The eastern horizon slowly turned pale as dawn broke. The first ray of sunlight pierced through the clouds, illuminating the streets of Konoha and driving away the darkness.
For ordinary people,
this was just another normal day.
The ANBU had already cleaned up the battlefield around the Uchiha district and set up a security perimeter outside it.
Without direct orders from the higher-ups, they could not yet clear the Uchiha compound itself. However, ANBU operatives had already infiltrated the area, standing atop rooftops to survey the scene and establish tight security.
On the main street of the Uchiha district, Itachi carried Sasuke on his back and walked toward the exit. The elite ANBU along the way pretended not to see them.
Itachi's expression was dazed. He tried again and again to fabricate excuses to deceive Sasuke—only to reject each one in his heart.
According to his plan,
Sasuke should not have fallen unconscious so early.
"Stop right there!"
A familiar voice rang out.
Itachi looked up and saw a fox-faced ANBU mask, along with two familiar figures.
Two ANBU blocked his path.
Behind them, Hiruzen Sarutobi, Koharu Utatane, and Homura Mitokado were walking toward him. Their expressions were indifferent, exuding the authority of those long in power, completely ignoring the Uchiha civilians' corpses scattered across the street.
"Stand down," Hiruzen said coldly to the ANBU blocking Itachi.
Before the fox-masked ANBU could leave, Itachi reached out and stopped him, handing over the unconscious Sasuke.
"Kakashi-senpai, please help me look after Sasuke for a while."
Kakashi froze briefly, sighed softly, then took Sasuke and retreated with Yamato.
Only four people remained on the street.
Koharu Utatane went straight to the point, stepping forward and speaking calmly:
"Uchiha Ingetsu annihilated the Uchiha clan and fled the village with a group of Uchiha rogue ninjas. Itachi, you don't have to leave Konoha."
Itachi's scattered thoughts suddenly focused. He raised his head and looked at Hiruzen beside the old woman.
He instantly understood their meaning.
Hiruzen met Itachi's questioning gaze and sighed.
"I'm sorry, Itachi. In the end, I still couldn't find a better solution.
As for staying in Konoha… what do you think?"
In the eyes of the three Konoha elders,
the Uchiha clan could have been exterminated by Itachi—or by Ingetsu.
And now, Hiruzen clearly preferred the latter.
The two advisors' reasoning was sound.
Konoha urgently needed manpower.
Seeing Itachi remain silent, Koharu spoke bluntly:
"The truth of tonight is known only to the three of us, to you, and to the now-dead Danzo."
"Danzo is dead?!"
Itachi suddenly raised his head, his bloodshot black eyes locking onto Koharu. The news exploded in his mind.
Danzo Shimura—the man who had pushed the Uchiha toward annihilation—was dead?
How did he die?!
An impossible answer surfaced instantly.
Uchiha Ingetsu did it!
Koharu narrowed her eyes, her breathing faltering slightly as her body trembled.
For just a moment, the killing intent in the young Uchiha's eyes felt like a kunai forged of pure malice—striking straight at her throat.
She nodded, not hiding the truth.
"Uchiha Ingetsu killed him."
Itachi's pupils contracted. His thoughts descended into chaos once more. He took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down, reassessing Ingetsu's danger level.
He looked up at Hiruzen and spoke slowly, each word trembling:
"The Uchiha Police Force… was eliminated by Uchiha Ingetsu before I acted."
The moment those words fell—
Hiruzen, Koharu, and Homura felt shock surge through them like a tidal wave.
That meant Ingetsu wiped out the Uchiha Police Force, then returned and assassinated Danzo?!
An Uchiha capable of destroying the entire Police Force
and killing Danzo afterward—
Such a person absolutely qualified as an S-rank rogue ninja.
The last ninja of that caliber in Konoha
was one of the Three Legendary Sannin—Orochimaru.
"This…"
Koharu's pupils shook violently. She swallowed hard, unable to finish her sentence.
It was utterly unbelievable.
Hiruzen was the first to regain his composure. As he mentally reviewed all of Konoha's ninja, only his three disciples seemed capable of such feats.
Even if Ingetsu had awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan,
there was no way the timeline made sense.
After annihilating the Police Force, his chakra should have been exhausted.
And then assassinating Danzo?!
They knew Danzo's true strength better than anyone.
Even the Three Sannin together could not instantly kill him.
Silence enveloped the street.
Itachi broke it.
"I'm sorry, Lord Hokage. For Sasuke's sake, I cannot stay in Konoha.
That group of Uchiha rogue ninjas—I will find a way to deal with them for the village.
Please… take care of Sasuke."
The three elders refocused instantly.
Years in power had trained them well; they pulled their thoughts away from Ingetsu's terrifying deeds.
Their priority now—
was keeping Itachi.
The Uchiha clan was gone. With a rogue squad to take the blame, Itachi truly didn't have to leave.
Hiruzen wasn't surprised by his answer. He narrowed his eyes slightly and glanced at Koharu.
A brief exchange of looks passed between them.
Koharu continued persuading him:
"Itachi, we understand how you feel. At least listen to the conditions we're offering.
Danzo is dead.
The Root Organization—the underground intelligence and ANBU training division—urgently needs a new leader.
You are the most suitable candidate.
If you stay in Konoha, you can personally raise Sasuke and watch over him.
Think carefully—for your brother's sake.
Of course, if you insist on leaving, we will still keep our promise and care for Sasuke."
Itachi weighed the pros and cons rapidly, then slowly raised his gaze to the Third Hokage.
Hiruzen sighed.
"None of us wanted the Uchiha to end this way. But once you step into the game, circumstances force your hand.
What I'm about to say may sound harsh.
But you upheld the Will of Fire. You made an outstanding contribution to Konoha's peace.
You are a hero of Konoha.
You shouldn't live in darkness forever.
Itachi… stay.
I ask you—
as Hokage."
Two Days Later
Border of the Land of Fire — Kikyo Mountain
A small stream, like a silver ribbon, wound quietly through the autumn valley.
Splash—
Ingetsu stood upstream, bending down to scoop clear water and wash the blood from his face. The water reached his ankles, crystal clear.
The late-autumn chill bit into his bones.
Reflected on the water's surface was his appearance—short, slightly messy hair, sharp brows, star-like eyes, well-defined features, dressed in white, carrying an elegant bearing.
The other Uchiha were also nearby, cleaning themselves.
They had long since changed into ordinary clothing.
At a glance, they looked like villagers from a nearby mountain settlement—
just unusually good-looking.
At that moment, Uchiha Izumi approached from downstream, holding her shinobi sandals in her right hand, stepping lightly through the water.
Representing the others, she stopped before Ingetsu, who had barely spoken to them for two days.
Softly, she asked:
"Captain… Ingetsu, what's our next move?
Do we take the water route and bypass Kikyo Mountain,
or enter the mountain and pass through Kikyo City?
Personally… I think taking the water route is longer,
but it would erase our tracks."
PS: Two chapters tomorrow—very exciting!
(End of Chapter)