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Four months later.
June, Konoha Year 56.
Kagaya and Obito had agreed to meet once a day to check on each other's status. After all, as members of Akatsuki, they needed to support one another.
Of course, Obito had been working on something lately that he didn't want Kagaya to know about, so their daily meetings were brief, and they'd part ways if there was nothing urgent.
Kagaya didn't say much. He vaguely recalled that during this time, Obito—was likely investigating the Uchiha clan's stone tablet. Kagaya had no interest in the contents tampered with by Black Zetsu.
This morning, Kagaya and Obito met as usual. He thought Obito would leave after a quick greeting, but unexpectedly, Obito spoke up.
"I heard the Uchiha's security force has tightened their guard recently?"
"You can sense it yourself, can't you? No need to hear rumors. Whenever we move, we can feel the surveillance—both from the Uchiha and Konoha—has increased," Kagaya replied.
Obito's expression was hidden beneath his mask, his thoughts unclear. He asked Kagaya, "What do you think the outcome will be between Konoha and the Uchiha?"
Though Obito was a mastermind behind the scenes, his grasp of the bigger picture wasn't as sharp as Itachi's or Kagaya's. Asking Kagaya was more reliable than guessing himself.
Kagaya glanced at the blood-red eye beneath Obito's mask. He sensed something but answered anyway.
"The conflict has reached its peak. An eruption is coming. Either the Uchiha and Konoha will clash head-on, or one side will use some means to eliminate the other before it comes to that. I think the second scenario is more likely. Neither the Uchiha nor Konoha wants an all-out fight. It'll come down to who has the better strategy to take out the other."
Kagaya was right. In the original story, Fugaku hoped Itachi could achieve a bloodless revolution, while Konoha hoped Itachi could mediate between the village and the Uchiha. Neither side wanted open conflict.
"Heh, then I hope it's the Uchiha who get wiped out," Obito said with a cold laugh.
"Why?" Kagaya asked.
"I need some Sharingan. They'd be useful to me. If the Uchiha are wiped out, maybe we could step in and grab some Sharingan if you're interested."
That was Obito's answer, but this time, Kagaya didn't respond. He fell silent.
"Well, that's it for today's meeting," Obito said, not waiting for a reply. With that, he vanished using Kamui.
---
Fugaku's House.
In the hallway, Itachi and Fugaku passed each other. Fugaku spoke first.
"You know about the clan meeting in three days, right?"
"No," Itachi replied, his voice flat, his eyes shadowed.
"After the meeting, go to the Naka Shrine alone. Don't bring your Anbu subordinates."
Fugaku didn't mind Itachi's response and continued speaking, his back to him.
"I'll be leaving the village tomorrow for a mission," Itachi said, also facing away.
"Don't run away," Fugaku said.
"Run away? From what?"
"From your fate as an Uchiha."
Itachi froze, silent.
"Remember, I'll be waiting for you," Fugaku said before walking away.
Their conversation ended there.
---
Three days later.
Many Uchiha clan members left the Naka Shrine after the meeting, heading home.
Itachi, leading a group of Anbu, hid in the trees, silently watching the Uchiha. He saw Izumi walking and chatting happily with another girl, and his mother, her face heavy with gloom, heading home.
Beneath the Anbu mask, no one could discern Itachi's emotions.
After a moment, he ordered his subordinates, "Stay here."
"But, Captain—"
"Report it to Lord Danzō as it is."
Under his mask, his crimson Sharingan gleamed.
---
Later, at the Naka Shrine, in front of the Uchiha clan's stone tablet, Fugaku stood with his back to the entrance.
When Itachi entered, this was the scene he saw.
Fugaku sensed Itachi's arrival and spoke without turning. "Only those with the Sharingan can read this tablet, and even then, only part of it. With your Mangekyō Sharingan, you should be able to read more."
Itachi removed his mask, looking at his father's back. "Do you want me to tell you what it says?"
"No need," Fugaku replied, turning around. The three-tomoe in his eyes vanished, replaced by a strange pattern.
Itachi's eyes widened. "Mangekyō! Father, you have it too?"
Fugaku nodded. "During the Third Great Ninja War, a friend sacrificed his life to save me. Amid blood and tears, I awakened the Mangekyō."
He shifted the topic back to the tablet. "This tablet holds the path to the Uchiha clan's salvation. But even with the Mangekyō, I can't read the later parts. It seems we can go further. Though I can only read a portion, you should understand, Itachi, how misguided the Uchiha's current path is."
Itachi immediately countered, "Even so, using force to overthrow—"
Fugaku cut him off. "The village's leaders fear us, so they persecute us. They fear the power of the Sharingan."
"True. There are even rumors that the Uchiha might control the Nine-Tails with the Sharingan," Itachi said.
Fugaku closed his eyes, speaking with frustration. "That's a legend about Uchiha Madara. No one since him has done it, and we don't even know if it's possible. Yet the higher-ups are still terrified of a long-dead ghost. Their fear has isolated us. If they're so afraid, then we'll take control."
Itachi questioned directly, "Father, are you planning to seize the Hokage position by force?"
"It's the clan's desire. I can't stop them. But to avoid violence, I've kept my Mangekyō a secret."
"Why?"
"The Mangekyō can control the Nine-Tails. If people knew, the Uchiha might do something even more terrifying."
With that, Fugaku turned, using his Mangekyō to cast a genjutsu on Itachi.
"Look."
In the genjutsu, Itachi saw Uchiha clan members, learning of Fugaku's Mangekyō, kidnap Naruto and throw him before Fugaku, shouting excitedly:
"We've brought the Jinchūriki!"
"Do it!"
"The captain can make it happen!"
"Please, Captain!"
"Show the Uchiha's power!"
Fugaku activated his Mangekyō, unleashing the Nine-Tails, which rampaged through the village, causing immense destruction.
The genjutsu ended.
Itachi collapsed to his knees in disbelief. "How could…"
Fugaku continued, "Many in the clan harbor resentment toward the village. If pushed too far, they'd absolutely do this. Both sides would suffer heavy losses. But Itachi, with you, we can catch the higher-ups off guard and control them. Small-scale fighting may be unavoidable, but if you, as an Anbu, help us, a bloodless revolution is possible."
"Bloodless revolution…" Itachi murmured.
"Itachi, you're my son. Please, help the clan!" Fugaku pleaded.
This was the path Fugaku laid out for Itachi: to help Konoha suppress the Uchiha or to aid the Uchiha in a bloodless revolution. Itachi had to choose.
Itachi left, leaving Fugaku alone.
But then, from the darkness, Kagaya emerged, clad in his Akatsuki robe.
"Clan Leader, what do you think Itachi will choose?"
Fugaku wasn't surprised by Kagaya's appearance.
"I don't know. He's my son, but I can feel that his Sharingan sees further than mine. Whatever he decides, I'll trust him."
"Is that so?" Kagaya nodded, retreating back into the darkness.
Though Kagaya avoided excessive contact with Itachi due to his Anbu status, he had already approached Fugaku, who was aware of his presence.