Reincarnated as Itachi Uchiha at the Start

"A coup?" Koharu Utatane scoffed, her voice cutting with disdain. "Heh, Hiruzen, don't forget—the agreement back then was clear. You'd be Hokage, Danzo would serve as your assistant, and the two of us would act as village advisors."

"As advisors, we have every right to weigh in on critical decisions affecting the village. And now, without warning, you strike down Danzo? Are you aiming to seize complete control? Or are we just the old dogs you're ready to put down now that the hunt is over?"

"Say whatever you like," Hiruzen Sarutobi replied coolly, "but let me be clear—I wasn't the one reaching for absolute power. That was Danzo. His appetite was too big. Eventually, it tore him apart. These are his files. Read them."

He tossed a thick dossier onto the table.

Koharu and Homura Mitokado exchanged a glance, adjusted their glasses, and began reading slowly.

Document One: After the Hashirama Cell experiments were shut down and all records sealed as dark history, Danzo refused to give up. In secret, he collaborated with Orochimaru, kidnapping infants from nearby villages to continue human trials. Over sixty infants died. Only one survived—code name "Tenzo," now known as Yamato.

The recovered lab records included names, codenames, experiment logs, and—most damning of all—Yamato, still alive, could testify.

Document Two: Detailed notes on Orochimaru transplanting an arm infused with Hashirama cells onto Danzo.

Document Three: Intelligence confirmed that Danzo's right eye was a Sharingan, steadily going blind from overuse. Uchiha clan members were hard targets, so Danzo set his sights on Kakashi Hatake.

Under the guise of a mission, he dispatched Kakashi and Tenzo to investigate Orochimaru's whereabouts and infiltrate one of his hideouts. During the mission, Tenzo revealed killing intent toward Kakashi, but was discovered and defeated.

Kakashi, instead of killing him, spoke to him. Persuaded by Kakashi's words, Tenzo began to waver. At that moment, Orochimaru's white-phosphorus snake clone resurrected inside the base. Kakashi risked his life to protect Tenzo and lost consciousness. Moved by the act, Tenzo abandoned the mission to steal Kakashi's Sharingan—and turned against Danzo.

Afterward, Kakashi returned and reported everything to the Third Hokage. Hiruzen reassigned Tenzo out of Root and into Kakashi's ANBU squad, restoring his name—Yamato.

The file included Kakashi's full mission report, corroborated by Yamato and the Hokage himself.

Document Four: After failing to take Kakashi's Sharingan, Danzo turned to the Uchiha. He manipulated their growing discontent, inciting a coup attempt, and eventually seized Shisui Uchiha's eye.

Witness: Itachi Uchiha.

Document Five: The Nine-Tails Attack was orchestrated by Danzo himself, using the power of a Sharingan.

Witnesses: Kushina Uzumaki and Minato Namikaze.

When they reached the last page, Koharu and Homura inhaled sharply.

"You're saying the Nine-Tails incident... was caused by Danzo? And Minato and Kushina can confirm that?"

"That's right," Hiruzen nodded. "This morning, I inspected Naruto's Eight Trigrams Seal. I spoke directly with Minato and Kushina inside him."

"The one who unleashed the Nine-Tails... was Danzo. His goal was obvious—he wanted the Hokage seat."

"Oh, and one more thing. After the Nine-Tails attack, while I was en route to assume my duties at the Daimyo's estate, I was ambushed. The attackers—Danzo sent them."

Homura and Koharu's hearts skipped a beat.

"No wonder Root didn't intervene during the Nine-Tails attack," Homura muttered. "So that's the truth."

"Well?" Hiruzen looked at them evenly. "Now that you know everything, do you understand why the Shimura clan had to be eradicated?"

"…We do," Koharu and Homura nodded solemnly.

They never imagined Danzo had gone so far. Killing Minato and Kushina, trying to assassinate Hiruzen himself—he was no better than a monster. If Danzo had seized power, they wouldn't just be stripped of authority—they'd likely be dead.

The thought of Danzo still being alive made them both uneasy.

Their eyes met, a glint of steel passing between them.

"Hiruzen," Koharu said darkly, "cutting weeds without pulling the roots only means they grow back come spring. While Danzo is still unaware, we strike. Draw him out—trap him like a turtle in a jar."

"We take out him and what remains of Root in one sweep."

"But how?" Hiruzen asked. "Remember—Danzo and Orochimaru have already reanimated Minato using the Impure World Reincarnation. If they unleash the Nine-Tails sealed inside him, or if Orochimaru uses Minato to assassinate us… we won't survive."

Koharu and Homura blanched. "What?! Orochimaru reanimated Minato?"

"Has he... perfected the jutsu?"

"If that's true…" The two advisors slumped into their chairs, faces pale. "Then Konoha doesn't stand a chance."

"Orochimaru, Minato, the Nine-Tails… how do we even fight that?"

"That's exactly what troubles me," Hiruzen sighed. "I had the ANBU eliminate the Shimura clan because I needed to bind every other clan to Konoha's survival."

"To force them to show their loyalty—give them no choice but to stand against Danzo."

"That's the only way we stand even a sliver of a chance—against the Nine-Tails, and to protect Konoha."

"Because on my own, I can't stop Danzo, Orochimaru, Minato… or the Nine-Tails."

So in the end… you're the one throwing us all into the fire, Koharu and Homura realized, their hearts going cold.

Hiruzen Sarutobi would sacrifice all of Konoha to cling to his power.

Outside the Hokage's Office, Homura waved off the surrounding ANBU. He leaned toward Koharu and whispered, "Koharu… what if we back Danzo instead? Hand over the Sarutobi clan as penance, and ask for Danzo's forgiveness. We resign in disgrace—give him full control. Do you think he'd spare us, for old time's sake?"

Koharu paused, then nodded slowly. "That might just work. Not only would it resolve the conflict peacefully—it would save lives."

"For Konoha… what's a little power?"

"Lose one Hiruzen, gain half the Nine-Tails, and Orochimaru—two-for-one. That's a good deal for Konoha."

"It might actually work."

"Then there's no time to lose. I'll contact Danzo."

"Good."

...

At the Nara–Yamanaka–Akimichi compound.

"Damn that Uchiha clan—dragging us into this mess! Despicable!" Chōza Akimichi slammed his fist onto the table. None of them expected Itachi to pull this kind of move.

Now their pledge of loyalty was submitted, blood had been spilled, and they were neck-deep in conflict with Danzo. There was no going back.

"No," said Shikaku Nara calmly. "The Uchiha couldn't have come up with something this twisted. Haven't you heard what the others said? The Hokage told them directly: 'If they resist—kill them.'"

"It's obvious. Hiruzen used the Uchiha like disposable tools. They were just pawns."

"So what now?" Inoichi Yamanaka asked. "Do we keep following the Hokage's lead blindly?"

"No," Shikaku said. "We stay neutral. After all, we never actually lifted a finger."

"It was ANBU who wiped out the Shimura clan. What does that have to do with the Ino–Shika–Chō?"

"And those from our clans who surrendered to Root?" Shikaku smirked. "They were just playing along. Acting. Waiting for Danzo to return so they can strike from the inside—and bring Hiruzen down."