Reincarnated as Itachi Uchiha at the Start

"When injustice occurs, if everyone just turns a blind eye, remains cold and indifferent, and no one steps forward to uphold justice—then Konoha is doomed. Hopeless. Beyond saving.

"That's why, when the time comes, we must act. To shout when we see injustice—that is the spirit Konoha should embody.

"If everyone did this, crime would drastically decrease, and Root wouldn't dare to be so rampant."

"Shut up!"

The Root ninja's face turned livid. He couldn't hold back anymore and yelled, pressing a kunai against the old man's throat.

"Say one more word and I'll kill you!"

"Heh… When the brave are angry, they draw their blades against the strong. When cowards are angry, they draw theirs against the weak.

"You Root members have worn those masks for too long—they've fused with your faces. You can't take them off now, unless you rip flesh from bone.

"Even the lies you write in ink can't cover up the facts written in blood. You kill me, and there will be thousands more like me. Can you kill us all?"

The old man sneered fearlessly, unfazed by the threat of death.

His willingness to die moved everyone present.

"Grandpa is right! Kill one of us, and a thousand more will rise! Root can kill a man, but can you slaughter all of Konoha?

"Justice lives in the people's hearts. The crimes of Root are too numerous to count! For the sake of Konoha, we will never back down!"

The villagers shouted in unison, unified in their rage, stepping forward without hesitation.

"I'll say it again—if you keep following us, we won't show mercy! Don't push me!"

The Root ninja's eyes turned bloodshot, his kunai trembling as the villagers closed in.

"Heh… scared now, aren't you?"

The old man glanced at the Root ninja in contempt, then turned warmly to the crowd:

"Fellow villagers of Konoha, beloved shinobi…

'After surviving countless calamities, brothers still remain; a single smile upon reunion can dissolve all past grudges.'

"To know you all has been my fortune—and my misfortune. For the safety of your families, please stop here. I've seen everything you've done. Even if I die, it will have been worth it!"

He finished with a deep bow to everyone present.

"Grandpa, you don't have to do this! We're not afraid!"

Tears welled in the villagers' eyes as they responded.

What happened next was heart-wrenching. Even the ANBU in hiding—direct subordinates of the Hokage—had red-rimmed eyes.

"Damn that Root, I—"

"Captain, even if you kill me, I'm going down there!"

One ANBU clenched his fists, glaring at Root, then turned to his leader, eyes burning with anger.

"Hold on a bit longer," the ANBU captain said bitterly. He wanted to act too, but as a shinobi, he had to endure what others could not. Though he wanted to stand up for the old man, duty held him back.

"Villagers, shinobi—disperse.

I hope all of Konoha can escape this bitter cold and rise above it. Do not listen to those who wallow in despair.

If you can act, act. If you can speak out, then speak.

Give whatever light you have, however small.

Don't wait for the flames of charity from the high-ups like the Third. Even the tiniest glimmer can light the darkness.

A single spark can ignite a prairie fire—and the shadow cast by Root will be burned away!"

Every word the old man spoke was like a blade slicing through the hearts of the Root members.

Words sharper than kunai. The villagers' eyes were full of hate, and the Root operatives began to feel real fear.

"He's right! Relying on ourselves is better than relying on the Third!"

The villagers' minds cleared as if awakened from a fog.

"You old bastard, you're begging for death!"

Seeing the situation spiraling out of control, the Root ninjas exploded with fury. They all drew their kunai, ready to kill the old man on the spot!

"Stop! Don't hurt Grandpa!"

The villagers cried out and tried to intervene. But just then, the old man suddenly snatched the ninja tool pouch from a Root operative's waist. He pulled out a stack of explosive tags and shouted to the crowd:

"I know I won't make it back alive—so let my death awaken Konoha's spirit!"

"Ten years to grow trees, a hundred to raise men. As long as we don't give up, don't abandon each other, the Will of Fire will never die wherever the leaves dance!"

"Root devours and leaves only bones; traitorous ministers scheme against the village!"

"To die for the village and strike at Root—such a loyal heart shall shine like the sun!"

"To die for the village—I may die, but it will be with honor!"

In the eyes of terrified Root ninjas, amidst the devastated stares of the villagers—BOOM!

A deafening explosion.

The old man was obliterated—nothing left but charred fragments.

"No!"

The villagers screamed and broke down in tears, but nothing could be undone.

His death stunned not only Root—but even the ANBU hidden in the shadows.

He actually committed suicide?!

The villagers stared blankly at the spot where the fire had burned.

That kind, righteous old man—just gave his life like that?

And right before their very eyes, blown to pieces by explosive tags?

In their minds, his words echoed over and over:

"If we do not break the silence—we shall perish within it."

"In Konoha… I said nothing, because I wasn't one of them…

"And later… no one spoke up for me."

"Where the leaves dance, the fire will never die—we can't let Grandpa die in vain! Avenge him!"

One villager's cry shattered the silence—and all hell broke loose.

Konoha's villagers and shinobi went mad.

Furious, unhinged, they charged at the Root operatives.

Seeing the tide turn, several Root agents panicked and quickly used Body Flicker to flee.

But the two who had assaulted the old man earlier were frozen in shock.

They didn't understand—why had they lost control of their hands?

Why did the old man choose suicide?

Why use explosive tags?

Where did he even get that many tags?

Snapping out of their daze, they looked up—only to see a wave of villagers barreling toward them.

Fear.

Regret.

Terror.

They collapsed to the ground, shaking.

"No! His death has nothing to do with us! We were under—"

The enraged villagers didn't give them a chance to finish.

Consumed by rage, they pounced, fists and feet flying—they beat them to a pulp.

"Kill them! Avenge Grandpa!"

"No one will speak for him—we will!"

"With justice in hand, follow me—kill Danzo, destroy Root!"

"Hell is empty. The demons walk among us. If Danzo lives and Root remains, there can be no peace in Konoha!"

"For justice—kill!"

The furious mob of Konoha civilians and shinobi surged forward with murderous intent, their eyes ablaze, their faces grim.

Even the ANBU in hiding—witnessing Root's unspeakable cruelty—could bear it no longer.

They tore off their masks and joined the charge, clenching their teeth as they roared:

"Kill Danzo! Destroy Root!"

The ANBU captain watched his teammates storm off. He opened his mouth, but the words—"stay rational," "follow orders"—died in his throat.

In the end, he could only smile bitterly and head toward the Hokage's office.

He too had been burning with rage moments earlier, ready to destroy Root himself.

But in the end, he held onto reason—he would report this to the Third Hokage.

Not long after they left, the old man—who should've died—emerged from the shadows.

He transformed into Uchiha Itachi.

"Danzo, Third Hokage… I told you: once you step into the game, there's no escaping it. Are you ready for the surprise I've prepared?"

The Root agents who attacked him earlier—had only done so because they accidentally met his eyes.

They had fallen into his genjutsu.

Now, there were no witnesses left to expose him.

What awaited Danzo and the Third now… was a Konoha filled with furious villagers and shinobi!