On the training field, Uchiha Itachi struck the center of every moving target with flawless precision, one shuriken after another.
Applause echoed beside him.
"You've improved incredibly fast, Itachi. Your talent is truly exceptional!"
"I still have a long way to go before I can match you, Brother Shisui," Itachi replied calmly.
"You're not even six years old yet. Reaching this level is already remarkable. When I was your age, I couldn't do anything like this," Uchiha Shisui said generously.
Itachi let out a quiet sigh.
"Even so… it's still not enough."
His mind replayed the scene from that night—the terrifying, colossal body of the Nine-Tails, laying waste to the village with overwhelming power.
Noticing the heaviness in his expression, Shisui tried to comfort him.
"Some things aren't meant for someone your age to bear, Itachi. You should make more friends and not isolate yourself so much."
"Having you is enough," Itachi replied, shaking his head. "The others are too childish. I have no interest in children's games."
As they spoke, they noticed a group of adults passing in the distance, all wearing garments emblazoned with the Uchiha fan crest.
"The elders are meeting again. I've heard our clan's situation in the village hasn't been very good lately," Itachi said, glancing in their direction.
Shisui fell into thought.
"There have been rumors that the Uchiha clan controlled the Nine-Tails during the attack. That night, many people lost their loved ones… and because of that, they've begun to resent the Uchiha."
Itachi frowned.
"Brother Shisui… is that true?"
Shisui scratched his head and gave a bitter smile.
"According to reliable information, the Sharingan did appear in the Nine-Tails' eyes. But you know this—our clan would never harbor such intentions."
He continued, his tone serious.
"However, there must be an extremely dangerous individual hiding among the Uchiha. If we don't uncover them, both the clan and the village will be in grave danger."
After a moment of reflection, Itachi spoke.
"Then, in a sense, the clan does bear some responsibility. We should seek the villagers' forgiveness. But the Uchiha temperament is too extreme—conflicts with the villagers only continue to escalate, pushing things closer to the point of no return."
Shisui sighed, a headache forming.
Since the Night of the Nine-Tails, bloody clashes had repeatedly erupted between the Uchiha clan and the villagers—civilians, shinobi, and even members of other clans had all been involved.
If this continued, the situation would inevitably spiral out of control.
The Hokage's Office
Inside the Hokage's office, Konoha's upper leadership was gathered.
The Third Hokage, the two advisors, and Elder Danzō sat at the head of the room. Below them were the heads of the major clans and several influential jōnin.
The Three Legendary Sannin—Jiraiya, Orochimaru, and Tsunade—were also present, a rare occurrence.
The agenda revolved around three main issues:
First, the Hokage position;
Second, the Uchiha clan;
Third, military deployments in response to Kumogakure and Kirigakure's sudden border attacks.
The first matter held no suspense—Sarutobi Hiruzen would reassume the position of Hokage on an interim basis.
Orochimaru remained calm, showing no reaction.
The second topic concerned the recent clashes between the Uchiha clan and the villagers.
"What are everyone's thoughts on this matter?" the Third Hokage asked, after shooting Danzō a sharp glare.
This entire situation had been provoked by Danzō.
After the Nine-Tails incident, Hiruzen had already taken measures regarding the Uchiha clan:
— Suppressing information about the Sharingan appearing in the Nine-Tails' eyes;
— Assigning Shisui to secretly investigate the clan and uncover the true mastermind.
Danzō, however, held a different view. Although he had officially agreed not to act against the Uchiha, he secretly ordered rumors to be spread throughout the village:
"The Nine-Tails had the Sharingan in its eyes."
"No Uchiha fought that night."
"Madara Uchiha once controlled the Nine-Tails."
"The Uchiha are plotting in the shadows."
It was only natural that hatred would arise. Many villagers had lost family members that night.
Thus, the conflict between the Uchiha clan and the village intensified rapidly.
Even after Danzō once again overstepped his authority, the Third Hokage chose to forgive him.
Among the crowd, Uchiha Fugaku clenched his fists tightly, his expression filled with humiliation.
To him, the mere fact that this issue was being openly discussed was already an unbearable disgrace.
Silence fell over the hall. No one spoke at first.
Those present were not fools. Few truly believed the rumors—even acknowledging that the Sharingan had appeared in the Nine-Tails' eyes.
If the Uchiha clan had truly orchestrated such a plot, all clans would have united long ago to demand their immediate annihilation.
But often, truth mattered less than public opinion.
When the tide of outrage surged, even the most rational leaders were swept along with it.
"My clan lost seven members that night, including a jōnin. The anger of my people must be addressed," one clan head finally said.
"The rumors aren't without basis. Only the Sharingan can control a Tailed Beast," a jōnin added.
"That doesn't prove the Uchiha are responsible. Many Sharingan have been lost outside the clan," someone countered.
"Hmph! An outsider couldn't possibly withstand the burden of the Sharingan, let alone control the Nine-Tails!"
"Regardless, all evidence points toward the Uchiha. They must take responsibility."
Danzō watched coldly, a faint sneer flashing in his lone eye.
Everything was unfolding exactly as he had predicted.
Once the storm had been stirred, guilty or not, the Uchiha would be forced to swallow this bitter outcome.
Moreover, the clan's immense wealth and power attracted the greed of many smaller clans.
"With that pride of theirs, the Uchiha will never accept such humiliation… let's see whether they dare to rebel," Danzō thought.
Every step he took pushed the Uchiha further into a dead end.
If they rebelled, Konoha possessed more than enough power to wipe them out in one stroke.
He did not trust future generations. While he still had the ability to act, he intended to erase the clan completely.
Tock. Tock. Tock.
The Third Hokage tapped his pipe against the table, and the room immediately quieted.
"The Uchiha are also part of this village. I believe they would never commit such an act," Hiruzen said, his aged voice echoing through the hall.
"However," Utatane Koharu followed up, "allowing continued clashes between the Uchiha and the villagers will only harm the village's unity. At present, the only viable solution is physical separation."
Many nodded thoughtfully.
The villagers, consumed by grief and anger, would not listen to reason.
The Uchiha, feeling deeply wronged, would not either.
Someone would have to yield.
And it certainly would not be the civilians who had lost their families.
Between the two sides, the leadership of Konoha would never side with the Uchiha.
Mito Homura stood and unfurled a map of Konoha before everyone. Pointing to a remote corner, he drew a circle.
"Therefore, we propose that the Uchiha clan be relocated to this area."
/------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------/
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