The sky turned a pale fish-belly white as the first rays of dawn pierced through the clouds, illuminating the streets of Konoha and dispelling the darkness. To the ordinary citizen, this was just another mundane day.
The ANBU had already finished sanitizing the battlefield near the Uchiha district and established a perimeter. Without direct orders from the high command, they couldn't fully clear the clan grounds yet, but scouts had already permeated the area, standing atop wooden rooftops to survey the scene and set up tight defenses.
On the main street of the Uchiha district, Itachi walked toward the exit with Sasuke on his back. The elite ANBU members simply watched them pass, acting as if they were invisible. Itachi was in a daze, trying to construct one lie after another to deceive Sasuke, only to reject each one in his mind. According to his plan, Sasuke shouldn't have lost consciousness so early.
"Halt!"
A familiar voice rang out. Itachi looked up to see a fox-mask and two familiar figures blocking his path. Behind them, Hiruzen Sarutobi and the two advisors were approaching. Their gazes were detached, radiating the aura of those in high power, seemingly oblivious to the Uchiha civilian corpses lining the street.
"Fall back," Hiruzen said flatly to the two ANBU blocking Itachi.
Before the fox-masked ANBU could leave, Itachi stopped him and handed over the sleeping Sasuke. "Kakashi-senpai, please... look after Sasuke for a moment."
Kakashi hesitated, let out a soft sigh, and took the boy. He and Yamato retreated a respectful distance.
Only four remained on the street. Koharu Utatane stepped forward, getting straight to the point. "Uchiha Kuroya has exterminated the Uchiha clan and fled Konoha with a squad of rogue Uchiha. Itachi, you no longer have to leave the village."
Itachi's fragmented thoughts suddenly snapped into focus. He looked past the old woman to Hiruzen. He understood their intent instantly.
Hiruzen's gaze was calm as he met Itachi's questioning eyes. He sighed. "I'm sorry, Itachi. In the end, I couldn't find a better solution. Regarding staying in Konoha... what are your thoughts?"
In the eyes of these three, the massacre could be blamed on Itachi, or it could be blamed on Kuroya. Currently, Hiruzen was leaning toward the latter. The advisors were right: Konoha was desperate for strength.
Seeing Itachi's silence, Koharu spoke bluntly. "The truth of tonight is known only to us three, you, and the deceased Danzō."
"Danzō is dead??" Itachi's head snapped up. His bloodshot eyes stared directly at Koharu. The news exploded in his mind like a thunderclap. The man who had pushed for the genocide... was dead? How?
The most improbable answer immediately came to mind: Uchiha Kuroya killed him.
Koharu's eyes narrowed slightly. Her breath hitched, and her body gave a faint shudder. For a fleeting second, the Uchiha youth's gaze felt like a lethal strike from a kunai made of pure killing intent. She nodded, hiding nothing. "Uchiha Kuroya killed him."
Itachi's pupils contracted. His mind spun into chaos once more. He took a deep breath to settle his emotions, internally re-evaluating the threat level of Uchiha Kuroya. He looked at Hiruzen, his voice low and trembling slightly. "The Uchiha Police Force... before I moved, they were already dealt with by Uchiha Kuroya."
The statement sent a second shockwave through Hiruzen, Koharu, and Homura.
This meant that after wiping out the elite Police Force within the district, Kuroya had doubled back and assassinated Danzō. An Uchiha capable of slaughtering the entire Police Force and killing Danzō was undoubtedly an S-rank rogue ninja. The last defector of that caliber was Orochimaru.
"This..." Koharu's pupils vibrated. She swallowed hard, the words dying in her throat. This was pure fantasy.
Hiruzen was the first to recover. He scanned his mental roster of Konoha's shinobi; he estimated only his three students—the Sannin—could pull off such a feat. Even with a Mangekyō, Kuroya shouldn't have had the chakra to wipe out the Police Force and follow it up with an assassination of Danzō. Danzō's strength was something the three of them knew better than anyone; even the Sannin together couldn't have killed him instantly.
The scene fell into a dead silence. Itachi broke the stalemate.
"I'm sorry, Lord Hokage. For Sasuke's sake, I cannot stay in Konoha. I will find a way to deal with that rogue Uchiha squad for the village. Please... take care of Sasuke."
The three elders pulled themselves back from the shock of Kuroya's actions. They were veterans of high-stakes politics; their priority shifted instantly to retaining Itachi. Since the Uchiha were gone and a rogue squad was available to take the blame, Itachi truly didn't have to leave.
Hiruzen wasn't surprised by the refusal. He glanced at Koharu. With a brief exchange of looks, Koharu continued her persuasion.
"Itachi, we understand how you feel. But listen to our conditions first. Danzō is dead. The underground intelligence department and the ANBU Training Division—'Root'—are in desperate need of a new leader. You are the most suitable candidate. If you stay, you can raise Sasuke yourself. Itachi, think of your brother. Of course, if you insist on leaving, we will honor our promise to protect him."
Itachi weighed the pros and cons rapidly. He looked up at the Third Hokage.
Hiruzen sighed. "None of us wanted this for the Uchiha, but the times and the situation forced our hands. Itachi, what I'm about to say might be difficult to hear, but you have carried out the Will of Fire. You have made an extraordinary contribution to the peace of Konoha. You are a hero. You shouldn't have to live in the shadows. Stay. I ask you, in the name of the Hokage."
Two days later. Border of the Land of Fire.Mount Kikyo.
The stream was like a silver ribbon winding through the valley, flowing quietly amidst the bleak autumn wind. Splash—
Kuroya stood in the upper reaches of the stream. He bent over, cupping the fresh water in his hands to wash the blood and grime from his face. His feet were submerged in the crystal-clear riverbed. The late autumn water was bone-chilling.
The sunlight reflected his image on the surface: messy short hair, sharp brows, a clear facial contour. Dressed in white, he possessed an air of natural elegance. Nearby, the other Uchiha were also cleaning themselves. They had long since swapped their flak jackets for civilian clothes. They looked like a group of local villagers, though their striking looks suggested otherwise.
Izumi Uchiha, her brow slightly furrowed and carrying her ninja sandals in her hand, waded through the water toward him. She had been chosen by the others to speak to Kuroya, who hadn't said much to them in the last forty-eight hours.
"Kuro... Captain Kuroya," she spoke softly. "Next, do we take the water route to bypass Mount Kikyo, or do we go through Kikyo City? Personally... I think the water route is longer, but it will help erase our tracks."