Naruto: I'm in Konoha, my name is Uzumaki Menma

Chapter 243 Protecting the Peace of Konoha!
Uchiha Itachi stared into his father Fugaku's eyes, at the complex emotions contained within those double pupils.

The weight of his family responsibilities, his father's expectations, and the deep-seated helplessness almost overwhelmed him.

But a lingering doubt remained in his heart. He took a deep breath and asked the most crucial question: "Father, please allow me to confirm one last time, and please tell me honestly... that our clan has truly not made any contact with that... Uchiha Hikaru from the Land of Stars?"

He paused briefly, then deliberately emphasized his words: "If she were to intervene, with her power... even if it's just intimidation, the success rate of the coup would certainly be greatly increased, wouldn't it?"

Fugaku Uchiha met his son's gaze without flinching.

He slowly and firmly shook his head, his tone carrying the pride and resolve of a clan leader: "The glory of the Uchiha does not need to rely on the power of outsiders! Especially not a branch that might be connected to that Uchiha Madara!"

"I, Fugaku, disdain asking outsiders to interfere in Konoha's internal affairs! The fate of the Uchiha should be seized by the Uchiha themselves!"

Itachi's gaze fell silently on his father's face, scrutinizing every subtle change in his expression. After a long time, long enough for the last ray of light outside the window to completely disappear, he finally nodded almost imperceptibly.

'Yes… if Uchiha Hikari really intervenes, the situation will only get worse; it means complete loss of control and unpredictable disaster. The fact that her father hasn't contacted her is the best news.'

“I understand, Father.” He lowered his eyes, concealing all the turbulent emotions within them.

In that long, intense gaze, he had already obtained the true answer.

My father had indeed never contacted that woman named Uchiha Hikaru. He had been monitoring the rebellion for so long, but he had never been able to find any relevant information.

This eased his tense nerves slightly, but what followed was an even deeper chill.

Because he knew all too well that if Uchiha Hikaru really intervened, it meant that Shura was also very likely to intervene, which would mean the worst-case scenario.

The power of Uchiha Hikaru and Shura is enough to drag the entire Hidden Leaf Village into an abyss of no return; its destructive power is far beyond that of a rebellion confined to the village.

The current situation may still offer a glimmer of hope for regaining control amidst despair.

"I will do everything in my power for the future of the Uchiha clan," Itachi said, his tone of loyalty utterly unwavering.

A look of relief and expectation crossed Fugaku's face.

However, as Itachi turned to leave the underground chamber of the Naga Shrine, all emotions vanished from his face, leaving only a cold and resolute expression.

The heavy door closed behind him, shutting out the dim, warm light in the room and his father's heavy, mountain-like figure.

Itachi didn't linger at all, his figure quickly blending into the deepening night in Konoha. With a few leaps, he silently sped towards the Hokage Building.

He had to report the exact details of the rebellion to the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, and high-ranking advisors such as Danzo Shimura.

……

The atmosphere in the Hokage's office was even more oppressive than in the Uchiha mansion; the air seemed to solidify, making it hard to breathe.

Amidst swirling smoke, the pipe in the Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi's hand flickered, mirroring his gloomy and unfathomable mood.

The two advisor elders, Mitokado En and Utatane Koharu, sat solemnly to one side.

Danzo Shimura, leaning on his cane, his single eye sharp as an eagle's, was the first to break the suffocating silence.

"The situation is urgent, Hiruzen!" Danzo spoke first, his voice hoarse, his single eye flashing with cold light.

"We must act decisively before the Uchiha launch their rebellion! If they strike first, internal strife in Konoha will be inevitable! The resulting destruction will be far more devastating than the foolish rebellion of the Kaguya clan in Kirigakure a few years ago! We cannot afford a second 'Nine-Tails Rebellion'!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi took a deep drag on his cigarette, slowly exhaling a cloud of smoke, his brows etched with weariness and struggle.

"Danzo, the Uchiha are, after all, one of the founders of Konoha, and our former comrades-in-arms... I still hope that we can find a peaceful solution through communication. Unless absolutely necessary, I will never condone raising a knife against our own people and using force." His words still carried a glimmer of hope, but his confidence seemed somewhat lacking.

Advisor Mitokado Homura adjusted his glasses, his eyes behind the lenses flashing with worry. He raised the deepest fear in everyone's heart: "With the Uchiha's rebellion, will others join them? For example... the Land of Stars?"

He paused, then lowered his voice even further: "That man known as 'Shura,' and... the woman with the surname Uchiha beside him."

The room fell silent once again.

The name was like a boulder thrown into stagnant water, stirring up a silent, turbulent storm.

The rise of the Land of Stars was mysterious and rapid. Its leader, "Shura," possessed unfathomable strength and had twice attacked Konoha and twice attacked Kumogakure, moving freely between the two major ninja villages single-handedly, inspiring fear in all.

According to Shisui, who fought him, Uchiha Hikaru, who possesses the Mangekyou Sharingan, is very likely to have reached the strength of Uchiha Madara back then!
If Fugaku Uchiha made contact with them...

Uchiha Itachi, who had been standing silently in the shadows, spoke up at the opportune moment, breaking the silence: "Based on my long-term surveillance and investigation, I have not found any signs of contact between the clan head and the Land of Stars. I also personally probed the clan head about Uchiha Hikaru, and his answer was a firm denial, and he showed a disdainful attitude towards it."

He repeated Fugaku's words, omitting his own judgment: "As things stand, the Uchiha's actions remain confined to the clan."

Hiruzen Sarutobi's gaze swept across the faces of the advisors one by one, before finally settling back on Danzo.

"I understand. Itachi, thank you for your hard work." He said heavily, "I will... carefully consider a solution. You may all leave now."

After the report, Itachi silently left the Hokage Building.

But his heart did not become lighter as a result; instead, it became even heavier.

As he passed by the famous Buddhist temple outside Konoha Village, Danzo stood there quietly, like a statue blending into the shadows, as if he had been waiting for a long time.

A bolt of lightning suddenly ripped across the sky, tearing through the heavy night, and instantly illuminated the huge Buddha statue inside the temple. In the interplay of light and shadow, the compassionate Buddha's face even revealed a hint of ferocious evil, just like the complex and unpredictable nature of the human heart.

"Itachi." Danzo's voice rang out in a low voice, without any pleasantries.

Itachi stopped and looked at the other person expressionlessly: "Lord Danzo, is there any further instruction?"

"This is not an instruction, but rather a request for you to make the final choice."

"Faced with the fate of your family, have you made your choice?" Danzo's voice was deep and oppressive, his single eye flickering in the dim light after the lightning.

"The Third Hokage may have nice words, but if things really get out of control, he will not hesitate to choose to protect the village and sacrifice the Uchiha. That's the Hokage's duty and his ruthlessness." He took a step forward, his cane tapping the ground with a soft, resonant sound, questioning Itachi's heart.

"Now, you only have two paths before you: one is to stand with the Uchiha clan, join them in launching a rebellion, and then... face the inevitable fate—the annihilation of the entire clan, leaving not a single blade of grass behind."

Danzo's words were chillingly cold, leaving no room for negotiation.

“Or,” he paused, his one eye fixed on Itachi’s, “stand on Konoha’s side, and before the rebellion breaks out, you personally take action… to wipe out all the Uchiha clan members. In exchange, we can make an exception and spare your brother Sasuke’s life. This is… the only way to protect your brother and safeguard the village’s peace.”

Even someone as composed as Itachi felt his heart clench when he heard about this bloody and cruel mission firsthand; the immense shock made it almost impossible for him to maintain his composure.

Boom——

A thunderclap exploded in his ears.

"Kill...all of my people?" He repeated those four words subconsciously.

"Everything is for the sake of protecting the village, for the sake of protecting Konoha's hard-won peace and stability." Danzo's tone was filled with an almost obsessive fanaticism.

"No matter what, we must nip the situation in the bud before the rebellion occurs! This is not only to quell the internal strife, but also to prevent the Uchiha clan from taking the risk of contacting external forces to interfere in Konoha's internal affairs when they are desperate!"

“You should know very well that there are at least two Uchiha clan ninjas in the Land of Stars, and they are very likely descendants of a branch of Madara Uchiha that were separated from the clan. If Fugaku changes his mind at the last minute and makes contact with them…”

A deep sense of dread flashed in Danzo's single eye: "That woman named Uchiha Hikari alone, the power she possesses is enough to bring devastating damage to Konoha! That would be a catastrophe for the entire village!"

His voice was lowered, as if afraid of waking up some terrible nightmare: "Just like... Uchiha Madara back then."

Finally, he once again threw the heavy choice back at Itachi: "Now, the only one who has the ability and the right to take on this heavy responsibility, to prevent the worst from happening, and to protect your brother's life, is you, Uchiha Itachi. Tell me, are you willing... to accept this mission? For Konoha."

Another pale bolt of lightning ripped through the night sky, followed by a deafening roar of thunder that sent shivers down people's spines.

The face of the Buddha statue flickered in and out under the electric light, with compassion and ferocity appearing alternately.

Itachi stood there, the thunder deafening, yet the world seemed utterly silent, with only the heavy pounding of his own heart remaining.

He didn't answer immediately, but instead gave Danzo a deep look before slowly retreating, eventually disappearing into the endless rain and darkness.

His answer doesn't need to be stated in words right now.

……

The next day, the gloom still shrouded Konoha, and it also shrouded Itachi's heart.

He spent the entire night struggling and pondering painfully, barely sleeping a wink.

The bloodline of the family, the survival of the village, the innocent smile of the younger brother, the expectations of the parents, the trust of the companions...

Countless images intertwined, collided, and shattered in his mind.

Uchiha Itachi stood silently atop a towering building near the Konoha Ninja Academy, his casual clothes fluttering gently in the breeze.

He looked down at the children who were doing endurance running training on the wide playground below.

His gaze instantly caught sight of that familiar figure: Sasuke.

His younger brother was running and bickering with Naruto Uzumaki, who had bright blond hair and looked defiant.

The other children around them, such as Nara Shikamaru, Akimichi Choji, and Yamanaka Ino, were all amused by them and laughed heartily. The air was filled with the unique vigor and ease of youth.

However, Sasuke's gaze quickly passed over Naruto and locked onto the figure running at the very front of the group, Menma.

That child who always ranked at the top of his class and was unusually calm for his age.

Sasuke accelerated again, his face filled with stubbornness and challenge, and launched another match against Menma.

Watching Sasuke among his companions, arguing, getting angry, yet full of energy over such a "trivial" matter, and seeing his well-protected innocence, completely unaware of the cruel fate to come, a sharp pain suddenly gripped Itachi's heart.

This warm and ordinary everyday scene, the smile of his younger brother whom he longed to protect, forms an incredibly cruel and stark contrast with the bloody path of rebellion planned by his father and the annihilation of his entire clan foreseen by Danzo in his mind.

At that very moment, the fog that had been swirling in my mind all night suddenly dissipated.

Itachi Uchiha's eyes finally shifted from extreme pain and confusion to a deep, almost desperate determination.

He made up his mind.

In order for Sasuke to continue living under this sunlight, and to protect this seemingly ordinary yet incredibly precious peace, he was willing to bear all the sins and fall into the deepest hell.

However, real-world difficulties still loom ahead.

It would be a pipe dream for him to wipe out the entire Uchiha clan overnight with his own strength alone.

Putting aside the question of what kind of eye techniques his father, Fugaku Uchiha, possessed in his unassuming Mangekyou Sharingan, the dozen or so Jonin with three-tomoe Sharingan in the Konoha Police Force alone would be enough to pose a huge obstacle to him and even delay him for a long time.

Once the battle is delayed, the other members of the Uchiha clan will inevitably react, scattering and fleeing or organizing a counterattack.

The greater risk is that prolonged fighting will definitely alert the village's night patrolling ninjas and the swift-reacting ANBU.

At that time, the extermination operation will have completely failed, the fact of the Uchiha rebellion will be immediately confirmed, and what awaits the Uchiha is an even more thorough and chaotic massacre, and Sasuke's life will have no chance of being saved.

Therefore, the operation had to be completed in an extremely short time, so fast that the screams of agony wouldn't even have time to escape the clan's territory, so fast that the patrolling ninjas and ANBU wouldn't notice anything amiss, and everything had to be settled. He needed an accomplice, a mysterious accomplice powerful enough to instantly crush numerous Uchiha Jonin, and with uncanny methods to effectively block information.

In an instant, a figure appeared in Itachi's mind.

The mysterious Uchiha ninja who suddenly appeared several years ago, attacked his ANBU squad with overwhelming power, brutally murdered his team leader and two teammates, and showed a strange interest in his Sharingan.

That man who called himself... "Uchiha Madara".

Only he possesses such ability and means.

……

That night, the moon was dark and the wind was high; even the stars were nowhere to be seen.

On the edge of Konoha, downstream of the Naka River, not too far from the shrine where the Uchiha clan secretly gathered, lies an ancient ruin.

This place was once one of the settlements of the Uchiha clan during the Warring States period. Now it has long been abandoned, with only broken walls and overgrown weeds remaining, making it look particularly desolate and eerie in the night wind.

Uchiha Itachi stood silently in the center of the ruins like a stone statue, waiting.

His breathing almost stopped, and all his chakra was gathered to the extreme, merging with the surrounding darkness.

After an unknown amount of time, the space within the ruins suddenly and without warning began to twist strangely, spreading out like ripples on the surface of water.

A figure wearing a dark cloak and an orange tiger-striped swirling mask appeared out of thin air without a sound.

He seemed to be surveying the ruins, a complex, indescribable look flashing in his single exposed eye, as if he were recalling something.

Itachi's heart skipped a beat.

it's him!
He stopped hiding and stepped out of the shadows, his footsteps sounding exceptionally clear in the silent ruins.

"Who?!" Obito was clearly startled and turned around alertly in an instant, his Sharingan appearing behind his mask.

When he saw Itachi Uchiha's face, he was horrified. In just a few years, Itachi Uchiha's strength had improved to such an extent that he could get so close without him noticing!

"Oi, I'd like to ask you for a favor." Itachi's voice was eerily calm, without any pleasantries or preamble. He stared directly into the masked man's eerie Sharingan and spoke bluntly.

“…Oh?” Obito suppressed his surprise and resumed his strangely relaxed tone.

"How strange. A genius boy from the Uchiha clan would actually come to me, a 'dead man,' for help? Tell me about it."

When Obito heard Itachi utter the request in the most concise and calm language, "Assist me in killing all the Uchiha clan members in Konoha," his eyebrows behind his mask twitched, and a strong, twisted light of interest instantly flashed in his single eye.

“Interesting…this is really interesting!” He chuckled softly, the laughter echoing through the empty ruins, filled with madness and pleasure.

"Okay, I'll help you with this!"

……

At the Konoha Ninja Academy, Itachi Uchiha was talking to Obito.

After today's classes ended, the teachers suddenly notified all students to stay on campus temporarily and not to leave.

As night fell, the atmosphere in the classroom became subtly uneasy.

Iruka Umino stood on the podium, his face unusually heavy and serious, even pale, with beads of cold sweat on his forehead.

He announced the upcoming emergency nighttime evacuation drill and began to explain the precautions in detail.

His demeanor was not like that of someone facing an ordinary drill; rather, it was as if he had returned to that terrifying night when he lost his parents and loved ones—the night of the Nine-Tailed Fox attack.

Most students felt it was a bit sudden, but they didn't think too much about it, since evacuation drills were one of the regular training programs at the Ninja Academy.

Only a few sensitive children, such as Hinata Hyuga, vaguely sensed Iruka-sensei's hidden unease, but she simply lowered her head timidly and said nothing.

In the corner of the classroom, Menma was absentmindedly looking out the window.

When he heard the words "evacuation drill" and was asked to delay returning home, his gaze suddenly turned to Uchiha Sasuke sitting in the front row.

Delaying the time for all students to go home...

Could it be tonight?

The thought had barely crossed his mind when Mianma's body trembled almost imperceptibly.

Far away near the Uchiha Nakagawa Shrine, a shadow clone, concealed using special runes and natural energy, voluntarily released the spell.

A flood of information rushed into his mind in an instant.

The shadow clone kept Kagura's Mind's Eye active, its vast sensory network acting like the most sophisticated radar, constantly monitoring all chakra fluctuations within a radius of several kilometers around the Nakagawa Shrine and the entire Uchiha clan territory.

Not long ago, the shadow clone clearly captured two extremely special chakras coming into contact and converging in the ruins of the lower reaches of the Naka River, and having a brief conversation.

One of them, cold, sharp, and familiar, is Uchiha Itachi.

The other is distorted, obscure, and filled with profound malice and a sense of temporal and spatial disorder.

Uchiha Obito!
When the two pieces of information were combined, the truth illuminated Mianma's mind like lightning.

"Tonight... the night of annihilation begins." Menma murmured to himself, a glint of 'the show is about to begin' flashing in his azure eyes.

He immediately sent a top-priority command to the Star Capital, thousands of miles away, through the chakra imprint network.

The command was simultaneously transmitted to several specific targets: Uchiha Hikaru, Uzumaki Kaoru, and... Uchiha Shisui and others.

……

Star City, a military restricted area.

This place is full of futuristic technology, completely different from the traditional style of Konoha.

Deep underground in the military zone, within a teleportation chamber, a massive, calm, lake-like energy portal was operating steadily, emitting a faint blue light.

This is a teleportation channel connecting Earth and the Moon for the Otsutsuki clan on the Moon, which can greatly shorten the distance between the two locations.

Relying on the senses conveyed by the seal, Uchiha Shisui arrived here as quickly as possible.

When he stepped into the enormous teleportation preparation room, even though he had already witnessed many wonders of the Star Kingdom, the scene before him still shocked him.

Before the portal, more than twenty "Star Ninjas" dressed in uniform chakra armor bearing the symbol of the Land of Stars had assembled. They silently formed three neat square formations, each exuding a sharp and powerful aura, with piercing eyes and synchronized movements.

Shisui keenly sensed that these ninjas were extremely powerful, probably at least at the level of Special Jonin, and the leaders among them had chakra reserves comparable to elite Jonin!

Including those he knew like Uzumaki Vanilla, Natsume, Hotaru, and Kaguya Kimimaro, as well as many other ninjas he didn't know but could clearly sense their strength, such as the guy with a shark-like face and a group of masked ninjas behind him, who was a member of the Star Ninja's Anbu.

This is an incredibly terrifying force; even in the Third Shinobi World War, it would be enough to determine the outcome of a major battle!

Uchiha Hikari stood at the front of the group, wearing a dark blue Uchiha clan uniform. Her beautiful face was cold and aloof, except for her scarlet Mangekyou Sharingan, which shimmered with an eerie glow in the base's lighting.

She was giving the final mission briefing to the Star Ninja who were about to depart, her voice clear and crisp.

Shisui's arrival caused a slight commotion, and everyone turned to look at the Uchiha ninja with a Konoha headband on his forehead.

"Oh my? Isn't this Shisui-kun? It's been a long time."

Before Shisui could process the impact of this powerful force, a slightly hoarse and playful voice rang out beside him, making him shudder and almost unable to believe his ears!

Shisui suddenly turned his head and looked in the direction of the sound.

Orochimaru, who appeared to be a pale woman, was looking at him with great interest.

The two people talking next to Orochimaru were Kushina Uzumaki, whom he had met at Shura's house!
And the blond man beside her, wearing a Konoha Jonin vest and sporting a gentle yet slightly ethereal smile, was none other than... the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, who should have died long ago from the Nine-Tails' attack?!
"The Fourth Hokage?!" The immense shock left Shisui speechless for a moment, his mind almost completely blank.

Did the Fourth Hokage and Kushina come back to life?
And Orochimaru, what's he doing here?

"Shisui, it's been a long time." Minato Namikaze nodded gently to Shisui, his eyes filled with a hint of apology and complexity, but he didn't offer any further explanation.

Kushina held the struggling Nine-Tails tightly in her arms, her eyes filled with anger at what was about to happen.

Orochimaru's golden snake eyes gleamed with interest. He licked his lips and chuckled softly, "Hehehe... It seems tonight's script will be far more exciting than anyone imagined."

What made Shisui's scalp tingle even more was that, a little distance behind Minato and Orochimaru, stood two figures wearing white cloaks and hoods.

They exuded a deathly, icy, yet incredibly powerful chakra aura, completely different from the living.

Orochimaru followed Shisui's gaze, a wicked smile flashing in his golden snake eyes. He murmured hoarsely, "Heh heh... Looks like you sensed it too. That's right, those two are special 'audience members' as well. It took me quite a bit of effort to invite them. I imagine tonight's 'performance' will make them... feel quite 'gratified'."

Shisui felt a chill run up his spine.

'Special audience'?
Just then, Uchiha Hikaru's mission briefing seemed to have ended.

She turned around, her Mangekyou Sharingan sweeping over everyone present, finally settling on Shisui, and she nodded slightly.

"Prepare to depart." Her words were concise and forceful, devoid of any superfluous emotion: "Proceed according to the plan. In case of any unforeseen circumstances, contact me immediately or implement the backup plan!"

"Yes, sir!" The crowd accepted the order.

The enormous portal's light began to fluctuate violently, like the surface of a lake to which a boulder has been thrown.

A deep blue light shone on everyone's face, their expressions varied, yet all carrying a resolute determination to face an unknown destiny.

The first Star Ninja team stepped into the portal, their figures instantly swallowed by blue light and vanished.

Then came the second team, the third team...

Orochimaru examined the portal with great interest, pondering its operating principles. He licked his lips, then smiled at the two cloaked "audience members" behind him: "Please... a wonderful drama about where the 'Will of Fire' will lead is about to unfold, and we are here to comment on it."

The two reanimated Hokage silently strode towards the portal.

Orochimaru let out a low, pleasant laugh, which followed closely behind.

Uchiha Hikaru, Namikaze Minato, and Uzumaki Kushina followed closely behind, stepping into the portal.

Shisui took a deep breath, suppressing all the shock, doubt, and surging emotions in his heart.

He knew that from the moment he chose to be rescued by Menma and stay in the Land of Stars, he had embarked on a completely different path.

'Itachi... don't disappoint me...' Shisui touched his right cheek. His Sharingan eyes, which had evolved into three-tomoe Sharingan after the transplant, no longer hesitated. He strode towards the teleportation portal that led to his homeland and the night of the massacre.

(End of this chapter)