Sarutobi Hiruzen still did not support the use of force and maintained an attitude of wanting to resolve the Uchiha issue peacefully, leaving Uchiha Itachi silent, as he reflected inwardly:
"The gap... this is the gap!"
"Even when the Uchiha Clan is likely targeting the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki and planning a coup, the Third Hokage still remembers that the Uchiha are part of Konoha..."
"But what about those people within the clan? They are always thinking about seizing power, feeling oppressed, with no sense of the bigger picture, always willing to disrupt the peace of the entire village for their own petty interests!"
Uchiha Itachi slowly lifted his head and met Sarutobi Hiruzen's gaze.
In the Third Hokage's aged but not unclear eyes, the Sharingan that Uchiha Itachi inadvertently activated could only see the heaviness, worry, and sincerity within them.
This one truly does not want a bloody incident to happen between the Uchiha and Konoha!
"Itachi, I know you're thinking of the village's well-being, but we can't strike against the Uchiha prematurely..."
Sarutobi Hiruzen, weary, put down his pipe and seemed quite fatigued as he rubbed his brow vigorously, gesturing for the half-kneeling Uchiha Itachi to rise, and said slowly:
"Konoha, unlike other Hidden Villages... we can't use force against the Uchiha just because they have a tendency for rebellion... as long as they haven't rebelled, they are still our own people, and the Will of Fire absolutely does not allow us to harm our own..."
"Although striking first would allow us to get through this crisis more smoothly, compared to betraying the Will of Fire, we cannot forsake fundamental principles due to external reasons."
Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at Uchiha Itachi, whose eyes were full of respect, and showed a helpless yet somewhat heroic smile, as if to comfort him:
"Luckily, Uchiha Fugaku is aiming at me, and overall doesn't intend to attack others, so the situation is still controllable."
Uchiha Itachi was deeply moved.
What is the Will of Fire? This is the Will of Fire!
The Third Hokage had learned of the Uchiha Clan's battle plan—to kidnap the upper echelons and forcibly replace the Hokage. If it were the leader of another village, they would have been incredibly furious and initiated an internal purge long ago...
No leader wouldn't be outraged by such a decapitation plan.
But the Third Hokage was not.
On the contrary, he refused to take preemptive action, only to adhere to the principles of the Will of Fire... and even considered being the target of the Uchiha's attack as a good thing because it would avoid harming innocents.
In Uchiha Itachi's heart, at this moment, Sarutobi Hiruzen even had an aura of a sage.
In contrast.
The Uchiha Clan's constant desire to seize power by force increasingly made Uchiha Itachi feel that his family was truly loathsome!
Especially after the death of Uchiha Shisui, whom he regarded as an elder brother, these bastards even questioned whether it was he who killed him!
They were not only of poor character but also of low intelligence; in short, they were both stupid and evil! Is there any reason for such a clan to continue surviving in Konoha, polluting the pure Will of Fire?
Uchiha Itachi pondered this issue.
Sarutobi Hiruzen discreetly observed Uchiha Itachi, a smile forming in his heart.
Sitting in the Hokage's position for decades, Sarutobi Hiruzen's skills in Tai Chi and acting had reached perfection...
Although Uchiha Itachi was a youthful genius, his grasp of human nature was far inferior to this Third Hokage...
"Itachi, about Shisui, I've already found out the truth, and I'm very sorry."
Sarutobi Hiruzen broke the silence once more, and looking at Uchiha Itachi whose emotions visibly fluctuated upon hearing the name Shisui, he said solemnly:
"Danzo, he went too far! I've relieved him of his position as a Hokage Assistant and ordered him to disband Root's squads. Once the Uchiha matter settles, I will impose the harshest penalty on him!"
"Having stayed in the darkness too long, Root has bred bacteria in the dampness, and it's time to clean it out!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen shook his head sorrowfully: "For such a thing to happen, I, as Hokage, also bear unavoidable responsibility..."
"Hokage-sama, have you already dealt with Shimura Danzo?" Uchiha Itachi let out a breath of relief, feeling much lighter at heart.
Indeed, Konoha was still worth protecting!
Though Shimura Danzo was an upper echelon of Konoha, he had been soaked in darkness, but luckily the Third Hokage was there to deal with the oversized and unmanageable Root in time!
The Will of Fire is good; it was just that Dark Ninja executed poorly...
In that very moment.
Uchiha Itachi recalled Shisui's last words—"I intended to use Kotoamatsukami to prevent the coup, but Shimura Danzo took my right eye. He never trusted me..."
"He is willing to sacrifice everything, only wanting to protect the village in his own way."
Only then did Uchiha Itachi realize a problem.
Until his death, Uchiha Shisui never blamed Shimura Danzo, believing he acted extremely to protect the village, seizing his Mangekyo Sharingan, not out of selfish desire but all for Konoha.
For Itachi, who was inherently against the Uchiha, at this moment, he inexplicably almost empathized with Shimura Danzo.
Shimura Danzo was not him, someone who grew up close to Shisui, knowing that Shisui was different from ordinary Uchiha, not a narrow-minded tribalist, but having a great love for all of Konoha in his heart.