Chapter 70: Who the Hell Can Tell Me How the Uchiha Have Three Pairs of Mangekyō!?
"Itachi, what's wrong?"
"Nothing."
Ever since his meeting with the masked man, Itachi's resolve had only grown firmer.
Even if it meant taking the entire Uchiha clan down with him, he felt there was no other path. Everything had been driven to this point by Renji's actions.
Now, it wasn't just Konoha preparing to strike—even external forces were getting involved. The masked man's revelations about Uchiha secrets, his bizarre abilities, and his claim of orchestrating the Nine-Tails' rampage—everything aligned too well.
Itachi had lived through the Nine-Tails' attack himself.
Such monstrous ocular power capable of controlling the Nine-Tails—wasn't that said to belong only to the legendary Uchiha Madara?
The thought only deepened his despair.
When he returned to the clan compound, Izumi greeted him with a little concern.
Itachi looked up at her and asked, "Izumi, how have you been lately?"
It seemed they truly hadn't spoken in a long time.
A fleeting sadness flashed across his face. This path, he thought, was destined to be walked alone.
"Great! I've been working with the Patriarch to help the Uchiha's economy. Everyone's lives are much better now!"
Izumi smiled, a trace of admiration appearing on her face.
She genuinely felt grateful toward Renji.
When Renji first rose to power, rumors had painted him as a radical. Because of her relationship with Itachi, Izumi had naturally worried he would drag the clan down.
But Renji had not only reclaimed their lost lands, he had also created new sources of income.
He even gave people like Izumi, who had no desire to become a ninja, another path.
In the past, if you weren't a ninja, or your family had no ninja, you lived in poverty.
Izumi had always wanted to be a good wife and mother, not a kunoichi.
Renji's leadership offered the Uchiha a new way to survive.
Not everyone wanted to fight.
Not everyone had the talent for it.
"Izumi, haven't you noticed how tense things have become between the clan and the village?"
Itachi looked at her incredulously.
He had discussed the situation with her before—why had she changed too?
"Itachi, this isn't something we should be thinking about. You always overthink.
Even if things are tense, aren't we living much better now?
Itachi, Patriarch Renji said something I think is very true: if a clan gives birth to you, raises you, and then when you grow up you turn your back and help outsiders harm your family... isn't that a kind of betrayal too?"
Izumi hesitated after speaking, casting a glance at Itachi, unsure if she should continue.
She had once thought as Itachi did.
But following Itachi's ideas only brought hardship—giving up land, losing business, relying entirely on ninja missions to survive.
Their lives had gotten worse and worse.
After Renji rose, even with the tension with the village, no one among the Uchiha had been wronged.
That was why they supported Renji.
Compared to Itachi's lofty ideals, what Renji offered was real.
And Renji's words had made her realize:
How terrifying must a heart be, if it couldn't even cherish its own family?
Itachi hadn't grown up suffering. Fugaku and Mikoto had treated him well, and the clan had respected him.
Yet he still chose to side with outsiders against them.
Izumi couldn't understand it.
Was Konoha really that mesmerizing?
She didn't want to lose the stable life she had now.
At least the Uchiha were doing well.
"But Izumi, this is only temporary!"
Itachi's face twisted slightly.
After experiencing Shisui's incident, and after hearing Fugaku himself defend Renji, Itachi's heart was full of frustration.
Could they not see it?
Could they not see the Uchiha were being led to their destruction?
"Itachi, even if it's temporary, at least we have it now. It's better than the bitter life we had before.
And Itachi... I think we should leave things as they are. I'm afraid Patriarch Renji would misunderstand."
Izumi apologized softly, then turned and left.
Now that she handled the clan's finances—a sensitive position—she didn't dare risk suspicion.
She was truly sorry.
But in her heart, she felt Renji's efforts deserved more trust than Itachi's ideals.
Watching her departing figure, Itachi opened his mouth to speak.
But in the end, he said nothing.
It felt like he had lost another comrade.
He didn't even know how he made it home.
Only when he saw Sasuke did the darkness in his heart lift slightly.
As long as Sasuke was there, that was enough.
Others didn't understand him—but surely Sasuke would.
"Sasuke, did you finish your exam today?"
Itachi asked warmly.
It seemed he hadn't spoken to Sasuke properly in a long time.
"Mm-hmm! Oniisan, I'm officially a Genin now!"
Sasuke stretched out his hands proudly, his eyes sparkling with anticipation.
"Oniisan, did you prepare a gift for me?"
After returning today, Renji and his parents had all given him gifts.
He had hoped his brother would too.
After all, Itachi had come home early—surely it was to celebrate?
"I'm sorry, Sasuke. I forgot today. Can I make it up to you tomorrow?"
Itachi froze, realizing he truly hadn't prepared anything.
There had been too much happening—being confronted by the masked man, by Danzo—he had completely forgotten.
Now he regretted it a little.
But maybe if he made up for it tomorrow, it would be fine?
Hearing Itachi's reply, Sasuke's disappointment was clear.
"Oniisan, have you been busy with clan matters? But... I heard the Hokage-sama isn't happy with us lately.
Why are you still staying in the Anbu? Why not join our Uchiha Police Force?"
Sasuke asked curiously.
He had heard plenty of rumors lately.
He had even asked Renji, and now he knew—something was wrong between the Uchiha and the village.
"Sasuke, who told you that?"
Itachi's heart sank, and his tone grew harsh without realizing it.
Seeing Sasuke startled, Itachi quickly softened his voice:
"Sasuke, don't worry about these things. I'll handle it."
Was it Renji who told him?
"Seems like only Renji."
Itachi regretted it a little.
If only he had stopped Renji from taking Sasuke as his student back then, maybe Sasuke wouldn't be asking questions like this now.
"Oniisan, the Patriarch told me once, 'The victor is justice. We should protect the honor of the Uchiha clan.'"
When it came to Sasuke, he was absolutely a firm believer in Uchiha pride.
That was why Renji's ideas were so easily accepted by Sasuke.
"Sasuke, you don't need to worry about these things. I'll get you your gift. Oniisan is just a little tired today, I'll go rest first."
Itachi patted Sasuke's head gently.
Then he lifted his gaze, a flicker of pain flashing across his face. His three-tomoe Sharingan spun wildly, before morphing—
Into the Mangekyō Sharingan.
Shisui had abandoned the path they once walked.
His parents no longer understood him.
Izumi now believed Renji was the right path.
Even Sasuke now spoke constantly about the clan.
Itachi realized—there was no one left who truly understood him.
Since that was the case, then he would have to destroy the clan himself.
He would save Sasuke.
Sasuke was still young. Perhaps he didn't understand now, but one day he would.
And he, Itachi—
Now had the power to change everything.
The Mangekyō.
He never expected to awaken it at a time like this.
If possible, he wished he had never unlocked it at all.
At this moment, he felt completely betrayed by the world.
"Renji, are we really going to act?"
"Old man Setsuna, were you all just talking big before?"
In the Uchiha clan's meeting room.
Renji had gathered Uchiha Jin, Uchiha Setsuna, and Uchiha Tetsu—the elders representing the different factions—along with the retired former Patriarch Uchiha Fugaku and Uchiha Shisui.
The five sat around discussing their plans for action.
"I... I just think maybe it's a bit rushed?"
Uchiha Setsuna's face showed a trace of embarrassment.
Truth be told, he had talked a lot in the past, ranting about rebellion, but had never taken real action.
Now hearing Renji's directness, he was tempted—but still thought they needed proper preparation.
"It's not rushed at all. We have three pairs of Mangekyō. We'll win easily."
"...Huh?! Since when did we have three pairs of Mangekyō!?"
Wait, what!?
Uchiha Jin was stunned.
When did they ever have three pairs!?
But when the three elders looked over and saw the Mangekyō spinning in Renji's eyes, and even noticed Shisui and Fugaku's eyes similarly transformed—three pairs flashing their brilliance—they were completely dumbfounded.
"WHAT THE HELL!? You all have Mangekyō!?"
"Are you even human!? You were hiding this from us!?"
"I take back everything I said before.
We 'conservatives' only thought you radicals were too conservative! We need to be even more aggressive!!!"
Three pairs of Mangekyō!
They had never fought a battle feeling this rich in firepower!
Why the hell were they even splitting into radical, conservative, or centrist factions before!?
They were all Uchiha!
"In fact, we centrists have always firmly supported the Uchiha!"
"What's there to say anymore? Let's just go to war!"
Uchiha Setsuna's face flushed with excitement.
At this moment, he wished he could just walk into Konoha's main street carrying Hiruzen Sarutobi's severed head!
Who the hell had hidden from him that the Uchiha had three pairs of Mangekyō!?
"Then let me lay it out clearly.
I've already reached an agreement with the Hyuga clan.
In the next few days, I'll take action against Hiruzen Sarutobi, Danzo Shimura, Koharu Utatane, and Homura Mitokado.
Afterwards, the Hyuga will support me to become Hokage.
However, we'll need to share some benefits with them—allocating some of the other clans' interests as their reward for blocking any rebellion against us.
They'll stand firmly on our side, but if they wish to elect the next Hokage after my term, we'll need to support them."
Renji's voice was calm.
"As for the fighting—your top priority is protecting our clansmen.
You don't need to join the battlefield.
This is not an all-out war against Konoha.
We're just targeting those four and their followers."
From the very beginning, Renji never needed some grand plan.
Their strength already crushed the opposition.
Especially now—with the Eternal Mangekyō—even Nagato wouldn't be a guaranteed threat.
"Perfect! What's there to be afraid of? Let's just fight!"
"When do we act?"
"I say we move tonight! I want to personally challenge Danzo Shimura to a duel!"
They had long since been sick of Danzo.
Now that even the Hyuga clan was on board, what reason was there to delay?
"Not tonight. First, secure our clansmen.
And don't leak any information.
When the preparations are done, we strike.
I don't just want them dead.
I want everything they've done exposed to the entire village.
I'll become Hokage—but not as a usurper.
I want to destroy them and their reputations."
Even if he could become Hokage by force,
Renji didn't want his reign to be tainted.
If he brought down a corrupt regime openly, he would be seen as a savior.
"If we just kill them quietly, it's too easy on them!"
"Then it's settled. We'll get everything ready!"
Hearing Renji's words, the elders agreed wholeheartedly.
Their goal wasn't mere rebellion—it was justice.
Ensuring the Uchiha clan's survival with minimal losses was Renji's true purpose.
When they thought about it, this wasn't a rebellion.
It was a righteous uprising!
"I feel like we're about to do something historic," Fugaku murmured.
A few months ago, he wouldn't have dared imagine it.
The Uchiha... actually had a real shot at the Hokage seat.
Maybe this time, they would succeed.
Within the clan,
As plans were laid down, everything moved methodically.
Meanwhile,
Itachi, in the shadows, finally reached an agreement with Danzo and Obito—
He would massacre the Uchiha in exchange for Sasuke's survival.
The bloodlust filling Konoha was so thick—
Even ordinary citizens could feel it.
(End of Chapter)
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