"As expected of Minato's bloodline… a true genius."
Danzo Shimura had been unusually idle lately.
The plan against the Uchiha clan had been forcibly halted.
Hiruzen Sarutobi had begun consolidating power again, assigning more missions to the ANBU under his direct control.
Root, anwhile, had been sent out to handle the darker, less visible tasks.
The plan Danzo had prepared so carefully was now unusable.
With the news of the impending attack on the Uchiha widely spread, any action now would raise suspicion.
If sothing still happened after everyone already knew, Konoha's reputation would be destroyed.
So with nothing better to do, Danzo turned his attention back to cultivating new talent.
Naruto was untouchable.
But the other one…
He intended to obtain him at any cost.
"Hm?"
"Half a month ago, he t Fugaku Uchiha… possibly to apologize?"
"Every day after school, he blocks and beats up children from the Uchiha, Hyuga, and Ino-Shika-Cho clans?"
"Suspected involvent of surviving Uzumaki mbers… and when Itachi appeared, soone intervened to stop him?"
The more Danzo read, the more intrigued he beca.
Uzumaki Shuji had never received formal ninja training.
Yet he could defeat children from major clans.
More importantly—he had t Fugaku Uchiha.
Even if Fugaku hadn't done anything, this was the perfect excuse.
Uzumaki Shuji might have been tampered with.
He could no longer be allowed to stay near the jinchūriki.
Who knew what could happen?
And then there was the possibility of surviving Uzumaki…
Danzo knew this would shake Hiruzen.
The destruction of the Uzumaki clan was not sothing Konoha could proudly speak of.
It was a weakness.
And Hiruzen would hesitate.
If he could cultivate another genius like Minato Namikaze under his control…
The thought alone made his blood boil with excitent.
Without delay, he took the intelligence and went to find Hiruzen.
…
"Father."
Itachi Uchiha had stayed ho these past few days, not taking on missions.
Hiruzen still trusted him—for now.
Allowing him to return was ant to let him investigate the source of the leak.
Was it truly as Fugaku claid?
Or was there a traitor within Konoha?
"You're back."
"And from now on, don't interfere in children's fights. Let Sasuke gain so experience."
"The Uzumaki child already ca to apologize. I agreed that adults wouldn't interfere—let the children handle it themselves."
Fugaku sat reading a newspaper.
When he saw Itachi, his expression darkened slightly, but he still spoke.
"What?"
"That child ca to see you?"
Itachi froze, visibly surprised.
"Yes. It's just children's conflict. No need for adults to intervene."
"That's all."
Fugaku didn't want to say more.
But he knew—since Hiruzen had already set his sights on the Uchiha, disaster would co sooner or later.
Now, the real question was what to do next.
Continue cooperating with Uzumaki Shuji?
If the Uchiha took the first step… would things truly turn out differently?
"I understand."
Itachi lowered his gaze slightly, nodded, and turned to leave.
Standing outside, he recalled the mont those three chains had wrapped around his arm.
They had erged directly from Uzumaki Shuji's back.
That child… was far from ordinary.
But one thing was certain.
Sasuke wasn't his match.
Which ant…
He would keep getting beaten every week.
And yet, Itachi couldn't interfere anymore.
With the clan's situation frozen, he had to continue playing his role as a double agent.
"Father didn't ask anything about ANBU this ti…"
Itachi realized this detail as well.
Sothing had changed.
…
"So you believe handing the child over to you will draw out the hidden Uzumaki remnants?"
At the sa ti, Danzo stood before Hiruzen, making his case.
He wanted control over Uzumaki Shuji.
Only with Hiruzen's approval could this happen.
Otherwise, even Danzo couldn't touch the brothers.
"Yes. Since soone intervened when Itachi approached him, they clearly won't allow Uzumaki Shuji to be taken without resistance."
"If we bring him into Root, they will act."
"And if they don't, they will eventually make contact."
"Keeping him in Root allows us to monitor—and control—the situation."
"Moreover, the child shows remarkable talent. Without any formal training, he has already mastered the Three Basic Jutsu and chakra adhesion just by studying Naruto's textbooks."
"With proper training, he could beco an exceptional ninja."
Danzo spoke earnestly.
He knew Hiruzen would agree.
Talent alone might not be enough to move him.
But eliminating hidden threats?
That was sothing Hiruzen would never ignore.
The man before him was ruthless.
Sotis even more so toward his own people than his enemies.
The only ti Danzo had ever seen him hesitate…
Was when he let Orochimaru escape.
Otherwise—
Never.
"Very well. I'll entrust the child to you."
"I'll speak to him tomorrow. Naruto must accept it as well."
Hiruzen finally said, his tone calm.
"And once the Uzumaki remnants are dealt with… I'll have Danzo return him."
Even as he spoke, Hiruzen justified it to himself.
For Minato…
He felt a trace of guilt.
But when it ca to necessary decisions—
He would never hesitate.
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