Chapter 281 Confession

May, mid.

"A lot of things have happened recently, and the outside world has become unstable."

Kakashi, who was sorting information in the intelligence room, suddenly sighed.

Because of the mask on his face, it is impossible to tell what his expression is.

"Yeah, I didn't expect that the neutral country would be threatened one day... What is Sha Yin Village doing?"

The Anbu ninja Tenzo, who cooperates with Kakashi in sorting out information, belongs to Kakashi's second unit and is the squad leader of the sixth squad.

He has been serving as Kakashi's deputy all along.

And he himself is also a ninja with blood succession limits, and he is Kakashi's trusted subordinate.

After hearing Kakashi's emotion, Tenzo also replied.

Because of Konoha's affairs, the number of secret troops going out to patrol and collect intelligence is relatively small.

In addition, the Kingdom of Oni is far away on the other side of the continent. By the time the news was collected by Konoha ANBU, it had actually been a week since Sunagakure Village conducted military exercises on the border of the Kingdom of Oni.

Because of internal affairs, it can be said that Konoha's external intelligence system is already very weak in terms of detection of external intelligence.

It should have passed this information back to the village within a few days after the Sand Hidden Operation.

"This has nothing to do with us. The neutral country is under military coercion. There is a high probability that the international side will eventually mediate and clean up the mess."

According to general logic, this will be the final result.

However, it was that man who planned this incident behind the scenes in the kingdom of ghosts, and Kakashi knew that it was obvious that the kingdom of ghosts had already launched an operation.

Speaking of which, in the past month, the information has not been properly conveyed there.

Not only because they are too busy, but also because the Demon Country is taking action. Compared with the affairs of Konoha Uchiha, the Demon Country's expansion plan is more important.

It can be said that everyone is mobilized there, and there is no time to talk to Konoha.

Moreover, from the beginning, the attitude towards Konoha Uchiha was dispensable. They just wanted to use Uchiha to judge the degree of contradiction within Konoha.

"I always feel that it will eventually turn into a situation of taking advantage of others."

Tenzo sighed.

Konoha is currently in a state of flux due to Uchiha's affairs, and has no time to focus on the Kingdom of Demons.

In the end, those responsible for mediating this dispute will probably be Iwagakure, Kumogakure, and Kirigakure.

Regardless of Kirigakure and Iwagakure, Kumogakure is the biggest problem.

This village has always adhered to the concept of absolute power. During war, it attacked other countries as much as it wanted. During peace, it secretly searched for small ninja villages in the ninja world and plundered the secrets and forbidden arts of other villages to strengthen itself.

"There is no need to worry. The international environment has been like this since the Third Ninja War. We just need to be ourselves. By the way, how is the Uchiha situation recently? Are there any abnormalities worth noting?"

Kakashi suddenly asked.

"Abnormal? To be honest, the frequency of Uchiha gatherings seems to have become lower recently, and some people have not been monitored for some reason."

Tianzang told the result.

"Have you told Hokage-sama?"

"Yes... but it wasn't me who reported it. Itachi went to report it a step ahead of me."

Tenzo replied.

"He's still the same as before, fulfilling his ANBU duties seriously."

"From this point of view, there is really no need to be picky."

"However, the gatherings of the Uchiha clan suddenly became less frequent. Maybe something happened inside that we don't know about. Let's continue to investigate in depth and don't let go of any clues."

"yes."

"I'll go over for a meeting first. I'll sort this information and put it in Minister Sarutobi's office."

Kakashi checked the time and walked towards the information room when it was time for the meeting.

◎

Arrived at the conference room.

Only six people were there.

Minister Takashi Sarutobi and Deputy Minister Sarutobi Uruko.

They are the eldest son and eldest daughter-in-law of the Third Hokage. They are jounin with extremely high status and strength in Konoha.

From a very young age, they were included in the Anbu candidates. Over the years, they were appointed as the Minister and Deputy Minister of the Anbu by the Third Hokage, and they made countless contributions to Konoha.

Apart from this, only Kakashi and four other squad captains met here.

Standing on Kakashi's left was the captain of the ANBU First Division.

Kakashi is the captain of the second team.

On the right is Itachi, the captain of the third team.

To Itachi's right was the captain of the fourth ANBU team.

As the four captains of ANBU, their superiors are Takashi Sarutobi and Uruko Sarutobi, the two ministers and deputy ministers.

Of course, they have another direct superior, the Third Hokage.

As a force directly under the Hokage, the Hokage has the power to bypass the command of the minister and deputy minister and directly interfere with the Anbu. The power of appointment and dismissal is also in the hands of the Hokage.

"This time I suddenly called everyone here to announce something."

Sarutobi Takashi spoke first and glanced at the four squad leaders.

The four squad leaders, including Kakashi, all looked seriously, waiting for Sarutobi Takashi's next words.

"Regarding the surveillance mission of the Uchiha clan, from now on, it will be transferred to the captain of the third detachment. The second detachment will resume its original duties and carry out external tasks. It is decided like this."

Sarutobi Takashi spoke directly, his voice was indifferent, he did not give a reason, he simply issued an order from his superiors.

Kakashi was stunned: "That is to say, the original task of the second team was transferred to the third team...Is that so, Minister?"

Sarutobi Takashi nodded and shook his head, answering Kakashi's question: "It's not handed over to the third division, but the third division's sub-captain will personally handle it."

one person?

Except for Itachi, who was the captain of the third team, the other three team captains were all shocked.

That is a complete and powerful ninja clan... Is there really no problem with monitoring by one person?

Even though Itachi, as a member of the Uchiha clan, was very convenient for monitoring Uchiha compared to his status as an Anbu... However, it was too much nonsense to hand over such an important task to one person.

"Yes, I understand."

Kakashi didn't understand what his superiors were considering because there were too many abnormal parts.

Moreover, the affairs of the Uchiha clan are too sensitive. If we go into too much detail, the upper management will inevitably become suspicious.

Therefore, Kakashi simply asked here and did not continue to delve deeper.

Anyway, he wasn't too interested in the task of monitoring the Uchiha clan. He stayed in the village all day and rarely went out, and his body was almost rusty.

Anyway, just spread the news to the Kingdom of Ghosts first and fulfill your duty.

After the short meeting, Itachi was left alone.

The three team captains left first, and not long after, the door of the conference room opened again.

A man walked in.

Wearing a black cloak and a pair of black sunglasses, there is a very conspicuous purple mark on the right side of his face.

As soon as he walked in, the dark will followed behind him, making the atmosphere in the conference room extremely heavy.

"Long, long time no see."

This person is none other than Ryoma, the jounin at the root.

He is the right-hand man of Danzo Shimura, the leader of the Roots, and is good at the secret art of insects of the Aburame clan.

He seemed to be familiar with Sarutobi Takashi, and he greeted Sarutobi Takashi familiarly.

Sarutobi Takashi snorted and said nothing.

Aburame Ryoma smiled slightly, not paying attention to Sarutobi Takashi's attitude, but looked at Itachi who was silent at the side.

"According to the agreement, from now on we are colleagues performing tasks together. Please give me your guidance, Uchiha Itachi-kun."

"Please give me more advice."

Itachi replied politely.

"Then, come with me, we will go to the new control room, where we will work."

After finishing speaking, Aburame Ryoma turned and left.

Itachi followed the other person's footsteps and left the conference room.

"Is there any problem Itachi?"

Sarutobi Saruko seemed worried about Itachi's safety.

"Don't worry, since this is Lord Hokage's decision, he will definitely protect Itachi's safety."

Sarutobi Takashi sighed.

It is not accurate to assign the surveillance mission of the Uchiha clan to Itachi alone.

It should be said that Itachi was allowed to contact the Roots as an Anbu and monitor the Uchiha clan with the Root ninjas.

This is the original intention of the higher-ups.

Thinking of his father's decision, the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Takashi couldn't understand.

If ANBU is allowed to monitor, there is a possibility of buffering against the Uchiha clan.

The root leader Shimura Danzo is a dark ninja who seriously rejects the Uchiha clan. Will he really decide the future direction of the Uchiha clan from a fair and neutral perspective?

Father, what are you thinking about? Sarutobi Takashi couldn't help but sigh in his heart.

He did not want extremist organizations like the Roots to monitor the Uchiha clan.

The ninjas of the Uchiha clan have a strong character. If they are disturbed at the root, it is difficult to guarantee what will happen.

He had some doubts as to whether his father's decision, the Third Hokage's, was the right one.

But he couldn't disobey his father's other identity - the Third Hokage.

Before the ninja of the Sarutobi clan, he was the Konoha ninja Takashi Sarutobi.

"It would be great if Sister Tsunade and Brother Jiraiya were in the village. They would be able to contain Danzo and not let his father act like this."

Sarutobi Takashi had imagined this more than once.

But unfortunately, Tsunade and Jiraiya had already left the village.

The roots are simply difficult to control with the power of the Hokage alone.

Sarutobi Saruko didn't speak, but held her husband's hand and encouraged him.

No matter what her husband's decision is, she just needs to follow it.

◎

"You are indeed on my side, Itachi."

In the root headquarters, Danzo met Itachi in person, with a kind smile on his originally gloomy face.

Itachi stood in front of Danzo, raising his head slightly to look at the man in front of him.

This is not the first time he has met Danzo.

He had already formed an indissoluble bond with this man before he went to school.

After the chunin exams and joining ANBU, I secretly communicated with this man.

Although everything this man did was for the sake of Konoha, there was always an aura about him that he didn't like.

Itachi couldn't explain what it felt like.

Disgusted...disgusted...or something else, Itachi had no idea.

"The next affairs of the Uchiha clan will be left to you. Now that the matter is over, the only one who can save the Uchiha clan now is you, Itachi."

"I understand this myself."

Yes, the number of gatherings of the Uchiha clan has decreased recently, not because of the great enlightenment, but because some people avoided the sight of ANBU and purchased a large number of weapons from the Ninja Cat clan.

For example, kunai and detonating talismans, especially detonating talismans, were purchased in tens of thousands.

Itachi knew what they were going to do next without even thinking about it.

Once such a huge detonating talisman is deployed inside Konoha, it is unimaginable what kind of turmoil it will cause.

Even if a beheading operation is carried out, many innocent villagers will inevitably be injured.

What's even more frightening is that they seem to be interested in the Jinchuuriki. If the Nine-Tails is released... Konoha no longer has the Fourth Hokage, and it cannot afford to lose another Hokage and sacrifice the sealing of the tailed beast.

"That's good. From now on, you will have the dual identities of Anbu and Root."

Not giving Itachi the right to say no.

Danzo asked Itachi to join Gen with a commanding tone.

Although Itachi is a ninja directly under the Hokage ANBU and has no connection with Gen in terms of position, and there is no superior-subordinate relationship with Danzo, Danzo does not intend to follow normal procedures.

And Itachi had no intention of resisting. For him, as long as he could further protect the village, joining Gen or ANBU, it made no difference.

This man, whom many people call the Dark Shinobi, is just an ordinary Konoha ninja.

◎

"Goodbye Uncle Lihuo!"

"Well, bye, don't play out too late, and remember to come home on time for dinner."

After playing ninja games with the family's children in the open space for a while, the Uchiha man, who was nearly fifty years old, suddenly felt that he was a little old.

Once the number one intelligence figure of the Uchiha clan, his intelligence work had been put on hold after Uchiha Fugaku came to power.

Li Huo looked at the setting sun setting over the mountains in the distance. It was emitting warm light and reflected the beautiful sunset on his face.

Unknowingly, I have become further and further away from the core of the clan.

Occasionally I would attend clan meetings, but basically I couldn’t get a word in.

The radicals are plotting a coup, secretly purchasing arms, and planning a beheading operation to establish the Uchiha regime.

Although there is no possibility of failure in theory, Li Huo is really worried about the future of his clan.

The only outcome of failure is the annihilation of the race.

Thinking about the fate of the Uzumaki clan, you should also know what kind of fate will happen when a family declines.

The so-called harm to the family is just an empty talk. Li Huo can be sure that if the Uchiha conspiracy fails, then the Uchiha clan, whether they are children or newborn babies, will be wiped out without leaving a trace of fire.

This is a question that requires no thinking to get the right answer.

Lihuo set foot on residential streets, commercial streets, parks, forests, and any land within the Uchiha clan's territory without exception.

He looked like just a semi-retired Uchiha idler taking a leisurely walk.

And this habit has lasted for more than ten years, almost all year round.

Whether it is the land of the old clan or the land of the new clan, every plant and tree is Li Huo's eyes.

Sometimes, it is impossible to detect anything with instruments. The human eye can distinguish many traces that cannot be distinguished by instruments.

As long as there are traces of foreign invasion, there is no need to distinguish them through instruments. Li Huo knows how many eyes are monitoring the Uchiha clan.

"The wind direction seems to have changed a bit today...is it because summer is coming soon?"

With a sigh that he didn't know what to say, Li Huo left the park casually. He didn't deliberately take a long detour, but went to a stall to buy a takoyaki, ate it, and walked back towards home.

The 'wind direction' suddenly changed. Did the people monitoring Uchiha change to another group?

So far, Konoha's senior officials have not sent anyone over to negotiate, but have continued to engage in a stalemate.

Li Huo doesn't like to speculate on others with the greatest malice, but does the attitude of Konoha's top brass also prove that they have no intention of conducting peace talks with the Uchiha clan?

Facing the huge ninja village machine of Konoha, the Uchiha clan is the most humble and vulnerable group.

Now there is no way to avoid it, and a coup is only a matter of time.

From the moment the Third Hokage is restored, Danzo regains his power, and the three ninjas leave one after another, the fate of the Uchiha clan may enter a countdown.

The high-level power that cannot be restricted or compromised is really arrogant and overbearing. Li Huo sighed in his heart.

Now that things have come to this, what should we do?

He had been thinking about it ever since the Uchiha clan was preparing for a coup.

What should you do next? What can be done?

Li Huo began to think about this issue.

◎

As usual, Itachi was called by Shisui to the woods where they used to practice together.

It was already night time, and the moonlight was shining brightly in the sky.

"Shisui, what's the point of calling me out at this time?"

Itachi asked Zhisui after seeing his backside.

Shisui turned around at this time, and Itachi saw Shisui's severe dark circles under his eyes, looking exhausted from overwork.

"You seem very tired. If there is nothing important, you should go back and rest quickly."

Itachi said worriedly.

He didn't know why Shisui was so tired. Was it because of the mission?

But with Shisui's strength, what level of tasks is required to make him so exhausted?

"Ah, it's okay. It's just that I've been involved in some things recently and it's a little troublesome. I'm calling you out this time because I want to ask why you didn't come to Nanga Shrine to participate in the clan meeting a few days ago?"

Shisui scratched his head and asked a casual question.

"This is about it. I happened to have a mission in ANBU that day, so I didn't have time to rush to attend the meeting. I remember that I had already informed my father about this in advance."

Itachi said calmly.

Shisui nodded.

"The patriarch did explain it at the meeting, but the radicals led by Yashiro seem to be dissatisfied with your failure to attend the meeting. They even suspect that you have defected to the higher-ups."

"That's nonsense. I'm a ninja from the Uchiha clan."

Itachi answered without changing his expression, and was not angry at Yashiro's question.

"The issue of position is too ambiguous, but you know, the family's orders are supreme to us..."

Shisui cast a sharp, knife-like gaze at Itachi, which made Itachi's heart beat violently.

He had a feeling that if Shisui attacked him, he would definitely be killed by Shisui in an instant.

A suppressive force of blood emanated from Zhishui's body.

"Shisui, what do you mean..."

"Therefore, without your knowledge, Yashiro and the others wanted to monitor you. Although this proposal was rejected by the clan leader, because doing so would completely push you, who belongs to Uchiha, to the higher-ups. "

"I didn't expect that because so many things happened to me, my father didn't talk to me after I went back that day."

Itachi sighed.

"The clan leader indeed has great trust in you, but Yashiro and the others did not give up. Therefore, they entrusted me to monitor you."

Shisui's next words made Itachi's body tremble and he looked at Shisui in disbelief.

Shisui looked up at the bright moon in the sky.

"Using my relationship with your relatives and friends to monitor you when you are undefended. This is Yashiro's arrangement."

"Then you now..."

"Don't worry, I'll report your information to them in a slightly concealed manner, and they won't notice anything unusual."

After Itachi heard this, he didn't feel any joy, but instead felt cold.

Shisui...does he know something?

Why cover it up a bit?

If he really has no problem, there is no need to cover it up.

Did Shisui discover something?

However, he was only performing his duties as a Konoha ninja, and was not performing tasks as a member of the Uchiha clan.

Why should I feel guilty if I am like this?

For ninjas who believe in the will of fire, looking at the village from a broader perspective and not seeing the village through narrow family thinking is the way of ninja that Konoha ninjas should practice?

I'm just following a complete and correct path. Itachi told himself in his heart.

Zhisui did not explain what secrets he had discovered about Itachi, but continued to smile: "Actually, I am telling you this not to ask you to do anything. It's just that I have already made a decision. Therefore, Yashiro and the others are actually monitoring you. It has nothing to do with the overall impact.”

Decide?

Itachi looked at Shisui in confusion.

what decision?

"You should have heard of it, the legend of the Mangekyo Sharingan."

Itachi nodded, Mangekyou Sharingan, there was no way he didn't know about this kind of thing.

His father Fugaku told him more than once that he had the ability to open his eyes.

The so-called eye opening means opening the Mangekyō Sharingan, not the ordinary Sharingan.

But Itachi, who was already familiar with the power of the Sanmagatama Sharingan, was still unfamiliar with the power of the Mangekyo Sharingan.

I don’t know what Shisui meant by mentioning the Mangekyō Sharingan at this time.

"This is my Mangekyo Sharingan."

Shisui didn't hesitate. In the darkness, his eyes lit up red and turned into the Three Magatama Sharingan.

Then the three magatama Sharingan continued to change, forming an object similar to a giant magatama, which was struck by Itachi's five thunderbolts.

"Shishui, you..."

He had no idea that Shisui was hiding such a secret.

"The Uchiha ninja who activates the Mangekyo Sharingan will derive different abilities based on the inner world of the practitioner. My Mangekyo Sharingan ability is called 'Betsutenjin'. This technique can combine the thoughts and will of the person who is attacked. Make a change."

Change mind and will?

Itachi listened to Shisui's words while staring into Shisui's eyes silently.

Although he awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan, Itachi felt that all the gentleness in Shisui had disappeared, and instead turned into an extremely dangerous and cold existence.

The smell of chakra made him very uncomfortable.

"A family coup against the top leadership will only lead to a dead end and will bring disaster to the Uchiha clan. As an Anbu, you must also know the current situation of the family. I plan to rely on this pupil technique to reverse the will of the clan leader and make him give up. A coup and announce it at the clan meeting. In this way, conflicts between the family and the village can be avoided."

He didn't hesitate to speak his mind in front of Itachi.

Itachi also knew that Shisui had great love for the village, so it was not unexpected for Shisui to make the decision to change the family coup for the sake of the village.

To say that it was unexpected, the only ones were the Mangekyou Sharingan and the Betsutenjin Eye Technique.

It really refreshed Itachi's horizons.

"Can using this pupil technique really make the family give up the coup?"

Itachi asked.

"Can."

Shisui's words were filled with confidence.

"In this case, there is no need to consider my feelings. If it is for the family and the village, my father's visit is an extremely critical step."

Itachi knew that Shisui had a reason for him tonight.

That is to have a showdown with myself, not hoping that through this matter, there will be a gap in the friendship between them.

Itachi was grateful that Shisui could be honest with him.

"Thank you. After canceling the coup, we will also try to weaken the passion of the clan. Their character is too arrogant and violent. If they cannot integrate with the village, then even if the coup is prevented this time, it will be meaningless. .”

This is the truest thought in Shisui's heart, and getting Itachi's affirmation also makes him confident.

Itachi felt regretful because he could not help Shisui in the operation, and Shisui alone was enough to prevent the family coup.

From this point of view, the actions of the roots have become meaningless.

In the future, if the family and the village are integrated... Itachi also breathed a sigh of relief.

In the darkness full of confusion, he finally saw the light of hope that he recognized.