Itachi went to see Danzo for the sake of his younger brother Sasuke.
Soon, Itachi arrived at the door of the Root chamber—its surface rough, the wood swollen from years of neglect, and the faintest scent of ash clinging to it. Without hesitation, he reached forward and pushed the heavy wooden door open.
"Squeak!"
The creaking echoed eerily in the silence. Inside, Danzo stood with his back to Itachi. Dim lighting from a flickering oil lamp threw long, twitching shadows against the far wall, masking how many hidden Root agents waited in the gloom.
Itachi's eyes narrowed as he stepped forward. The air was heavy with incense and the cold stink of sealed chakra. He sensed at least a dozen killing intents around him, masked, tightly leashed. But he didn't flinch.
"Danzo, where is my brother?" he asked sharply, his voice calm, yet cold.
Danzo turned, the movement slow and deliberate. His right eye was again concealed beneath a fresh bandage. He looked at Itachi with the detached gaze of a man who weighed lives like coins.
Danzo spoke indifferently. "You will see him when you complete the task."
The words dropped like iron in Itachi's chest. A sudden chill snaked down his spine.
"What do you mean?!" Itachi demanded, a rare tremor creeping into his voice.
Danzo's tone remained unchanged. "Itachi, you're smart. You know what I mean."
Itachi's jaw tightened. He already understood Danzo's implication: to continue the task, to destroy the Uchiha clan. Again.
His voice trembled with suppressed rage. "They were all willing to betray Kaito and stand with Konoha just now!"
Danzo's eyes narrowed. "I don't care. Just do your job well."
He stepped forward slightly, his cane tapping once on the stone floor.
"Even though they sided with Konoha, it was only because they saw Konoha's strength and believed Kaito would lose. They didn't expect Kaito's power to be so overwhelming. He suppressed all five of us single-handedly."
Danzo's voice lowered. "When Kaito asked you to choose, the old man was still conscious enough to read their true hearts—you knew it too."
The flame flickered between them, casting Danzo's face in half-light.
"Konoha has just suffered an enormous loss. For the sake of stability, I won't let this group of traitors stay."
Itachi said nothing.
He had seen the wavering hearts of the clan members. Danzo wasn't wrong. But Fugaku had risked everything to save him. For the first time, Itachi felt his loyalty to the village crack—his heart bending toward blood, not politics.
The silence deepened.
He wanted to turn and walk out.
But... Sasuke.
Danzo noticed the hesitation and struck like a blade.
"I give you two choices: you and your brother survive while the others die... or you side with your clan and face Konoha's destruction."
His voice dropped into a low snarl.
"The Anbu have surrounded the Uchiha compound. By dawn, if you're still alive, I'll kill Sasuke first, then the rest."
"You—!"
Fury surged through Itachi. His Sharingan flared to life, spinning with deadly intent.
Instantly, the pressure of over a dozen elite Jōnin surged forward, chakra thickening the air like oil. The room bristled with killing intent.
Itachi dropped slightly into a ready stance. He wasn't afraid—they couldn't stop him. But if he moved, if he attacked Danzo... Sasuke would die.
Slowly, painfully, he clenched his fists and forced his eyes to return to their normal state. The air lightened. The pressure eased.
But the eyes—those unseen watchers—remained locked on him.
"Where is the Third Hokage?" he asked, his voice low. "I want to see him."
Danzo's lips curled.
"Hiruzen's arms were cut off. He's in medical care under the best ninja we have."
He turned fully now, cloak rustling.
"Before he left, he handed over the Hokage's authority to me. So no, I speak for Konoha."
He took a step back into the shadows.
"You're intelligent. Make your choice. You have five hours until dawn."
Danzo turned away, his back a final insult.
Itachi stood motionless. The flame crackled.
Then, without a word, he turned and walked out.
Outside, under the pale, empty sky, Itachi walked slowly.
He didn't speak until the shadows shifted beside him.
"Come out. Our mission continues."
A distorted ripple, and Obito appeared beside him.
"Danzo threatened your brother, didn't he?" Obito said quietly.
Itachi gave no reply. The silence was confirmation.
After leaving Danzo, he went to Fugaku. He had shared Danzo's ultimatum.
Fugaku had listened, eyes heavy. Then, he made his choice.
For Sasuke. For Itachi. He would accept Danzo's terms.
They had no power left. The villagers wanted blood. Vengeance burned in every eye after the fall of Konoha. Resistance was suicide.
By acting alone, Itachi could preserve what little remained.
Fugaku and his wife chose their end. Quiet. Alone. They gave Itachi a final mercy—he would not be their executioner.
Now, he had returned to Obito.
After hearing the summary, Obito only said: "Then let's begin. Dawn is approaching."
Itachi nodded.
They vanished.
In the darkness of the Uchiha compound, unease hung heavy.
The remaining clan members couldn't sleep. Whispers spread like smoke. Would the village accept them? Was Kaito gone? Were they safe?
The answer came in screams.
Itachi and Obito moved like shadows. Like judgment.
Those who resisted died first. Genjutsu silenced others. Bodies fell in silence. The Anbu's barriers ensured the cries never escaped.
Just as Kaito predicted, their fate was sealed.