When Did I Fool You?
"Since when did I fool you?"
Uzumaki Naruto wasn't just the orphaned son of the Fourth Hokage, Namikaze Minato. He was also the jinchūriki of the Nine-Tails—an asset of immense importance to Konohagakure.
If the Uchiha clan did anything to him, the consequences would be catastrophic.
Although Naruto's location could be seen through the crystal ball technique, it was too late now to return to the Hokage Residence.
"He's at the Naka Shrine," Uchiha Itachi reported truthfully, though he clearly didn't want Hiruzen Sarutobi to head there personally.
According to his father, the Uchiha clansmen preparing for the coup were already gathering at the shrine, ready to strike down the village's leadership. Even if Fugaku didn't arrive on time, the mere appearance of the Hokage might provoke them into launching the coup prematurely.
If mishandled, the Nine-Tails could be unleashed.
"I see..." Hiruzen nodded slowly. Itachi's reasoning made sense.
Besides, the Uchiha all wield the Sharingan. No Transformation Technique could fool them—they'd see through it instantly.
"Let me go," Itachi suddenly volunteered.
No matter what, he was still Uchiha—and a trusted figure within the clan. If he used Tsukuyomi strategically, perhaps he could infiltrate the gathering without sparking a battle.
Most importantly, Uzumaki Naruto was an unpredictable element in all this.
"I'll go too."
Xu Fan spoke up, stepping into the conversation. It wasn't just for moral reasons—Naka Shrine happened to be one of his sign-in locations.
"In case things go south, I can use my Wood Release to suppress the Nine-Tails' chakra," Xu Fan added casually, offering a convenient excuse.
"Then I leave it to you," Hiruzen said. The two young men in front of him were clearly better suited for this mission than he was.
However, as Hokage, he couldn't afford to sit still. The clash between Xu Fan and Fugaku may have already alerted the Uchiha. To ensure the Nine-Tails didn't rampage through the village, Hiruzen began mobilizing the Anbu and Root in secret to prepare for any outcome.
"Sounds good," Xu Fan agreed, giving a subtle nod. After exchanging glances with Itachi, they set off together toward the Naka Shrine.
Transforming into Fugaku wasn't realistic, but Xu Fan could at least impersonate a low-ranking Uchiha.
Based on the previous rewards from his sign-in system, this location would likely yield a Sharingan as a prize—and that would be the perfect cover for his false identity.
As for how to explain it? Simple—he'd just say his parents were from a lost Uchiha branch.
In the end, it was just deception.
---
"What's your plan?"
As they neared the shrine, Itachi turned and asked, his voice low. "Are you planning to kill them all?"
The Uchiha were proud and power-hungry. While he and Xu Fan might be able to fool them briefly, the truth would come out eventually. If they were discovered, things would spiral into violence.
That's why Itachi asked—if it came to it, would Xu Fan eliminate them?
Xu Fan's original plan didn't involve slaughter.
"We'll take it one step at a time," Xu Fan replied after a pause. Even without Itachi, he could subdue the Uchiha if needed.
"But if we pretend to support the coup and extract Naruto first, everything else will fall into place."
"Pretend...?" Itachi's brow twitched. He hadn't expected Xu Fan to use that word so bluntly.
"Huh?" Xu Fan caught the reaction and turned toward him with a grin. "Relax, Itachi. We're best friends."
"No matter what happens—I won't fool you."
"Really...?" Itachi murmured. Whether or not Xu Fan lied to him wasn't what bothered him. He only cared about protecting the peace of the village.
"Of course. When have I ever lied to you?"
---
As they arrived at Naka Shrine, Itachi immediately noticed several Uchiha patrolling the perimeter.
Even without using his Sharingan, he could sense the pressure in their chakra. If the coup failed, none of them could afford to live with the consequences.
More importantly—Fugaku still hadn't shown up.
That made the group even more nervous.
"I'll need your cooperation," Itachi said softly. He intended to handle the guards first before advancing deeper.
But before he could lay out his plan—
"Hey there!" Xu Fan raised his hand and greeted the patrolling Uchiha casually.
"…???"
Itachi was speechless.
Xu Fan's sudden appearance immediately put the Uchiha guards on alert.
"Sorry I'm late," Xu Fan continued confidently. "Itachi! Over here!"
"Itachi…?" One of the guards blinked. He didn't recognize Xu Fan, but Itachi—he was unforgettable. The prodigy of the clan. Fugaku's eldest son. A rising star of the Anbu.
Itachi shot Xu Fan a glance. They didn't need to fight the guards—just make them believe they were on the same side.
With a sigh, Itachi stepped forward to confirm his identity.
"My father sent me. If we're going to launch a coup and replace the Hokage, my power is indispensable."
As he spoke, Itachi activated his Mangekyō Sharingan.
The guards instantly grasped the meaning of that power.
No one questioned them after that. In fact, the patrol guard personally led the two into the shrine.
---
Inside, the situation was exactly as Fugaku had said.
Most of the able-bodied Uchiha were gathered, many of them visibly on edge.
"Where's the clan head?" one of them asked after Itachi's brief explanation.
"You felt that chakra earlier, didn't you?" Itachi said calmly. "Something went wrong. My father engaged Danzo and lured him out of the village."
"Danzo? That chakra was his?!"
Several Uchiha gasped. They had been wondering about the immense chakra they sensed earlier.
"To think… it was Danzo…"
As the revelation sank in, one of the more senior Uchiha—his Sharingan already awakened to three tomoe—narrowed his eyes.
"But Itachi… are you really on our side?"
Xu Fan, meanwhile, ignored the conversation. His focus was elsewhere.
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