The Thoughts of Different Uchihas
Watching Shisui leave, Itachi's mood wavered. He let out a deep sigh, his gaze drifting toward the distant mountains and forests.
Shisui Uchiha possessed the fabled Mangekyō Sharingan, granting him access to Kotoamatsukami—a genjutsu so powerful it could subtly rewrite a person's will without them realizing it.
If true peace between the Uchiha and Konoha could be achieved, Itachi had no objections to Shisui using his eye to control their father, Fugaku Uchiha. However, the problem extended far beyond his father alone. It was not just a few dissenting voices within the clan; the entire Uchiha collective harbored resentment toward Konoha's leadership. The discrimination they faced, the forced segregation, and their exclusion from positions of real power had fostered deep-seated bitterness.
Even if his father's will was altered, it would not be enough. The clan's anger would reignite, their grievances unaddressed.
This was an impossible dilemma—unless the Uchiha were willing to relinquish control of the Konoha Police Force and abandon their aspiration of one day producing a Hokage. But such a scenario was unthinkable.
Brother Shisui was too idealistic. He truly believed that harmony could be restored between the Uchiha and the village.
But Itachi was different. His time in Root, under Danzō's command, had exposed him to the dark realities of the shinobi world. After witnessing the hidden battles between villages and the corruption within Konoha itself, he had abandoned his childhood illusions. He had resolved to become a guardian of peace—not in the light, but in the shadows.
As he left the cliffside, Itachi made his way toward the Root headquarters, preparing for another meeting with Danzō Shimura.
Before long, he halted, his keen senses detecting something unusual. A large tree stood ahead, its bark shifting ever so slightly. Faint ripples distorted the space around it.
A masked figure emerged from the vortex. Perched on a tree branch, he gazed at Itachi in silence, as though admiring a masterpiece.
Itachi's body tensed. He had encountered this man before.
Years ago, during a mission to protect the daimyō of the Land of Fire, this masked man had slaughtered Itachi's comrades. That experience, the pain of losing his teammates, had triggered the awakening of Itachi's Sharingan.
Few shinobi would dare assassinate a daimyō, but Itachi was more concerned with what lay beneath the stranger's mask.
If the Sharingan in that eye socket was not stolen, then this man, like himself, was an Uchiha.
But why? Why had he orchestrated events that led to Itachi unlocking his dojutsu? Why had he appeared near Konoha now? Did he intend to attack the Third Hokage?
A thousand questions raced through Itachi's mind, but the masked man offered no answers. Without a word, he vanished into the vortex.
Itachi frowned. The man's motives remained as unreadable as ever.
---
A Cloaked Figure in the Shadows
After Itachi departed, the masked man reappeared, his gaze lingering on the young Uchiha's retreating figure.
From the ground, a strange being emerged—a humanoid figure with a black-and-white face, its body encased in pitcher-plant-like appendages.
"Obito, are you really in Konoha just to observe this Uchiha brat?" the creature asked.
Obito Uchiha, the man behind the mask, shook his head. "No, I'm not here for him. But his progress is... unexpected. He's only twelve, yet he was able to sense my presence. Back when I first spared his life, he didn't even notice me."
The plant-like figure, Zetsu, chuckled. "Well, you did help him along. You killed his teammates, and that pain unlocked his double-tomoe Sharingan. But lately, he's been spending time with Shunshin no Shisui."
Obito's expression hardened at the mention of that name.
Shisui Uchiha—the famed "Shisui of the Body Flicker." The man who had once driven an elite Kirigakure battalion to retreat with a single glance.
Over the years, Obito had heard whispers of Shisui's power. His abilities were shrouded in mystery, but rumors suggested that his Mangekyō Sharingan had abilities far beyond standard genjutsu.
This was why Obito had been cautious. It was why he had minimized his visits to Konoha. He could not afford to expose himself to an unknown Mangekyō ability—not until his plans were further along.
But judging by the latest intel Zetsu had gathered, Konoha's internal strife had already begun, even without his intervention.
Obito smirked. "Konoha has always had a talent for tearing itself apart."
He pushed aside his drifting thoughts and refocused. "We've seen enough. It's time to return and report to Nagato. Tonight isn't the right time to strike."
Zetsu tilted his head. "What's wrong? This hesitation isn't like you."
Obito's eyes narrowed. "It's not hesitation. There's no one in Konoha who can challenge me. But if my presence here makes the Uchiha and the village temporarily set aside their differences, then I lose the chance to watch their internal conflict play out. Weaken Konoha, collect the tailed beasts—that's our true objective."
Zetsu let out an amused chuckle. "For someone who was born in Konoha, you really don't have any attachment left."
Obito scoffed. "Black Zetsu, don't pretend you're any different. You manipulated Madara, unleashed the Nine-Tails on this village, and caused the Uchiha to be ostracized for decades."
At the mention of Madara, Black Zetsu fell silent.
Obito glanced at Konoha's skyline, his gaze unreadable. For a fleeting moment, nostalgia threatened to surface. But he quickly buried it.
"The past doesn't matter," he muttered. "This world is empty without Rin. I will create a new one where she exists."
---
Fugaku's Resentment
Elsewhere, Fugaku Uchiha left Naka Shrine and walked alone through the quiet streets of Konoha.
The secret clan meeting had just ended. They had discussed their planned coup against Konoha's leadership.
Would they actually launch the coup? Perhaps not. But the Uchiha had to prepare for the possibility. This was their final option—their last resort to reclaim the power that was rightfully theirs.
For too long, the Hokage's faction had treated them as outcasts. Despite the Uchiha's historic significance and strength, they had been excluded from Konoha's leadership. Instead of power, they were handed a thankless position: the Konoha Police Force.
As time passed, the discrimination only worsened. The clan's dream of an Uchiha Hokage drifted further away.
Fugaku returned home to find his wife, Mikoto, tending to Sasuke. His eyes flickered toward Itachi's empty room.
"Where's Itachi?" he asked, his voice sharp.
Mikoto, gently stroking Sasuke's hair, replied, "He left on a mission."
Fugaku scoffed. "A mission? No. He's with Sarutobi and Shimura, feeding them our secrets. He cares more for Konoha than his own clan."
Mikoto sighed. "The Uchiha are part of Konoha too… but yes, Itachi's loyalty leans toward the village."
Fugaku's expression darkened. He turned to Sasuke, the clan's future.
"Sasuke has made friends with the Jinchūriki," he noted. "His talent isn't equal to Itachi's, but at least he is loyal to his blood."
Mikoto frowned. "Sasuke is just a child."
Fugaku's gaze was cold. "Naruto is a chess piece—just like the Hokage uses him, we will too."
He exhaled. "If I become Hokage, at least I will tell Naruto the truth about his father."
Visit patreon.com/Akeyno to get 30+ chapters