In Konoha, Hiruzen Sarutobi entered Sasuke's room, gazing at his sleeping figure with a kind and gentle expression.
Walking closer, he adjusted the blanket over Sasuke and quietly left the room.
After Hiruzen left, Sasuke slowly opened his eyes. Though they appeared a little unfocused, they were far from drowsy.
As Sasuke grew older and absorbed Hiruzen's occasional political lessons, he had started learning how to think critically.
The massacre of the Uchiha clan still weighed heavily on his heart. His doubts about the incident had never dissipated; instead, they deepened.
However, Hiruzen's genuine care for him didn't seem fake, leaving Sasuke puzzled. It was beyond his understanding.
Under the moonlight, Hiruzen, unable to sleep, wandered around his home before heading to the Hokage's office.
"If I can't sleep, I might as well look at some documents..."
The reason for his restlessness lay in a letter he had written earlier that afternoon.
As Sasuke grew increasingly accomplished under his guidance, Hiruzen's feelings had become more complicated.
He had noticed that Sasuke seemed burdened with more and more worries, leaving Hiruzen unsure of how to handle the situation.
So, at noon, he had written a letter addressed to Itachi Uchiha.
Previously, his plan had been to eliminate Itachi—a person who knew the truth and could shake Sasuke's resolve.
The goal was to keep Sasuke firmly under his control and groom him into an exceptional successor. Perhaps the last remaining bloodline of the Uchiha could, under his guidance, become a staunch believer in the Will of Fire.
With the right upbringing, Sasuke might even ascend to the position of Hokage, allowing the Uchiha to shine once more in Konoha.
This reborn Uchiha clan would be humble, devoid of arrogance, and deeply tied to Konoha's future, becoming a pillar of its strength.
But now, Hiruzen's resolve was wavering. In his old age, he found himself growing tired.
He was weary of the endless cycles of schemes and battles.
For the first time, he felt lost and unable to sleep.
A lifetime of conflict had left him emotionally drained.
"Sigh... I'll just meet him and decide then."
Setting down the documents, Hiruzen resolved to take things as they came.
He decided to see how Itachi had changed before making any decisions.
Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't see himself as a true gentleman or a complete villain.
He was merely someone prone to confusion. Whether he acted as a gentleman or a scoundrel depended on a single thought.
What's more, Danzo's recent low profile left him without an adversary in their games of wit and power, making his life feel dull.
By the next day at noon, Itachi arrived at the outskirts of Konoha.
Sensing no hidden threats in the vicinity, Itachi found a jagged rock to sit on and waited for Hiruzen Sarutobi to appear.
Before long, Hiruzen arrived, taking his time and moving even more slowly than Itachi had expected.
"Lord Hokage, what do you need from me?"
Itachi observed Hiruzen's slightly unsteady gait as the older man approached. Once Hiruzen was close enough, Itachi asked softly.
Hiruzen didn't immediately reply. Listening to Itachi's somewhat indifferent tone, he stared at him in silence, lost in thought.
Hiruzen's gaze lingered especially on Itachi's distinctive tear troughs, which reminded him of Fugaku.
"Itachi, you've grown taller…"
After a long pause, Hiruzen finally spoke.
He then found a rock not far from Itachi and sat down.
Itachi, caught off guard by the unexpected comment, was momentarily dumbfounded.
"Has the old man lost his mind?" he thought.
"I don't understand, Lord Hokage. What is it that you need from me?"
His thoughts in disarray, Itachi couldn't make sense of the situation.
He decided to take the initiative, asking again in his usual calm and detached tone.
By now, he was no longer the uncertain young man who had first defected from Konoha.
"Sasuke is doing well these days. His academic performance is excellent, and he has a strong talent for ninjutsu. He reminds me of you," Hiruzen finally said.
--- Itachi's indifferent words didn't receive a direct response from Hiruzen Sarutobi. Instead, he brought up Sasuke, though his intentions were unclear.
"Thank you, Lord Hokage, for taking care of Sasuke," Itachi said softly, offering a perfunctory thanks.
"Itachi, how are things in the Akatsuki?"
Hearing the slightly warmer tone in Itachi's voice, Sarutobi seized the moment, speaking with concern.
"They're fine," Itachi replied.
Looking at Sarutobi, who seemed like a completely different person, Itachi was a bit taken aback.
...
"The Akatsuki seems to be thoroughly infiltrated by you. Why don't you come back? I'll figure out a way to clear your name," Sarutobi suggested, striking while the iron was hot.
These words left Itachi utterly bewildered. He felt like he didn't even recognize the Sarutobi standing before him.
Was this really something Sarutobi would say?
Could it be that Danzo had been placed under Kotoamatsukami and wasn't around to poison Sarutobi's mind with dark theories anymore, causing his will to change unknowingly?
Itachi speculated inwardly, wondering what kind of game Sarutobi was playing.
...
To Itachi, Sarutobi had always been a strange person.
If you said he wasn't strong, he still had some skill—enough to be formidable. At least, taking on the Konoha elders didn't seem to pose much difficulty for him.
If you said he was foolish, he managed to make Danzo take the fall repeatedly.
If you said he was clever, he often engaged in self-deceptive acts.
Noticing Sarutobi's gaze fixed on him, Itachi snapped out of his thoughts and refocused, waiting for what Sarutobi had to say next.
Calm and composed as ever.
"Honestly, I believed in Shisui's plan back then. I just didn't expect him to commit suicide at such a crucial moment. Left with no other choice, I had to tacitly approve your plan."
Seeing that Itachi wasn't responding, Sarutobi added these carefully worded remarks.
These words, however, caused a slight annoyance to stir within Itachi's heart.
Both of them were smart men—why was Sarutobi treating him like a fool?
"Lord Hokage, I can't stay away for too long, or they'll grow suspicious," Itachi replied, cutting off the conversation with an indifferent tone.
Sarutobi's transparent lies had exhausted his patience, and he was ready to leave.
If his Mangekyo Sharingan wasn't on cooldown, he might've considered enlightening the old man with a little "truth."
...
Sarutobi was momentarily stunned by Itachi's reaction.
"I truly didn't expect Danzo to seize Shisui's eye at that critical moment. By the time I found out, it was too late. That's the truth."
Seeing that Itachi wasn't interested in hearing more, Sarutobi hurriedly tried to explain further.
He didn't want the conversation to end on a sour note—otherwise, he'd just look like a fool.
Suppressing his irritation and the urge to curse, Itachi decided not to escalate things for now. He wasn't ready to act against Konoha, as Sasuke was still in the village.
Causing a major conflict would be a foolish move.
"It's all in the past. There's no point in discussing it now," Itachi said after a brief silence, his tone cold and distant.
Meanwhile, he silently pondered whether he could withstand a Reaper Death Seal or survive a brutal kick from Might Guy.
Seeing that Itachi wasn't interested in his explanations, Sarutobi frowned deeply.
Would he really have to resort to taking Itachi out?
...
With Konoha now stable and Danzo growing increasingly inconspicuous—seemingly plotting in the shadows—Sarutobi was preparing to sacrifice his old partner, whose ambitions had outgrown his usefulness.
If doing so could win Sasuke's happiness, it seemed worthwhile.
If Itachi returned to Konoha and his name was cleared, Sasuke would undoubtedly be overjoyed.
And with Itachi's love for the village, he could undoubtedly serve as an exemplary role model.
This was the gift Sarutobi hoped to give Sasuke—a new calculation in his grand plan.