As the first light of dawn pierced through the clouds, the bustling streets of Konoha, a vibrant ninja village, were illuminated, dispelling the darkness.
For ordinary people, it was just another ordinary day.
The Anbu had already cleaned up the battlefield near the Uchiha clan grounds and set up a perimeter around it. Without orders from the higher-ups, they couldn't fully clear the Uchiha grounds, but some Anbu had already infiltrated the area. They stood on rooftops, surveying the scene and enforcing strict security.
On the main street of the Uchiha district, Itachi carried Sasuke on his back, walking toward the exit. The elite Anbu, however, paid no attention to them.
Itachi's expression was distant. He tried to fabricate one excuse after another to soothe Sasuke, but each one was rejected in his mind.
According to his plan, Sasuke shouldn't have fainted so early.
"Stop right there!"
A familiar voice echoed.
Itachi looked up and saw a fox-faced mask, along with two familiar figures.
Two Anbu had blocked his path.
Itachi glanced beyond them.
Sarutobi Hiruzen and two others were approaching him, their gazes indifferent, exuding the aura of those in power, completely ignoring the corpses of Uchiha civilians on the street.
"Stand down," Hiruzen said coldly to the two Anbu blocking Itachi's way.
Before the Anbu with the fox mask left, Itachi reached out to stop him and handed over the unconscious Sasuke. "Kakashi-senpai, please take care of Sasuke for a while."
Kakashi hesitated, sighed lightly, took Sasuke, and retreated with Yamato by his side.
Now, only four people remained on the street.
Koharu Utatane spoke bluntly, stepping forward, "Uchiha Kuroki has wiped out the Uchiha clan and fled Konoha with a group of rogue Uchiha. Itachi, you don't have to leave the village."
Itachi's scattered thoughts started to come together as he looked up at Sarutobi Hiruzen beside the old woman.
He instantly understood what they meant.
Hiruzen's gaze was calm as he looked directly into Itachi's questioning eyes and sighed, "I'm sorry, Itachi. In the end, I couldn't find a better solution. Regarding staying in Konoha, what are your thoughts?"
To the three members of Konoha's high council, the Uchiha clan could have been exterminated either by Itachi or by Kuroki. Now, Hiruzen was more inclined to believe it was the rogue Uchiha Kuroki who was responsible.
The two elders assisting the Hokage were right. Konoha urgently needed manpower now.
Seeing Itachi's silence, Koharu spoke directly, "The truth of tonight is known only to the three of us, you, and the deceased Danzo."
"Danzo... is dead?"
Itachi's head snapped up, his bloodshot eyes locking onto Koharu. The news exploded in his mind.
Danzo Shimura, the man who pushed for the Uchiha massacre... dead? How?
Itachi immediately thought of the only possible answer.
Kuroki must have killed him!
Koharu's eyes narrowed slightly, her breath halting, and her body trembled slightly.
In that brief moment, the Uchiha boy's eyes seemed to carry kunai forged from pure killing intent, stabbing her with a deadly blow.
Koharu nodded and did not hide the truth. "He was killed by Uchiha Kuroki."
Hearing this, Itachi's pupils contracted, his mind once again thrown into chaos. He took a deep breath, calming his emotions as he reevaluated the threat level of Uchiha Kuroki.
Looking up at Hiruzen, Itachi spoke slowly, each word trembling slightly, "The Uchiha Police Force was taken out by Uchiha Kuroki before I made my move."
At this statement, Hiruzen, Koharu, and Homura Mitokado were all shocked to the core.
So, Kuroki wiped out the Uchiha Police Force and then returned to kill Danzo?
A Uchiha who could wipe out the entire Police Force and assassinate Danzo surely qualified as an S-ranked rogue ninja!
The last S-ranked rogue ninja Konoha had was one of the legendary Sannin, Orochimaru.
"This..." Koharu's pupils quaked as she swallowed hard, her words catching in her throat.
This was beyond belief!
Hiruzen was the first to regain his composure. He pondered the entire village's ninja forces, realizing that perhaps only his three disciples could have accomplished such a feat.
Even if Kuroki had activated the Mangekyō Sharingan, it wouldn't explain everything.
To wipe out the Uchiha Police Force would have drained all his chakra. How could he have had the energy left to assassinate Danzo afterward?
The three of them knew Danzo's true strength better than anyone. Even if the three Sannin teamed up, they couldn't have killed Danzo so quickly.
The silence on the street was deafening.
Itachi broke the tension.
"Forgive me, Lord Hokage, but for Sasuke's sake, I cannot stay in Konoha. I'll find a way to deal with the rogue Uchiha squad myself. Please, take care of Sasuke for me."
The three high-ranking leaders of Konoha gathered their thoughts.
The trio, seasoned from years in power, quickly set aside the matter of Kuroki wiping out the Police Department and then assassinating Danzō.
Now, their task was clear.
They had to persuade Itachi to stay.
With the Uchiha clan gone and a rogue Uchiha squad taking the blame, Itachi no longer had to leave the village.
Hiruzen Sarutobi wasn't surprised by Itachi's response. He squinted slightly, looking toward Koharu Utatane.
The two exchanged a brief glance.
Koharu continued to persuade Itachi:
"Itachi, we understand how you feel, but please hear the conditions we're offering.
Danzō is dead.
Konoha's underground intelligence department and the 'Root' training unit now desperately need someone to take over.
You're the most suitable person for this role.
If you stay in Konoha, you can personally look after Sasuke and raise him into adulthood.
Itachi, think more about your brother.
Of course, if you insist on leaving the village, we will still honor our promise and take good care of Sasuke."
Uchiha Itachi quickly weighed the pros and cons in his mind before slowly raising his head to look at the Third Hokage.
Hiruzen sighed:
"None of us wanted to see this happen to the Uchiha, but timing and circumstance left us no choice.
What I'm about to say may be hard to hear, but your adherence to the Will of Fire has indeed made tremendous contributions to the peace of Konoha. You are a hero of this village.
You don't deserve to live in the shadows.
Itachi, stay. I beg you in the name of the Hokage."
…
Two days later.
At the border of the Land of Fire.
On Kikyo Mountain.
A silver stream wound through the desolate autumn valley, flowing peacefully onward.
Splash—
Kuroki stood upstream, bending down to scoop water with both hands, washing the bloodstains from his face. His feet rested on the crystal-clear riverbed, submerged to his ankles.
The late autumn water was bone-chillingly cold.
The sunlight reflected Kuroki's appearance in the water—short, messy hair, sharp eyebrows and bright eyes, with well-defined features. He wore white robes and stood with elegant posture.
Other Uchiha members were also nearby, washing away the dirt and grime from their bodies.
They had long since changed into ordinary clothing.
Now, they looked like a group of villagers from the surrounding mountains, though their appearance was far more striking.
At that moment, Uchiha Izumi walked upstream with a slight frown, holding her ninja sandals in her right hand, her feet splashing through the water.
Representing the other Uchiha, she approached Kuroki, who hadn't spoken much in the past two days, and softly asked:
"Captain Kuroki, are we taking the water route around Kikyo Mountain, or are we passing through Kikyo Castle?
Personally… I think the water route may take us farther, but it'll help cover our tracks."
(End of chapter)