Chapter 397: Chapter 397: Uchiha Itachi
Itachi’s pupils suddenly constricted.
Uchiha?
Among those who surrounded Shisui, there were Uchiha members?
"Who is it?"
Fugaku shook his head: "I don’t know. Ryota’s memory was tampered with; he only remembers part of the battle process, and his memories after escaping are a complete blank."
He paused, then continued: "Tonight, Yamanaka Inoichi tried to probe Ryota’s memories, and as a result... he was assassinated in the ANBU secret room."
"Ryota was taken away, and Takumi chased after him."
"Now both are missing, and we only found Inoichi’s body at Takumi’s house."
Itachi listened quietly, his mind analyzing rapidly.
Shisui was killed in action.
Ryota’s memory was altered.
Yamanaka Inoichi was assassinated while investigating.
Takumi and Ryota are missing.
This series of events... is too coincidental.
Too coincidental, like a carefully woven net.
Itachi was silent for a moment, then spoke: "Father, what are the reactions... of the other clans in the village?"
Fugaku glanced at his son.
This question was very sharp, but it also hit the crucial point.
"The Hyuga clan’s attitude is ambiguous. Although Hiashi holds an advisor position, after tonight’s incident, he has already left early, citing ’clan affairs are busy.’"
"Akimichi Torifu is still here, but his words imply... it might be an inside job."
"As for the small families like Utatane and Mitokado..."
Fugaku sneered: "They can’t wait to see the Uchiha become a laughingstock."
Itachi nodded, unsurprised.
This was normal.
The Uchiha had been too dominant these past three years.
Seizing power through a coup, controlling the ANBU, pushing out the old clans, taking a line externally... Although it stabilized Konoha’s situation, it also accumulated too much resentment.
Now Shisui is dead in action, Takumi is missing, and the Uchiha’s high-level combat power has suddenly decreased by two.
What will those clans think?
They will think... an opportunity has arrived.
Itachi spoke slowly: "Father, we need to be vigilant."
"Vigilant about what?"
"Vigilant about the major clans in the village."
Fugaku frowned: "Itachi, don’t think of everyone so darkly. I’ve been Hokage for three years and have contributed a lot to this village. They shouldn’t..."
Itachi interrupted him: "Father, do you still remember the incident with Kumogakure a year ago?"
Fugaku was startled.
A year ago, a Kumogakure delegation visited, ostensibly to sign a peace agreement, but in reality, they secretly plotted to abduct the Hyuga clan’s main family daughter — Hyuga Hinata.
After the incident was exposed, Kumogakure turned the tables, demanding that Konoha hand over the "culprit" Hyuga Hizashi to atone for his crime, or else they would go to war.
At that time, among Konoha, some advocated compromise, to hand over Hyuga Hizashi to quell the incident.
But Fugaku firmly rejected this, stating as the Fifth Hokage —
Konoha would not hand over any innocent ninja; if Kumogakure wanted war, then war it would be!
In the end, Kumogakure backed down, and the matter was dropped.
Hyuga Hizashi survived.
Fugaku had always believed this incident was a highlight of his administration — protecting the village’s own ninja and upholding Konoha’s dignity.
But Itachi bringing this up now...
"What about that incident?"
Itachi calmly replied: "Father, you protected Hyuga Hizashi back then, and the Hyuga clan indeed thanked you. But have you considered... how did the other clans see it?"
"What they saw was the Uchiha Hokage willing to go to war with Kumogakure for the sake of the Hyuga clan."
"And before this, the Uchiha had already taken control of the ANBU and the Administrative Department, pushing out old clans like Sarutobi and Shimura."
"In the eyes of those clans, the Uchiha were courting the Hyuga, suppressing other clans, and consolidating their own power."
Fugaku’s expression changed slightly.
He hadn’t thought much about it then, just felt he couldn’t compromise, couldn’t chill the hearts of the ninja.
But hearing Itachi’s analysis now...
"Furthermore," Itachi continued, "in these three years, the mortality rate for missions performed by the Uchiha is three times higher than that of other clans. Although part of it is due to enemy targeting... could it really all be the work of enemies?"
"Could it be that someone inside is using a borrowed knife to kill?"
Fugaku fell silent.
He thought of the list of Uchiha clan members who had died in these three years.
There were indeed too many.
Too many to be normal.
He had previously thought it was because the Uchiha had just come to power and enemies were focusing their attacks, but thinking about it now... what if someone inside was also fueling the flames?
Itachi looked at his father’s expression and knew he had taken it in, so he posed an even sharper question: "Father, what does the Uchiha clan’s current foothold in Konoha rely on?"
Fugaku instinctively answered: "The position of Hokage."
Itachi shook his head: "No, it relies on the Mangekyō Sharingan."
"Or rather, on what others perceive as ’five pairs of Mangekyō Sharingan’."
Five pairs?
Fugaku’s mind stirred.
He knew what his son was referring to — himself, Uchiha Shisui, Uchiha Takumi, and the "Whirlpool Masked Man" and "Crescent Moon Masked Man" who appeared on the Night of the Nine-Tails.
From the outside perspective, these five were all Mangekyō Sharingan wielders from the Uchiha clan!
But in reality...
"The Whirlpool and Crescent Moon aren’t Uchiha at all." Fugaku said solemnly: "They just happened to be there on the Night of the Nine-Tails, and might even have a grudge against the Uchiha."
Itachi nodded in agreement: "We know that, but others don’t."
"From the outside perspective, the Uchiha suddenly produced five pairs of Mangekyō overnight — what terrifying power is that? So they didn’t dare to act and could only bide their time."
"But what about now?"
Itachi held up three fingers: "Shisui — killed in action."
"The Whirlpool Masked Man — identity unknown, unseen for over three years, but the moment he appeared tonight, he stood against the Uchiha."
"Uchiha Takumi — missing, and highly suspected of defecting from Konoha for his younger brother."
"Five pairs of Mangekyō, three are gone."
"Leaving you with one pair, and the Crescent Moon Masked Man... but would Crescent Moon really help the Uchiha?"
Fugaku was speechless.
Of course, Crescent Moon wouldn’t help the Uchiha.
That guy seized part of the Nine-Tails’ chakra on the Night of the Nine-Tails, worked as a bounty hunter in the ninja world for a while, then completely disappeared. It’s unclear if he’s friend or foe.
Calculating it this way, the Uchiha’s openly known top combat strength really is just him alone.
Itachi continued: "Although tonight’s incident looks like an external force targeting the Uchiha, what if it was orchestrated by someone inside?"
"For example... Uncle Takumi."
Fugaku looked up sharply: "What are you saying?"
Itachi analyzed calmly: "Six months ago, Uchiha Ryota was transferred to work under Shisui. Although Uncle Takumi didn’t object, was he truly willing?"
"Now Uchiha Ryota’s memories have been altered, Shisui is dead in action, and Uncle Takumi has disappeared with Uchiha Ryota..."
"Could all of this be a plot orchestrated by Uncle Takumi himself?"
