Chapter 60: Foolish Oudou Dou, Survive Your Final Year

Dusk.

Leaving the Hokage Tower, Uchiha Itachi wandered toward home, the Hokage’s words echoing in his mind—"Itachi, don’t go back openly today. Best not to be seen at all, especially not by any members of the Uchiha clan."

Uchiha Itachi understood the gravity of the Hokage’s warning. A faint unease stirred within him. He could sense an endless tide of malice pressing down upon him.

Yet at least… the Hokage still trusted him.

Heeding Hiruzen Sarutobi’s advice, Itachi waited until the night had fully descended before returning to the Uchiha district. He slipped silently through the shadows, arriving at his own doorstep without a sound.

But as he reached for the door handle, he hesitated.

"...Sasuke..." he murmured.

If the entire village was whispering about his so-called "Future Evil," then Sasuke must have heard it too.

How would Sasuke now regard him?

Would he still cling to him as before?

Or would he glare with anger, demanding answers?

Or would he turn cold, distant—like a stranger?

Unable to decipher the answer, Itachi abandoned the thought. He stepped inside.

The first person he saw was his mother.

"...Itachi." Mikoto forced a faint, strained smile. Her gaze—filled with a storm of emotion—rested upon her eldest son. "Dinner’s ready."

Itachi said nothing. He entered the house, then froze at the sight of his father and younger brother seated at the dining table.

His sharp eyes immediately noticed Sasuke’s eyes were red.

A pang shot through Itachi’s chest.

"Let’s eat," Fugaku muttered, breaking the silence. He didn’t even say “I’m starting”—and when Itachi entered, he didn’t look up.

Sasuke couldn’t eat.

He stared at Itachi, voice trembling with desperate hope:

"Brother… it’s not true, right? That kind of thing… it can’t happen… right?"

Itachi exhaled deeply inside. Seeing Sasuke’s face on the verge of tears, the hesitation in his eyes—those fragile, uncertain feelings—faded. In their place, resolve hardened.

"It’s true."

His voice was flat, emotionless.

"If someone seeks to destroy the peace of the Leaf Village, then it will happen."

Mikoto froze.

Fugaku’s chopsticks halted mid-air.

Sasuke stood frozen in place.

"Why… we’re family! Father, mother… they’re not evil! They’re us!" Sasuke gripped the fabric of his sleeve, voice cracking. "Why would you… why would you do this to us?"

Itachi stared at his younger brother.

And for the first time, he realized—Sasuke’s dependence on him was a fatal weakness.

A flaw that would never allow him to grow into a true shinobi.

Yet, the future version of himself had spared Sasuke—only Sasuke.

That meant something.

It meant the future Itachi had wanted Sasuke to inherit his will—to protect the Leaf Village.

But right now, in Itachi’s eyes, Sasuke’s capacity was pitifully small. Weak. Pathetic.

He crushed the flicker of guilt in his heart.

His voice turned icy, deliberate:

"Sasuke… you don’t know the real me."

Sasuke’s eyes widened in confusion.

"I have no concept of family. There is only what I must do. No one—no one—will stop me. And if they try… I’ll kill them."

He stood again, not even looking back.

"Once that day comes, you’ll be no exception, Sasuke. Because the future bends to my will. I won’t leave you behind like Uchiha Iizumi said."

"You’re too weak. You’re just a shadow following me, clinging to my heels. Your power is so fragile, so pathetic—it can’t stop me."

"Foolish Oudou Dou… live out your final year in terror and dread."

"One year from now… I’ll take you and the rest of them—"

SMACK!

The final words never left his mouth.

Mikoto had struck him—hard.

The slap was light, far gentler than Izumi’s had been.

"Take it back, Itachi. Apologize to Sasuke."

Tears welled in Mikoto’s eyes. Her voice cracked. In that moment, her own son looked like a stranger—alien, unrecognizable.

Itachi inhaled deeply.

He didn’t apologize.

Instead, he said slowly:

"Father understands why I made this choice. Mother… you don’t understand now. But you will. When the time comes… you’ll see."

Sasuke stood there, stunned.

Only when his brother’s silhouette vanished into the darkness beyond the door did the weight of everything crash down.

Overwhelmed by sorrow, anger, confusion—his head spun.

In the haze of his fading consciousness, he faintly heard his mother cry out his name in panic.

Then darkness.

…

Meanwhile, deep within the Root Base.

Danzō received grim news from one of his Root ninjas—his eight agents, sent to spread false rumors against Uchiha Itachi, had vanished without a trace.

Eight Anbu Ninja. At least mid-to-high A-rank, some even special jōnin-level.

The mission? Simple. Harmless.

And yet—gone.

No sign. No bodies.

Danzō’s face darkened. His brow furrowed.

The satisfaction of smearing the Uchiha name was gone—replaced by cold dread.

He barked at his subordinate:

"Move! Find them. Bring them back now!"

"Yes, Danzō-sama!"

"Wait!"

Danzō stopped him.

A chilling possibility struck him.

His expression grew even colder.

He gritted his teeth, each word forced from between clenched jaws:

"Go straight to the Yamanaka Clan."

The Root ninja blinked.

"The Yamanaka Clan…?"

Danzō’s voice turned venomous:

"I believe this is the work of that evil little Uchiha brat. If he truly can see past and future evil… then my men wouldn’t have stood a chance. No disguise, no stealth—nothing could hide from him."

He was certain now.

The eight Root ninjas were already dead.

And judging by the Uchiha’s known habits—those he killed were always handed over to the Yamanaka Clan.

Because Iizumi rarely conducted formal interrogations.

He’d simply execute those he deemed evil.

And the Investigation Corps? They needed evidence.

Only the Yamanaka’s bloodline techniques could uncover the truth.

…

Danzō had guessed correctly.

In the Yamanaka Clan’s compound, Yamana Haiichi stared at eight bodies draped in white sheets.

He sighed heavily.

"Ah… not again."

He didn’t know why, but since Uchiha Iizumi had begun enforcing his Absolute Justice, the Yamanaka Clan had grown closer to the Uchiha than any other clan.

Even if it was only for business—just a polite nod in passing—still, it was far better than the cold distance most clans kept.

…

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end