Chapter 53: The Future Evil That Shocked Hiruzen Sarutobi
Fugaku let out a deep sigh. He had actually guessed that today's conversation might not go smoothly.
But he hadn't expected to receive so much information today.
Would his proudest eldest son truly do such a thing in the future?
To protect Konoha, to uphold his beliefs.
Would he truly possess the capacity to kill off the entire Uchiha clan in the future?
Fugaku was lost.
Because as the head of the Uchiha clan, upon learning that Uchiha Itachi would inevitably commit such an act in the future, what he should do is to uphold justice and immediately eliminate Uchiha Itachi!
"But…"
Fugaku murmured, "What would be the meaning of doing so? Perhaps the future Ikeizumi saw is the destiny of the Uchiha clan. Destiny is something that cannot be broken."
Until he returned home, head bowed and silent all the way, Fugaku still hadn't recovered from the shock.
"Fugaku, didn't Itachi come back with you? You and Ikeizumi didn't have any physical confrontation, did you?"
Uchiha Mikoto stepped forward, asking with concern.
Fugaku, regaining his composure, shook his head and replied, "Itachi must have gone to report to ANBU; it's daylight, after all. If Ikeizumi and I had a physical confrontation, you might be seeing me injured."
Uchiha Mikoto immediately breathed a sigh of relief.
She knew her child and husband had gone to see Uchiha Ikeizumi.
In less than an hour, Mrs. Mikoto had been on tenterhooks.
Fearing that something unexpected might happen.
"Is something wrong?" Uchiha Mikoto keenly sensed that her husband's expression and mood were off.
"…Nothing."
Fugaku chose to conceal it.
After all, telling a mother—"Her eldest son will, in all likelihood, personally kill her a year from now."
Would be too cruel.
...
"Meow! I have a mission for you all." On the rooftop of Uchiha Ikeizumi's house. The ninja cat Kijirō stood like a human, its paws clasped behind its back, pacing back and forth and speaking in human tongue.
In front of Kijirō were gathered over twenty ninja cats.
They were all its feline children and grandchildren, born from its "branching out" over the years.
"The mission is—to spread the news of what happened at Lord Ikeizumi's house today. I'll tell you the specifics in a moment."
Kijirō declared in an odd tone, "Our goal is to reveal Uchiha Itachi's future 'evil' to the public! And to expose Uchiha Fugaku's indulgence as well!"
A white ninja cat raised a paw and let out a series of "meows."
"Speak in human language!" Kijirō glared.
"Is this Lord Ikeizumi's intention?" the white ninja cat timidly asked.
"Cough! This is with Lord Ikeizumi's tacit approval." Kijirō cleared its throat, then bristled with anger, saying, "I won't deny that a little bit of my personal cat emotions are mixed in, because I just don't like that Uchiha Itachi, meow! That guy, what right does he have to comment on Lord Ikeizumi's [Absolute Justice]?"
"And that Uchiha Fugaku, I've never seen such a cowardly ninja clan head! Lord Ikeizumi was right after all, the so-called 'Fugaku of the Fierce Eyes' is just 'Fugaku of the Cowardly Eyes.' Like father, like son, meow!"
But soon.
Kijirō noticed that its feline children and grandchildren all seemed to have very strange expressions, as if they were winking at it.
The next second, it found itself being lifted by the scruff of its neck.
Kijirō instantly stiffened.
Daring not to struggle.
"Lord I… Ikeizumi?"
Kijirō suddenly felt the sky fall, its body trembling, both sides of its cat whiskers quivering: "I…"
"Don't add fuel to the fire." Uchiha Ikeizumi casually set it down, saying indifferently, "Just stick to the actual facts."
Kijirō paused, then immediately understood.
"Meow! Please rest assured, Lord Ikeizumi! I'll take care of everything!"
Kijirō was revitalized.
Having followed Lord Ikeizumi for so many years, all it needed was a single word from Lord Ikeizumi to discern his meaning.
"Hokage-sama." Uchiha Itachi, as Fugaku had guessed, came directly to report to ANBU. He had changed into his ANBU uniform and sought out Hiruzen Sarutobi.
"Itachi, huh…"
Even though Uchiha Itachi wore an ANBU mask, Hiruzen Sarutobi still recognized him by his physique and voice.
Hiruzen Sarutobi exhaled a puff of smoke, clearing away the lingering gloom from his son's death.
He curiously asked, "Is something the matter?"
Uchiha Itachi spoke, "I met with Uchiha Ikeizumi today, before dawn."
Hiruzen Sarutobi remained silent for half a second, then said, "I recall there might have been some misunderstanding or conflict between you and Ikeizumi?"
He observed Itachi, finding no injuries on him.
Nor did he look like he had just been in a battle.
"The 'misunderstanding' has been cleared up."
Uchiha Itachi said in a low voice, "However, the conflict has likely deepened."
Hiruzen Sarutobi frowned: "What do you mean?"
Uchiha Itachi said in a startling manner, "Hokage-sama, Uchiha Ikeizumi has very likely awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan, the most powerful legendary ability of the Sharingan. His eyes can see a person's future evil. He… saw the future 'evil' within me."
Hiruzen Sarutobi's pupils contracted.
"My future self, to protect Konoha, will unhesitatingly bear all infamy and personally kill almost everyone in the Uchiha clan, bringing peace back to Konoha, which is caught between fire and water."
Hiruzen Sarutobi was stunned.
The amount of information in Uchiha Itachi's words was too immense, leaving him momentarily unable to react.
Hiruzen Sarutobi quickly sorted through his thoughts—Uchiha Ikeizumi supposedly awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan, his eyes saw Itachi's future evil, which is why their relationship was so strained.
—And Itachi's so-called "evil" was to massacre his Uchiha clan members for the sake of the village's peace.
As for the premise for Itachi taking such an extreme action…
Hiruzen Sarutobi had already guessed it.
One hundred percent, the Uchiha clan was finally going to choose to stage a coup!
The vast amount of information made Hiruzen Sarutobi take a slight gasp of cold air. His old face became incredibly serious, and he immediately asked in a deep voice, "Itachi… do you know what you are saying means? Can you confirm that what you are saying is correct?"
Uchiha Itachi lowered his head and replied, "Hokage-sama, Uchiha Ikeizumi told me this. Although his stance differs from mine, I believe his words can be trusted."
Hiruzen Sarutobi fell silent.
"A special doujutsu that can see future evil, huh?" Hiruzen Sarutobi murmured with a profound gaze: "I see…"
Hiruzen Sarutobi knew that Ikeizumi's eyes could see the "evil" a person had committed in the past.
But he didn't know it could also see future "evil"!
This kind of doujutsu power…
It was indeed terrifying, but it also seemed not that terrifying, because this power couldn't be converted into direct combat ability.
Hiruzen Sarutobi believed it.
He believed what Itachi said, and by extension, he believed Uchiha Ikeizumi.
If the future Uchiha clan was indeed to be massacred due to a coup, who would give that cold-blooded order?
Would it be him, Hiruzen Sarutobi?
Hiruzen Sarutobi looked with a complex expression at the twelve-year-old child standing before him.
"Itachi…"
"Hokage-sama," Uchiha Itachi responded.
Hiruzen Sarutobi said, "You have worked hard… Do not speak of these words to anyone else. Let's just pretend nothing happened today, and that you heard no words from Ikeizumi today."
Uchiha Itachi looked up in confusion.
Hiruzen Sarutobi stood up and walked to the young man, saying kindly, "Itachi, I do not wish for such a thing to happen in the future. You are a rare new sprout of Konoha, and I do not wish for a child like you to fall into such pain."
"Especially if your clansmen were to learn of these matters, they would surely ostracize you, and you might even be in mortal danger because of it. Just pretend nothing happened."
Hiruzen Sarutobi thought for a moment, then added with emotion, "You truly are the child I recognize the most, and I am proud of you. But… let's try our best to prevent such a thing from happening."
"…Yes, Hokage-sama."
Uchiha Itachi bowed deeply, and some thoughts in his heart became even firmer due to Hiruzen Sarutobi's words.
...
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