Chapter 82: Ishihara: Itachi, Will You Side with the Uchiha or the Third Hokage?

Chapter 82: Ishihara: Itachi, Will You Side with the Uchiha or the Third Hokage?

In the courtyard.

Ishihara was organizing his gains for the day.

Genjutsu, Lightning Release, Taijutsu, Shadow Manipulation, Mangekyō Sharingan!

Among these five secret techniques, he could immediately master Genjutsu, Shadow Manipulation, and the Mangekyō Sharingan's Illusion Heart.

However, the Lightning Release, Eight Gates Taijutsu, and Phantom Technique would still require further training!

But the most significant gain of the day came from his research into Yin Release through the Shadow Imitation Technique!

This left Ishihara in a very good mood.

"Ishihara-san, may I come in?"

Suddenly, a voice came from outside, accompanied by the sound of ANBU agents trying to stop someone.

Ishihara frowned slightly before raising an eyebrow. The person outside seemed to be Itachi.

He came right to my door?

Ishihara was a little surprised but then allowed Itachi to enter.

Once inside, Itachi looked noticeably tense.

After all, he was only 11 years old at the time!

"I didn't expect you to still dare come see me. That's quite unexpected," Ishihara said with a half-smile as he looked at him.

He had always been interested in Itachi.

In the original story, Itachi was the one who wiped out his clan and killed his parents. No matter the reasons, it was an act that could never be forgiven.

For the sake of peace? To protect his younger brother? So he had to kill his parents?

Ishihara was curious about what kind of bizarre thought process led Itachi to make such a decision!

Standing nervously, Itachi had already activated his Three Tomoe Sharingan, his face solemn as he said, "There are some things I want to ask you about."

Ishihara gestured to the seat opposite him, "Sit down and talk."

After sitting down, Itachi picked up a teacup from the table and poured tea for Ishihara. After hesitating for a moment, he asked, "What do you think is the meaning of life?"

Ishihara paused, not expecting such a philosophical question right off the bat.

After thinking it over, he answered, "For me, the meaning of life is simply to live."

That was why he pursued immortality!

As for enjoyment, naturally, he would indulge in it as well.

But for now, he placed more importance on the path to immortality.

"To live, huh?"

Itachi pondered deeply, nodding his head slightly.

At the age of four, he had been taken to the battlefield by his father, Fugaku, and had witnessed the cruelty and bloodshed of war.

That was why he had always tried his best to prevent the outbreak of war, which he believed was the purpose of his life.

Especially after awakening the Mangekyō Sharingan, his great power gave him the illusion that he should resolve the conflict between the Uchiha and the Leaf, to prevent another possible Great Ninja War!

But now, it seemed that he was unable to do so.

Confused, Itachi asked, "Then what should I do to prevent a war between the Uchiha and the Leaf?"

Ishihara immediately laughed, "Is that question really so difficult?"

Is it not difficult?

Itachi's face was full of doubt.

"Then let me ask you a question first."

Ishihara looked at him with a playful smile.

"In the conflict between the Uchiha and the higher-ups of the Leaf, if you were to join the higher-ups of the Leaf, do you think you would stand a chance of winning?"

"You can use any means, any strategy, without holding back."

Itachi thought for a moment, then hesitated.

Ishihara smiled and spoke for him.

"You could betray the Uchiha clan, even launch a sneak attack and kill Fugaku at home, then falsely relay Fugaku's orders to bring in Inahime, who just awakened the Mangekyō, and kill him too!"

"With two Mangekyō gone, if you team up with the Third Hokage and Danzo, you could wipe out the Uchiha clan entirely!"

"Isn't that what you're thinking?"

Itachi hesitated for a moment before nodding.

Ishihara's smile faded, his voice turning cold, "But have you forgotten? The Uchiha clan belongs to me now!"

Itachi's pupils shrank as he stared at Ishihara in shock, "You mean to interfere in this matter?"

Ishihara raised a finger and shook it, his tone indifferent yet domineering, "It's not that I want to interfere, but that the Uchiha belong to me!"

"They are still of use to me. If I don't allow the Uchiha to be wiped out, then they won't be, even if the enemy is the entire Leaf!"

Itachi's entire body trembled. Seeing the confidence in Ishihara's eyes, his heart sank.

He knew all too well that someone as calm and rational as Ishihara would not make such bold claims without reason.

If he said something like that, it meant he had the power to stand against the entire Leaf!

"Could it be... he has reached the legendary level of Uchiha Madara or the First Hokage? Or has he mastered Wood Release?!"

The thought that suddenly flashed in his mind terrified Itachi.

But seeing the playful look in Ishihara's eyes, it was as if Ishihara was telling him:

Yes, you're right!

Itachi's heart went cold.

"Even if it's not Wood Release, it must be a secret technique on a similar level that he developed!"

He realized the Leaf's leadership had no chance!

If anything happened to the Third Hokage and Danzo, the Leaf would inevitably fall into chaos, potentially triggering a new Great Ninja War.

The thought chilled Itachi to the bone.

At that moment, Ishihara continued to ask, "What if you sided with the Uchiha instead?"

Itachi's expression shifted, and he followed the thought.

"Three pairs of Mangekyō Sharingan—whether we target Danzo or the Hokage, failure is impossible!"

He glanced at Ishihara.

The most important factor was that the Uchiha had Ishihara behind them!

Ishihara said casually, "If I'm not mistaken, Fugaku will bring more people to awaken their Mangekyō tomorrow. By then, the Uchiha won't just have three pairs of Mangekyō but four, five, maybe even more…"

Gulp!

Itachi swallowed nervously, his face full of shock.

With five or more pairs of Mangekyō, he couldn't even imagine the Uchiha losing!

As he thought further, his face turned pale.

"But if the Third Hokage dies, the Leaf will fall into internal chaos, and a Great Ninja War will break out, causing countless deaths!"

Ishihara sneered, "Does that have anything to do with you?"

"When the Third Hokage dies, a new Hokage will naturally rise!"

"The Great Ninja War will break out sooner or later!"

"Do you really think that just because you've awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan, you can change the course of the entire ninja world?"

Itachi fell silent.

In the past, he had indeed thought that. At least, he believed he could prevent a war caused by the conflict between the Leaf and the Uchiha.

But looking at Ishihara now, he felt a deep sense of powerlessness.

This man had the ability to stop everything, yet he had no intention of taking action.

Thinking of how the Uchiha and the Third Hokage were anxiously busy at this very moment,

He suddenly found it all a bit ridiculous.

The outcome had long been determined!

"Now, Itachi, it's time for you to make a choice. Will you side with the Uchiha or with the Third Hokage?"

Ishihara narrowed his eyes at him.

He wanted to see if Itachi's mindset would surprise him to an absurd degree.

Itachi gave a bitter smile, "Do I even have a choice?"

If he chose the Third Hokage, he would only be choosing to die alongside him, and the war would still be inevitable!

But if he chose the Uchiha, at least he would live, and then he could think about how to prevent the war afterward!

"I choose the Uchiha!"