Uchiha Itachi remained silent. From the moment the accusations began, he stood like a statue, his face calm to the point of appearing emotionless. Yet beneath that still exterior, his mind raced, weighing every word, every glance, every subtle shift in the room.
The pressure around him was suffocating. Every breath, every movement seemed magnified under the scrutiny of Konoha's highest.
Danzo Shimura, however, could no longer contain himself. His cane struck the floor sharply as he stepped forward, the single visible eye burning with barely restrained fury.
"So it's true?" Danzo roared. "You really kept Uchiha Shisui's Mangekyō Sharingan-the one containing Kotoamatsukami-all this time?!"
"Why didn't you report it immediately?!" His words cut through the room like a verdict.
Itachi understood perfectly. To speak the truth freely here would be as dangerous as the blade that had claimed Shisui's life. Though he had been shaped by the so-called Will of Fire, he was no fool. He knew exactly how this power-the Sharingan of manipulation-was viewed by Konoha's upper echelons. He also knew that trust, in this room, was an illusion. But knowing the truth did not mean he could voice it. So he remained silent.
Danzo let out a cold, mocking laugh, his lips curling with disdain. "You see that, Hiruzen?" he sneered. "This is the man you call loyal to the village. Your so-called 'Hokage-minded' shinobi. At this point, he's nothing more than a schemer, hiding disaster in his heart!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi finally spoke, his voice the calm counterbalance to Danzo's fury. A slow sigh escaped him as smoke curled from his pipe. "…Itachi," he said gently, almost wearily, "did you really do this?"
Itachi felt the weight of the moment. That soft question, though gentle, carried a weight heavier than any accusation. Silence was no longer an option. He drew a slow, steady breath, lifted his head, and spoke, his voice measured and calm.
"Hokage-sama," he said, "the reason I concealed this matter was the same as Shisui's. I intended to use Kotoamatsukami at a critical moment-to control the Uchiha clan, to prevent them from turning against the village."
The room fell quiet. Every gaze fixed on him. Every heartbeat seemed to echo.
Danzo's lips twisted into a cruel smile. "Hmph. That's just your version of the story." He leaned forward, voice sharp as a blade. "And what if you had decided to use that power on us instead? That kind of ability should never belong to a single individual-it should only ever be in our hands! Hiding it privately is betrayal, nothing less!"
Itachi's gaze did not waver. His voice remained calm, unwavering. "I did not betray the village. I may be an Uchiha," he said steadily, "but my heart has always been devoted to Konoha as a whole."
Danzo opened his mouth, ready to press further, but Hiruzen raised a hand, halting him. "I believe you, Itachi."
For the first time, the tension in Itachi's expression eased slightly. A hint of relief, almost imperceptible, flickered in his eyes.
Danzo, however, responded with a scoffing laugh, full of derision. Hiruzen took another slow drag from his pipe, smoke curling like a veil in the tense air.
"I believe you," Hiruzen repeated, "but belief alone is not enough. You must prove your loyalty through action." His gaze sharpened, weighing every nuance of the room's attention. "Your identity as Konoha's spy has already been exposed. If you return to the Uchiha clan now, interrogation-and worse-will be inevitable."
"In short," Hiruzen continued gravely, "this is the moment where you must make your choice, Itachi."
The weight of those words pressed down on Itachi like a mountain. Silence returned, heavy and absolute. Seconds stretched into eternity.
Finally, Itachi spoke. "…I understand. I will make the correct decision. Please rest assured, Hokage-sama."
Hiruzen nodded slowly. "…Very well. Go."
"Yes, Hokage-sama," Itachi replied, his steps measured, his posture straight, his head held high. He turned and walked away, the calm of his presence unbroken.
Danzo watched him leave, a cold smile forming across his lips. "Hiruzen," he said darkly, "you really trust him that much? You just let him walk away?"
Hiruzen's eyes hardened, the warmth gone. "Danzo," he replied, voice low and dangerous, "then let me ask you something. The last time, when Uchiha Shisui was killed… why didn't you tell me in advance?"
The question hung in the air like a blade. The room, already tense, fell into a silence so chilling it seemed to swallow every sound, every flicker of movement.
"And besides that…" Hiruzen continued, his voice dropping into a colder, sharper register, the authority of decades weighing on every syllable. "Shisui's Kotoamatsukami,you hid it privately as well, didn't you?"
His gaze locked onto Danzo like iron chains, leaving no room for evasion. "You accuse Uchiha Itachi of harboring hidden ambitions and dangerous intentions," Hiruzen said slowly, deliberately, "yet I would like to know something first. After secretly taking possession of Kotoamatsukami yourself… who exactly were you planning to use it on?"
For a brief instant, Danzo stiffened. It was no more than a heartbeat, no more than a flicker of hesitation,but in a room filled with veterans who had survived countless political purges and wars, even such a tiny pause carried meaning. Danzo quickly recovered, letting out a cold snort, his expression hardening as he turned defiance into armor.
"Hiruzen," Danzo said sharply, his tone edged with irritation, "are you seriously suspecting me now?" His eyes narrowed. "If I truly intended to use that power on you, do you really believe I would have waited until today? You overestimate your restraint,and underestimate my decisiveness."
Hiruzen answered with a low snort of his own, the sound echoing faintly through the office. "Then make sure," he said flatly, "that I never again discover you acting behind my back." His voice grew firmer, heavier, carrying the unmistakable weight of command. "Do not forget who stands at the top of this village. I am the Hokage of Konohagakure."
Danzo's expression darkened instantly. Years of suppressed dissatisfaction surged beneath the surface. "You're too soft," he shot back without hesitation. "Too hesitant. Too bound by sentiment." His voice grew sharper. "Take this situation with Uchiha Itachi,are you truly planning to let him walk free after everything that's come to light?"
Hiruzen let out a quiet, almost mocking laugh. "You needn't worry," he replied calmly. "Uchiha Itachi is not the same as Uchiha Shisui." He exhaled a thin stream of smoke, his eyes unreadable behind it. "He is the type of man who excels at convincing himself,at turning sacrifice into purpose and pain into meaning."
Hiruzen's gaze sharpened slightly as he continued, "People like him are capable of discarding personal bonds and emotions without hesitation, as long as they believe it serves a greater cause. To them, loss is not a tragedy,it is proof of resolve."
Koharu Utatane stepped forward, unease visible on her face. "You're saying…" she began cautiously, "…that he would actually assist us in dealing with the Uchiha clan?" Her brows furrowed. "Is such a thing truly possible?"
"It is," Hiruzen answered immediately, his tone devoid of hesitation. "When the time comes, he will personally wipe out the entire Uchiha clan." The words were calm,terrifyingly so. "And afterward, he will continue living, bearing that unbearable weight as a form of self-inflicted punishment."
Hiruzen's voice remained steady as he elaborated. "He will convince himself that this suffering is necessary. That only by carrying such sin can he justify his existence. No one understands Uchiha Itachi better than I do." His eyes hardened. "This has always been the path he was walking toward."
Danzo frowned deeply, clearly unsettled despite himself. "Even if that's true," he said grimly, "Kotoamatsukami is still an unacceptable risk. A power like that should never be left unchecked."
"He will not use it against us," Hiruzen replied without pause. "And even if you attempted to reclaim it by force," he added bluntly, "there is no guarantee you would succeed."
"He is no longer Uchiha Shisui," Hiruzen continued, his tone cutting. "And unlike before, he has already witnessed what hesitation leads to. He will be prepared." His gaze fixed on Danzo. "If you act recklessly, the one who suffers losses… will most likely be you."
Only then did Danzo fully realize the truth. Hiruzen had already examined every angle,every possibility, every betrayal, every failure. Nothing had been left to chance. And once again, Danzo was forced to acknowledge the gap between them.
Still, he was unwilling to yield. "Even so," he said, voice low, "after returning this time, the Uchiha clan may attempt to turn him to their side. And if not that…" his eyes narrowed, "…Uchiha Fugaku and the others may try to capture him."
"They won't," Hiruzen replied calmly. "He cannot be swayed by anyone,unless that person is himself." He paused briefly, then added, "And as for capturing him… the Uchiha clan does not possess that level of strength."
Homura Mitokado finally spoke, his voice heavy with resignation. "As expected… Hiruzen, you've already considered everything."
"Of course," Hiruzen replied coldly. "Otherwise, how could I continue sitting securely in the Hokage's seat?"
Koharu hesitated, then frowned once more. "Then what about the final rumor?" she asked gravely. "The man claiming to be Uchiha Madara,the one who orchestrated the Kyuubi incident and has now reappeared near Konoha. What exactly is he planning?"
Her voice lowered. "Hiruzen, we cannot afford complacency. If he turns his sights on the entire village again…" She paused. "Without Minato Namikaze, the damage Konoha would suffer this time would be immeasurable."
For the first time since the discussion began, Hiruzen's expression truly darkened. The calm calculation faded, replaced by unmistakable gravity.
"I know," he said slowly.
His voice carried absolute certainty,and dread.
"That man…"
"…is the most terrifying threat of all."