the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju.

Hiruzen Sarutobi exhaled deeply. Though he had never agreed with Tobirama's more pragmatic stance on the Uchiha, he could not deny that the clan's growing discontent had made their situation volatile. Even so, he hesitated to take such an extreme course of action.

"Itachi… I cannot approve of this plan," the Third Hokage finally said, his tone firm. "The Uchiha are still part of this village. Even if they have strayed, they can still be saved."

"Lord Third…" Itachi's expression hardened.

"Say no more," Sarutobi interrupted. "I will personally lead ANBU in negotiating with Fugaku. The village must not abandon its people—not even the Uchiha."

With that, he gestured for Itachi to leave.

Itachi silently exited the chamber, and Danzo followed after him without a word.

Inside the dimly lit council room, Hiruzen remained motionless.

The two advisors turned toward him, awaiting his final decision.

After a long pause, the Third Hokage spoke into the darkness:

"Increase surveillance on Naruto. Assemble all available ANBU at headquarters. A special operation will take place tonight."

Koharu and Homura finally relaxed, sensing the shift in tone.

"Sarutobi, as long as you handle this carefully, we will not interfere further," Koharu said. "This is an internal village matter, after all."

---

In the Corridor

Itachi and Danzo walked in silence, their steps measured. Despite Danzo's higher rank, it was Itachi who dictated the pace of this conversation.

After a few moments, Danzo came to a halt.

"Still hoping for negotiations?" he asked. "Let me be clear—negotiations between the Hokage and the Uchiha will fail. It will escalate into full-blown civil war."

Danzo's one visible eye gleamed coldly.

"You can either follow the Hokage's naïve path and watch Konoha crumble, or you can prevent catastrophe with your own hands. I trust you will make the right choice."

Itachi did not reply, but the look in his eyes was resolute.

Danzo smirked slightly.

"You are indeed an Uchiha with the will of Root," he said. "Konoha thrives because of those who sacrifice everything for its future."

He turned away, but his next words carried an unmistakable weight:

"Perhaps our decisions will be condemned… but history will remember them as necessary."

As he finished speaking, he noticed that Itachi had already vanished into the night.

Returning to his ever-calculating demeanor, Danzo gave a quiet order to his waiting operatives:

"Monitor Uchiha Itachi. Once the Uchiha clan is eliminated… bring me his eyes."

"Yes, Lord Danzo!"

---

Naka Shrine – Dusk

The faint glow of candlelight barely illuminated Fugaku Uchiha's sharp features. He sat cross-legged at the center of Naka Shrine, his patience running dangerously thin.

He had postponed the clan assembly for hours, waiting for his eldest son's arrival. But Itachi had not come.

As the minutes dragged on, Fugaku felt his resolve weaken.

How could he lead a coup d'état—a rebellion against Konoha—if he could not even command his own son?

Beside him, Yashiro and Inabi Uchiha hesitated.

"Captain, should we delay the coup?" Yashiro asked. "Perhaps we should wait for a more opportune moment?"

Fugaku remained silent. Slowly, he stood up and walked toward the entrance of the shrine.

Dozens of Sharingan eyes watched him, uncertain of their fate.

Without their leader—and without the most crucial Mangekyō Sharingan—was rebellion even possible?

A heavy feeling of unease spread among them. Would the higher-ups strike first?

Would this be the last night the Uchiha clan existed?

Then, amidst the restless whispers, a figure suddenly stood up.

"Even if Fugaku's plan has failed… the Uchiha still have another way forward."

The clan members turned, startled.

The voice did not belong to one of the elders.

It belonged to a younger shinobi—one who had just awakened his three-tomoe Sharingan.

"Lihuo, this is not the time for reckless talk," Inabi frowned. "You are not yet a senior member of the clan."

The young man smirked.

With a single hand sign, he released his transformation jutsu.

The moment his true face was revealed, the room fell deathly silent.

Uchiha Shisui stood tall, his gaze unwavering.

"Perhaps Lihuo has no say in the clan's future," he said. "But what about Uchiha Shisui?"

His Mangekyō Sharingan gleamed in the dim candlelight.

"Now, my fellow Uchiha—are you ready to listen?"

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