Within the Uchiha clan, there are certainly unstable individuals.
Therefore...
This time, anyone with even the slightest issue was removed from the mission.
Those left behind in the clan's territory were the ones the upper echelons were 100% sure were loyal to the Uchiha.
But still!
They couldn't take the risk!
If they gambled and lost, it would be catastrophic for the clan.
So, they had to be cautious, very cautious.
Itachi led a group of more than ten people to gather the first group for evacuation.
While they were hurriedly preparing, Itsuki casually strolled over to Fugaku's house.
"Hehehe!"
Standing in front of the familiar gate, Itsuki let out a sinister laugh.
"Nowadays, people always say things like... 'Ma'am, you wouldn't want to...' Bah, what's the point?"
"As for me, I prefer to say... Fugaku, don't blame me."
Itsuki adjusted his clothes and gently knocked on the door.
The door opened.
Uchiha Mikoto, looking as dignified as a traditional Japanese beauty, appeared before Itsuki.
Upon seeing Itsuki, she hesitated for a moment before smiling.
To Itsuki, her smile looked the very picture of a virtuous wife and loving mother.
"Would you invite me in, my lady?"
Itsuki flashed a bright smile.
Mikoto obediently opened the door. "Please."
Entering the clan leader's residence, Itsuki glanced around.
The house felt empty now.
Many items were missing, most likely already relocated in advance.
After all, this place was soon to be abandoned.
Itsuki suddenly asked, "Does it make you sad?"
Mikoto smiled softly and calmly said, "It would be dishonest to say I'm not. I've lived in this home for over 20 years."
Itsuki tried to comfort her. "Don't worry, we'll have a better home."
"We?"
Mikoto's expression turned strange.
"Heh."
Itsuki chuckled and said, "Have you heard the rumors about us?"
"How could I not have?"
Mikoto smiled as she invited Itsuki to sit and started brewing tea. "It's spread everywhere. Fugaku's face was terrible for a few days; he kept losing his temper, almost hit Itachi."
"He didn't confront you?"
"No!" Mikoto laughed. "But Sasuke wanted to settle things with you a few times."
"Haha!"
Itsuki laughed out loud again. "Do you know where the rumors came from?"
"At first, I didn't. But since you're asking, I'd guess it's you."
Mikoto shook her head helplessly. "Spreading rumors about yourself, ruining your own reputation—Itsuki, you're something else..."
She shook her head again as she handed him a cup of freshly brewed tea.
Itsuki accepted it, took a small sip, savoring the taste, then asked, "Do you know why I did it?"
"There must be many reasons. I've thought of a few."
Mikoto sat quietly beside him. In her thirties, she was a blossomed, radiant flower.
And with her long black straight hair!
At this moment, sitting there, gracefully brewing tea, she exuded an even more elegant and refined charm.
In Itsuki's mind, he thought: *MILF!*
Itsuki never considered himself a gentleman.
Nor did he ever aspire to be a good person.
Because becoming a saint requires enduring countless hardships.
But to become a saint as a villain? All it takes is laying down your sword.
So, why bother with all the suffering?
"Let's hear it."
Itsuki looked at Mikoto with great interest.
Their brief conversation had already surprised him.
He'd met Mikoto before.
In his memory, this woman was gentle, the perfect wife material.
He hadn't expected her to be so smart as well.
Before coming, he had mentally prepared himself to be turned away.
Then...
He would have forced his way in.
Of course!
He promised he wouldn't do anything inappropriate.
He just needed to send a message to the outside world.
Mikoto softly said, "You're ruining your own reputation because that's the image you want others to have of you. You need people to believe it."
"Mm!"
Itsuki sipped his tea and nodded in agreement.
"You want to put the Third Hokage at ease, so you set your sights on Fugaku's wife. This way, Fugaku will have no good impression of you, and may even come to hate you!"
"Mm!"
Itsuki nodded again. "What else?"
"One more thing!"
"What?"
"You're acting out of lust!"
"Pfft!"
Itsuki couldn't hold back and sprayed the tea out of his mouth.
It wasn't that his self-control was lacking, but rather that Mikoto's cold, calm voice saying something like that had a devastating impact.
He almost couldn't contain himself.
Mikoto smiled and handed him a napkin. "Did I say something wrong?"
"No! You're absolutely right!"
Itsuki chuckled, stood up, and said, "Itachi should be ready by now. I'll head out. I hope you survive this."
As more and more Uchiha were evacuated in batches, the clan territory would become increasingly empty, raising the chances of discovery by the Third Hokage and his allies.
If they were discovered at the wrong time...
The Uchiha would face a siege.
At that moment, could Mikoto survive?
No one could guarantee it.
Unless Itsuki unleashed his full power and crushed the village.
"Don't worry!"
Mikoto smiled. "I would never disgrace the Uchiha."
Itsuki gave her a deep look and turned to leave.
"By the way, aside from what you just said, are there other reasons?"
Mikoto suddenly asked, "If there are, please satisfy my curiosity."
Itsuki turned his head, looked at her, and calmly said, "I really don't like Fugaku. I've had countless moments where I wanted to tear his face off."
Mikoto was stunned.
She detected a hint of killing intent in Itsuki's words.
But hadn't they been working well together?
Why would Itsuki feel this way?
The reason was simple.
The original story!
In the original story, Fugaku adopted a non-resistance policy, leading to the Uchiha's annihilation.
You could say that in the original story, the Uchiha were destroyed by Fugaku and his son.
In this lifetime, Itsuki also had friends and family.
Thinking about them being wiped out in that way, Itsuki instinctively harbored ill will toward Fugaku.
It hadn't happened yet, but he was preventing it.
In Itsuki's eyes, Fugaku was someone with a prior offense.
Watching Itsuki's figure disappear, Mikoto let out a long sigh of relief.
"Thank goodness!"
"Thank goodness!"
"Phew, I was already prepared for the worst."
"Hah!"
Mikoto nearly collapsed on the floor, drenched in sweat.
...
*Whoosh!*
Itsuki used the Flying Thunder God technique and appeared where Itachi was.
By now, hundreds of people had gathered.
There were men, women, young, and old!
"Itsuki, can you manage this?"
Itachi looked at Itsuki with concern.
According to their plan, Uchiha Itsuki was to use the Flying Thunder God technique to transport these people.
"Itachi, let me teach you something."
Itsuki patted Itachi on the shoulder and said, "A man must never say he can't!"
"Alright, you're amazing!"
Itachi couldn't help but laugh. "But how will you avoid the clan's barrier? And the village's barrier?"
Inside the barrier, one could use the Flying Thunder God technique.
But!
Using it to take people out of the barrier was impossible.
In other words, their current task was to bypass the clan's barrier, and then avoid the village's barrier.
How were they going to do that?
(End of Chapter)