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Blushing deeply, Hana's face turned as red as if it might drip with embarassment. She instinctively buried her head against Toshiro's neck, letting out a soft, incomprehensible murmur.
"Alright…"
Toshiro gently patted her slender waist before pulling out a kunai marked with a unique symbol. Handing it to Hana, he instructed her calmly,
"Later, visit Uchiha Homura. Give this to her and let her know I'll be meeting her soon."
If Fugaku intended to keep such an important matter from him, Toshiro saw no need for restraint. He would contact Homura of the first branch directly and ensure they had a "surprise" ready when the time came.
"???"
"It's not what you're thinking," Toshiro said, noticing the faint trace of resentment in her eyes. He sighed, exasperated yet amused. "I'm going to her to discuss the clan's next course of action."
After a brief pause, he added, "By the way, what's the current situation at Konoha Prison?"
Since Toshiro's departure from Konoha, the position of warden at Konoha Prison had remained vacant until Hana took it over.
Realizing Toshiro wasn't planning to visit Uchiha Homura for 'business' as she had initially thought, Hana responded promptly,
"The prison is operating normally. The current issues in the village and the clan haven't affected it."
Toshiro, however, was not particularly interested in the day-to-day management of the prison. What mattered to him were the prisoners with chakra, so he pressed further,
"How many inmates currently in custody possess chakra?"
"There are 157 prisoners with chakra," Hana replied, her tone steady despite not fully understanding the reason behind his inquiry.
She continued with precision, breaking down the numbers: the count of jonin, chuunin, genin, and civilians. Toshiro listened intently, absorbing every detail.
"Mm."
"Go ahead."
After a few hours we see Toshiro gently kissing the young woman's lips and helping her rise from the sofa. Noticing the lingering redness on her face, he sighed and gave her a word of caution.
"Take a moment to rest before leaving. Compose yourself and act natural. Most importantly, don't mention to anyone that I'm back."
His words carried a weight of concern—not for secrecy alone, but for her safety. If the village decided to take action in the coming days, no one close to him would be spared from the consequences.
"Understood," Hana replied with a nod, fully aware of the gravity of the situation. She smoothed her disheveled hair, straightened her posture, and left Toshiro's house, her demeanor composed and natural.
—
"Itachi, I've left dinner by your door!"
Mikoto's soft voice echoed in the hallway as she knocked gently on her eldest son's door. A subtle furrow formed on her delicate brow.
Itachi's behavior today had been unusual. He had locked himself in his room all day, and she couldn't help but wonder if he might be unwell.
"…"
Inside the room, the curtains were drawn tightly, casting the space into shadow. In the corner, a solitary figure sat motionless, shrouded in the dim light of the fading sunset.
Leaning against the edge of his bed, his legs bent and arms resting limply by his sides, Uchiha Itachi sat on the floor, seemingly unaware of his mother's concern. His vacant stare was fixed on the floor, as if his soul had drifted far from the confines of the room.
The minutes stretched on in heavy silence until, with a sudden resolve, Itachi rose to his feet. He moved to the closet, opening it with steady hands.
From within, he retrieved his Anbu uniform, slipping into it with deliberate precision. Piece by piece, he fastened the wrist guards and leg guards, ensuring each fit snugly.
Finally, he reached for his ninja sword, sliding it into the scabbard strapped across his back. As the hilt clicked into place, a faint glow of crimson illuminated his Sharingan eyes, reflecting his determination.
"Father isn't home," he murmured softly to himself. "He must be out on patrol. The light in Mother's room is still on—she's likely waiting for him to return."
Pausing for a moment, he tilted his head toward the door, listening intently.
"And Sasuke..."
The rhythmic sound of quiet breathing beyond the door told him all he needed to know. Sasuke was fast asleep.
"…It's time."
Itachi left the house quietly, his steps deliberate and soundless. Pausing for a moment, he glanced back toward his home, a fleeting shadow of hesitation crossing his features. Then, without looking back again, he departed from the Uchiha compound and made his way to the address provided by Danzo.
According to Danzo, there would be someone at this location to assist him with the mission ahead.
"Are you the operative Danzo mentioned?"
Barely three minutes had passed since his arrival at the designated spot when a calm, middle-aged voice resonated from behind him.
Swish!
Reacting instantly, Itachi unsheathed his ninja sword in a blur of movement, slashing swiftly toward the source of the voice.
The blade sliced cleanly through the figure, but there was no resistance—no sensation of striking anything tangible. The eerie lightness of his weapon's passage deepened the weight of Itachi's apprehension.
"Impressive reflexes," the man said, his tone steady and unfazed.
Emerging fully into view, the masked figure allowed the blade to phase through his body without flinching. His expression, though hidden behind the mask, carried an unsettling air of calm.
"That's enough testing," Obito declared evenly, his presence exuding both mystery and menace.
"Let's get down to business now," the masked man said, his tone shifting to one of focused intent.
Uchiha Itachi was an excellent candidate—an asset both skilled and conflicted. If memory served correctly, he had a younger brother currently attending the Ninja Academy.
This connection made him even more valuable, as it opened the possibility of creating a new pair of Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan—a prospect too tempting to ignore.
"Are you the operative Danzo referred to?" he asked again.
Seeing the masked figure remain unaffected by the blade in his hand, Itachi lowered his weapon. Recognizing the futility of further tests, he chose instead to discuss the plans for the night's mission.
When Itachi returned to the Uchiha compound, the familiar sight of his clan members patrolling the gates greeted him. Their movements were routine, but each step they took seemed heavier in his mind tonight.
A flicker of hesitation crossed Itachi's face, a shadow of the inner conflict raging within him. Yet, as quickly as it surfaced, it was extinguished. The crimson glow of his Sharingan flared, and his fleeting doubts were buried beneath the weight of his resolve.
A sudden scream pierced the silence.
"Ah!"
The night had begun.
A flash of steel cut through the night, followed by a suppressed roar from a group of Uchiha patrolmen who had just passed beneath the torii gate.
Moments later, a volley of shurikens sliced through the air, silencing the roar. The night fell still again, save for the dull thuds of lifeless bodies collapsing to the ground.
As Uchiha Itachi executed his grim task, a translucent barrier began to rise, its edges shimmering faintly as it enveloped the entire Uchiha compound. The clan compound was now isolated, severed from the rest of the village—two worlds divided by an invisible wall.
Beyond the barrier, a contingent of ANBU, their faces concealed by animal masks, surrounded the perimeter of the Uchiha compound. Standing at the forefront, leaning on his cane, was Danzo Shimura, his expression cold and unyielding.
Unlike the relocation to the remote Naka River described in the original story, the Uchiha compound remained in the heart of Konoha. Its central location made the scene impossible to conceal. Streets were blocked, and the barrier glowed faintly in the darkness, drawing attention.
Late-night passersby, navigating the restricted streets under the watchful eyes of the ANBU, cast furtive glances toward the compound. The deep night seemed to hold its breath, heavy with foreboding.
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