I'M NARUTO UZUMAKI

When the Clan Meeting Is in Progress

The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, is deeply troubled despite maintaining a composed exterior. He had just returned from visiting the Uchiha Clan's district, hoping to quell tensions. While he remains committed to the Will of Fire—believing that even an outcast like Naruto Uzumaki can one day aspire to be Hokage and pass on the village's spirit—he is conflicted about the fate of the Uchiha.

Hiruzen hesitates, torn between diplomacy and the aggressive stance pushed by Danzo Shimura. He fears the consequences of allowing the Uchiha to act unchecked but also dreads the repercussions of suppressing them too forcefully. His indecision allows tensions to fester, creating an inevitable crisis that will soon spiral beyond control.

One Week Later

With the academy on holiday, the once-lively streets near the school are devoid of troublemaking students. However, the outward calm is deceptive—beneath the surface, Konoha is on edge. The Uchiha Police Force, resentful of their growing isolation, finds itself at odds with the Hokage's administration. A clash seems imminent, and the village's ninja clans refuse to take sides prematurely.

Survival instincts dictate their neutrality; just as they abandoned Orochimaru after Minato Namikaze's rise to Hokage, they now watch and wait. Whoever emerges victorious will gain their allegiance. This silence, however, is merely the calm before the storm.

Nanga Shrine, Uchiha District

Inside the hidden chamber beneath Nanga Shrine, where the Uchiha's most sacred secrets—including the truth about the Mangekyō Sharingan—are inscribed, nearly every able-bodied Uchiha ninja has gathered. They prepare for battle, determined to reclaim their lost honor and power from the Hokage's regime.

Uchiha Fugaku, their leader and the only one aware of his son's Mangekyō Sharingan, does not immediately address the assembled clansmen. He is waiting for one final arrival—his eldest son, Uchiha Itachi.

Itachi, as an Anbu captain, possesses intelligence on Konoha's defenses, and his Mangekyō Sharingan could turn the tide of battle. But minutes stretch into an agonizing half-hour, and still, he does not appear.

Restlessness grows. Uchiha Yashiro leans in and whispers, "Fugaku, if we delay much longer, we risk another failure. We must act."

Though uneasy, Fugaku remains firm. "Wait a little longer. We need Itachi."

Shisui, hidden among the crowd, shares Fugaku's concerns but has his own plans. He intends to stage a coup within the clan itself—seizing leadership from Fugaku and forcing the Uchiha to leave Konoha entirely. But Itachi's absence unsettles him.

Has Danzo already struck? Has Itachi fallen like Shisui himself nearly had? Or—Shisui dares not entertain the thought—has Itachi betrayed them?

Fugaku, too, begins to fear the unthinkable. He had given his son an ultimatum: choose the village or the clan. Has Itachi followed the path of Uchiha Madara and Uchiha Shisui before him?

If so, is the Mangekyō Sharingan truly a blessing, or is it a curse that drives every wielder to forsake their kin?

Hokage Rock

Atop Hokage Rock, the wind howls around Uchiha Itachi. From here, he can see all of Konoha—just as Obito Uchiha once did before unleashing the Nine-Tails eight years ago. Unlike Obito, however, Itachi is not here to destroy. He is here to decide the village's future.

Obito, standing nearby, watches with quiet amusement. Once, he was the agent of chaos. Now, he is merely an observer, awaiting the spectacle about to unfold.

Itachi takes a final glance toward the Uchiha district, then leaps into the night, descending toward the Hokage Building.

Hokage's Office

The air inside the Hokage's chamber is tense. Hiruzen sits flanked by Danzo, Homura Mitokado, and Koharu Utatane—Konoha's inner circle. When the door swings open and Itachi steps in, a collective breath is held.

"You're finally here," the Third Hokage says gravely. "Do you have anything to report?"

Itachi meets their gaze, his expression unreadable. "Yes. According to my intelligence, the Uchiha Police Force will initiate their coup tonight. Their primary targets are you and the Hokage Building."

Danzo smirks knowingly, while Hiruzen's expression darkens.

"But that is not all," Itachi continues, his voice unwavering.

"I have not come here just to report this rebellion—I have come to put an end to it myself."

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