I'M NARUTO UZUMAKI

Best Friend

After arguing with Fugaku, Itachi Uchiha stood atop a cliff near the Naka River, gazing at the rushing waters below. His heart was heavy with despair, burdened by the recent quarrel with his father. The argument had reinforced his realization that, over the past six months, his efforts to bridge the gap between the Uchiha clan and the Hidden Leaf Village had failed. Neither the village elders nor his father, who was resolute in his plans for a coup d'état, were willing to budge.

Even the extraordinary power of his Mangekyō Sharingan could not alter the grim reality. Itachi sighed softly as memories of Shisui flooded his mind. This was the same spot where he had often met his closest friend. Together, they had shared the same goal of preventing the clan's rebellion and preserving peace. But Shisui had sacrificed himself half a year ago, leaving Itachi to shoulder the impossible burden alone.

As a double agent for both the Uchiha and the village, the weight of expectations from both sides was crushing him. At times, he had considered ending his own life, but Shisui's sacrifice reminded him that his death would resolve nothing. Shisui had proven that the conflict between the Uchiha and the village was not the result of individual failings but a clash of interests between two powerful groups. If he were to die, the flames of rebellion would only burn brighter, hastening the inevitable conflict.

Itachi had already made his decision the day he awakened his Mangekyō Sharingan. Sacrificing the village for his clan's ambitions would lead to ruin for both sides. To protect the majority, he resolved to betray the Uchiha clan. Yet, the one person he could not bear to lose was his younger brother, Sasuke.

While immersed in thought, a swirling vortex appeared, and Obito Uchiha, disguised as Tobi, emerged. Observing Itachi's brooding demeanor, Obito remarked, "Still troubled by the Uchiha clan? Your vision is too limited. Forget these trivial concerns and join me. Together, we can bring the entire shinobi world out of this endless cycle of war and create a new order."

Obito's words were enticing, but Itachi remained unmoved. He could not trust this masked man, who had likely been behind the Nine-Tails attack on the village and Shisui's death. Obito's motives were shrouded in mystery, but Itachi saw an opportunity. With his Mangekyō Sharingan, he could potentially manipulate Obito to his advantage. If Obito could help him eliminate the clan's threat, Itachi might prevent the coup d'état.

After weighing his options, Itachi turned to Obito and said coldly, "I will join your organization, but only if you promise to never attack the Hidden Leaf Village and do me one favor."

Obito's eyes narrowed, intrigued. "What do you need from me?"

"Help me destroy the Uchiha clan," Itachi said without hesitation.

Obito studied Itachi carefully, his expression turning playful. "You want to destroy your own clan? Interesting. Very well, I accept. When do we begin?"

Under the pale moonlight, Itachi's silhouette appeared sinister. "I will decide the timing. You will know when it's time."

Meanwhile, in a secret chamber within the Uchiha compound, Shisui's memory lingered among a small faction of Uchiha who opposed the coup. Before his death, Shisui had worked tirelessly to gather a group of loyalists, many of whom were concerned for their families' safety should the coup fail. These individuals sought Shisui's help to flee the village, entrusting him with their wives and children as they prepared for the worst.

Despite his efforts, Shisui had found it impossible to dissuade the radicals within the clan. To protect the innocents, he devised a plan to smuggle them out of the village using reverse summoning techniques, though this method had severe limitations. The ninja cats allied with the Uchiha clan could only perform this technique for a select few. Shisui prioritized the youngest, leaving others to find more dangerous escape routes.

Unbeknownst to most, some among the group suspected that the man calling himself Shisui was not the real Lihuo, a disguise Shisui had used in secret. They approached him after a meeting, confronting him about his true identity.

Shisui, unfazed, dismissed their curiosity. "It doesn't matter who I am. I've given everything for Uchiha and the village, but I am tired of it all."

The group exchanged glances, their suspicions unspoken. Few Uchihas had sacrificed as much as Shisui, but the dead could not return. Could they?

As they departed, Shisui's thoughts turned to Itachi. He smiled faintly, imagining his best friend grappling with the same dilemmas. Despite their distance, Shisui felt certain that he and Itachi were still aligned in their goals. As comrades who had once shared a vision of peace, no words were needed to understand one another. Their bond transcended distance and death, rooted in their unwavering resolve to protect what they held dear.

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