Mouth Escape vs. Mouth Escape
"Konoha Village was created jointly by Senju Hashirama and Uchiha Madara so that children wouldn't have to kill each other, so they could unite and become like brothers. Don't you think we are the same today?"
Xu Fan looked directly at Uchiha Itachi, who stood on the tree, spread his hands, and prepared to persuade him.
"Indulging in the past will only make people stagnate," Uchiha Itachi said, reaching for the hilt of his sword. His voice was firm as he emphasized his stance to Xu Fan. "I am not just a ninja of the Uchiha clan. I am a shinobi of Konoha."
Despite being around the same age as Xu Fan, Uchiha Itachi possessed a level of wisdom far beyond his years. He understood Hashirama's vision: to eliminate the concept of separate clans, encourage intermarriage, and replace family loyalty with a devotion to the village itself.
However, the Uchiha clan refused to see this vision and clung to their pride, unable to comprehend the necessity of change.
To Itachi, Xu Fan was no different from those who disregarded Hashirama's ideals—too attached to his clan name and placing familial bonds above the village.
In this moment, Uchiha Itachi found Xu Fan disagreeable.
Yet, seeing the hostility in Itachi's gaze, Xu Fan felt even more certain.
At this stage in time, Uchiha Itachi was fully aligned with the village, and the annihilation of his clan was inevitable—it was only a matter of time.
However, that was precisely why Xu Fan had come.
Shaking his head, Xu Fan clarified, "You've misunderstood me. I am not emphasizing the identities of Senju and Uchiha. I am saying that, like Hashirama and Madara, we have the power to protect the children and uphold the village's ideals."
"I am here to work with you—to prevent the Uchiha clan's coup."
Xu Fan's voice carried unwavering confidence.
From the shadows, Kakashi, who had been silently observing, was startled by this revelation.
"A coup by the Uchiha clan?"
How did Xu Fan know about this?
And what role did Uchiha Itachi play in this conflict between his clan and Konoha?
Uchiha Itachi, even more shocked, stared at Xu Fan. He knew only a select few had this knowledge: himself, the Third Hokage, and Danzo.
Had this information come from Danzo?
"I guess I was right," Xu Fan murmured, observing Itachi's reaction. "Can we talk now?"
Recovering from his surprise, Itachi activated his Sharingan in the darkness, preparing to use genjutsu to extract the information Xu Fan possessed.
However, Xu Fan seemed aware of this tactic. Although he spoke to Itachi, his gaze never met the Sharingan's direct line of sight.
This man knew more than Itachi had expected.
"What do you want to talk about?" Itachi asked, biding his time.
"As I said, I want to stop the Uchiha clan's coup with your help," Xu Fan repeated before laying out his strategy.
His plan was to use the ongoing tension with Kumogakure to weaken the Uchiha, ensuring they lacked the strength to initiate a coup. It was a temporary solution, but the most effective at present.
"You're too naive," Itachi said, shaking his head. "The threats to Konoha extend beyond the Land of Lightning."
"The Land of Wind covets resources, the Land of Water desires territory, and the Land of Earth seeks fertile land. If Konoha engages in war with Kumogakure, others will take advantage of the situation."
Uchiha Itachi immediately identified the flaw in Xu Fan's strategy: Konoha, already weakened, could not afford to fight on multiple fronts.
"If you pursue this course of action, Konoha will collapse."
As expected of Uchiha Itachi.
Xu Fan couldn't help but admire him. Despite being his peer, Itachi could immediately pinpoint the strategic flaws in his proposal.
But that was fine.
Xu Fan had not come here on a whim; he was well-prepared.
What Itachi could see, the Third Hokage could also see—yet Hiruzen still chose to support the plan.
The reason? Because the Hokage knew something that Itachi did not:
Xu Fan's own strength.
During the Third Great Ninja War, the absence of Konoha's Sannin and the death of Minato Namikaze had significantly weakened the village's high-level combat power.
But now, Xu Fan was stronger than Minato had been at the time.
He detailed his plan: forming an alliance with Sunagakure and using the Land of Rain as a buffer against Iwagakure's aggression.
Itachi, however, was skeptical.
"You think the weak Land of Rain can hold off the Land of Earth?"
"Because of Hanzo the Salamander? He was once formidable, but that alone isn't enough."
Before Itachi could finish his rebuttal, Xu Fan cut him off.
"Hanzo the Salamander? That man is nothing but a relic of the past. What use is he?"
Itachi: "???"
A man who once fought the legendary Sannin to a standstill, dismissed so casually?
If not Hanzo, then what made Xu Fan so confident in the Land of Rain's ability to resist?
Was there another powerful ninja?
"Even if the other villages do not act, why do you think you can control the Uchiha clan?"
"How do you intend to stop the invading forces of Kumogakure?"
"War is not child's play."
To Itachi, Xu Fan seemed like an idealist, someone who understood theory but lacked the experience of true war.
However, Xu Fan simply pointed at himself with complete confidence.
"Because I will make Konoha invincible."
I've refined the text to improve clarity, grammar, and consistency with Naruto's lore. Let me know if you want further adjustments!