“Itachi…
Uchiha!” Kurenai looked at the visitor, her expression darkening slightly.
Kurenai had heard Kazuki talk about this famous Uchiha prodigy before…
caught between the Uchiha and the Hokage faction, he leaned toward the Hokage.
Would he hurt Kazuki?
Kazuki was strong, but the other party was a renowned Uchiha prodigy as well.
Kurenai didn’t dare gamble on it.
The recent attack by the Foundation had already pushed Kurenai’s nerves to their limit.
“Relax, Kurenai!” Kazuki patted Kurenai’s delicate shoulder gently, then turned his head toward Itachi with a chuckle.
“So, how was today’s show?
Watching such a good play isn’t free.
When I transplant the eyes in a moment, you’ll be responsible for keeping me safe.” He lightly tossed the Sharingan in his hand, his heart burning with anticipation.
Even with his cheat-like system!
Even though he was destined to obtain the Eternal Sharingan anyway.
In this moment, his heart was still thumping with excitement.
Only by possessing the Eternal Sharingan would he truly be qualified to challenge those top figures.
As for Hiruzen Sarutobi and his group, Kazuki hadn’t taken them seriously even back when he only had the three-tomoe Sharingan.
Itachi stared intently at Kazuki, asking coldly, “Did you say the same thing to Elder Setsuna?” Inside the hospital room, Elder Setsuna Uchiha’s behavior had differed from his usual self.
Those who didn’t know Setsuna might not have noticed, but core Uchiha figures like them had all sensed that something was off.
Shinobi were skilled at gathering intelligence.
Itachi Uchiha was no exception.
“Bingo!” Kazuki said with a smile.
“Elder Setsuna and I usually don’t talk, but a few days ago, I told him a great show was coming up and that he should get ready—and remember to pay for his seat.” Itachi’s expression chilled.
“Kazuki Uchiha, what are you actually trying to do?” “Didn’t you hear my conversation with Shisui?” Itachi hesitated before saying, “I feel like you hid something from him.” Kazuki smiled faintly.
“Then what do you think I hid from him?” “His life!” After a brief silence, Itachi looked at him with complex eyes.
“You gouged out his eyes to protect him, didn’t you?” “Those eyes he possessed—that Kotoamatsukami—would make him everyone’s target.” Although the timeline was nearing the Night of the Clan Downfall, the Itachi Uchiha of this moment was not as extreme as he had been in the original timeline.
One reason was that Shisui, who should have died long ago, was still alive.
Kazuki’s existence was another reason.
He had subtly influenced and changed Itachi to some extent.
At the same time, he constantly undercut the prestige of Hiruzen Sarutobi and his clique, exposing their ugly side and shaking Itachi’s trust in them.
As long as Itachi Uchiha didn’t fall into complete despair, this unfilial son wouldn’t go to extremes.
See?
How simple.
Just a light pluck of a string, and the clan’s destiny was shifted like this.
Of course, if Itachi did go to extremes, Kazuki would have no choice but to show no mercy and kill him.
Kazuki had never understood what kind of mindset it took to raise a blade against one’s own parents for the sake of a village.
He simply couldn’t comprehend it.
“Alas!” Kazuki let out a deep sigh.
“What a clever kid.
Itachi, you truly live up to being someone who possessed the mindset of a Hokage at age seven.
Hiruzen Sarutobi chose the right successor in you.” “With you around, the great tree of Konoha will be so much healthier!” *Like hell it would be healthier!* Kurenai burst out laughing with a snort.
Itachi’s eye twitched.
“When did the Hokage ever choose me as his successor?” “Is he not?” Kazuki asked with feigned astonishment.
“Didn’t you have the mindset of a Hokage at age seven?
Thinking about problems from a Hokage’s perspective at age seven—after ten more years of nurturing, wouldn’t you ascend to the heavens?” “Even the sun would have to bow its head before you.” Itachi: “…” *Could you speak normally?* *Hearing that makes me want to punch you in the face.* *Who are you mocking?* “Brother Kazuki!” Itachi sighed.
“Everyone knows the Hokage could never pass his position to me.
Why bother saying all this?” Kazuki acted like a curious child.
“Why couldn’t he pass it to you?
Are you not loyal to Konoha?
Impossible.
I bet even the Hokage trusts your loyalty to Konoha.” “Is your ability lacking?
How could it be?
You were already looking at the world from a Hokage’s perspective at age seven.” “Is your strength lacking?
How could it be?
You’re not only one of Konoha’s top geniuses, but you’re also famous throughout the Ninja World.” “Then why can’t the position of Hokage be given to you?” Itachi fell silent.
After a long pause, he said flatly, “Brother Kazuki, let’s stick to talking about your Sharingan transplant.” “No way!
Right now, I just want to know why you can’t become the Hokage!” What kind of person was Kazuki?
His favorite thing was rubbing salt into wounds.
He loved stirring up trouble out of nothing, let alone right now.
Seeing Itachi Uchiha’s gloomy, frustrated face, how could he miss the chance to press the advantage?
“Today, let me talk about why you can’t become Hokage first!” “If we don’t clear this up, my mind won’t be at peace.” Itachi was completely speechless.
*Your mind won’t be at peace?
Do you think mine is?* Kazuki continued, “You could think like a Hokage at seven—Hiruzen Sarutobi said so himself!
That is an exceptionally high praise, and in the entire village of Konoha, you are the only one who ever received it.
Why couldn’t you become the Hokage?” Itachi stared at Kazuki.
After a long while, he said helplessly, “Because of the clan!” “What about the clan?” *…I was waiting for you to say that!* Kazuki feigned curiosity.
“Did the clan’s plans for an armed coup affect you?
But if the Hokage gave the position to you, would the clan still stage an armed coup?
Or do you think that after becoming Hokage, you couldn’t lead the clan properly?” “I mean it!
As long as the title of Hokage is given to an Uchiha, even if you slapped Clan Leader Fugaku right across the face in front of everyone during a Jonin council meeting, he’d just smile and say ‘Good hit!'” Itachi was stunned.
He stared blankly at Kazuki.
*Holy shit!* *That actually makes so much sense!* *That’s right!* The clan’s discontent and coup preparation stemmed from the Uchiha being suppressed and never having a Hokage of their own.
That was why so many people in the clan acted in increasingly extreme ways.
But if he became the Hokage…
Wouldn’t everything be resolved cleanly?
The conflict between the clan and the village boiled down to one thing: a Hokage.
If the village was willing to let an Uchiha serve as Hokage, the Uchiha certainly wouldn’t mind making concessions in many areas.
Even the Konoha Police Force could be yielded.
Even many resources could be shared.
Seeing Itachi standing there frozen, Kazuki smiled with satisfaction.
The kid was smart from a young age; one hint was all it took.
Many things didn’t need to be spelt out completely.
Hiruzen Sarutobi had told Itachi that he could view problems from a Hokage’s perspective at age seven.
In reality, that was a form of brainwashing!
Children in the Ninja World matured early, and a seven-year-old Itachi was right at the critical age when his values were being shaped.
That idiot Fugaku had thrown him onto the battlefield instead.
Regarding that, Kazuki wanted to say: *If you get hacked to death, you thoroughly deserve it!* *I only feel bad for my Mikoto!* *You were born before I grew old…* Hiruzen Sarutobi was truly crafty.
Saying that line about a seven-year-old having a Hokage mindset—think about it, really think about it!
*Fuck!* Kazuki had imagined that if he had been tricked like that at seven, even “dying for one who understands you” wouldn’t begin to cover it.
*Lord Third Hokage, let me kowtow to you first!
Whenever you want me to die, I’ll die!* When the hot blood rushed to your head, nobody could talk reason into you.