The unexpected na on the letter caused all of Konoha's high-ranking officials to return.
An ergency eting was reconvened.
"Neji discovered the culprit behind the Hyuga branch family attacks and is currently tracking him."
"Uchiha Madara… is it just a na coincidence?"
"But there is no one nad Uchiha Madara in the current Uchiha clan records."
"You know who it refers to."
"Of course I do, but that person has been dead for over thirty years!"
"Regardless, he bears the Uchiha na. So… is this the confidence behind the Uchiha clan's rebellion?"
The na seed to possess imnse power, and the four elders who had lived through that era fell silent.
They all deeply suspected that the Madara ntioned in Neji's letter was rely soone pretending to be him. However, the recent craziness of the Uchiha clan prevented them from dismissing it quickly. Could this Uchiha Madara be so old relic the Uchiha had dug up from a grave?
"Should we call Neji back to get a clear explanation?" Homura suggested.
"No!" Sarutobi and Danzo simultaneously shook their heads. Such a rare lead couldn't be easily severed.
"And Itachi? Did he not ntion that this Uchiha Madara might be a secret weapon of the Uchiha clan?"
"No."
If Itachi knew about additional support for the Uchiha, he certainly wouldn't have kept it a secret.
Seeing Sarutobi shake his head, Danzo frowned. Fugaku wasn't so foolish after all; he managed to deceive his son…
The information Neji provided was precious. Despite the odd connection between Uchiha Madara and the Hyuga branch family attacks, this was an enemy. They just needed to prepare accordingly and face whatever ca their way.
Sarutobi pondered for a mont. With the Uchiha rebellion potentially bolstered by an unexpectedly powerful ally, they had to adjust their plans: "The original battle plan remains unchanged, but to deal with this sudden appearance of Uchiha Madara, we should form a special strike team. The team should be of the highest Kage-level standard."
The Kage-level standard ant the team was not just on par with Kage-level strength but could even kill a single opponent in regular combat.
Similarly, a Jonin-standard team could defeat or kill a single Jonin-level opponent.
No one opposed Sarutobi's proposal. Given the potential threat to Konoha and the terrifying figure involved, they had to be extra cautious.
They treated the Uchiha Madara ntioned in Neji's letter as the real deal!
"What about specific personnel?" Koharu asked.
Sarutobi listed several nas, all elite ninjas capable of standing independently. Still feeling it wasn't enough, he scanned the waiting Jonin and ANBU elites in the hallway and paused:
"Add one more… Kakashi."
Thus, the special strike team was ford solely to counter the potential threat of Uchiha Madara during the battle between Konoha and the Uchiha.
They might not be deployed, but preparing for the unexpected was necessary. A large military group like a ninja village couldn't rely on ad-hoc responses for everything. Having a plan was always reassuring.
With the Madara issue settled, the eting's atmosphere relaxed. Sarutobi seed to rember sothing and shook his head in admiration:
"No wonder they're called Konoha's Twin Stars. One infiltrates the Uchiha to provide crucial intel."
"The other investigates the Hyuga branch family cases and unexpectedly uncovers a potential Uchiha ally."
"They both have made great contributions to Konoha!"
Everyone nodded slightly except for Danzo, who frowned. Was this a reminder not to go too far with the war heroes?
…
Everything proceeded smoothly in the shadows. Despite harboring killing intent, Konoha and the Uchiha clan maintained a facade of harmony, like a married couple.
War was inevitable, and everyone had quietly steeled themselves.
But like a released beast, Sarutobi's strategy of targeting only the ringleaders and sparing won and children seed overly idealistic to Danzo. He couldn't tell if Sarutobi was genuinely sincere or hypocritically righteous.
Being Hokage required such an upright image.
anwhile, with his nacing and unapproachable aura, Danzo was far from that position.
As the roots of Konoha's great tree, his role was in the unnoticed, unlit parts. The deeper the roots grew, the taller the tree stood. Danzo had no complaints about his role; he even enjoyed being the king of Konoha's darkness.
There were different rules for the light and the dark. Fighting for nutrients against other plants' roots required ruthlessness. Eliminating threats solidified the victory. Sarutobi might not want to say or do it, but Danzo felt he understood perfectly.
Regarding the Uchiha clan, besides having Itachi try to massacre them before the rebellion, Danzo also had a backup plan for Itachi's failure. The next day, as the Uchiha clan fully mobilized, Root ninjas would slaughter all the won and children left in the Uchiha compound, leaving no one behind.
Of course, the extermination policy was indiscriminate. Sasuke would not be an exception.
When Konoha and the Uchiha clashed, it would an Itachi's massacre the night before had failed. Unable to fulfill his promise to Danzo, Danzo would be free from his commitnt to spare Sasuke.
Everything followed the rules of the dark. Itachi, seemingly confident, gave Danzo so hope.
If Itachi's power could help him eradicate the Uchiha, Danzo's spoils—the Sharingan—would multiply.
…
For two days, we remained until the Hyuga clan eting.
The sunset was as red as blood.
The wind blew through his long hair as Itachi leaned on the rooftop, overlooking the village below.
In the smoky twilight, the bustle continued, people coming and going.
"I'm not going all out… ha… ha!"
"You went all out already, you idiot!"
A blond boy's frustrated voice echoed on the playground as Sasuke left him behind in a race.
The watching girls giggled.
"Let's compete in sothing else, how about jumping high?"
"Sure!" Sasuke smiled confidently.
Itachi's eyes were gentle.
These were the people he protected.
This was the world he cherished.
That narrow-minded clan did not weigh as much as the bright smile on the boy's face and the dust carried by the wind.
The decision had been made two years ago when Shisui threw himself into the Naka River.
Hundreds of lives in the clan.
Driven by ambition, following the tide, ignorant, elderly, or just children.
Life was not without weight, but compared to so things, it was as light as paper, easily torn away.
As the sun set and darkness engulfed the village and those Itachi cherished, he turned and walked away.
This journey was solely to ensure that what he cherished could see the light again.
…
In the dense forest, Neji was still looking around, seemingly puzzled.
"Who are you looking for?"
A long-haired man wearing a tiger mask hung upside down from a tree trunk. The Mangekyo Sharingan in his mask's eye hole, shaped like three sickles, coldly observed Neji.
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