Faced with the cheers of his clan, Itachi felt dizzy.
He looked at Shisui but saw only a melancholic expression on his face.
When calm returned, Fugaku continued: "You all know that the ANBU and Root are constantly watching us..."
The Uchiha were not fools.
After so many years, they were well aware they were being spied on.
"That's why we must send our own eyes as well."
And that man was Itachi.
By joining the ANBU, he would carry out an espionage mission for the clan.
"This isn't a good idea..."
Itachi's voice suddenly broke the silence, drawing everyone's attention.
"We're all comrades from the same village... creating divisions and unnecessary conflicts..."
His murmurs rang clearly through the room.
"What are you saying, kid?!"
Yashiro jumped up, his scarlet pupils with three tomoe activating in a flash of emotion.
"What Itachi means is that some things shouldn't be stated so openly... they need justification."
Shisui quickly stood, placing a hand on Itachi's shoulder to ease him back down.
With a forced smile, he tried to calm everyone.
Yashiro and the others gradually settled down. "Hmm... that's true. We should rephrase it."
Thus began an intense discussion.
In the end, it was decided that, "to increase the Uchiha clan's contributions to the village," a series of actions would be undertaken.
This included Itachi's entrance into the ANBU, and the theft—or rather, consultation—of Konoha's classified documents, so that the Uchiha could better serve the village.
Faced with his clan's excitement, Itachi felt his heart grow cold.
Peaceful evolution was far more terrifying than open war.
The clan members, who once considered a revolution, were now changing strategy.
Step by step, they would place their pawns, corrode, and infiltrate Konoha.
What, then, would become of the Uchiha... and of Konoha?
But what devastated Itachi the most was that the instigator of all this... was his own father.
That father who now opted for a strategy of peaceful evolution... Itachi had never found him so frightening.
"Then, it's decided."
Before ending the meeting, Fugaku stood and declared:
"Tomorrow... we will meet the Hokage to convince him to entrust us with the protection of the Priestess."
It was a test—a pressure move on Konoha's upper ranks.
Having proven their worth on the battlefield, the Uchiha no longer needed to play nice!
---
Dawn.
"Tweet-tweet..."
Birdsong echoed in her ears.
"!"
Yūgao woke with a jolt.
Sunlight flooded the room.
It was the top floor of a house at the end of the shopping district.
The room was nearly empty, containing only a futon and a few daily items.
Clearly, this was where the higher-ups had stationed her.
Through the large window, she could directly observe Naruto's life across the street.
Who am I? Where am I?
Yūgao stood frozen at the window, bathed in sunlight.
Dilated pupils, blank expression... everything showed her mind wasn't at 100%.
Only after a moment did she realize her situation.
"Ah... I'm back on surveillance duty..."
But then... what time was it?
It took her a while longer to remember. Several days must have passed since that night she went to see Hayate.
I see...
But what happened during those days?
Unlike her previous memory loss, this time, the combination of Yang Release and Kyūbi's chakra had produced a far more peculiar effect.
Fragments of memory suddenly surged in her mind.
Blurry memories... gradually forming a clearer image.
She remembered.
The milk she was given to drink.
The mudras they helped her perform to activate her Suiton.
Her own frenzy in trying to heal herself.
Then, another ration of milk to rehydrate.
And finally... that intensive massage, strong enough to leave bruises all over her body.
So I must look like a total wreck, right?
Anyone would think I've been beaten...
Yūgao turned toward the wall mirror.
That mirror, as tall as she was, was crucial for checking her appearance before missions.
In the reflection, she saw herself in ANBU uniform, her mask slightly shifted to the side, revealing her porcelain-white arms.
She pulled open parts of her uniform, inspecting every inch of her skin.
But to her surprise... no trace of bruises or marks.
Perfect skin, smooth as a doll's.
So... a hallucination? A delusion?
No. My memory is clear: it really happened.
Which means... for some reason, my body healed extremely fast?
Whatever the case...
"Naruto helped me. That's a fact."
In the mirror, Yūgao's face displayed a smile... slightly distorted.
The Yang Release and Kyūbi's chakra had created a new force, permanently altering parts of Mochizuki Yūgao.
And that had led to... a psychological collapse.
Like brainwashing. Or a warped perception.
And this was only the beginning of the breakdown...