Sakura's days of using shadow clones for home and school, while juggling the Uchiha Clan's compound and the Hokage Building, continued.
Unknowingly, several months had passed, and the year had reached Year 58 of Konoha Calendar.
Sakura's presence within the Uchiha Clan's compound had indeed created a buffer between the village and the clan.
Unfortunately, with the behind-the-scenes instigation of a certain 'Kage', the villagers' dissatisfaction with the Uchiha Clan and the Uchiha Clan's resentment toward the village continued to torment this emotionally volatile clan.
This tangled mess was something even Sakura found difficult to handle. Her influence was limited, and she struggled to reverse the momentum built up by Hiruzen, Danzo, the Uchiha Clan, and the villagers alike.
The spearhead of the Uchiha Clan's resentment was aimed directly at Konoha's current ruler… the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen.
Anger continued to accumulate, and the grim outline of bloodshed was already taking shape.
Against this backdrop, a clan meeting held in a special manner concluded in secrecy.
Meanwhile, in an underground facility on the outskirts of the village, four towering red pillars supported the space.
Two plank-formed paths intersected in a cross at a central stone platform.
The sound of a cane tapping against the ground echoed continuously in the deep underground.
"You've arrived, Uchiha Itachi!"
Danzo opened his tightly shut right eye and looked at the Ninja kneeling on one knee at the center of the crossroads.
A hint of disdain flickered in his eye but was quickly well hidden.
'The Uchiha… a clan filled with geniuses, yet also a cursed clan.'
'Madara, Izuna, Kagami, Shisui, and now Itachi.'
'The emergence of such geniuses was a great instability, especially after the awakening of those detestable eyes, which could pose a massive threat to Konoha's order.'
'Such power should not remain in private hands. Therefore, the Uchiha were a clan that needed to be eliminated!'
Thinking of this, Danzo tightened his grip on his cane.
'Tobirama-sensei, I will prove to you that I am the most suitable one!!!'
"Danzo-sama, the clan is holding another assembly."
Itachi, kneeling on one knee, faithfully reported the Uchiha Clan's plans to Danzo.
"Hmm, you've done well. I will convey this matter to Hiruzen."
"Also, rest assured, this intelligence will help the Uchiha Clan 'integrate' better into the village."
Danzo stepped forward and placed a hand on the young man's shoulder.
Something slid out from within his wide sleeve… a signal flare dropped from Danzo's sleeve into Itachi's hand.
"Danzo-sama, this is...?"
Itachi caught the signal flare with confusion on his face.
"A small preparatory measure."
Danzo closed his eye, his expression unreadable under the bandages covering half his face.
"If the Uchiha Clan truly launch a rebellion, for the sake of the village..."
"Itachi, you know what to do."
After saying that, the sound of the cane tapping the ground resumed as Danzo melted into the darkness.
In the vast underground space, only Itachi remained kneeling alone.
Sweat dripped from his hair onto the ground, his face flickering with gloomy emotions.
…
Elsewhere, on the road outside the Uchiha Clan's compound.
Sakura, who had a rare few days off, had brought some things from the Fugaku Household and was preparing to head home.
Because her report several months ago had been too absurd, Hiruzen had punished her by making her write a 50,000-word analysis report on the Uchiha Clan.
Well, after procrastinating for months, she had finally finished it and just submitted it to Hiruzen.
The article sharply critiqued the current issues, analyzing the causes and effects involving the Uchiha Clan, the village, and the Military Police Force, and offered some adjustment suggestions.
This caused Hiruzen to exclaim, "This child is like me… a Hokage material."
Thus, he granted Sakura a few days off, allowing her to leisurely enjoy the evening breeze and count the stars in the suburbs.
"Who knows what's so great about that essay full of bureaucratic jargon."
Sakura avoided pedestrians on the street and quietly grumbled about the Third Hokage.
However, so-called policy essays were really just about guessing the examiner's intentions and writing answers accordingly.
Just like what was written in Sakura's Uchiha Clan inspection report.
Dismantling the Military Police Force, reducing the number of Uchiha Clan's Ninjas... these were all things Hiruzen wanted to do but didn't dare to.
Despite the Uchiha Clan being heavily suppressed by Konoha's upper echelons on usual days, their clan still boasted the combat strength of several dozen Jonin.
This powerful clan strength made them the foremost noble clan within Konoha… both the source of their pride and the reason for their wariness.
"The solution is actually simple: find someone to beat all their rebels into submission."
"Unfortunately, those old fogies in the high position probably don't have the nerve to do it."
Sakura reached into her pocket and tucked away the storage scroll containing her belongings.
Buzz, buzz, buzz!
A sudden Chakra Fluctuation caught the girl's attention. Sakura turned her head and saw Itachi appearing beside her.
"Sakura, sorry to bother you at a time like this."
"But I truly have no one else to turn to!"
Uchiha Itachi spoke calmly, but Sakura sensed a certain resolve from him… and a deep, heavy killing intent!
"I will handle the Uchiha Clan's matter, but there's one person I can't stop worrying about."
"Please take care of Sasuke for me. I owe you one!"
After saying this, he turned and vanished without looking back.
'Damn it!!!'
Sakura's Observation Haki surged out like a tide, and she saw that the guy had already strapped on his blade and was heading toward the Uchiha Clan's compound.
"Ah, this idiot! My vacation!!!"
Sakura instantly erupted, pouring vast amounts of Chakra precisely into her body, granting her immense kinetic energy.
Boom-!
The ground beneath her feet cracked instantly as Sakura's figure abruptly appeared behind Itachi.
"Calm down, will you!"
The colossal strength of the Giant Royalty hummed, the storm kicked up by her fist whistling sharply.
Somehow, Uchiha Itachi seemed to see a [Danger] word appearing above his head.
He hurriedly turned, releasing a large amount of Chakra to form a protective membrane around his elbows and abdomen.
Bang-!
The sound of fist meeting flesh echoed as Itachi was sent flying like a cannonball.
He landed far away in an abandoned training ground north of the Uchiha Clan's compound, kicking up a massive cloud of dust and debris.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Sakura leaped several times, crushing through the dust, and stood before Itachi in the crater.
"You idiot! What are you doing all of a sudden?!"
Sakura grabbed Itachi by the collar and lifted him up.
"You don't understand. The clan has decided to stage a coup… tonight."
Covered in dust, Itachi looked despondent, but his grip on the signal flare tightened.
"When was the clan meeting held? I clearly..."
Sakura was initially puzzled but then saw Itachi raise his hand and point to his Sharingan. Understanding dawned on her.
'The Uchiha Clan's members were truly geniuses… they actually came up with the idea of holding meetings in a Genjutsu Space.'
"Now you know."
Itachi spoke without joy or sorrow, simply watching Sakura.
"Since you know, let me go. This is all for the village."
"The village, the village… they're living people!!!"
Furious, Sakura gritted her teeth and punched him.
"Listen! Today, you kill a clan for the village. Tomorrow, you kill the village for the nation's people."
"Sacrificing the few for the many, repeating the cycle… how many people will be left in the world in the end?"
Blood trickled from the corner of Itachi's mouth, and the signal flare fell from his hand.
For the first time, this gloomy young man showed a look of confusion.
"Then... tell me, what should I do?!!"
Sakura released Itachi and reached into her pocket, pulling out a purple scroll.
As the elegant scroll unfurled, the girl placed her hand on it, channeling Chakra to retrieve the weapons inside.
An axe nearly as tall as her and a famous sword gleaming with cold light dropped to the ground.
"What should you do? If it's hard to decide, then don't decide at all!"
Gripping the sword and axe, Sakura strode forward, offering this world-
-A pirate-style's solution!