I, Naruto Uzumaki, don't need your approval.

The Third Hokage's face darkened, and his tone left no room for doubt: "You are not allowed to go to the Uchiha clan's territory from now on. They want to use the power of the demon fox within you; they didn't genuinely invite you."

Naruto's eyes widened: "Using the power of the demon fox...aren't they their comrades from the village?"

Then, Naruto seemed to remember something, and his expression darkened as he said, "Grandpa Hokage, why is there a demon fox inside me? Also, who are my parents?"

The Third Hokage looked at Naruto: "Why are you asking this?"

Naruto looked up at the Third Hokage, his tone becoming increasingly firm: "Because I want to know my identity. Sasuke's parents must know my parents, which is why they were so enthusiastic towards me."

"But they wouldn't tell me. After thinking it over, I realized that only you, Hokage, could tell me."

Upon learning that Naruto's identity had not been revealed, the Third Hokage breathed a sigh of relief, then coldly said:

"What's the use of telling you? Your parents are already dead, and they won't come back to life even if you know. Besides, knowing this now won't do you any good!"

Naruto looked at the Third Hokage who was about to leave and said with his head down, "When will I know the truth? I can't live in a lie forever."

The Third Hokage had already left the rented apartment, and his voice echoed in the distance:

"Let's talk about it when you become a ninja and can stand on your own. Right now, you need to make friends and grow quickly at school."

After the Third Hokage left, Naruto's gloomy expression vanished, replaced by a mocking one.

He had managed to make the third-generation elder turn away with a sour expression, so he had passed the test this time and no longer needed to worry about the elder suspecting him.

He was just a poor child who was kept in the dark and knew nothing.

……

At the same time, a gathering was also held at the Nanga Shrine.

As a clan known for its love, the Uchiha always enjoys holding gatherings, summoning all clan members who have awakened their Sharingan, and making inappropriate remarks at the Naka Shrine to express their complaints about the Konoha leadership.

Of course, there's nothing we can do about it.

Uchiha's remarks were too dangerous; if they were heard by higher-ups elsewhere, they could be taken out of context.

However, today's gathering was not a monthly routine meeting, but an ad hoc meeting specifically convened to discuss how to deal with the higher-ups regarding the afternoon's gathering of the secret service.

As the clan head, Fugaku stood before the statue of the deity, his face grim, and announced the start of the clan meeting.

A radical Jonin immediately stepped forward and said excitedly, "What happened today is a provocation by the higher-ups against the Uchiha. They sent a Jinchuriki here to gather intelligence and to deal with us."

As soon as he finished speaking, another Uchiha stepped forward:

“I can also testify to this. The appearance of a Jinchuriki in the clan's territory was a trap set by the higher-ups. They placed a restriction on the Jinchuriki that could reflect illusions, which is why Yuan Tai has not woken up yet.”

"And another thing, the Jinchuriki had barely arrived at the clan's territory when the Hokage appeared outside... What is this if not a trap?"

"..."

As they listened to their clansmen's impassioned speeches, Shisui and Itachi's expressions grew increasingly grim.

They knew the inside story. This wasn't a trap; it was just two children extending an invitation out of friendship, but it was interpreted as a plan by higher-ups targeting the Uchiha clan.

The tribespeople are being overly sensitive to the higher-ups; it seems more like they're just venting their discontent.

At this moment, Shisui seemed to remember something and whispered to Itachi, "Itachi, I remember that Chief Fugaku knew that all of this was a misunderstanding. Why didn't he explain? Instead, he let the misunderstanding deepen."

Itachi remained silent, his eyes fixed intently on Fugaku on the stage.

Shisui saw Itachi's eyes, paused for a moment, and then said, "Actually, it's not the clan leader's fault. The Hokage is just as sensitive and almost thought the clan was going to release the Nine-Tails."

"All of this is because the two sides did not communicate well and were unwilling to trust each other."

"As long as we continue to act as a bridge connecting the upper echelons and the community, sooner or later both sides will be able to put aside their prejudices and understand each other."

Itachi remained silent, and seeing this, Shisui could only sigh helplessly.

After all the Uchiha had vented their pent-up resentment, the clan meeting came to an end. Opposing the higher-ups was just a slogan; they only wanted a better life, and they had to get up early tomorrow to go to work at the security force.

After the clan meeting ended, Fugaku glanced at Shisui and Itachi in the corner, then called a few trusted confidants into a room deep inside the shrine.

Truly important decisions can often be made with just a few people discussing them.

Shisui and Itachi also noticed Fugaku's actions. Instead of joining in the fun, they walked out of the Naka Shrine side by side and, after traveling for a while, arrived at a secluded cliff.

This secluded cliff was not covered by any barrier, so they could speak freely and say what was on their minds.

Listening to the sound of the wind rustling through the leaves, Itachi sighed softly and said:

"Father really hasn't given up on his idea of ​​a coup. He's not only secretly preparing explosive tags and other supplies, but he's also using the issue of the Jinchuriki at the clan meeting to incite people."

"They're definitely plotting a coup behind our backs again. Why can't they understand the village?"

Shisui patted Itachi on the shoulder and gently comforted him, "If Chief Fugaku really intends to launch a coup, I will stop them before they do."

"How can we stop them?" Itachi asked, somewhat curious, as he didn't believe Shisui had the ability.

Although Shisui had awakened the Mangekyou Sharingan, there were only a few people stronger than him, while his father's side consisted of elite members of the clan, Jonin with three tomoe.

Shisui pointed to his eyes: "Of course, it's through these eyes. As long as we change the mindset of the Fugaku clan chief and make him give up his idea of ​​a coup, peace will naturally come between the village and the clan."

"But he is, after all, your father, and I am unwilling to use this power until the very last moment."

Chapter 36 Different Ideas of the Uchiha

Watching Shisui leave, Itachi's emotions were in turmoil. He looked at the distant mountains and forests and sighed deeply.

Shisui's eyes are the legendary Mangekyou Sharingan, which has the ability to rewrite the will of others.

If peace could truly be achieved between the clan and the village, Itachi would not object to Shisui controlling his father.

However, the malice towards the village and its leaders was not limited to individual Uchiha members, but rather stemmed from the entire group's resentment towards Konoha's leadership due to declining treatment and differential treatment.

Even if the father's will is altered, the rest of the clan will rekindle their hostility towards the higher-ups.

This is almost an unsolvable problem, unless the clan is willing to give up control of the police force and abandon its obsession with having an Uchiha Hokage, but that is impossible.

Brother Zhishui is too idealistic, fantasizing that the clan and the village can live in harmony.

He, however, was different. Having joined Root and witnessed the dealings between ninja villages, he had come to know the darkness and abandoned his unrealistic fantasies, determined to protect the light in the darkness.

After leaving the cliff, Itachi headed to Root to prepare for a battle of wits and courage against Danzo, the leader of the Root organization.

After traveling for a while, Itachi stopped and looked at the big tree not far away, and suddenly a faint ripple appeared on his face.

Immediately afterwards, a figure wearing a tiger-striped mask slowly emerged from the vortex, stood on a large tree, and quietly gazed at Uchiha Itachi, as if admiring a masterpiece.

Itachi immediately became alert and stared intently at the masked man in front of him.

The other party killed his own teammate during a mission to protect the Daimyo of the Land of Fire, which made him realize the meaning of love and thus awakened his Sharingan.

There aren't many ninjas who dare to assassinate a daimyo, but he was more interested in the Sharingan hidden behind the mask.

If that eye wasn't stolen, then the other person, like himself, has Uchiha blood flowing through their veins.

But why would the masked man do this? To help himself awaken his Sharingan? And why is he appearing near the village now? Is he planning to harm the Third Hokage?

Itachi had many questions he wanted to ask, but the masked man didn't give him the chance, disappearing into the vortex.

This made Itachi even more confused about the masked man's thoughts.

……

After Itachi left, the masked man emerged from the vortex again, staring at Itachi's retreating figure, seemingly lost in thought.

Just then, the eerie figure trapped between two pitcher plant leaves emerged from the ground and looked at the masked man above, saying, "Obito, did you come to Konoha this time just for this Uchiha brat?"

The masked man shook his head: "I didn't come here for him, but his growth rate is indeed a bit unexpected. At only twelve years old, he can actually sense my presence. Letting him go back then was definitely the right decision."

Zetsu came down from the ground to the masked man's side, smiled and said, "This is all thanks to you. You killed his teammates, which helped him awaken the double-tomoe Sharingan. However, it seems that he later joined the Anbu and hung out with Shisui of the Body Flicker Technique."

"Shunshen Shisui?!"

Upon hearing the name, Obito paused for a moment, then revealed a deep gaze.

Over the years, he had heard of Shisui's feat of scaring away the elite of the Hidden Mist Village with a single glance, and he harbored considerable apprehension towards this clansman of similar age.

They even had a vague suspicion that the other party's eye power had exceeded the upper limit of three tomoe and evolved into the Mangekyou Sharingan.

It was precisely because he was wary of the other party's unknown eye technique that he reduced the number of times he set foot in Konoha and slowed down his plan to weaken the village.

However, judging from the information Zetsu sent, Konoha already showed signs of internal strife without his guidance.

It must be said that Konoha has a remarkable talent for internal strife.

Pulling his wandering thoughts back, Obito said to Zetsu, "Alright, alright, we've seen enough of the people we needed to see. It's time to go back and report to Nagato. Today isn't a good day to take action against Konoha."

"Why? Are you scared? This isn't like you..."

Obito gave Zetsu a deep look, then said:

"I'm not afraid, there's no one in Konoha who can rival me. But if my appearance can make the Uchiha and Konoha put aside their differences for the time being, we won't see any internal strife. Weakening Konoha and preparing for the future collection of the Tailed Beasts is our goal for this trip."

"I never expected you to be so ruthless towards Konoha and the Uchiha clan, the very people you raised."

Obito snorted and said, "Black Zetsu, aren't you the same? You betrayed the village and led the Nine-Tails to attack Konoha, causing us descendants to suffer decades of differential treatment."

Black Zetsu, who claimed to be Madara's will, realized he had said the wrong thing and chose to remain silent.

Looking at the night view of Konoha, Obito seemed to miss the past, but he quickly regained his coldness and his eyes became extremely firm: "This boring world has nothing worth missing. I must create a world where Rin exists."

……

Meanwhile, Fugaku left the Nanga Shrine and walked alone on the street.

The small meeting we just had was about the clan's coup plan targeting the higher-ups. The coup plan could be skipped, but it absolutely couldn't be abandoned; it was the last resort the Uchiha clan could resort to.

To seize by force everything that the Uchiha should have had.

The reason is simple: the higher-ups were too harsh on the Uchiha.

Whether considering historical status or family strength, the Uchiha should have received more benefits, but most of the benefits were taken by the Hokage's faction, and the Uchiha only received the offending security force.

If this continues, the discrimination against a clan will only increase, and a Hokage will never emerge.

Soon, Fugaku returned home. Under his wife's care, he looked towards Sasuke and Itachi's room, frowned, and asked, "Mikoto, where did Itachi go again?"

Mikoto stroked Sasuke's head and said, "Itachi has gone on a mission."

Fugaku snorted and said, "He didn't go on a mission; he went to leak information to Sarutobi and Shimura. He always considers the interests of the village and never thinks of himself as an Uchiha."

“The Uchiha are also members of the village… However, Itachi does seem to favor outsiders.”

After hearing his wife's words of comfort, Fugaku's expression softened considerably, and he asked, "Is Sasuke asleep? He did quite well, befriending a Jinchuriki. Although his talent isn't as good as Itachi's, he's still quite loyal to his clan."