"It seems nothing I say will change anything."
From the moment he learned about the explosive tags, Namikaze Minato had been worried for Konoha. Now that the day had finally arrived, he felt no shock and no sorrow. What rose in his heart instead was a lightness, as if a great weight had been set down.
"Father, do you want to know why Konoha is so strange tonight"
Naruto's consciousness slipped into the sealing space. He had just sensed the barrier around the Uchiha district withdraw, and the Third Hokage had stopped alone on a certain floor of a building, as if waiting for someone.
"You can come out now. I have sent everyone else away."
The Third Hokage halted on one floor of the Police Department.
"Your efforts are appreciated."
Uchiha Itachi stepped from the shadows. He glanced at the Hokage's back, then lowered his head and knelt on one knee.
The Third did not turn. His voice was calm. "First, my thanks. Because of you, Konoha avoided a civil war and the village kept its peace."
"But I regret that things came to this. We truly could not find another way."
"Yes." Itachi lowered his head even further. "I am deeply sorry."
Hiruzen Sarutobi heard no tremor in the young man's voice, so he continued. "What are your plans from now on"
Itachi lifted his eyes a little. There was exhaustion in them. "I borrowed power from someone in an organization called Akatsuki. I will remain beside him and continue to cooperate, to prevent him from breaking his vow."
At that name, the Third's gaze tightened. "Akatsuki"
Danzo had recently reported that Orochimaru was now among their ranks. The Third reviewed a year of Barrier Corps reports in a heartbeat, then spoke gravely. "The one you are working with, does he use space time ninjutsu"
"Yes."
The question made Itachi's expression shift. He had not expected the Third to know. Remembering Danzo's threats, his guard rose sharply. Still, the Hokage likely did not know that man's true identity or his tie to the Uchiha.
"You discovered him a long time ago, did you not"
"Yes."
The answer came without a pause.
With that confirmation, the Third settled his judgment on the recent intrusions plaguing the village. Information about Akatsuki flickered through his mind. He kept his face unreadable. "So you are certain you will join Akatsuki from here on"
"Yes."
"I understand."
A glint passed through the Hokage's eyes. "From this moment, Konoha will list you as a missing nin who slaughtered his clan. You will be wanted, dead or alive."
"That is only natural. However, to protect Sasuke's life, I ask a promise from you, Third Hokage."
Itachi's voice remained steady.
The Third turned his gaze slightly. "Your younger brother will keep his current life. He will attend the Academy like any other child. He will become a shinobi of Konoha. I can guarantee his days will be free of want."
Itachi nodded. "That is enough."
"Go." The Third gathered himself. Thinking of the Akatsuki member with space time techniques, he added, "The barrier encircling the village will not be changed. If you worry for Sasuke, you may slip back to look in on him at any time."
"Thank you."
Itachi bowed his head but did not rise. His ink dark eyes had turned scarlet. In each pupil spun a shuriken with three blades.
Back in the Hokage's office, Naruto sensed Itachi and the Third parting in different directions.
Within the sealing space, Minato seemed hollowed out. That was partly because Naruto had just taken him into the Mirror World.
With the Mirror World's synchronization updated, Naruto had shown his father the data puppet memories of the Third, of Danzo, and of Uchiha Itachi.
"Father, let's go home."
A flash, and the Flying Thunder God carried Naruto back to his house.
He had barely shed his disguise when a deafening blast shook the ground. Naruto dispelled the shadow clone in his room, stepped onto the balcony, and spread his senses. Multiple powerful chakra flares still raged at the heart of the explosions.
Another eruption split the sky. From the direction of the Hokage Building, crimson fire surged upward. Even at this distance, Naruto could hear weeping and shouted orders to fight the flames.
His gaze swept the rooftops. The twelve ANBU watching him had not moved at all. The distant detonations continued. After a moment's thought, Naruto vaulted from the balcony.
"Uzumaki Naruto, you are to remain at home."
He had barely taken two steps when an ANBU slid from the darkness and barred his path.
The ground shuddered again.
Naruto's eyes tightened. "I only want to see what is happening over there."
"I am sorry. For your safety, you must stay home tonight."
The ANBU's tone was absolute. The constant blasts did not shake him. He flashed a hand sign toward the shadows and began to gather chakra.
He knew the village was resolving the Uchiha matter tonight. He had not expected the commotion to be this great. It was nothing like the scenario Lord Danzo had described.
These were secret operatives transferred from Root with the Third's permission, assigned to guard the jinchuriki and prevent anyone from the Uchiha side from seizing the Nine Tails.
Naruto shook his head, turned, and walked back upstairs.
He had only come out to put on a show. Yet he could already feel the others in the darkness preparing to set a barrier.
"Father, have you still not sorted your thoughts"
Naruto stepped onto the second floor and entered the sealing space again. Minato still looked lost.
"It is not that I cannot accept it."
Minato faced his son with a heavy gaze. "It is that I cannot bear that the Third truly allowed Danzo to threaten Itachi with Sasuke, forcing him to butcher his own clan."
"If this spreads, what will the shinobi world think of Konoha"
"Father, you underestimate those elders." Naruto smiled faintly. "The Mirror World just synchronized the latest data. Come with me. I will show you their methods."
Moments later, Minato had watched Itachi's meeting with the Third in the Police Department from beginning to end.
He had no words left.
At dawn, Naruto sensed the ANBU watchers withdrawing. After washing up, he stepped outside.
He walked the road he always took, opened his senses, and found the street suddenly wider than before. The rain had stopped as well.
On the grand road, the sun was warm and the scenery was bright.
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