After leaving the meeting room, Seigen looked up at the clear blue sky, letting his thoughts drift.
A moment later, Itachi walked over to him.
“I’m sorry, Seigen…
About that night…”
Itachi’s expression was filled with complicated emotions.
Even now, he still couldn’t forgive himself.
That night, after being manipulated by Danzō, he had nearly killed his closest friend, his family, and his entire clan with his own hands.
Every night, he dreamed of what would have happened if Seigen hadn’t stopped him.
The Uchiha Clan would have been destroyed by his own hands.
“Oh, come on.” Seigen chuckled as he looked at Itachi’s guilty expression.
“I’d say you’re just too idle if you still have time to think about all that.”
He smiled reassuringly.
“Isn’t everyone doing just fine now?
Things are only going to get better.”
Itachi frowned.
He believed the new village built by the Uchiha Clan would continue to prosper…
But there was no way the Five Great Hidden Villages would simply sit back and watch the Hidden Flame Village grow stronger.
One wrong move, and they would be dragged into the quagmire of war.
“Do you think our new village can remain this peaceful forever?”
Itachi wasn’t sure whether he was asking Seigen or simply asking himself.
“I’m afraid that’s impossible.”
“The very existence of the Hidden Flame Village has already upset the balance among the Five Great Hidden Villages.
Although the Fire Daimyō’s pressure prevents them from openly attacking us for now, they’ll definitely be probing us behind the scenes.”
“As for war…” Seigen’s eyes turned cold.
“We’re not afraid of it.
If they’re the ones who start it, then when it ends will be our decision.”
A fierce glint flashed across his eyes.
“I believe we can protect everyone.”
“Don’t you, Itachi?”
“…Yes.”
Itachi said nothing more.
Since things had already come this far, all he could do was devote everything he had to protecting the village.
More than anything, he wanted Sasuke to grow up happily in a peaceful environment.
Seigen lowered his voice.
“While I’m away visiting the Hidden Stone Village, stay on high alert.
Konoha and the other villages will probably send people to gather intelligence.
Under no circumstances can Orochimaru’s laboratory be exposed.”
“Don’t worry.”
At last, Itachi smiled.
He was confident he could stop any intruders before they reached the village.
Even if an enemy beyond his abilities appeared, his father could always step in.
At present, what the Hidden Flame Village lacked was only mid- and lower-level combat strength.
After all…
They already had three Kage-level fighters.
Unless the major villages were willing to go all out and unleash their Tailed Beasts…
But even then, they’d better think twice.
If they weren’t afraid of having their Tailed Beasts subdued by the Sharingan and turning against them on the spot…
They were welcome to try.
“All right.
It’s about time I set off.”
After saying goodbye to Itachi, Seigen departed alone for the Hidden Stone Village.
Meanwhile, in Konoha…
These past few days, every time the Third Hokage heard the words “Hidden Flame Village,” his liver ached from anger.
He was furious.
And deeply regretful.
The departure of the entire Uchiha Clan had caused Konoha’s military strength to plummet overnight.
Along the northern border, the Fourth Raikage had once again reinforced his front lines.
Cloud shinobi had repeatedly provoked Konoha’s forces, and border skirmishes had reached a level unseen in years.
“Go and summon Kakashi to my office.”
“Yes, Hokage.”
The Third Hokage rubbed his aching temples.
Konoha simply couldn’t withstand any more turmoil.
With Konoha’s weakened strength, the Hidden Cloud Village was already showing signs of preparing for war.
And the Uchiha—who had defected from Konoha—were now settled just outside the borders of the Land of Fire.
Like a venomous snake, waiting to strike at any moment.
” Hokage.”
The Third Hokage’s thoughts were interrupted by Kakashi’s voice from outside.
“Come in.”
“Yes.”
“Kakashi, this is an S-rank mission regarding the Uchiha Clan’s defection.
Your primary objective is to gather intelligence on them…”
At the mention of the Uchiha, Kakashi couldn’t help thinking of his fallen teammate—
Obito Uchiha.
He unconsciously reached up and touched his eye.
“Understood, Hokage.”
“I’ll also assign members of the Hyūga Clan and the Aburame Clan to support your operation.”
“Yes, Hokage.”
“Very well.
Go make your preparations.
Your teammates will meet up with you tomorrow.”
Kakashi didn’t have any particularly strong feelings about the Uchiha Clan’s defection.
In his opinion, after the village had chosen to deal with them in such an extreme manner…
The entire clan leaving was only a matter of time.
There was nothing surprising about it.
Forget it.
It has nothing to do with me.
I’ll just complete the mission.
Kakashi refused to dwell on it any further.
He was afraid that if he kept thinking, he would only grow resentful toward the village.
Ever since his father had been driven to death by rumors and public condemnation…
The light had disappeared from Kakashi’s eyes.
He had simply drifted through life ever since.
And now…
Naruto, the son of his teacher, was suffering under those same rumors.
In the end…
It was all the fault of Konoha’s leadership.
Far away in the Hidden Cloud Village…
The Fourth Raikage sat in his office reading the latest intelligence report before bursting into loud laughter.
“Hahaha!
Hiruzen Sarutobi, you’re an absolute fool!”
“You actually forced the entire Uchiha Clan into rebellion!
Let’s see how your pathetic little Konoha plans to fight me without the Uchiha’s power!”
By now, every major hidden village had received news that the Uchiha had established a new hidden village in the Land of Rice Fields.
The Raikage found Hiruzen’s incompetence utterly laughable.
The Uchiha had built an entire hidden village right under Konoha’s nose.
“Hiruzen Sarutobi…
you really are a coward!”
“Someone!”
“Continue reinforcing the front lines!”
“Yes, Raikage!”