Chapter 78: This is the Power of Five Senses Manipulation

Chapter 78: This is the Power of Five Senses Manipulation

"I always hoped Itachi would stand with the clan, but I didn't expect that I too, unconsciously, neglected my own family..."

A strong sense of regret rose in Fugaku's heart.

Taking a four-year-old Itachi to the battlefield back then – was that really the right thing to do?

Although Itachi is outstanding now, the smiles on his face seem to have become fewer and fewer.

Especially in recent years, the communication between them, father and son, has also dwindled.

Perhaps, I should set aside my identity as clan head for a moment, and from a father's perspective, try to understand Itachi's thoughts more?

"Sigh..."

Fugaku couldn't help but sigh again, but after reacting, he directly slapped himself across the face.

Uchiha Mikoto beside him smiled and shook her head: "Come inside first. Itachi should be back soon too."

Hearing this, Fugaku rubbed his stiff face.

He forced an unsightly smile onto his face.

No matter what, let's have a good talk with Itachi.

As for whether the outcome is good or bad... I'm really tired already.

...

Konoha remained peaceful, but beneath this tranquility, a turbulent undercurrent was hidden.

Before the Clan Head's residence, Uchiha Itachi's expression froze as he looked at Sasuke's report card in his hand.

On the report card, the long string of "Second Place" was so jarring to the eye.

"Sasuke, this... how are you second in every subject?"

Itachi's lip twitched, asking with a helpless tone.

Sasuke's training had always been his responsibility; he had taught him personally.

Although Sasuke's talent wasn't as strong as his own, being first in the grade at the Ninja Academy should have been easy for him.

Besides, hadn't Sasuke already learned ninjutsu some time ago?

How did he still end up second place in the practical combat training course?

"I... I..."

Sasuke lowered his head, mumbling: "Brother, I lost to that guy again."

Finished speaking, he abruptly raised his head, shouting loudly as if taking an oath: "Next time! Next time I will definitely beat him!"

A strange light flashed in Uchiha Itachi's eyes.

"Uzumaki Naruto, the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki... is he actually that outstanding...?"

Sasuke tried his best yet still couldn't defeat him.

Then it could only mean that child named Uzumaki Naruto surpassed Sasuke in all aspects.

Uchiha Itachi pondered, then reached out and patted Sasuke's head: "It's alright. Having a goal to chase can motivate you to constantly strive and become stronger."

He knew very well that Sasuke had always seen him as a target and also hoped for their father's approval.

But both these goals were too difficult.

Sasuke hadn't shown extraordinary talent, just slightly stronger than ordinary ninja within the clan.

So, with such a fine example before him (Itachi), wanting to gain the approval of their old-fashioned father was doubly difficult.

"I know! I'll work hard to get stronger!"

Sasuke clenched his fists, then looked at his brother expectantly: "Then, brother, can you train with me?"

"..."

Itachi thought for a moment, finally shaking his head.

He poked Sasuke's forehead with his finger, then smiled helplessly: "Forgive me, Sasuke. Next time."

He had just accepted a mission from ANBU not long ago and couldn't be absent now for personal matters.

"Why?"

Sasuke rubbed his forehead, cheeks puffing up slightly, complaining: "Are you going to see that woman?"

Woman?

Itachi paused upon hearing this, then remembered who Sasuke meant by "woman".

"Izumi?"

A strange light flashed in Uchiha Itachi's eyes.

Ever since he awakened the three-tomoe Sharingan, he hadn't seen Izumi again.

Recalling their idle chats with Izumi back then, perhaps she had long anticipated it.

This... cursed eye...

Uchiha Itachi sighed, comforting: "Don't overthink it. It's a mission from ANBU."

After Sasuke turned and went back into the room, Itachi shook his head, stood up, and was about to leave.

"Uchiha Itachi!"

An unfriendly shout suddenly came from outside.

"These idiots! What are they here for again?" Itachi's face instantly darkened.

But in a moment, he returned to normal, walking calmly to the door.

"Yashiro, Inabi, Tekka."

Looking at the three before him, Itachi asked: "Is there something you need?"

Although these three were all radicals, their personalities differed greatly.

Uchiha Yashiro was the most radical and also the most conspicuous. His will could represent the will of the Uchiha radicals.

Because not long ago, an elder from the radical faction supported him from behind.

Though that elder had now passed away.

And Uchiha Tekka and Inabi also possessed the spirit of sacrifice for the Uchiha clan, but their personalities were more stable and prudent.

Itachi recalled the information he saw in ANBU intelligence.

"Regarding Uchiha Shisui who was killed not long ago, and matters concerning ANBU, we still have some details to ask you."

Facing his questioning tone, Uchiha Itachi merely frowned, his gaze falling on the paper in Yashiro's hand.

Swish!

"You!!"

In the blink of an eye, the paper Yashiro held was snatched back by Itachi.

Seeing the familiar handwriting on it, Itachi's face instantly hardened, a trace of killing intent flashing in his eyes.

[Tired. If this continues, the Uchiha clan will meet its end, and so will I...]

Clearly, this suicide note was advising the Uchiha clan not to launch a coup, and it also carried the intent of death.

"Big Brother Shisui... already intended to die?"

Big Brother Shisui, who had always been optimistic and positive in front of him, had actually long despaired of the Uchiha clan.

But the truth of Big Brother Shisui's death was no longer important now.

What mattered most was, who took Big Brother Shisui's two Sharingan?

"Could it really be that masked man who caused the Nine-Tails Rampage?"

That man wearing a tiger-striped mask had also appeared after Uchiha Itachi became a Chūnin back then.

And, right before his eyes, killed his teammate with whom he fought side-by-side, one of his few friends.

But tragically, facing overwhelming strength, he could do nothing but watch helplessly as his friend actively sought death to cover his escape.

This was also what led him to awaken the two-tomoe Sharingan.

That scene had become an indelible shadow in his mind.

Even after several years, it still constantly reappeared in Uchiha Itachi's dreams.

"Uchiha Itachi!"

Uchiha Yashiro, forcing down his anger, questioned: "According to the intelligence we received, ANBU is conducting strict surveillance on us. Is this true or false?"

Itachi didn't evade, meeting his gaze and nodding: "It is indeed true. ANBU is conducting certain surveillance on our clan."

Since these guys came to question him, they likely already had a reliable source of information.

Even if ANBU's actions were covert, the Uchiha clan, after all, wasn't foolish; they would eventually notice something amiss.

Even if he intended to hide it, he couldn't.

Before Yashiro could say anything, Itachi spoke again: "The reason ANBU is monitoring the clan is because of the frequent gatherings within the clan..."

Uchiha Yashiro, hearing him siding with the Konoha leadership, immediately looked unfriendly.

He sneered: "Itachi, don't forget, it was the clan that raised you. Your ability to join ANBU now is also because the clan provided you with ninjutsu and resources."

"So, whose side are you really on? And will you support us in re-establishing a regime belonging to the Uchiha clan?"

Yashiro's attitude was extremely forceful, even directly dropping all pretenses.

But establishing an Uchiha regime, in Itachi's view, was merely seizing power through a coup.

If that happened, not only would the Uchiha suffer heavy casualties, but it would also cause severe damage to the village.

It might even become the fuse for a war to break out.

"I am Uchiha Itachi. That will never change."

Itachi and Yashiro met eyes, his gaze cold.

"Then, on the day Shisui died, what exactly were you doing?"

Itachi frowned at him, saying gravely: "I was executing an ANBU mission."

"What mission?"

"It concerns village secrets. I cannot answer."

Hearing this, Yashiro burst out laughing despite his anger, unable to resist a sarcastic, sneering tone: "Uchiha... Itachi? Why don't you change your surname to Sarutobi!"

Looking at the aggressive Yashiro, a trace of brutality flashed in Itachi's eyes.

"Why don't you just say what you mean? You suspect me, don't you!"

Seeing Uchiha Itachi directly drop all pretenses, Yashiro didn't bother anymore either, stating bluntly: "That's right, brat! Your contradictory statements make us very suspicious."

"Listen up, Uchiha Itachi."

Uchiha Tekka behind Yashiro also warned with a serious face: "If you dare betray the clan, I absolutely won't let you off lightly!"

"You..."

Uchiha Inabi wanted to say more.

But Itachi could no longer tolerate these three idiots insulting him.

BOOM!!!

The three radicals were sent flying out of the house, landing heavily on the ground outside.

Itachi slowly walked out from the entrance hall, his sidelocks obscuring his face.

"You keep talking about 'clan, clan'. By saying such things, you are being arrogant."

Uchiha Itachi stared at the three on the ground, his face grim: "You do not know the depth of my capacity, which is why you were knocked down by me."

The three radicals struggled to half-rise, looking up at Itachi with enraged faces, shouting: "How dare you attack us!"

Hearing this, an even colder killing intent emanated from Itachi.

Arrogant and foolish fellows, perhaps...

"Stop! Itachi!"

Fugaku, sensing the commotion, rushed over from a distance. After shouting to stop him, his face was bitter: "What's going on here?"

Clearly, I had already resolved to ease the relationship between father and son.

But seeing Itachi's face, so indifferent it was devoid of emotion, Fugaku's heart turned ice-cold.

Itachi, what exactly are you thinking?

"My capacity... has utterly despaired of this boring clan."

Rip!!

As his voice fell, a kunai shot past Yashiro's face.

Then embedded itself fiercely into the wall behind them.

It happened to strike the Uchiha clan emblem on the wall. With the kunai as the center, the entire emblem cracked.

As if symbolizing the complete severing between Uchiha Itachi and the Uchiha clan.

"Brother, stop!"

Sasuke from inside the house had appeared outside the door at some unknown point.

Watching his confrontational father and brother, his heart was filled with sadness.

At Sasuke's current age, he simply couldn't understand why his brother and father had to stand on opposing sides.

Are there any problems that can't be solved through communication?

Hearing his younger brother's shout, Uchiha Itachi, whose heart was filled with killing intent, finally snapped back to reality.

The words he was about to say also instantly caught in his throat.

"Sasuke."

A flash of crimson passed through Uchiha Itachi's eyes.

But facing his father before him, and Yashiro and the other two,

Itachi slowly knelt on both knees, his sidelocks obscuring the Mangekyō spinning in his eyes.

"Sasuke, use your eyes and see clearly. See how shallow this clan's capacity is."

These arrogant, foolish, and ignorant people.

If left unchecked, they will inevitably drag Konoha into the bottomless abyss of war in their process of self-destruction.

At that time...

Itachi slowly closed his eyes.

The future from his nightmare appeared before his eyes again.

Shattered bodies, flying flesh and blood, countless residents wailing in grief. The sound of their suffering struck his heart and shook his soul.

"No matter the sacrifice, I must protect Konoha's peace, protect Sasuke's future."

...

Meanwhile, at the Kurama clan grounds.

Swish! Swish!

Two masked ANBU suddenly appeared within the Kurama clan grounds.

Looking at the burnt-down residence over there, the two exchanged glances, then headed towards it together.

However, as they stepped into that residence, an inexplicable sense of incongruity rose in their hearts, and they subconsciously raised their guard.

"Honored Sirs."

A voice suddenly came from behind.

The ANBU, already on alert, were instantly startled, instinctively attacking behind them.

Bang!

But they were easily blocked by an arm as hard as a steel bar.

"What is the meaning of this, Sirs?"

Kurama Murakumo stood before the two, asking with a smile.

The ANBU finally came to their senses.

Retreating a step warily, they distanced themselves from Kurama Murakumo.

"We received news that a strong chakra fluctuation appeared within your Kurama clan grounds, followed by a fire inexplicably breaking out."

One ANBU said gravely: "So we came to see if anything happened."

But the real reason wasn't this.

Actually, it was because they received intelligence that the Kurama clan seemed to be making unusual moves, and...

...were even suspected of attempting to stir up a rebellion.

However, the Kurama clan head, Kurama Murakumo, was a staunch dove.

Since he was still alive and not under control, the so-called rebellion was presumably just a misunderstanding.

"You two are worrying too much."

Kurama Murakumo smiled and shook his head, saying amicably: "It was just an accident while I was practicing ninjutsu; I unintentionally started a fire."

Just an accident?

One ANBU asked politely with concern: "No casualties, I hope?"

Seeing Kurama Murakumo shake his head indicating no harm done, the other ANBU then said: "Since there's nothing major, then we'll return and report to Lord Hokage."

"Alright, thank you both for your concern."

The two ANBU said no more and turned to leave directly.

And just after they left,

Right where the two ANBU had just been standing, several figures stood.

They had been standing there from beginning to end.

But the two ANBU had never once noticed them.

As for the "Kurama Murakumo" they saw...

...was merely an illusion created by Kurama Yakumo using her Kekkei Genkai.

The real Kurama Murakumo had already been restricted from leaving.

Before he changed his mind, he probably wouldn't be released.

Seeing the ANBU members being played with like puppets,

Kurama Unkai also felt his hairs stand on end, a chill rising in his heart.

Those two ANBU were Jōnin level, yet they were deceived so easily.

"This is the true power of the Kekkei Genkai: Five Senses Manipulation?"

(End of Chapter)

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