"Naruto-kun, if we're really going to do this, I don't recommend choosing the Land of Waves."
Nono spoke up, her voice a little low.
"Tell me your reasons."
Naruto motioned for Nono to continue.
"Based on the intelligence I've gathered over the past two months, the Land of Waves is an extremely impoverished nation. Even the Daimyo has no money. Most of the population here are refugees, homeless, and often starving. If we were to take over this country, it would likely just be a mess."
"Is that so?" Naruto smiled and said, "I actually think this sounds more like an advantage."
"Huh?"
Nono was a little confused.
"Think about it. A small, poor, and isolated island nation like this would hardly attract any attention from the outside world, no matter what happens. Plus, most of the civilians here are homeless and starving, which means they have little sense of loyalty to the country. Isn't this the perfect opportunity for us to fully take control?"
"But if that's the case, we don't have the funds to support those civilians either."
"We don't have money, but someone else does, right?"
Naruto's face showed a mischievous grin, and Nono quickly caught on.
"But, Gato is still a businessman..."
"A thug who uses violence to monopolize a nation's transportation can still be called a businessman? Nono, we can be as warm as spring to our friends, but to our enemies, we must be as ruthless as winter."
"This... alright."
With things put this way, Nono didn't press further on the matter. Instead, she asked: "When should we act?"
"Over the next couple of days, investigate Gato's company's financial situation thoroughly. We shouldn't waste any resources. At the same time, we can also approach the Daimyo of the Land of Waves. If he's willing to agree to our demands, that's ideal. If not, we'll help him agree."
"That's it for now."
Naruto planned to take some time to think carefully about how to reform the country based on the Land of Waves' current situation.
"Naruto-sama, please wait a moment."
Just as Naruto was about to end the meeting, Inabi quickly spoke up.
"Hmm?" Naruto had thought the Uchiha would remain silent, but it seemed they had something to say.
"Is there something else?"
"It's about Uchiha Itachi..."
---
The night passed quickly.
The sun rose, and the world brightened once more. However, Itachi, who had just awakened, still saw only darkness… because his eyes were gone.
"Cough, cough, cough, cough--"
Itachi suddenly began coughing violently. It felt as if countless needles were pricking his throat, causing both itchiness and pain. A trickle of blood seeped from the corner of his mouth.
Itachi endured the discomfort, trying to feel his surroundings, only to realize his hands and feet were bound, tied to a pillar, making it difficult to move.
'Where am I? Was I captured by Naruto? Then my eyes...'
Itachi's mind was filled with countless thoughts. But at that moment, a familiar set of footsteps approached.
"Uchiha Itachi, you're finally awake." Sasuke's voice rang in his ears, causing Itachi's heart to tighten. For a moment, he didn't know what to say.
"Sasuke, is Itachi awake?"
Another gentle and familiar voice sounded, causing Itachi's entire body to tremble. With great difficulty, he called out.
"Mother..."
Hearing her child's call, even though she had mentally prepared herself, Mikoto couldn't help but feel her heart ache. After all, this was still her child.
She didn't understand why Itachi, who had always been so obedient and sensible, would do such a thing. But now that it had happened, there was no turning back. If it weren't for Naruto, she might have died at Itachi's hands alongside her husband.
"Itachi... today... never mind, you'll find out soon."
Mikoto sighed. Watching her own child face death was more painful than she had imagined.
"Mom, you should go ahead."
Seeing his mother on the verge of tears, Sasuke felt a pang of heartache and wanted her to leave first.
But Mikoto stubbornly shook her head, patting Sasuke's small head. How could she show less strength than her youngest son?
'Even my crybaby son has grown up...'
"How does the clan plan to deal with me?"
Itachi spoke with difficulty. His plan had failed… And not only failed, but it had also caused irreparable damage to Konoha. He had dragged the village into the quagmire with his own hands...
He was already resolved to die and had no intention of resisting anymore. Without his eyes, he couldn't resist even if he wanted to.
"You will bear the sin of slaughtering your clan and die under the gaze of all its members."
"And I will be the one to deliver your death."
After hearing this, Itachi was momentarily stunned, but his expression didn't change. The two black voids where his eyes used to be stared at Sasuke, sending a chill down his spine.
"Hehe, hahahahaha, hahahahahahaha——"
Itachi suddenly threw his head back and laughed maniacally. The long-scabbed eye sockets once again streamed with tears of blood, making him look terrifying.
"So that's how it is, Sasuke. I never thought it would be you who ends my life. In that case, let me see your resolve. How much hatred can you hold for me, the one who slaughtered our clan!"
Crack!
Sasuke clenched his fists tightly. He had never seen Itachi like this before.
'How could he laugh so arrogantly after planning to kill their entire clan? Why? Why could he still laugh like this?'
"You… damn bastard!"
Bang!
Overwhelmed by rage, Sasuke punched Itachi squarely in the face. The force of the blow made Itachi's head snap to the side. If he hadn't been tied to the pillar, he would have been sent flying.
"Cough cough cough, cough cough cough cough cough--spit!"
Itachi coughed violently again, blood streaming from the corner of his mouth. He spat out a few teeth that had been knocked loose, yet his face still wore a mocking smile.
"My foolish little brother..."
Bang!
"You bastard!"
Sasuke punched him again, and Itachi's head snapped to the other side.
"I..."
"Shut up!"
Bang!
Another punch, and Itachi's head jerked to the opposite side.
This cycle repeated several times until Itachi's face was swollen, and he finally stopped talking. He had initially wanted to provoke Sasuke further, hoping to push him to awaken more tomoe in his Sharingan. But now, it seemed he would pass out before he could finish speaking.
Mikoto sighed softly but said nothing more, only whispering gently, "Let's go."
Sasuke untied the ropes binding Itachi to the pillar and dragged him outside.
Itachi's Chakra had already been sealed, so there was no worry of him escaping. Throughout the process, Itachi remained unresponsive, no longer trying to provoke Sasuke. After all, here was no point anymore.
At the center of the village, a platform had been erected. Itachi was now forced to kneel on it, with Inabi and Sasuke standing beside him.
This village had been built by the civilians of the Land of Waves, paid for by Nono. The only people in this village were those Naruto had brought with him, and no outsiders dared to come near.
"Naruto, what are you going to do?"
Neji still didn't understand what was happening. He had asked Sasuke last night, but Sasuke had refused to explain, so he was still in the dark.
"Didn't Natsu tell you?" Naruto asked, confused. He remembered seeing the two of them talking earlier that morning.
"Huh? Why would she tell me about this?" Neji was a little exasperated.
"Alright, well, Uchiha Itachi planned to secretly wipe out the Uchiha Clan for the sake of Konoha, but he failed and was captured. Now, he's going to be executed."
Naruto said it so casually, but to Neji, it was like a thunderclap, 'Could such a person really exist?'
Even Neji, who had once considered killing members of the Hyuga main family, had never thought of wiping out the entire clan.
'The Uchiha Clan really was as strange as the rumors said.'
"Uchiha Itachi!"
Just as Naruto and Neji were speaking, Inabi's voice rang out from the platform. Sasuke stood stiffly beside him, his face tense.
"I don't want to waste any more words on a selfish traitor like you. I won't speak, and you don't deserve to listen."
"But since you betrayed the Uchiha Clan for Konoha, the thirty-nine Uchiha present here today swear that we will destroy Konoha in the future! Your eyes will become the power of that destruction!"
"..."
"I don't regret my choices. I only regret not accounting for the variable that is Uzumaki Naruto..."
"Hmph!"
Inabi snorted coldly. Though he was displeased, he had expected this. After all, in his eyes, Itachi was nothing but a traitorous wolf.
He glanced at Sasuke beside him, his mood softening slightly, 'Though Itachi was a scoundrel, at least his younger brother was normal.'
"Sasuke, are you okay with this? If not..."
Sasuke shook his head and stepped forward, standing in front of Itachi. His expression was complex as he looked at his brother, a whirlwind of emotions in his heart, but his movements were firm.
"Goodbye, Itachi!"