Chapter 13 - Itachi and Shisui's Doubts!
"You're being too extreme!"
Itachi said with some agitation, unable to find a reason to refute Renji.
Yet, he couldn't convince his own heart, as this was something he had been pondering and adhering to for years.
If he agreed with Renji on this matter,
Wouldn't that mean all his years of conviction would crumble?
"Itachi, aren't you the one being extreme? Did the Uchiha clan really do something wrong? Tell me specifically what the Uchiha clan has done wrong? If Konoha doesn't trust the Uchiha, then the Uchiha can choose to leave for another village. Other villages would welcome the Uchiha, but would Konoha let the Uchiha clan leave? In the end, aren't all those ideas just Konoha's own thoughts?"
"Speaking of which, didn't Sarutobi Hiruzen tell you about Konoha's difficulties, and didn't Danzō threaten you that if the Uchiha clan acted, we would be annihilated? Itachi, you're really naive. Do you think not rebelling means we won't be attacked?
"As long as the Senju lineage remains in power, we will never be trusted. This is an issue left over from the Warring States period. If the First Hokage hadn't died so early, or if the Fourth Hokage, Namikaze Minato, hadn't died, this issue would have been resolved. Even if Tobirama Senju had been in power longer, things wouldn't have turned out this way. But it just so happened that Sarutobi Hiruzen and Danzō were in power.
"During their time, the White Fang was slandered into committing suicide, the Sannin left, Hashirama's grandson Nawaki was blown to pieces right in front of Orochimaru, and during the Nine-Tails' attack, the Uchiha were ordered not to fight. Afterward, they came to settle scores with us. They promised the Fourth to take care of Naruto, but Naruto ended up eating expired food. They handed over Hizashi to the Cloud Village for peace. Tell me, which of these actions befits a Hokage?"
Renji felt a surge of anger building inside him.
When he first transmigrated into this world, Renji thought he was just an observer.
But the longer he stayed with the Uchiha clan, the heavier the sense of injustice grew.
So many things shouldn't have turned out this way!
It seems that anything threatening their rule, any destabilizing factor, must be suppressed.
"Itachi, Konoha was founded by us. We don't need to integrate anymore. You're mistaken."
Looking at Itachi, who was now sweating profusely and his pupils dilated, Renji couldn't help but sigh inwardly.
What is this so-called Will of Fire? How is it any different from brainwashing?
Or perhaps, the Will of Fire has already been corrupted by the Third Hokage?
Actually, Madara was right about one thing—things have been turned upside down. When Hashirama chose to fight his former brother for the sake of the village, the original intent was lost. Konoha is no longer the village that Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha envisioned when they founded it.
Why is the Uchiha clan being targeted?
In the end, it's due to the Second Hokage's policies and distrust, which were continued by Sarutobi Hiruzen and others. Unless the Uchiha clan is completely dismantled, this will persist.
"You're right... but if we really rebel, the Uchiha clan won't succeed, and Konoha will suffer from the chaos, potentially leading to the Fourth Great Ninja War!"
Shisui's heart wavered slightly, but he was still struggling. Renji wasn't wrong; sometimes he too felt that Konoha's targeting of the Uchiha was inexplicable.
But he didn't want to see war break out, nor did he want to see conflict between the Uchiha clan and Konoha. That's why he had been mediating between the two sides.
After Shisui spoke, Itachi couldn't help but show a flicker of emotion on his face, looking at Shisui in shock.
Clearly, he hadn't expected Shisui to agree with Renji's perspective.
But he truly couldn't find any reason to refute it.
"You're wrong. The Uchiha clan needs to resist, but not by making enemies of the entire Konoha. Our target is the council led by Sarutobi Hiruzen."
Renji shook his head. He wasn't arrogant enough to think of opposing the entire Konoha.
Though it might be possible, it would likely cost him his eyesight.
So, he had never considered armed rebellion.
In the end, sometimes there's really no need to resort to force. How did the White Fang die? How did the Sannin leave the village?
Wasn't it all because of the rumors spread within the village?
If we can leverage that, there's no need for us to use force at all.
To be honest, it's really because of the dirty deeds of Sarutobi Hiruzen and the others.
Force is only the last resort. Before that, I'll start with a different approach.
It's not just about killing—it's about breaking their spirit too!
"Speaking of which, Shisui, you're here to test my stance on behalf of the Third Hokage, right? You can tell him directly that I'm not a compromiser. From now on, however Konoha treats us, I'll treat Konoha the same way. Fair, don't you think?"
"Is there really no room for negotiation?"
"Shisui, you know I don't want this either. The reason I've said so much to you is that I hope you'll think more about the clan. No one in the clan wants to rebel. If it weren't for being pushed to the brink, think about how many people in the clan were disappointed in you when you acted. Konoha belongs to everyone, not just the Third and his circle. When you act, your first consideration should be your family. You want loyalty, but family comes first. Go back and think about it. The clan meeting is about to start, so I'll take my leave."
As Renji spoke, he stood up and patted Shisui on the shoulder.
The "filial son" (Itachi) currently held little value for Renji. Without the Mangekyō Sharingan, he was no longer a match for Renji.
Shisui's Mangekyō, however, posed a significant threat, so Renji needed to win him over. Once Shisui was on his side, Itachi's stance would become irrelevant.
Itachi, at this point, didn't have the strong convictions he would later develop. On one hand, Shisui's presence meant he often followed Shisui's lead. On the other hand, he wasn't under as much pressure as he would be later. In the original story, after Shisui's death, all the pressure fell on Itachi.
At that time, Itachi had to deal with Danzō's pressure, knowing full well that Danzō had taken Shisui's eyes but being unable to do anything about it. On top of that, he was accused by clan members of killing Shisui, and Obito approached him. With the clan's rebellious sentiment growing and no hope in sight, he chose to annihilate the clan.
What Renji found contemptible was that if he was going to annihilate the clan, he should have done it thoroughly—not leave behind a younger brother.
Shaking his head, Renji left first, leaving Shisui and Itachi standing there, at a loss for words.
"Should we tell the Third Hokage?"
For a moment, Shisui felt unsure of what to say.
"Tell him, but leave out the earlier parts. Just the later stuff. Judging by Renji's demeanor, he's probably going to act soon. Whether we tell him or not, the Third will find out eventually."
Itachi fell silent for a while before finally deciding to speak up.
From the way Renji had just acted, it seemed he was about to make his move. Even if they didn't report it, Sarutobi would find out sooner or later.
As for the earlier parts of the conversation, Itachi decided not to tell Sarutobi for now. He was starting to have doubts.
(End of Chapter)
🌟 Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! 🌟
Hello, beloved readers and supporters!
I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you'll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including:
📚 Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn't have to wait!
💬 Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do.
👏 Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey!
Patreon.com/anish_44
https://ko-fi.com/anish_44