"What I've said is not for you to thank me, and certainly not to thank Uchiha Itachi."
"The real meaning is that since you've survived, you should live your lives well from now on and not think about those other things."
"Uchiha Itachi's methods were extreme. Although the Uchiha clan will not bear the name of traitors, it has come at the cost of the entire clan's destruction."
"However, if the Uchiha clan had truly launched a coup, Konoha would certainly not have shown mercy, and neither would I."
"Now that the Uchiha clan's strength has been greatly diminished and its vitality severely damaged, it no longer has the power to launch a coup."
"As long as you don't stir up trouble, the relationship between Konoha and the Uchiha will actually ease."
"Behave yourselves. If you cause trouble again, it will truly be the end of the entire clan."
"Of course, you have lost your loved ones, so it's normal to hate Uchiha Itachi."
"I also think there's nothing wrong with hating him. If you feel you're strong enough, you can seek revenge on him."
"If you don't feel you're strong enough, then leave him to Konoha to deal with. You all should live your lives well."
"Although he has solved a big problem for Konoha, to take it upon himself to massacre so many of his fellow villagers before the Uchiha clan even launched a coup, he cannot escape the title of an S-rank rogue ninja."
"Convey these words to the others for me."
With that, Kageyama Kogetsu strode away. The mother and son knelt on the ground in a daze, their feelings extremely complicated, not knowing what to say...
As Kageyama Kogetsu walked, he directed the subordinates behind him to help, until he arrived at the clan head's residence.
Arriving at a room with a light on, Kageyama Kogetsu slid the door open and walked in...
Mikoto and Uchiha Izumi were kneeling on the floor, crestfallen. Sasuke was lying in Mikoto's arms, having lost his usual liveliness.
"Kogetsu, how are things?" Mikoto asked with a nervous expression.
"The masked man has been repelled by me. Itachi killed many of the coup plotters and then fled," Kageyama Kogetsu said in a deep voice.
"Brother Kogetsu," Sasuke called out weakly, his face aggrieved.
"Mm, Sasuke, you have to be strong. Your mother is still here," Kageyama Kogetsu said, reaching out to pat Sasuke's head.
Mikoto and Izumi sighed in relief in unison upon hearing this.
"Let's go."
"Where to?" Mikoto was a bit confused.
"You and your son should go and stay with Sister Kushina for a while. This place is not suitable for living for the time being."
After a moment of hesitation, Mikoto said, "Let Sasuke go. I won't go. I, as his mother, should bear the responsibility for what Itachi has done."
"Aunt Mikoto, I will stay with you," Izumi said with a determined expression.
"I'm not going anywhere. I want to stay with my mother," Sasuke cried out, clutching Mikoto's clothes.
"See? If you don't go, Sasuke won't go either. He's still young and probably can't handle so much pressure."
In reality, Sasuke's ability to handle pressure was very strong. After experiencing what he did in the original story, his thinking was relatively normal.
Mikoto wavered. After a moment of struggle, she said, "I'll go. But before I go, I have one more thing to do."
"What is it?"
"I'm going to the homes of those killed by Itachi to kneel and apologize."
"I know it won't help, and I'll be met with a lot of scorn and curses, but it will make me feel a little better in my heart, and it will also make things easier for Sasuke in the future."
Kageyama Kogetsu smiled faintly. What a smart woman.
"Alright, let Izumi go with you."
"Izumi, remember to mention Senior Fugaku, and don't let them get violent," Kageyama Kogetsu instructed.
"Yes, Lord Kogetsu!" Izumi said quickly.
"I want to go with my mother!" Sasuke said, his lips pressed together.
Mikoto and Izumi quickly tried to persuade him, but Sasuke's mind was made up. He was determined to go.
"Since Sasuke is being so filial, let him go. Having a child there might not be a bad thing."
"I suggest you go in a couple of days. Their emotions are running high right now."
Mikoto shook her head. "No need. Now is the most sincere time."
Swoosh! A figure landed outside the door, kneeling on one knee.
"Lord Kogetsu, Lord Hokage and Lord Danzō have arrived. They have summoned you."
"Understood, I'll be right there."
The figure outside the door disappeared. Kageyama Kogetsu nodded to the three of them, stood up, and left.
Mikoto and the others tidied up a bit and left the house together.
...
The full moon hung high in the sky. Under its endless clear light, Anbu and Root ninja were helping to deal with the bodies with professional techniques.
It was worth mentioning that Danzō had already sent Root ninja to gouge out the three-tomoe Sharingan of the dead ninja.
On a street near the middle of the Uchiha clan grounds, Sarutobi Hiruzen and Danzō were talking. Danzō was pretending to know nothing.
Swoosh! Kageyama Kogetsu appeared in a flash, and the two of them stopped talking.
Sarutobi Hiruzen stood with his hands behind his back and said in a deep voice, "Kogetsu, what on earth is going on?"
Kageyama Kogetsu said unhurriedly, "Tonight, I was monitoring the Uchiha clan from a high altitude when I suddenly saw Uchiha Itachi kill Senior Fugaku..."
After hearing Kageyama Kogetsu's account of Uchiha Itachi's philosophy, Sarutobi Hiruzen couldn't help but say, "Although his intentions were good, this method is too extreme."
Danzō said with a blank expression, "I, on the other hand, think Uchiha Itachi did a good job. Kogetsu, you shouldn't have forced him to change his mind."
"Leaving these Uchiha remnants is a great hidden danger for Konoha."
Actually, deep down, Sarutobi Hiruzen agreed with Danzō's words. If you're not going to do it, don't. If you are, then be thorough.
This half-hearted approach was indeed a big problem for Konoha.
However, although he was somewhat dissatisfied, he couldn't speak harshly to his trusted confidant and one of Konoha's current pillars.
Kageyama Kogetsu smiled. "Of course Elder Danzō thinks it's good. After all, you and Uchiha Itachi planned it."
"This is what Uchiha Itachi told me himself."
"Also, the Police Force was attacked by the masked man almost at the same time as Uchiha Itachi made his move."
"Is the masked man secretly monitoring Konoha, or is there some collusion?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen's eyes became sharp, and he reprimanded with dissatisfaction, "Danzō, you've acted on your own again!"
Danzō said nonchalantly, "I did it all for Konoha. I just cut the Gordian knot and solved the problem."
"Whether Uchiha Itachi colluded with the masked man is not important. What's important is that now the Uchiha are powerless to stage a coup and can only be kneaded by Konoha at will."
Sarutobi Hiruzen warned sternly, "In this situation, you are not allowed to plot against the Uchiha anymore. Give them a way to live."
"There will be no third time. If you dare to act on your own again, I'll settle both the new and old scores at once, and you can go rot in a cell."
Although Danzō didn't care in his heart, he said obediently, "I understand. The Uchiha are not worth my plotting now."
"The most crucial thing now is how to deal with the hidden danger."
Sarutobi Hiruzen frowned. "It is very troublesome. Let's call a meeting with Homura and Koharu tomorrow."
Kageyama Kogetsu said in a deep voice, "Lord Hokage, I have a solution."
"Oh? Speak," Sarutobi Hiruzen's interest was piqued.
"The Police Force has suffered heavy losses. Why not transfer me to the Police Force to be its head? I can indirectly influence the Uchiha clan through the Police Force."
"Also, given that the Uchiha clan's current strength is no longer enough to support the Police Force independently, I suggest that after I've dealt with the troublemakers, we arrange for ninja from other clans and civilian ninja to join," Kageyama Kogetsu said with a serious expression.
Danzō said with a forced smile, "You're quite good at promoting yourself."
Kageyama Kogetsu said with a grim expression, "Hmph, does Elder Danzō think I'm not suitable?"
Danzō did not like Kogetsu's tone, but thinking that he would need his help later, he decided to endure it.
"I said you would promote yourself."
"With your strength, you are more than capable of suppressing the Uchiha."
"And with your relationship with the Uchiha, especially now that you've done them a favor, you are indeed the most suitable."
Kageyama Kogetsu smiled apologetically. "My apologies, I misunderstood Elder Danzō's meaning."
Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded with a smile. "That's a good idea, but I can only appoint you as the acting head."
"Since its inception, the Police Force has been the Uchiha clan's private domain, and its head has always been the head of the Uchiha clan."
"Konoha has the authority to command the head, but not the authority to appoint them."
"If you want to be officially appointed, you'll have to wait until you've subdued the Uchiha clan."
Kageyama Kogetsu smiled confidently. "Please rest assured, Lord Hokage. I will definitely handle the Uchiha clan!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen patted his shoulder and said with a kind smile, "I believe in you. You've never failed a mission. It's decided then."
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