"Liar!"
"You're definitely a liar!"
"I don't believe it!"
"There's no way I'm believing this!"
"I won't listen, I won't listen! My Hiruzen Sarutobi would never do such a thing!"
"You two scumbags, stay far away from me!"
When Shisui and Itachi found Itsuki lying in a coffin, they explained what had happened during the Jonin meeting. The expression on Itsuki's face was something neither Shisui nor Itachi had ever seen before.
He was stunned!
Immediately after, Itsuki couldn't be held down. He was determined to see Hiruzen Sarutobi with his own eyes!
Shisui and Itachi understood—Itsuki really wanted to see for himself! To take a good look at him.
Would Hiruzen think the same way? He's already taken action, and he's just waiting for a reason to take you out!
If you barge into the Hokage's office like this, you might just be greeted by an ambush from all the Jonin in Konoha.
The Uchiha can't handle any more turmoil right now.
"Brother Itsuki!"
Itachi pleaded earnestly, "I'll call you Dad if you want, just stop this nonsense. Everything I've said is true! The Uchiha might be in serious trouble very soon."
Dad?
That works!
Itsuki thought about the kind and gentle Mikoto and blurted out, "Are you sure Fugaku was just taken away and not killed?"
Shisui: "..."
Itachi: "..."
The hope in Itsuki's voice was too obvious.
"Brother Itsuki!"
"Enough! Why are you yelling?"
At the raised volume, Itsuki waved his hand in irritation.
"You two just rambled on for ages. Let me sum it up for you."
"Fugaku's been imprisoned."
"The Uchiha are under surveillance."
"The Third Hokage is planning to gather 800 Uchiha and 20 Jonin to deal with the Hidden Cloud."
Shisui and Itachi nodded simultaneously. "Yes!"
"Sigh."
Itsuki sighed. "I don't even know what to say to you two."
"What do you mean?"
"Did your dad summon a Gundam—uh, I mean, did he use Susano'o?"
"No!"
"Then how did he get captured?"
Itsuki was speechless. "If he really went all out, what difference is there between him and a tailed beast? If he wanted to make a scene, do you think those old fossils from the Third could stop him?"
The Third Hokage and the others have no idea about Susano'o. If they knew, they wouldn't dare imprison Fugaku.
"Well…"
"As for the Uchiha being under surveillance, that's just funny. When haven't they been watched?"
Shisui quietly added, "During the days you go crazy each month, they run away faster than anyone."
Itsuki: "..."
Damn it, don't they realize those are just excuses for me to pick a fight?
How did that sound so weird coming from you?
"Right, they want people, don't they? Give them people! Send as many able-bodied Uchiha to the battlefield as you can."
"Huh?!"
"Huh, what?"
Itsuki rolled his eyes. "Shisui, Itachi, I'm giving you two a mission."
"Just say it!"
Both of them perked up.
They were inexperienced. The moment the Third Hokage got serious and Fugaku was imprisoned, they immediately started losing their direction.
Thankfully, Itsuki was there. Otherwise, they would've gone to consult with Setsuna and Zongi.
But those two old coots couldn't agree on anything and would likely cause more problems.
Itsuki bent down and whispered a few things into their ears.
The two glanced at each other, seeing the odd look in each other's eyes. "Brother Itsuki, according to your plan, if Hiruzen Sarutobi is doing all this, then…"
They weren't even calling him 'Lord Hokage' anymore. He'd captured their father, so it was already generous that they hadn't started calling him an old fossil.
With a new perspective on Konoha, Itachi wasn't as extreme anymore, and his relationship with Fugaku had improved greatly.
"Yes, he's helping us. Once everything is ready, we'll dig up the Sarutobi clan's ancestral grave as thanks."
Shisui frowned. "I don't understand. Isn't the Third Hokage afraid the other Jonin in the village will object? Doesn't he care about what clans like the Hyuga will think?"
"The Sand Village's recent actions have helped him. Even if the Jonin are upset, they'll have to hold it in for now." Itsuki smiled. "As for later, I think the clans behind the Third will likely make their move to officially take the stage."
"In other words, they're preparing to use force to control the entire village."
Itachi was shocked. "Is that really possible?"
"It is. Don't forget how many shinobi the Sarutobi, Shimura, Utatane, and Mitokado clans have."
Because of Itsuki's interference, the Third Shinobi World War ended three years earlier.
So…
Even though it was four or five years later than in the original timeline, these four clans were likely still very powerful.
A conservative estimate would put their numbers at five to six thousand shinobi.
As the longest-serving Hokage in Konoha's history, Hiruzen Sarutobi had no shortage of loyalists.
All those forces combined were enough to suppress Konoha.
Especially with a major battle on the horizon.
Shisui was a bit lost and muttered, "Is this still Konoha? Is this still the Hokage?"
Unlike Itachi, who was extreme but sharp and adaptable, Shisui was idealistic and stubborn.
If not for Itsuki, his younger brother, gradually influencing him in daily life, Itsuki couldn't be sure that Shisui wouldn't end up jumping into a river after witnessing Konoha's darkness!
Of course, if this Shisui was like the one from the original story, Itsuki figured he'd personally drown him.
There's no need to embarrass the clan further.
A Mangekyo user jumping into a river to kill himself? He really made history with that one!
"Sigh!"
Itsuki sighed helplessly and patted Shisui on the head.
Shisui frowned. "Aren't you supposed to pat my shoulder at a time like this? Why the head? You're the younger brother, not me."
…
Just as Itsuki said.
The Third Hokage's orders this time caused an uproar among the shinobi, sparking a lot of dissatisfaction.
Especially from the clans.
However!
Because the Hidden Sand Village and other enemy villages were coming on strong, all the shinobi not only gritted their teeth and endured it but even helped the Third Hokage suppress the Uchiha.
At this moment, whoever acted first would take control.
If the Uchiha acted first, the shinobi would probably help the Uchiha suppress the Third Hokage instead.
It all depended on who had the courage to burn their bridges!
The shinobi just wanted to survive. If they fought now, it would feel like their leaders didn't want them to live.
Could they tolerate that?
No one could have expected...
The Uchiha clan fully cooperated with the Third Hokage's orders.
After Itachi returned to the clan, the entire Uchiha clan sprang into action.
Groups of shinobi began registering, collecting supplies, and preparing for war.
It was at this moment that Itsuki realized Itachi had turned wicked.
Once everything was ready, Itachi brazenly demanded an enormous amount of supplies from the Third Hokage—enough for 10,000 people!
They were just a few hundred asking for enough for 10,000!
It was said that the Third Hokage's eyes nearly popped out.
But!
Considering that the Uchiha were preparing to go to war, the Third gritted his teeth and endured it.
Fine! Take it!
Once they wiped out the Uchiha, the ancient wealth of their clan would more than make up for it.
This was just an initial investment!
In just three days, the Uchiha were ready to march.
After adding the several thousand shinobi the Third Hokage assigned to them, he ordered the army to depart.
But deep down, he couldn't shake an uneasy feeling.
(End of Chapter)