The Final Countdown!

"Itachi? What are you doing here?!" Yashiro asked, standing up as his eyes activated the Sharingan.

He wasn't the only one glaring at Itachi with his Sharingan activated, everyone else in the meeting glared at him.

"Isn't it obvious? I'm here to help the clan." Itachi responded calmly,

"Well, that would be a first."

Itachi ignored Yashiro's remarks and looked at Fugaku.

"I'm here, aren't I? Big brother is the one who convinced me to join.

He's convinced that this is the only way the Uchiha clan can restore its honor, and there's no way the clan will lose with him here, so I'll trust his word."

"Tch!" Yashiro clicked.

"We don't need you here, we can beat them out without a traitor interfering."

"Yashiro!" Fugaku yelled at him.

Yashiro didn't back down,

"All you ever bring is negativity, you're a traitor, someone who can't be trusted, and we don't need that right now!"

"Yashiro!" Fugaku glared at Yashiro with a murderous Sharingan.

"Captain!"

"I am speaking with my son."

His hot-blooded subordinate sat trembling, a look of dissatisfaction on his face.

"Itachi, I'm glad you've come to your senses.

Winning or losing is secondary; the fact that we acted is key.

When we act, the people of the village will know the discrimination we Uchiha's have been subjected to. Then they will fear us, and the village will change."

'The village already fears us, that's why the clan was driven outside the village and to the edge of the village.' Itachi couldn't keep his mind silent, but he responded with a nod.

"I'll lead the frontal attack, together with Ryuu, we shouldn't have a problem getting past the jonin and Anbu black ops, I'll fight Sakumo myself whilst Ryuu handles the others.

On the West Side of Konoha, there's the Ino-Shika-Cho clan Obito will handle them.

East Side there's the Sarutobi clan and the Hyūga clan.

Itachi, you'll lead the attack there.

These two groups are the most important. But remember, we're here to give them a message, keep casualties at a minimum, unless you need to fight and kill, only use genjutsu and nonlethal techniques.

Are there any questions so far?"

"Captain, why won't Ryuu-sama fight Hokage-sama, the fight will end quicker like that, won't it?" Yashiro asked.

"Yashiro, Sakumo is Ryuu's father, it's best we avoid such pointless problems."

"Hanzo was Ryuu's father, not Sakumo." Fugaku's eyes widened.

Yashiro felt a murderous killing intent, brushing the back hairs on his neck,

"Don't," Ryuu muttered.

"Don't talk about my father, Yashiro."

"Your father is the only reason you're in this meeting, he was the heir to the Uchiha clan before he got kicked out."

"Yashiro, I'm not asking." Ryuu's eyes glared at him, now turning into crimson eyes.

"What do you know about my father? You know nothing… nothing at all."

"I know much more than you think."

"Don't say another word, Yashiro!" Fugaku roared at Yashiro, interrupting what he was about to say.

The room was silent; Ryuu's killing intent filled the air.

Even Fugaku was shaken, but he kept a calm expression throughout.

After a few minutes of silence, Fugaku went back to giving assignments while ending the meeting.

After the meeting ended, Itachi, Obito, and Ryuu met as they walked out of the hall.

"Ryuu, when do we do it?"

Ryuu didn't respond, his mind was elsewhere, and he had his hand on his chin, thinking deeply about just what Yashiro meant.

'Could it be? Was Yashiro my father's friend? No, he doesn't seem like that type of person. But it doesn't make sense, why would he say something like that if he knew nothing about dad?

Was he just trying to get under my skin?'

"Ryuu!" Obito shook him.

"Oh… sorry, Obito.

You were speaking to me?" Obito nodded.

"I was asking when we should do that task.

Didn't you hear me at all?" Ryuu shook his head.

"I was just lost, that's all."

Itachi overheard them and caught up,

"Is something wrong, big brother?"

"I'm not sure, Itachi.

Anyway, I say we report to the Hokage's office tomorrow morning.

By the way, I've told Kakashi we have a plan, I haven't given him that much info on it, but I've told him about what happens after." Itachi and Obito nodded.

Ryuu stopped walking and looked at them,

"For now, let's just keep our cover, go home and I'll go to Kakashi's house."

"Kakashi's house? What are you doing there?" Obito asked.

"It's… a long story…" Ryuu nervously scratched his head.

"Oh well, that doesn't matter. Let's go." Obito left using Kamui.

Itachi flickered away and Ryuu teleported back to Kakashi's house.

Everyone was asleep, so Ryuu walked to his room.

Naruto took half the bed as he slept sideways, so Ryuu had to push him to get to his side.

The next morning, Ryuu snuck out again and headed to meet with Sakumo and his council. Ryuu was there with Itachi and Obito beside him.

"In exactly ten days from now, the clan enacts the coup d'état against the village," Ryuu stated,

Koharu spoke first and interfered as she said,

"If they are calling for revolution, and intending to usurp the government, then we will be forced to declare the Uchiha traitors to Konoha."

Sakumo frowned,

"Keep quiet, Koharu.

Don't get ahead of things, don't you have any manners? Three of the strongest Uchiha's stand before you and you speak so carelessly?"

Danzo closed his eyes and interrupted,

"Hokage-sama, to avoid disorder, we must strike as soon as possible…

That also means the children, who know nothing of this plot."

"Danzo, I said keep quiet! The last thing I want is a civil war against the Uchiha clan, Itachi, talk to your father, tell him that I want to talk to him."

Itachi appreciated Sakumo's efforts but at this point, even he knew it was too late.

"Ryuu, Itachi, Obito. Buy us as much time as possible, I'll figure something out."

They all nodded in unison.

"Dismissed." Everyone except Ryuu and Sakumo left the room.

"What is it, Ryuu?"

Ryuu removed his mask.

"Dad, I wanted to know… do you know Yashiro Uchiha?"

"Yashiro? Yes, I know him, he's one of Fugaku's subordinates, right?"

"Did my father know him?"

Fugaku looked away as he recalled something,

"Hanzo knew him too but…

They… it's complicated."

Ryuu's eyes widened and looked at Fugaku,

"Tell me… please, I want to know more about them. How did they know each other? Were they friends? Enemies?"

"Well… I wouldn't call them friends, but… Yashiro admired your father, like an elder brother. At some point, he copied Hanzo to the spot, from walking to clothes and all."

"So what happened?"

"It was a long time ago, Ryuu, let's leave it at that."

"But-"

"I said we'll leave it at that." Ryuu backed down. He could've taken what he wanted to know from Sakumo using Nobu, but he couldn't do that to his father.

"Alright…

Thank you anyway…"

"Is there something else you'd like to talk about?"

"Yes. Today, I'd like to get an early leave. I promised Naruto and Sasuke to spend some time with them."

"You promised, huh?" Ryuu nodded.

"Alright then. Just remember, for now, focus everything you got on the Uchiha and village." Ryuu nodded and then put his mask on.

"Yes, sir!" Ryuu's Sharingan glowed through the mask.

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Meanwhile, Itachi met with Danzo at the foundation mansion.

"Sakumo might have said all that, but when push comes to shove, he'll protect Konoha. He's just that kind of man.

And when push does come to shove, he'll have to take firm measures as the Hokage,"

Danzo told Itachi quietly, as they stood in the courtyard of the Foundation mansion.

"You've seen it yourself, Sakumo Hatake has done all he could to stop the coup d'état but to no avail.

He addressed Fugaku, a comrade and ally who he even sees as a little brother." Itachi kept quiet.

"Whether it turns into a war or not," Danzo began calmly, looking at the silent Itachi,

"At the moment the coup occurs, the fate of the Uchiha's will be annihilation.

Including your little brother, who knows nothing of all this.

But if it's before the coup, there is a way to save your brother, at least.

Once it happens, your brother will learn about everything.

If he sees his clan obliterated by the ninjas of Konoha, he will come to nurture a desire for vengeance on the village and so will his cousin."

"… Is that a threat?" Itachi asked,

"No. I want you to choose.

Will you side with the Uchihas, carry out the coup, and be destroyed by your clan? Or will you side with us in Konoha, and obliterate the Uchihas before the coup, leaving only your brother alive?

Both versions are suicide. If your cousin Ryuu Uchiha finds out that you killed his clan, he will not forgive you, will he? Not that it matters.

Whatever we have to do, we must get this situation under control before things descend into chaos, for the sake of the village.

This mission can only be given to a double agent for both Uchiha and Konoha.

There is only you, Itachi."

Itachi still hadn't made his mind up, he contemplated both versions.

'Once big brother does this, the clan will only have a few members, we'll suffer but Sasuke…

He won't, he'll live in a village where his clan is appreciated… where, whatever he does will be appreciated and they will love him.

But if I do it the way Danzo wants it, Sasuke will live with the curse of hatred that the Uchiha clan carries. Big brother warned me about that so…'

Itachi makes his mind up,

"I feel the same as you about the village," Danzo added before taking a small breath and uttering his last words.

"Will you… accept this mission?"

"I…

I will. I'll do it."

"I felt certain you would say that," he said. The hand he put on Itachi's shoulder was ridiculously cold.

"Don't worry about your brother.

Even after you disappear, the village will take care of him."

Itachi was going to slaughter his clan. Even if it were a mission, it was the sort that could never be made public.

To the outside world, Itachi would be a criminal who had gone mad and murdered his entire clan.

He could only dream of being able to stay in the village.

At that point, he had no choice but to believe even the words of a man like Danzo.

"The day will be the day before the planned date of the coup. How does that sound?"

Itachi correctly understood his intentions.

The mission this time was a surprise strike.

A sneak attack, to wipe out a clan that suspected nothing.

"I'll tell Hokage-sama you're desperately trying to reconcile them with the village."

Itachi turned his back to Danzo and started walking. When he put his hand on the door, he heard a voice from behind.

"Best if we do not meet again before your mission is complete.

This is the last time I will speak with you as a ninja of Konohagakure. You have worked hard for the village up to now. I thank you."

Ignoring Danzo's uncharacteristic words, Itachi slipped through the doorway and closed the door behind him.

"Ironically, this will be the last time I will speak to you in general."

Itachi murmured down the hallway, gloomy even at midday.