---
Konoha, Uchiha Clan Residence
Two figures silently appeared in a courtyard.
A voice called from inside its house: "Shisui and Itachi, am I right?"
"Yes, it's us, Brother Akira," Uchiha Shisui replied.
A young man, around sixteen or seventeen, emerged from the house. His smooth, pale face was sharp and cold, but his deep black eyes carried a mesmerizing intensity. Despite the coldness in his appearance, a gentle smile always lingered at the corner of his lips, making him approachable. This was Uchiha Akira.
Raising a hand in greeting, Akira said, "Shisui, Itachi, you're just in time. I've just finished cooking dinner. Join me."
"No time for that, Brother Akira," Shisui said seriously. "What you predicted has come true. Danzo really tried to take my Sharingan. If it weren't for your warning…"
Earlier that day, Danzo had summoned Shisui who remembered Akira's warning ,so Shisui trusting Akira, used a Shadow Clone for the meeting.
And just as predicted, Danzo attacked him and tried to take his eyes. Afterward, Shisui immediately informed Itachi, and without waiting, the two went to find Akira.
Itachi added slightly panicked, "Me too, Brother Akira. As you foresaw, Anbu ordered me to monitor the Uchiha clan. My father has also tasked me with being a double agent between the clan and the village. What's more Anbu's primary order for me is to watch you."
"Same here," Shisui said with a worried expression. "Konoha's higher-ups instructed me to keep an eye on you as well saying you are dangerous. Brother Akira, What should we do now? The situation is becoming more and more complex."
Usually calm and composed, Shisui now looked completely panicked.
Akira listened with a serene smile. "Don't worry. Things haven't reached their worst yet." After a pause, he asked, "But let me ask you this, Shisui, Itachi: if the clan really goes to war with the village, which side will you choose?"
The question hung in the air. Both Shisui and Itachi remained silent. They were members of the Uchiha clan, but they were also loyal to Konoha. They didn't want a war, but it seemed inevitable.
After a glance at each other, they answered together, "We'll follow you, Brother Akira."
Akira had been guiding Shisui and Itachi for many years, becoming a mentor and older brother figure to them both. From a young age, they placed their complete trust in him, looking up to him not just as a powerful shinobi but as someone who understood their struggles and guided them with care.
This moment serves as proof that neither Itachi nor Shisui were evil at heart. They weren't driven by malice, but by the painful reality that they had no other choice. Their pure hearts were burdened by the impossible situation they were thrust into. Itachi and Shisui were simply victims of their circumstances, shaped by a world that forced them to make unimaginable decisions.
Akira was the one constant in their lives, offering them guidance and hope. Through his presence, they found solace and trust, knowing that even in the darkest moments, they had someone to rely on—someone who truly understood them. No one is born evil, and Akira had been there for them, building trust and shaping their bond from the very beginning.
After hearing their words, Akira chuckled. "Following me, huh? Well, I have an idea. If we don't want a war between the Uchiha and Konoha, why don't we just leave?"
"Leave?" Shisui's eyes widened in disbelief. "That's impossible. The clan head and the elders would never agree, and Konoha wouldn't allow it. The Uchiha are too powerful. If we leave, we'll be seen as a threat wherever we go."
"Allow us to leave?" Akira's voice turned cold. "Since when do we, the Uchiha, need permission from anyone?"
Akira smirked to himself. "Hmph, even Muzan Kibutsuji was kneeling before me, begging for his life. Not to kill him, but this time, I have to save the clan: it's not about killing anymore."
Standing up, Akira said, "Come with me."
"Where to?" Itachi asked.
"Naka Shrine."
Naka Shrine was the ancestral temple of the Uchiha and a key gathering place for the clan. It was located in Konoha's Uchiha District, home to the clan's patron deity. Beneath the seventh tatami mat from the far right in the main hall lay a hidden meeting place, where a stone monument containing the clan's secrets could only be read with certain dōjutsu.
Tonight, it would host a meeting to plan the coup.
---
Inside Naka Shrine
Uchiha Fugaku stood before the gathered members of the Uchiha clan, his voice filled with righteous indignation. "As you know, my son has infiltrated the Anbu and gathered critical information. For years, the upper echelons of Konoha have excluded our clan from decision-making, treating us like outcasts."
"But Konoha was founded by both the Uchiha and Senju clans! We have every right to participate in its governance."
"That's right!" came voices from the crowd, echoing in agreement.
Fugaku's words struck a deep chord with the gathered Uchiha. "Not only are we denied a say in village decisions, but the village goes out of its way to marginalize us. Our living conditions grow more difficult by the day. As the head of the Uchiha clan, I cannot stand by any longer."
"I've been patient long enough, but the leaders of Konoha have taken advantage of that patience. Since they refuse to treat us fairly, tonight our Uchiha clan will prepare to—"
Suddenly, the door to the shrine creaked open. Three figures entered: Akira, Shisui, and Itachi.
"Hey, everyone!" Akira greeted with a smile, casually raising a hand. "Looks like we're a bit late."
Fugaku, head of the Uchiha clan, smiled and addressed them. "Akira, Shisui, Itachi—you've arrived just in time."
Though young, Akira was regarded as the Uchiha clan's strongest member, with rumors suggesting that he might be the most powerful shinobi in all of Konoha. Shisui, slightly younger, was also highly skilled, ranked just behind Akira. Though Fugaku led the clan, his combat abilities were considered third among the Uchiha.
There is still Itachi, who had awakened his Three Tomoe Sharingan at just 11 years old. Itachi was already one of the clan's elites and would undoubtedly become one of its strongest fighters in the future.
Together, Akira, Shisui, and Itachi were known as the "Three Pillars of the Uchiha." It was their strength that gave the Uchiha clan especially Fugaku the confidence to push forward with the coup.
.....