It's Time We Talk
Back when Shisui Uchiha was still alive, the Uchiha clan was already contemplating a coup.
A major reason they had not acted yet was the balance of power. Both the Uchiha and Konoha's leadership knew that such a conflict would lead to immense casualties.
In essence, the Uchiha were wary of the power held by the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, and Konoha's elite. Unless they had at least two Mangekyō Sharingan users, they wouldn't dare initiate a full-scale uprising.
Shisui was one such key figure—until his death. Now, all eyes were on Uchiha Itachi.
Yet Xu Fan felt confident.
Even in Hiruzen's absence, with his real body away on the diplomatic mission to the Land of Iron and Danzo already eliminated by his own hand, he believed Itachi wouldn't side with the Uchiha in a rebellion. Itachi's ideology was rooted in peace, in avoiding unnecessary bloodshed.
And even if the Uchiha successfully staged a coup now, once Hiruzen returned to the village, the loyal Jōnin corps would surely rally to his side.
That would only lead to more violence.
"I understand," Itachi said, nodding solemnly. "I'll do what I can to restrain the clan and prevent a tragic mistake."
"Good." Xu Fan nodded, then glanced at Tōgen Aburame and the other Root members nearby.
There was no need to kill them.
Before they were Root, they were Konoha's shinobi—extensions of its will. With Danzo dead, Xu Fan could potentially assume control over them.
Of course, these Root operatives wouldn't just forget what had happened. Once the Shadow Clones dispelled, they would inform Konoha's leadership about Danzo's death.
And if they couldn't find Xu Fan, they might blame Uchiha Itachi.
"Well then..." Xu Fan exhaled slowly, flashing Itachi a confident smile.
Danzo had been eliminated. It was time to release the clone and pass the intel to his true self.
"See you soon."
With that, Xu Fan dispelled the Wood Clone, vanishing before Itachi and the Root ninja.
Uchiha Itachi stared at the empty space for a moment and murmured to himself, "One doesn't become Hokage to be acknowledged by others. Only by being acknowledged... can one become Hokage."
"The Uchiha clan, if they rise through bloodshed, will never gain the village's support."
"And that includes you, Xu Fan."
As he spoke, Itachi's body dissolved into a cloud of crows, dispersing into the night.
Danzo's corpse was completely erased by the Four Symbols Seal. Nothing remained.
Tōgen Aburame exhaled deeply as he observed the aftermath. Neither Xu Fan nor Itachi had tried to stop them from leaving.
But the question that lingered in his mind was—was their goal truly Danzo's assassination? Or were they planning to unite the Uchiha for a coup?
Worse still, what if Xu Fan's real body was targeting the Hokage on his way to the Land of Iron?
Suppressing his unease, Tōgen steadied himself and turned to leave.
This information had to be reported to Hiruzen Sarutobi immediately.
---
Meanwhile, en route to the Land of Iron...
Without any specialized transport, Xu Fan's group had been traveling by day and resting at night.
Inside his room, Xu Fan sat cross-legged on the tatami, eyes closed—until a surge of memories and images from his Wood Clone burst into his mind.
"Danzo is dead," he whispered, rising and walking to the window.
Moonlight bathed the floor in silver.
Even a clone imbued with Wood Release and Byakugan, teamed with Itachi's Mangekyō Sharingan... Danzo never had a chance.
What Xu Fan didn't expect was for Danzo to use the Four Symbols Seal to obliterate the First Hokage cells in his body.
"Afraid I'd use Kotoamatsukami on Sarutobi Hiruzen?" Xu Fan chuckled.
He didn't need such a technique for the old man.
According to the timeline, Hiruzen would die during Orochimaru's invasion in just under six years.
"The only thing left now is to reach the Land of Iron... and ignite tension between Konoha and Kumogakure."
Unlike the Senju, the Uchiha had a terrifying trait—nearly any emotional trauma could awaken the Sharingan. Even someone like Uchiha Izumi, with diluted blood, managed to unlock it.
And what causes greater trauma than war?
Uchiha Fugaku himself awakened the Mangekyō after witnessing his best friend's death on the battlefield.
"If I'm right, the Sharingan embedded in Danzo's arm were all harvested that way."
During the Third Great Ninja War, Konoha fought on multiple fronts. The Uchiha weren't exempt.
In such chaos, many must have awakened their eyes—only to die before mastering them.
Another thing Xu Fan noticed: Uchiha typically don't awaken their Sharingan at the three-tomoe stage. Most begin with one or two tomoe, and only evolve through battle and training.
That means even on the night of the Uchiha Massacre, those who awakened Sharingan in desperation likely had only single or double tomoe.
"And yet, post-massacre, the Naka Shrine was filled with jars of fully evolved three-tomoe Sharingan."
"Most of them must have belonged to Uchiha who survived long enough after the war to train their dōjutsu."
Still, possessing a three-tomoe Sharingan didn't guarantee elite jōnin-level strength.
Combat experience, strategy, and willpower all played key roles.
But Xu Fan didn't care about that. As long as war broke out, he could use it to weaken the Uchiha and harvest their eyes.
Plug-and-play power like the Sharingan was always worth collecting.
---
Back in the Uchiha compound, Itachi returned home.
As he stepped into the courtyard, a familiar voice called out.
"Weasel."
Itachi paused. Under the pale glow of the moon, he saw his father leaning against a wooden pillar, arms crossed.
"It's time we talked," Uchiha Fugaku said.
News of the sudden Wood Release display had spread like wildfire. Some among the clan believed it was a warning from Konoha's leadership.
Regardless of the truth, it had pushed many within the clan toward one conclusion.
Stage the coup. Reclaim their honor and power—through blood.
And Uchiha Itachi was expected to be the cornerstone of that revolution.
"…Yeah," Itachi replied quietly. "It's time."