Reincarnated as Itachi Uchiha at the Start

"Can't Lord Danzo and the Hokage just sit down and talk it out?" Chōza Akimichi asked, his face twisted in helpless frustration. "If this keeps going, we're playing right into the enemy's hands!"

"Talk?" Shikaku Nara gave a bitter smile. "Too much blood has been spilled already—Anbu and Root have lost too many people. Who's going to pay for those lives?"

"Neither side can back down now. They're both aiming to destroy the other."

"You really think one half-hearted apology can undo all of this?"

He looked at Chōza seriously. "You have to understand—the dead don't come back."

"The Nine-Tails incident, the human experiments, the annihilation of the Senju and Uzumaki clans... someone has to take the fall."

"Both sides know exactly what's at stake. This blame—this burden—is too heavy for either of them to bear. That's why only one of them can survive this."

"We all know Lord Danzo," Shikaku said. "If the Lord Hokage takes the blame,Lord Danzo will kick him while he's down. Even if Lord Hiruzen isn't guilty, Lord Danzo will cement that guilt in the public eye—he'll make sure the Third can never rise again."

"That's why Lord Hokage won't back down."

"So then, should Lord Danzo be the one to retreat? Should he dissolve Root voluntarily?"

"Do you think that's even possible?"

"If he disbands Root now, it'll be seen by the villagers as a silent admission of guilt—as if everything is his fault."

"And if the truth is never uncovered? If the investigation drags on for years? That stain will cling to him forever, and he can kiss his dream of becoming Hokage goodbye."

"But if the real culprit is found?" Shikaku's tone lowered. "Then he could frame it as enduring injustice for the sake of the village. He'd come out a hero."

"But if no one is found? If this all fades away unresolved?"

"Then history will damn him. Forever."

"So what would you choose?" he asked. "Do you think Lord Danzo would willingly shoulder a crime he didn't commit?"

"If he retreats now, what would his subordinates think of him?"

"They followed him to build a future. And now he surrenders? Accepts blame?"

"How could they still see him as a leader? How could they trust him again?"

"All it takes is one step back—and the entire foundation crumbles."

"One retreat… and he loses everything."

"For Lord Danzo and Lord Hokage, there is no way out. No path to compromise. Only a cliff edge, one misstep away from disaster."

Shikaku paused, then added coldly, "And how do we know this entire situation wasn't engineered to destroy them both?"

"Do you think either of them is willing to bet their life on that?"

"No," he said, shaking his head. "They can't afford to."

"This is the cruel genius of it: a public trap, set right in front of them. And they're both forced to walk straight into it."

"The real enemy isn't interested in who wins. They want both of them dead."

Yamanaka Inoichi, silent until now, finally asked, "So there's no way out?"

"There are only two options," Shikaku said. "Either someone takes the fall... or we expose the mastermind behind this mess."

"But if someone steps forward to take the blame before anything is resolved, their career is finished. Worse—they'll go down in history as a traitor."

"And even if one of them wanted to take responsibility, it would require trust. Mutual trust."

"Do you really think Lord Danzo and Lord Hokage trust each other right now?" Shikaku asked, though the answer was obvious.

"No," he said quietly. "Not a chance."

"And as for uncovering the mastermind…"

He sighed. "That's easier said than done. Do you think the real culprit will give them that chance? Will just sit back and wait to be caught?"

"Not likely."

"That's why I'm calling this what it is—a death trap."

There was a long silence. Then Shikaku added, "If there's even a sliver of hope for Konoha, it's this—someone like Lord Jiraiya or Lady Tsunade must return to take control. Someone strong enough, and respected enough, to take over the investigation and hold the village together."

"But... that's wishful thinking."

"Power breeds obsession. And the lust for power… destroys reason."

"By the time either of them returns… it may already be too late."

"By then, Konoha might have already fallen."

Outside the Root compound, the aftermath of the Anbu–Root clash lay in bloody ruin. Dozens of civilian shinobi and Anbu operatives lay injured, some unnamed souls lost in the chaos. Without Danzo's intervention, the Root might have slaughtered them all.

Danzo Shimura stood amid the devastation, directing medical shinobi to treat the wounded.

From his face came genuine sorrow as he addressed the crowd. His voice rang out, firm yet tinged with regret:

"Since dawn, malice has spread among the higher ranks of Konoha. Someone has ignited the old resentments over the Nine-Tails Incident and the human experiments. Now, in multiple districts, violent demonstrations are underway—people are trying to storm the Hokage's office and burn down the Root compound, all to further a hidden agenda."

He gestured to the ruins.

"The situation has escalated. Konoha is in partial paralysis. Most villagers are too swept up in anger to go about their daily lives."

His eyes searched the crowd.

"At the root of this chaos are two issues—the Nine-Tails Incident and the ruins of the human experiment program. Aside from these two grievances, none of you truly understands who's orchestrating these protests, and no one represents the village in talks with the Hokage or myself."

"How many children, students, or innocent villagers were dragged into this frenzy?"

He paused, letting their silence sink in.

"And the shinobi? The Anbu? You've added chaos instead of taking responsibility for protecting our home."

He swept his gaze over the mangled streets.

"Look around. How many lives have been lost? How many families torn apart?"

His voice grew urgent:

"Even if the Nine-Tails Incident was the Hokage's doing… Even if the human experiments were carried out under orders… Even if my own eye is the Sharingan—"

"—Let me be clear. Konoha has laws. The Land of Fire's Daimyo enforces them. Until everything is proven, you act like outside agitators. You act like spies!"

"You who stormed the Hokage's office, who attacked the Root compound with kunai… you've only made Konoha weaker. You've stoked hatred and deepened the wounds."

"Once Root is destroyed and the Hokage's authority endangered, we'll face invasion from across the shinobi world!"

He pointed an accusing finger.

"At that point, you'll be deemed enemies of the Leaf. How is that different from being traitors or spies?"

This unrest had already cost Konoha its legacy—once known for wealth, peace, and stability.

"Konoha's reputation is shattered. Investors, missions... they'll vanish. Who'll do business or send contracts to a village falling apart?"

His voice softened with sorrow as people lowered their heads, tears revealed on many faces. Some Anbu covered their eyes.

"We were misled. This unrest is based on rumors and foreign influence."

His voice rose again:

"Justice cannot be buried. Order cannot be dismantled."

"I swear to you today: I will uncover the true mastermind behind the Nine-Tails Incident and the human experiments. Whoever is responsible—no matter how high above—will face justice!"

Danzo's voice rang with righteous conviction:

"I call on all loyal villagers: stand together. Reject violence. Demand justice. Let Konoha be restored! Let it prosper again! Let it sail forward once more!"

The crowd stirred, murmuring agreement. A renewed sense of loyalty glowed in their eyes.

Danzo lifted his head proudly:

"History is written by the victors—and this time, we will be the victors. Konoha will endure!"