Naruto: Forbidden Arts and an Immortal Agenda

"Itachi, come in!"

Hearing the voice from the courtyard, Itachi didn't hesitate and pushed the door open.

Glancing at the rough patches scattered across the yard, he followed Aozora inside.

Once they were seated, Aozora placed tea on the table.

Eyeing the notebook in Itachi's hand, Aozora asked, "Well then? Have you thought it over?"

Upon hearing this, Itachi tightened his grip on the notebook but ultimately didn't hand it over.

Inside the notebook were only his first ideas—no second ones had been written down.

This was not a complete response.

Itachi understood that Aozora didn't actually require an answer from him.

With a serious expression on his young face, Itachi said, "Aozora-nii, I understand your point of view. But I want to ask—why do you assume the Konoha leadership holds ill intentions toward the Uchiha?"

Though he hadn't responded based on the second idea, it still rooted itself deep within Itachi's mind, one he couldn't help but ponder every day.

If the Konoha leadership truly harbored ill feelings toward the Uchiha, what would happen?

He didn't want to think about it, yet sometimes thoughts refused to obey his will.

With his sharp intellect, he quickly foresaw the Uchiha's grim fate.

The Uchiha had no allies. How could a single clan possibly stand against an entire ninja village?

Escape was out of the question with enemies lurking outside. This wasn't the Warring States era anymore, where a single clan could dominate a region.

He dared not think any further.

But he knew—if the Konoha leadership really wanted the Uchiha gone, there was no way they'd survive.

The only difference was whether the Uchiha could take something valuable from Konoha before falling.

Even then, doing so would leave Konoha weakened and wide open for enemy villages to destroy.

He kept telling himself everything would be okay—as long as the Konoha leadership didn't have it out for the Uchiha.

How could the Konoha leadership even consider turning against the Uchiha?

The Uchiha *are* Konoha!

The Uchiha helped build this village!

The Uchiha have spilled their blood for Konoha!

...

Aozora couldn't read Itachi's thoughts, but from the look in his eyes, he could tell there was something stirring inside him.

After all, this child still carried dreams of love and peace.

Aozora spoke, "Why can't we make that assumption? Remember, they're all students of The Second—and The Second deeply distrusted and resented our Uchiha clan."

Itachi expressed surprise, "The Second Hokage? But wasn't he well-disposed toward the Uchiha? Grandfather Kagami served under him, and he even created the Police Force specifically for the Uchiha."

Remaining composed, Aozora replied, "That's true, but was it really such a good thing?"

"As for the creation of the Police Force, I've already explained its pros and cons to you before. Given the Uchiha's abilities and achievements, surely we deserved ministerial or even elder positions through fair competition, right? Not just one department—it completely moved the Uchiha away from Konoha's core power."

"And for forty-nine years since the establishment of the village, the Uchiha have never held high-ranking positions within Konoha."

"As for my grandfather… let's leave that topic aside for now."

Itachi found no rebuttal, yet a flicker of hope remained in his heart.

Seeing this, Aozora continued, "Not sure if you realize, the Second's own younger brother was killed by the hands of our Uchiha."

The news struck like a thunderclap, leaving Itachi utterly astonished.

"Tell me," Aozora said quietly, "if the Second Hokage killed Sasuke, would you ever forgive him?"

As he spoke, blood-colored pupils emerged in Aozora's eyes, and the three tomoe within them began to spin rapidly.

Itachi's vision blurred momentarily, revealing Sasuke running toward him with his small legs.

While running, the young Sasuke happily shouted, "Brother!" His face was filled with smiles and devotion that nearly melted Itachi's heart.

In an instant, a familiar-looking ninja wearing battle armor and a Konoha forehead protector appeared behind Sasuke. The ninja unsheathed his blade.

Realizing what was about to happen, Itachi cried urgently, "No!"

However, the white-haired ninja hesitated not even for a moment and decisively swung down his katana.

The flash of steel cut through flesh, separating body from head.

The lifeless body spurted forth a fountain of blood, and Sasuke's adorable head rolled right to Itachi's feet.

"No!"

Sasuke was dead!

An intense wave of sorrow surged through Itachi, drowning out every other thought.

He saw the smile still lingering on Sasuke's face and the blood pouring endlessly from his neck, and his eyes burned with fury.

Memories of Sasuke kept flooding into his mind—his birth, when he first called him "brother," when he took his first steps...

At this moment, Itachi's heart felt unbearable pain.

A sharp sting came from his eyes before everything exploded into fragments before him.

When Itachi looked around again, he found himself sitting in Aozora's living room, holding a cup of steaming warm water, with nothing else in his arms.

Aozora stared at the single tomoe swirling within Itachi's bloodshot eyes, completely stunned.

Was the effect too strong? He only wanted to let him experience the hatred the Second Hokage held for the Uchiha Clan.

Did he really just awaken it?

Could it be that Fugaku's idea actually works?

Or is every doting older brother this unreasonable these days?

Maybe I should pretend to die by the Third's hands? Perhaps Shisui would then awaken the Rinnegan on the spot and unleash a Planetary Devastation on Konoha.

His countless thoughts and sarcastic remarks swirled in his head, unspoken. Aozora was completely thrown off by Itachi's awakening.

Itachi, now regaining his senses, gripped the warm teacup tightly to confirm he was back to reality.

Initially, relief washed over him, followed closely by resentment toward Aozora, and then wariness of the Second Hokage.

Itachi's emotions churned chaotically inside him.

Suddenly, he recalled that the white-haired ninja bore an uncanny resemblance to the stone-carved visage on the Hokage Rock.

He had no idea who the Second Hokage even was.

Yet, at the very moment Sasuke died, he actually wanted to obliterate the killer — and if that man had a family, Itachi wouldn't have hesitated to wipe out every last one of them.

Who could honestly stay forgiving when it comes to family?

After a long silence, Itachi remembered Aozora's question and finally replied, "I will never forgive."

Hearing this, Aozora snapped back to attention as well.

After sipping his tea to steady himself, Aozora continued, "Then, we've reached an agreement: The Second Hokage holds at least some malice toward the Uchiha Clan, and overall, the Police Force brings more harm than benefit to the Uchiha Clan."

Itachi fell silent briefly upon hearing this, then gave a slight nod.

"Now, the current Konoha leadership consists entirely of the Second Hokage's disciples. Is there any possibility they inherited the Second's resentment against the Uchiha?"

Itachi kept nodding, but pressed on stubbornly, "Malice doesn't always mean someone wants to kill."

Aozora changed the subject deliberately.

"Ever since the Third stepped into power, Konoha's leadership hasn't changed for over two decades. During this time, how many heroes have emerged?"

"White Fang, Dan (the Slug Princess's lover), Orochimaru, Tsunade, Jiraiya..."

"Each of them carved out great achievements, and each became a legend in their own right. But some are dead, others have fled. Now only Jiraiya remains, and he has no interest in power."

"You really think that's just a coincidence?"

Itachi had no reply, though he already suspected what Aozora would say next.

"The Uchiha's efforts are vastly disproportionate to the recognition they receive, and their strength does not match the positions they hold. Under such circumstances, the Uchiha must fight for their rightful interests and claim the power they deserve."

"And do you think those top leaders sitting comfortably in the Hokage Tower will willingly make some sacrifices and give up their positions?"

The answer was painfully obvious.

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