The Test of Uchiha Itachi
Konoha Village – Kakashi's Residence
Uchiha Itachi arrived precisely on time. Awaiting him was not Xu Fan himself, but a clone—crafted from the legendary Wood Release (Mokuton). The clone looked up and spoke plainly, "The Third Hokage has left the village. What will you do?"
Itachi's eyes narrowed. If Xu Fan hadn't told him this was merely a Wood Clone, he wouldn't have believed it. Even now, with his Mangekyō Sharingan activated, he couldn't discern any difference between this clone and Xu Fan's real body.
This deeply unsettled him.
There were many corporeal clone techniques. Konoha's most famous was the Shadow Clone, capable of splitting chakra evenly to create tangible copies. Normally, Itachi could easily distinguish a clone with his Sharingan—especially such standard techniques.
But this… this Mokuton clone of Xu Fan was flawless.
For the first time, Itachi questioned: What if the Xu Fan accompanying the Third Hokage to the Land of Iron is also just a clone?
What if every Xu Fan anyone has ever met… has only ever been a clone?
Could the real Xu Fan be hiding in the shadows all along?
Itachi narrowed his eyes further and enhanced his perception with his Mangekyō Sharingan once more. Yet the presence before him still radiated like a living, breathing human.
"What else can I do?" Xu Fan's clone cracked his neck and reached into a closet, retrieving a mask and change of clothes. "Danzo must die."
Itachi, clad in his ANBU attire, caught the mask tossed toward him. He noticed immediately—it wasn't an ANBU mask.
"This is… a Root mask," he muttered, eyeing its plain, animal-less design. Unlike the ANBU masks styled after animals, Root operatives wore more generic masks—emphasizing function over identity.
"We're infiltrating Root?" he asked.
"Exactly," Xu Fan replied, pulling on the uniform. "It's not to deceive anyone—my real body is with the Third Hokage. Even if we're spotted, it won't matter."
He adjusted the collar of his cloak and continued, "Danzo will likely summon all of Root while the Third is away. That's our chance."
Itachi glanced down at the mask in his hand again.
Xu Fan explained, "After placing Tenzo under genjutsu and rendering him unconscious, I reviewed Root's security. Danzo holds frequent secret meetings, especially when the Hokage isn't around. With only Koharu and Homura still in the village, he won't feel the need to be discreet."
"And once we're inside," Xu Fan said, voice low, "we strike."
Itachi nodded slowly, but voiced concern. "Root's protocols are strict. We'll be detected."
Xu Fan scoffed lightly, "Not with your illusions. If you can trick Yamanaka Inoichi into thinking he's the Hokage's bodyguard, tricking Root guards will be child's play."
He moved toward the exit.
"What about the Third Hokage?" Itachi asked, following close behind. "You respect him… right? Is he next after Danzo?"
Xu Fan paused mid-step, then looked back.
"I don't care whether the Hokage lives or dies," he said bluntly. "Yes, my plan is to become Hokage—to reform the system. To erase the position of daimyō and let Hokage rule the Land of Fire. But I'm not in a hurry."
Itachi's expression turned wary. He respected Hiruzen Sarutobi deeply and was beginning to wonder whether Xu Fan's methods mirrored the Uchiha's failed coup.
Perhaps this was his test for Xu Fan.
But Xu Fan seemed unfazed—either oblivious to the test or simply indifferent.
"I don't need to kill the Third," Xu Fan added calmly. "His fate is already sealed. Orochimaru will take care of that."
Indeed, the Chūnin Exams would soon become the stage of Sarutobi's final battle—ending in his self-sacrifice with the Reaper Death Seal.
"So why should I eliminate a dying man?" Xu Fan asked rhetorically. "The village doesn't just need a Hokage—it needs someone strong enough to deter the other Great Nations. That's why Koharu and Homura wanted Jiraiya. Not Danzo. They thought Danzo was weak. They had no idea about Kotoamatsukami, Izanagi, or the enhancements he's received."
Xu Fan's voice turned steely. "But there's no need to search for Tsunade anymore."
"I'm already the strongest."
Itachi kept quiet. Xu Fan's logic was clear, if ruthless.
"The Third trusts me—for now," Xu Fan continued. "And as long as I maintain that trust, he'll comply with my plans."
Moments later, they arrived at Root's underground base.
Guards noticed them immediately, but Itachi didn't hesitate—his Sharingan flared, casting them into an illusion.
"Lord Danzo has summoned all Root operatives," one of the entranced guards murmured, signaling for them to follow.
"Just as you predicted," Itachi said quietly, slipping the mask over his face.
He finally understood.
Xu Fan didn't want to launch a coup.
He was simply waiting… for his moment to take the Hokage seat without bloodshed.
And Itachi—calm, calculating—whispered under his breath, "You passed, Xu Fan."
Though he never said what the test had been.