Chapter 42 – I Will Kill Him…
"Itachi, what is it?" Izaya asked, looking at the unexpected, almost serene expression on his friend's face. He was thoroughly confused. He had expected Itachi to share his own sense of alarm and urgency at being surveilled by multiple powerful factions. Yet, Itachi seemed… unconcerned. A wave of bewilderment washed over Izaya.
"Itachi, what should we do now?"
Since he couldn't decipher Itachi's thoughts, Izaya decided to simply ask the question weighing on his mind. He knew that beyond his immense power, Uchiha Itachi possessed a brilliant, strategic mind.
"Let it be," Itachi said calmly, his dark eyes meeting Izaya's before drifting back to the scene outside the window. The faint smile never left his lips.
"Let it be?!" Izaya was incredulous. His current situation was undeniably perilous!
Danzō's Root organization was monitoring him, which meant the old warhawk had taken a personal interest. The Hyūga clan's presence was a given; they were desperate to extract the secret of the Tenseigan from him. As for the ANBU… he was slightly more confused. The Third Hokage hadn't seemed overtly hostile during their meeting.
"Initially, I was also concerned when I saw the watchers," Itachi admitted, observing the conflict on Izaya's face.
He then reached into his ninja pouch and pulled out a standard kunai, placing it on the table between them. "The intrinsic value of a single kunai is very low," Itachi mused. "So why does every shinobi carry several in their pack?"
What kind of question is that? Izaya thought, but after a moment, he answered, "Because… it's useful?"
"No," Itachi shook his head. He picked up the kunai and, with a deft motion, broke its handle, rendering it useless. "It's because this… is a tool. And tools are needed by everyone. The only difference lies in how they are used." He finished, his smiling eyes locking onto Izaya's.
…Am I the kunai?
Though he had been a simple otaku in his previous life, Izaya wasn't stupid. Itachi's metaphor was crystal clear. He, Izaya, was the tool. The three factions outside were the shinobi who wanted to wield him. Even if he was seen as a "dead last" by the world, he possessed something—or several things—that everyone wanted.
Dammit, when did I become such a hot commodity? he thought wryly.
The Hyūga's interest was understandable. He held the key to their evolution. But Danzō's and the Third Hokage's intentions were still murky.
Perhaps sensing his continued internal struggle, Itachi spoke again, his voice low and precise. "The Third Hokage likely bears you no ill will. Before I entered, I could sense the ANBU operatives. They weren't positioned for an assault, but for protection. As for Danzō… his mind is a labyrinth I cannot fully navigate." Having been in ANBU himself, Itachi was intimately familiar with their protocols and postures.
"That old fox, Danzō…" A flicker of pure killing intent ignited in Izaya's eyes.
Itachi's analysis aligned with his own suspicions about the Hokage. The Third would not move against him unless he threatened Konoha. But the other two forces…
"Now is not the time to act, Izaya," Itachi said immediately, sensing the shift in the room's atmosphere. He glanced around once more, ensuring their privacy. "It is unwise to strike now. I have a strong feeling that Danzō will make his move soon after my return to the village…"
He won't just 'make a move,' he'll probably try to force you to do it, Izaya thought grimly, but he kept the thought to himself. In these tense final days, he didn't want to add to the immense pressure Itachi was already under. They were both on this rogue ship now, and Izaya was determined to change the course of the plot! And the best way to do that was to disrupt Danzō's carefully laid plans.
An idea, sudden and audacious, flashed in his mind. The Hyūga Clan…
"Come here," Izaya said, leaning forward. "I need to tell you something."
...
"This is far too risky. Are you certain it is feasible?"
As Izaya laid out his plan, a rare look of doubt and concern clouded Itachi's normally impassive face. The reason was simple: Izaya's plan was incredibly dangerous.
After Izaya's clash with Hyūga Hiashi, the entire Hyūga clan had focused their attention on him. They had even stationed ninjas to watch his home, an extreme measure they hadn't taken in over a decade. It showed just how desperately they coveted the secret of the Byakugan's evolution that Izaya possessed.
And Izaya's plan was to use that very secret as leverage to pull the Hyūga clan onto their side.
"After your… less than amicable parting, do you truly believe they would agree?" Itachi questioned, voicing his primary doubt.
"Izaya," Itachi began, a faint, almost grim smile touching his lips, "then I would kill him. The secrets of the Uchiha clan are not for outsiders to know."
Izaya: "…"
He was rendered utterly speechless. That was the last answer he had expected from Itachi. A wave of profound helplessness washed over him.
After taking a moment to collect himself, Izaya finally spoke. "You would do that… but the Hyūga clan will not."
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