Chapter 18 - Itachi's Thoughts

Itachi standing in front of the council elders is staring at them without any emotion in his face. He came here after meeting with his father and listening to their plans of rebellion.

He didn't want the clan to go on a war with village, he wanted to live in peace. But the clan is set on rebelling and as his father is the clan leader he had to support the clan. Getting no other option Itachi came to the council elders to notify them of the fight as he became a double agent with hokage giving him mission of infiltration of his own clan meeting.

"Lord Hokage, I say to stop this we kill the ring leader for the peace of village." said Homura looking at Hiruzen.

"What can You achieve by only killing the ring leaders. If the clan knew that their leaders are dead they will start the war early with someone other becoming leader." said Danzo not letting this chance to waste to vent his anger.

"I know that but I want to resolve this peacefully while I can before I do anything." said Hiruzen while puffing out smoke. He looks like someone who will not let his comrade die but he will also not let village fall into ruins once agian.

"I say you just kill them all and exterminate the germs from the stem. While this might be cruel option but you have to do this so that the village can stay safe." Said Danzo as he didn't want another Uchiha to get revenge on them.

"Yes what Danzo is saying is the best thing to do to keep the village safe." Koharu also approved of the extermination.

Hearing the discussion going around, Itachi felt like maybe he made a mistake in telling them. As his father is still trying to end this without any fight. Itachi couldn't let his family members die and also couldn't let the village fall in ruins. Itachi was in a dilemma in what to do.

On one end there is his clan and family on the other hand there is village. And hearing the brutal words of the elders to exterminate a clan was something they didn't think twice to say.

< Just like the village the clan also have children, women, elderly who don't have anything to do with the rebellion but they are talking about them like some animal. Did I make the right choice. Can I keep my word to Shishui who entrusted his dream to me. > While thinking he heard Hiruxen question him. "When do they plan to rebel?"

Itachi looked at Hiruzen and said "I don't know as they haven't told me yet."

Hearing that Hiruzen said "As they don't plan to rebel right now we can still talk with them to stop it."

"No we cannot wait for long and how do even plan to stop them when they have already made their mind." said Homura as Koharu chimed in " Yes, I don't believe they will let you even talk. If they have already made their mind to rebel than we also have to make our decision to stop it."

< I also want to keep the village safe and don't want let any loophole go but if I were to fight then the village will be the one caught in our fight. Fugaku is also a kage level ninja with his sharingan. With his sharingan I alone will not be able to keep him at bay, and while I fight him the Uchiha clan will start to counter attack. Uchiha with sharingan is not easy to kill, as they all have the power of genjutsu and they can easily kill others who are not Jonin.> Hiruzen thought as he pondered what to do.

"Itachi you can wait outside, we will tell you what to do later." said Koharu seeing that an Uchiha is listening to all their discussion.

<Even if Itachi is a Konoha-nin he can't still be trusted as we are talking about killing his parents.> thought Koharu as she saw him going outside.

With Itachi gone they started to discuss more about what they can do. At the end they made decision to let Itachi kill the clansmen while letting his brother live as an option to him.

Outside Itachi is still questioning his decision whether what he did is wrong or right. When Danzo came and gave him the choice and giving some time to think.

Hearing their decision Itachi was startled that they actually gave him this kind of mission. Itachi still held some hope that the third hokage will have some kind of solution. But to hear this kind of solution Itachi didn't think even in dreams.

< To have me kill my own parents in exchange for my brother's life is not something I can do. I cannot kill my own parents and clansmen. The children who haven't even done something wrong will have to die for village, this is not acceptable.>

Thinking of a lot of things Itachi made his way to his house. Next day he saw his mother and Sasuke talking in the dining room, his father sitting with them listening to them. Seeing them Itachi's mind become in turmoil as he hurriedly left the house.

He walked around the village seeing the children play, elderly talking about life, women gossiping, men preparing to work. Walking around the village seeing the people he realized he cannot choose between one. He loved the village where he grew up, he loved his clan where he found someone whom he loved, he love his family who had borne him.

He didn't know when but he had unknowingly came in front of academy as he saw Sasuke sparring. Looking at his brother he knew that he couldn't let him die in the fight because he loved his brother more than anything in the world. But keeping safe means he had to kill his clansmen and his parents because he couldn't protect his brother when a fight break out.

And not getting to protect his brother in the fight will allow the Konoha-nin to kill him. It will be fight between Uchiha clan and village. At the thought of not being able to protect his brother he made the decision as he walked away.

"Sorry Shishui, I will not be able to keep my promise. I want the clan to be safe but I cannot let Sasuke get hurt in the fight. I love him more than this world, I will protect him until I am alive."