Chapter 18


    The unexpected name on the letter caused all of Konoha''s high-ranking officials to return.


    An emergency meeting was reconvened.


    "Neji discovered the culprit behind the Hyuga branch family attacks and is currently tracking him."


    "Uchiha Madara… is it just a name coincidence?"


    "But there is no one named Uchiha Madara in the current Uchiha n records."


    "You know who it refers to."


    "Of course I do, but that person has been dead for over thirty years!"


    "Regardless, he bears the Uchiha name. So… is this the confidence behind the Uchiha n''s rebellion?"


    The name seemed to possess immense power, and the four elders who had lived through that era fell silent.They all deeply suspected that the Madara mentioned in Neji''s letter was merely someone pretending to be him. However, the recent craziness of the Uchiha n prevented them from dismissing it quickly. Could this Uchiha Madara be some old relic the Uchiha had dug up from a grave?


    "Should we call Neji back to get a clear exnation?" Homura suggested.


    "No!" Sarutobi and Danzo simultaneously shook their heads. Such a rare lead couldn''t be easily severed.


    "And Itachi? Did he not mention that this Uchiha Madara might be a secret weapon of the Uchiha n?"


    "No."


    If Itachi knew about additional support for the Uchiha, he certainly wouldn''t have kept it a secret.


    Seeing Sarutobi shake his head, Danzo frowned. Fugaku wasn''t so foolish after all; he managed to deceive his son…


    The information Neji provided was precious. Despite the odd connection between Uchiha Madara and the Hyuga branch family attacks, this was an enemy. They just needed to prepare ordingly and face whatever came their way.


    Sarutobi pondered for a moment. With the Uchiha rebellion potentially bolstered by an unexpectedly powerful ally, they had to adjust their ns: "The original battle n remains unchanged, but to deal with this sudden appearance of Uchiha Madara, we should form a special strike team. The team should be of the highest Kage-level standard."


    The Kage-level standard meant the team was not just on par with Kage-level strength but could even kill a single opponent in regrbat.


    Simrly, a Jonin-standard team could defeat or kill a single Jonin-level opponent.


    No one opposed Sarutobi''s proposal. Given the potential threat to Konoha and the terrifying figure involved, they had to be extra cautious.


    They treated the Uchiha Madara mentioned in Neji''s letter as the real deal!


    "What about specific personnel?" Koharu asked.


    Sarutobi listed several names, all elite ninjas capable of standing independently. Still feeling it wasn''t enough, he scanned the waiting Jonin and ANBU elites in the hallway and paused:


    "Add one more… Kakashi."


    Thus, the special strike team was formed solely to counter the potential threat of Uchiha Madara during the battle between Konoha and the Uchiha.


    They might not be deployed, but preparing for the unexpected was necessary. Arge military group like a ninja vige couldn''t rely on ad-hoc responses for everything. Having a n was always reassuring.


    With the Madara issue settled, the meeting''s atmosphere rxed. Sarutobi seemed to remember something and shook his head in admiration:


    "No wonder they''re called Konoha''s Twin Stars. One infiltrates the Uchiha to provide crucial intel."


    "The other investigates the Hyuga branch family cases and unexpectedly uncovers a potential Uchiha ally."


    "They both have made great contributions to Konoha!"


    Everyone nodded slightly except for Danzo, who frowned. Was this a reminder not to go too far with the war heroes?


    …


    Everything proceeded smoothly in the shadows. Despite harboring killing intent, Konoha and the Uchiha n maintained a facade of harmony, like a married couple.


    War was inevitable, and everyone had quietly steeled themselves.


    But like a released beast, Sarutobi''s strategy of targeting only the ringleaders and sparing women and children seemed overly idealistic to Danzo. He couldn''t tell if Sarutobi was genuinely sincere or hypocritically righteous.


    Being Hokage required such an upright image.


    Meanwhile, with his menacing and unapproachable aura, Danzo was far from that position.


    As the roots of Konoha''s great tree, his role was in the unnoticed, unlit parts. The deeper the roots grew, the taller the tree stood. Danzo had noints about his role; he even enjoyed being the king of Konoha''s darkness.


    There were different rules for the light and the dark. Fighting for nutrients against other nts'' roots required ruthlessness. Eliminating threats solidified the victory. Sarutobi might not want to say or do it, but Danzo felt he understood perfectly.


    Regarding the Uchiha n, besides having Itachi try to massacre them before the rebellion, Danzo also had a backup n for Itachi''s failure. The next day, as the Uchiha n fully mobilized, Root ninjas would ughter all the women and children left in the Uchihapound, leaving no one behind.


    Of course, the extermination policy was indiscriminate. Sasuke would not be an exception.


    When Konoha and the Uchiha shed, it would mean Itachi''s massacre the night before had failed. Unable to fulfill his promise to Danzo, Danzo would be free from hismitment to spare Sasuke.


    Everything followed the rules of the dark. Itachi, seemingly confident, gave Danzo some hope.


    If Itachi''s power could help him eradicate the Uchiha, Danzo''s spoils—the Sharingan—would multiply.


    …


    For two days, we remained until the Hyuga n meeting.


    The sunset was as red as blood.


    The wind blew through his long hair as Itachi leaned on the rooftop, overlooking the vige below.


    In the smoky twilight, the bustle continued, peopleing and going.


    "I''m not going all out… ha… ha!"


    "You went all out already, you idiot!"


    A blond boy''s frustrated voice echoed on the yground as Sasuke left him behind in a race.


    The watching girls giggled.


    "Let''spete in something else, how about jumping high?"


    "Sure!" Sasuke smiled confidently.


    Itachi''s eyes were gentle.


    These were the people he protected.


    This was the world he cherished.


    That narrow-minded n did not weigh as much as the bright smile on the boy''s face and the dust carried by the wind.


    The decision had been made two years ago when Shisui threw himself into the Naka River.


    Hundreds of lives in the n.


    Driven by ambition, following the tide, ignorant, elderly, or just children.


    Life was not without weight, butpared to some things, it was as light as paper, easily torn away.


    As the sun set and darkness engulfed the vige and those Itachi cherished, he turned and walked away.


    This journey was solely to ensure that what he cherished could see the light again.


    …


    In the dense forest, Neji was still looking around, seemingly puzzled.


    "Who are you looking for?"


    A long-haired man wearing a tiger mask hung upside down from a tree trunk. The Mangekyo Sharingan in his mask''s eye hole, shaped like three sickles, coldly observed Neji.