Itachi, you're here.
Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at the newcomer, his voice calm, as if he had expected Uchiha Itachi's arrival all along.
However, his expression was not pleasant. Itachi had failed his mission and had even been forced to flee.
Because of this, Hiruzen's plan had fallen apart.
"I'm here." Itachi nodded, his tone equally subdued. "Looks like you've been waiting for me for a while."
Itachi studied Hiruzen. He could tell that the Hokage looked exhausted. His once sharp and piercing gaze had lost some of its intensity.
"Your mission was a failure." Hiruzen's voice was heavy, filled with disappointment. He was clearly unhappy with Itachi. The failed Uchiha extermination had weakened his authority in Konoha.
Some of the clan leaders no longer held him in the same fear and respect as before.
If Itachi had succeeded, Hiruzen's position would have been strengthened. But now that the Uchiha clan still stood, his status had taken a hit.
This outcome had been predictable.
Even if Itachi couldn't complete the task perfectly, Hiruzen had expected at least half of the Uchiha clan to be eliminated. But… he had underestimated their reaction speed.
Danzo had already been sent to hold off a portion of the Uchiha's fighting force, buying time for Itachi.
Yet, the moment Itachi made his move, he was discovered. And worse—Konoha's infamous assassin was sent to intercept him.
If Itachi hadn't managed to kill some Uchiha himself, Hiruzen might have even suspected him of betrayal.
"You've seen for yourself how terrifying that assassin's strength is. I wasn't his match." Itachi stated the fact calmly, his voice unwavering.
"During the fight, did you recognize his identity?" Hiruzen narrowed his eyes, voicing the doubt in his heart.
Through the Telescope Jutsu, he had observed the battle and noticed that Itachi's attitude toward the masked assassin had shifted as the fight went on.
It was clear that he had recognized the other person's identity.
"You've been watching me through the Telescope Jutsu, haven't you?" Uchiha Itachi asked, even though he already knew the answer. His tone carried a hint of surprise.
"Of course… You're the one I sent out. I have to ensure your safety," Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded, but his words felt somewhat insincere.
Ensuring Uchiha Itachi's safety.
Itachi chuckled.
Hiruzen's words might fool others, but not him. He was likely being monitored instead. If Hiruzen had truly wanted to protect him, he would have shown up the moment the assassin appeared.
But where was he then?
He only entered the Uchiha compound after everything was almost over.
It was clear—Hiruzen had wanted to take advantage of the situation, waiting for the assassin to be weakened before striking.
It seemed they had failed.
If Genya had really been killed, the Uchihas, especially Uchiha Kinya, would have gone mad.
"Tell me, who was the assassin?" Hiruzen asked again when he saw that Itachi remained silent.
Itachi shook his head firmly. "No, I can't tell you. I won't tell you."
Genya's identity was a secret. If Hiruzen targeted him, Sasuke would also be in danger.
Besides, Itachi had seen Genya's strength firsthand. Even if Hiruzen made a move, he wouldn't be able to threaten Genya. Keeping his identity a secret was the best way to protect Konoha.
If Genya was pushed too far, no one could predict what would happen.
His abilities were far too unpredictable—he even had space-time techniques. No one could truly control him. He was practically invincible.
"Not even to me?" Hiruzen's face darkened as he pressed again.
He believed he still held significant authority in Itachi's eyes. But now, Itachi wouldn't even confide in him?
"Not revealing his identity is for Konoha's own good!" Uchiha Itachi shook his head, then added as if he had just thought of something: "As long as you don't target the Uchiha clan, that assassin won't easily cause trouble for Konoha."
His message was clear.
"Not take action against the Uchiha?" Hiruzen Sarutobi frowned but still responded, "Could it be that he made a deal with the Uchiha? Is he protecting them?"
"You can think of it that way." Itachi didn't explain further and simply nodded. There was no benefit in Hiruzen overthinking this—if anything, that old fox was probably already thinking too much.
"Alright, I won't ask anymore." Hiruzen nodded and let the conversation end there.
But in his cloudy eyes, a trace of resentment and hatred flickered.
It seemed that Uchiha Itachi was no longer under his control.
A pity.
"I've infiltrated the Akatsuki. They're very mysterious and seem to have plans involving all five great shinobi villages." Itachi ignored Hiruzen's expression and continued explaining his situation.
"I will gather information from within. If Konoha ninjas are in danger, I will help."
"But we should limit our contact from now on."
He deliberately emphasized how special and secretive Akatsuki was and how they had their eyes on all the great villages.
"I understand." Hiruzen nodded. Then, as if showing some kindness, he added, "Be careful and stay safe."
Itachi nodded before turning back to Hiruzen with a serious expression.
"Sasuke needs you to look after him. I may not have completed my mission, but at this point, I just want him to have a normal life in the village."
He had done terrible things to the Uchiha. He feared that Uchiha Genya and the others might take their anger out on Sasuke. The only option was to entrust Hiruzen to protect him.
"Don't worry. As long as I'm here, Sasuke won't be harmed." This time, Hiruzen agreed without hesitation.
Uchiha Itachi was a complete failure in his eyes, now nothing more than a rogue ninja.
But Sasuke?
Sasuke could still be shaped into what the village needed.
After this, just like Naruto, Sasuke would be rejected by his own clan.
And when that happened—Hiruzen would be the only light in his heart.
In the future, Sasuke would become a sharp steel blade that pierced through the Uchiha clan.
From that moment on, he had a new plan.
"It's getting late, I should leave!" Itachi Uchiha felt like he was being watched in Konoha, with no privacy. He decided to leave early.
But just before leaving, Itachi seemed to think of something and reminded again, "Tell Danzo not to lay a hand on Sasuke. If he does, he won't be able to withstand my anger!"
After saying that, his body turned into countless crows and vanished!
The last words were a warning to the Third Hokage to tell Danzo. Danzo had dared to act against Shisui, let alone someone like Sasuke who had no one watching over him.
The final words also carried a hidden threat. Itachi was like a man without shoes—he could do anything.
Sarutobi Hiruzen stared at the disappearing crows, his eyes even colder. Itachi Uchiha had actually dared to threaten him!
At the same time, in the Uchiha clan compound, Uchiha Genya was watching the entire scene with his Sharingan: "Itachi... Sarutobi Hiruzen."
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