After finishing their ramen, Itachi and Arashi left the restaurant, their stomachs pleasantly full. "Thanks for the food!" Arashi called out, waving as they departed.
Itachi settled the bill, a wry smile playing on his lips. 'Shisui, how did you treat him to ramen so often?' he thought to himself. 'My finances won't survive at this rate.'
"Let's go, Itachi-Nii-san," Arashi urged, eager to resume his training. "I need to get back to it."
"Slow down," Itachi advised, a hint of amusement in his voice. "Save your strength for the actual training."
The two headed for the Uchiha training grounds. Upon arriving, Arashi wasted no time, summoning shadow clones and resuming his rigorous practice. Two weeks of relentless effort had finally paid off: Arashi could now activate and deactivate his Rinnegan at will.
This particular morning, Arashi arrived early for some solitary training. He set up a target across the field, his determination unwavering. 'If I've mastered controlling the Rinnegan,' he thought, 'Maybe I can finally nail this jutsu.'
He performed the familiar hand seals - Ox, Dog, Rat - and channeled his chakra into his hand, gripping his tanto tightly. Lightning crackled around his hand, extending along the blade, its power palpable. 'This is getting easier,' he noted with satisfaction.
Activating his Rinnegan, he took aim. "Lightning Dance!"
A concentrated beam of lightning shot forth, slicing through the air with incredible speed and precision. It struck the target, obliterating it in a blinding flash.
Arashi stumbled back, panting heavily, his knees buckling from the exertion. Sweat dripped from his brow, and his body trembled with fatigue.
"I... almost did it," he muttered, surveying the aftermath. The landscape bore the marks of his power; trees smoldered, and the earth was scarred with deep fissures. Only the ground where he had stood remained untouched.
Clenching his fist, Arashi made a silent vow. 'I must learn to control this power better.'
He moved to a nearby pond, his focus shifting to refining his chakra control. He walked on the water's surface, his steps precise and deliberate, balancing leaves on his outstretched hands.
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As Arashi diligently honed his skills, Fugaku gathered the Uchiha clan for an early morning meeting. The hall buzzed with anticipation and apprehension, the recent events casting a long shadow over their collective spirit. Itachi, his expression stoic, stood among the assembled clan members.
"I've called this meeting to address the growing concerns about the coup d'état," Fugaku began, his voice commanding attention. "There are now factions within the clan who are hesitant to support such a drastic action. I won't condemn anyone for their stance. I've already made my position clear: launching an attack against the village is too great a risk."
He paused, his gaze sweeping over the assembled Uchihas, gauging their reactions. "It seems that most of the clan agrees with me. I propose that we acknowledge this consensus and move forward."
A chorus of affirmative shouts echoed through the hall, a wave of relief washing over many faces.
Fugaku's tone shifted, his expression hardening. "Now, on to another pressing issue. Itachi has informed me that Danzo Shimura has awakened and is now at large."
Murmurs of disbelief and concern rippled through the crowd.
Fugaku looked towards his son. "Itachi, would you care to elaborate?"
Itachi rose from his seat, his demeanor composed. "Regrettably, it's true. Danzo Shimura, the man who sent hunters after our own and planned to isolate us from the village... is awake and has escaped. The Anbu are doing all they can to capture him."
The room grew tense, the memory of Danzo's cruelty and ambition stirring unease among the Uchiha.
"But why reveal this now?" a voice called out from the crowd. "Is that why Arashi has been under surveillance?"
Itachi responded calmly, "The situation has escalated. The village's forces are spread thinly along the Land of Fire borders, leaving Konoha vulnerable. Now more than ever, the Uchiha Police Force must intensify its efforts. Should anyone spot Danzo, report immediately to me, my father, or the Hokage. Not just Arashi, but the entire clan and village are at risk. Danzo is an S-rank shinobi and harbors many of Konoha's secrets; he must be stopped."
Nods of agreement and determined expressions rippled through the crowd. Despite the lingering tension and recent losses, the Uchiha clan found unity in the face of a common enemy.
Fugaku concluded the meeting with a decisive tone, "This meeting is now dismissed."
As the hall began to empty, several clan members approached Fugaku, seeking his counsel on various matters. Itachi, however, remained behind, sensing that his father wished to speak with him privately.
"Itachi."
Itachi turned to find Izumi, a girl with long, flowing brown hair, waiting for him near the doorway. He offered a faint smile and approached her.
"Are you busy right now?" she inquired, her voice soft.
"Not particularly," Itachi replied. "What's up?"
A small chuckle escaped her lips, and a blush dusted her cheeks. "Well, you've been so busy lately. How about we grab something to eat?"
Itachi's smile deepened. "Sure, but it will have to be in a day or two. I'm still quite busy."
Izumi's face lit up. "As long as you've agreed, don't forget, okay?" She turned and walked away, her steps light and carefree.
'It's unlike him to agree so readily,' Izumi thought to herself, a warm feeling spreading through her chest. 'Something's changed, but I like this change.'
"Itachi," Fugaku's voice interrupted his thoughts.
"Yes, Father?"
"I'm heading out. Where did you leave Arashi and Sasuke?"
"Sasuke is training with a clone of mine. I'm teaching him another Fire Style technique. Arashi is practicing on his own."
"Good. I have work to attend to, and you should also get going."
Itachi nodded in acknowledgment. Fugaku picked up his notebook from a nearby table and exited the room, leaving Itachi alone to contemplate the day's events.
"Oh, and Itachi?" Fugaku's voice echoed from the doorway, causing Itachi to turn back.
"Two weeks ago, I decided to entrust you with the fate of the clan and the village," Fugaku continued, his voice steady and unwavering. "I'm glad my trust wasn't misplaced."
With that final declaration, Fugaku departed, leaving Itachi alone in the empty hall. A soft smile graced Itachi's lips as he gazed out at the Uchiha compound bathed in the warm afternoon sunlight.
'Shisui, this is the future you sacrificed yourself for,' he thought, a bittersweet pang in his heart. 'Your efforts were not in vain. I'm upholding the safety of the clan and the village, just like you wanted. More importantly, I'm protecting Arashi.'
His smile faded, replaced by a steely determination. 'Now, it's time to execute the final stage of my plan. I have one last use of Kotoamatsukami, and I hope it doesn't come to that.'
With a flicker, Itachi vanished, leaving only the lingering echo of his resolve in the silent hall.
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Later that evening, a sense of unease lingered in the air of the Hokage's office. Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, sat at his desk, engrossed in the monotonous task of signing mission assignments. However, his mind was far from the paperwork, consumed by the threat of Danzo's escape and the uncertain future of the village.
'A sense of unease clouds my thoughts with Danzo still on the loose,' he pondered, reaching for his teacup. As he lifted it, he noticed a thin crack snaking across the glass. His brows furrowed.
'This isn't a mere coincidence,' he mused, rising from his chair. He secured the windows and exited his office, his senses alert.
"Yugao," he called out, his voice carrying through the empty hallway, "any updates on Danzo? Have Itachi and his team found him yet?"
An Anbu member with long, purple hair materialized in a swift motion. "No further communication has been received since the last update, Lord Hokage."
Hiruzen nodded, a sense of foreboding growing within him. He ascended the stairs to the rooftop, a sudden gust of wind causing him to grip his hat tightly. 'Something isn't right.'
Upon reaching the rooftop, his eyes widened in disbelief. A figure stood on the other side, bathed in the moonlight.
"Danzo... How did you get past the–"
"The Anbu?" Danzo interrupted, a cruel smirk twisting his lips. "Hiruzen, you've been using the same defensive strategies for years. I've advised you to upgrade them multiple times, but you never listened."
"And why are you here, Danzo?" Hiruzen's voice was steady, his gaze unwavering. "To plead for your life, perhaps?"
Danzo sneered. "You truly underestimate me. Shinobi don't plead. I've come to bring you down."
Hiruzen's eyes narrowed, his demeanor hardening. "So this is the second time in a few years that you've tried to 'bring me down.' What makes you think you'll succeed this time?"
Danzo began to unwrap the bandages that enveloped his right arm, a chilling anticipation building in the air. "Last time, I had only one," he said, his voice raspy. "Now, I've gathered many more. I intend to have a complete set once I've eradicated the Uchiha and ascended as the next Hokage."
Hiruzen's expression darkened as Danzo revealed his grotesque arm. Embedded within the pale flesh were six crimson eyes, each bearing the three tomoe of the Sharingan. Danzo then unwound the bandage from his face, exposing another Sharingan eye, this one with a distinct double pinwheel pattern.
A wave of revulsion and dread washed over Hiruzen as he recognized the stolen eyes of Kagami Uchiha.
"Those eyes... Danzo, tell me you didn't—"
Danzo cut him off with a vicious grin. "These are the eyes of Kagami Uchiha and other Uchiha who perished in the Third Shinobi War."
Whoosh!
Without warning, Danzo lunged at Hiruzen. "Your time ends now, Sarutobi!"
Hiruzen parried the assault, their clash sending a shockwave through the air. "How far you've fallen, old friend," he lamented, shoving Danzo back and delivering a powerful kick to his chest.
In that fleeting moment, Hiruzen's mind flashed back to their younger days, racing each other to the Hokage Monument. 'I was always faster, but we used to run in parallel. I moved ahead because I knew you had my back, Danzo. After Hashirama and Tobirama-sensei passed away, we were the only ones left to carry the torch. And yet you chose to bear the village's darkness.'
Hiruzen's face twisted into a pained frown. '"Emotions have no place in battle," you say. But don't forget; it's how we deal with our emotions that define us, Danzo.'
Danzo, undeterred, swiftly formed a series of hand seals, inhaling deeply. "Wind Style: Vacuum Bullet!"
Hiruzen responded in kind, his own hand seals blurring. "Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!"
Their techniques collided in mid-air, the wind amplifying the flames into a deafening explosion that shook the rooftop.
Smoke cleared, and Hiruzen cautiously approached what appeared to be Danzo's lifeless body. "So this is it? The end?" he murmured, tears welling up in his eyes.
Suddenly, multiple Anbu agents appeared, their voices filled with concern. "We heard the commotion, Lord Hokage. Our apologies for the delay."
Ignoring them, Hiruzen knelt beside Danzo's body, his voice choked with emotion. "Danzo, it never had to come to this."
Just then, a chill ran down his spine. A voice, raspy and menacing, echoed from behind him.
"Is that all the Hokage can muster?"
Hiruzen's heart skipped a beat. 'That voice...'
Shink!
A sharp pain erupted in his back, and he nearly collapsed from the shock. Blood gushed from the wound.
"Hokage-sama!" The Anbu agents cried out, their weapons drawn.