Chapter 66: Bearing the Blame and Swinging the Butcher Knife at the Tribe
Night fell, and the Hokage's Office was filled with the strong scent of tobacco. A figure silently appeared in the center of the office. Uchiha Itachi knelt on one knee, bowing to Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzō Shimura.
"Hokage-sama, Danzō-sama."
Hiruzen Sarutobi took the pipe from his mouth and sighed heavily, his sigh seeming full of helplessness.
"Itachi, raise your head." He said. "Child, you've worked hard. We all know that you are different from other Uchiha. Within your heart, the true Will of Fire burns. You understand better than anyone how hard-won peace is for this Village, which has endured so much war."
Danzō Shimura, standing nearby, let out a cold snort, already a bit impatient. "Hiruzen, there's no need for these pointless words."
Danzō slammed a scroll onto the desk with a sharp "thud."
"Itachi, see for yourself!" The scroll was pushed in front of Itachi.
The scroll's title read: "Top Secret Investigation Report on Uchiha Akira's Intent to Collude with Hidden Mist and Iwagakure Rogue Ninja to Overthrow Konoha."
These were fake pieces of evidence meticulously forged by Danzō. Itachi's pupils sharply contracted as he tremblingly reached out and flipped through the scroll.
The contents of the scroll were very detailed, including forged letters, some even bearing Uchiha Akira's "personal signature." There were forged meeting records with times and locations precise to the minute, and a so-called "coup d'état plan" which detailed how the Uchiha Clan would control the Nine-Tails, destroy the Hokage Building, and establish a terrifying new order ruled by the Sharingan.
All of this pointed to one conclusion: Uchiha Akira, the newly appointed young Clan Head, was a complete madman, an ambitious individual a hundred times more dangerous than Uchiha Madara.
"How is this possible...?" Itachi's voice was filled with disbelief.
Itachi recalled Akira crushing the thunder-fire dragon of Susanoo on the training ground. He remembered Akira's calm words, "Your blood should not be shed here." Could that powerful, domineering, yet somewhat restrained Akira truly do such a crazy thing?
"Nothing is impossible!" Danzō's voice rang out again. "The power of the Sharingan is inherently accompanied by a curse! Akira's ambition has already expanded enough to swallow the entire Ninja World!"
"Becoming the Clan Head of the Uchiha Clan is just the first step; what he wants next is to forcefully seize Konoha and lead the Uchiha Clan down the path of a coup d'état."
"Akira declaring the Uchiha Clan Territory a forbidden zone is merely the first bugle call before the coup! This is to make it easier for him to secretly plot to seize Konoha. Once he completes his preparations, Konoha will be plunged into utter devastation, and the Fourth Great Ninja War will completely erupt due to the Uchiha Clan's selfishness!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi took over the conversation. "Itachi, I do not wish to see this happen. I do not wish to see the Village plunged into a sea of blood from civil strife, nor do I wish to see the Uchiha Clan, which you deeply love, led by your new Clan Head down a path of self-destruction."
"Now, perhaps only you can stop this tragedy."
Itachi's body stiffened in place. He finally understood. This late-night summons was not an inquiry, nor a discussion; it was the final judgment on the entire Uchiha Clan.
Danzō continued after Hiruzen. "Uchiha Itachi, the Village now needs you to carry out the mission of eliminating the Uchiha Clan! To prevent the situation from becoming unmanageable, we must make a judgment first."
Danzō stared at Itachi and slowly said, "But why... me...?"
"Because you are an Uchiha, yet your heart is with Konoha." Hiruzen's answer was direct. "This is your destiny, and it is the responsibility you must bear for the Village."
Itachi's mind was in chaos. His father's gaze. The fervent support of his clansmen. Uchiha Akira's powerful Mangekyō Sharingan. And… Sasuke's innocent smile.
Sasuke. If war broke out, what would happen to him? Would Sasuke die in the flames of war, like countless innocent children? No. Absolutely not.
He could bear all the blame. He could fall into the lowest hell. But he could not let Sasuke suffer even the slightest harm.
"I understand..." Itachi slowly raised his head.
His Mangekyō Sharingan had opened at some point, and tears silently streamed down his cheeks.
"For the Village, for… peace."
A flicker of imperceptible shrewdness flashed in Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes. It was done. Hiruzen stepped forward and gently placed his hand on Itachi's shoulder, which trembled with pain.
"Itachi, we promise you. After you complete your mission, Konoha will guarantee Uchiha Sasuke's absolute safety. He will receive the best training, stay far away from all this strife, and grow up healthy in a peaceful Village."
This was the final, and most fatal, straw. It completely broke Uchiha Itachi.
"I… will carry out the mission."
"However, I have one condition." Itachi continued. "Uchiha Akira's strength is too great. I don't even know his limits. And my father, he has also awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan. I alone cannot defeat them."
A cunning smile flashed across Danzō's face before he spoke to Itachi.
"You need not worry about that. We will find sufficiently powerful helpers for you. That night, my Anbu Root will seal off the entire Uchiha Clan Territory, cutting off all possibilities of external contact, ensuring not even a fly can escape."
"A barrier will rise, and Root will be on standby in the periphery; any Uchiha attempting to escape or call for help will be immediately eliminated. This will be a silent cleansing. Itachi, you and your helpers only need to be responsible for the core targets."
"Uchiha Akira, and Uchiha Fugaku. As for the remaining women and children, and those ordinary clansmen… Leave them to our Root to handle. We will handle it very cleanly, leaving no trouble for the Village. You, only need to carry out your mission."
Itachi left the Hokage's Office with a heavy heart. He knew that from the moment he stepped out of that door, he was no longer Uchiha Itachi. He was the Uchiha Clan's sinner. He was someone destined to walk in darkness forever.