Hizashi made his final statement: “No matter what, the Uchiha have completely given up their former power.”
“And Itachi took a large number of people with him, the village has no reason to target them anymore.”
“Fugaku gave us such a great gift before leaving, our Hyuga family can't be rude.”
Hizashi paused for a moment: “There are still a few Uchiha clan members in the guard force, let them continue to manage their own area, double their salary.”
Then his tone changed: “Hashirama, who else is entering the Ninja Academy besides Hinata? Is Neji there too?”
Hashirama thought for a moment: “Yes, Clan Leader, besides Hinata, there are also Uchiha Sasuke, Uzumaki Naruto, Nara Shikamaru, Akimichi Chouji...”
He recited the names of these children from the major clans, including Naruto.
“Neji is a year older than Hinata.”
As major families, they usually investigate the backgrounds of their peers in advance.
To establish connections in advance and pave the way for the future.
Hizashi nodded: “It doesn't matter if he's a year older, anyway they're all in the same school, let Neji and Sasuke get along well.”
“Yes!”
Sarutobi Hiruzen, Sarutobi Hiruzen, I wonder if you'll regret this?
...
Speaking of regret.
The Third Hokage had indeed developed some regrets.
He had witnessed the sheer destruction of the scene with his own eyes.
He finally understood the strength of the Uchiha's destructive power.
He was relieved that they had not truly gone to war, but at the same time, he was annoyed at why he had not been better to the Uchiha.
The Uchiha were no longer willing to play along with him now.
He received a letter of resignation and a recommendation from Uchiha Fugaku early in the morning.
The letter of resignation stated that he had failed as clan leader, leading to a disagreement with Itachi, who had chosen to leave Konoha.
He resigned himself to his fate and recommended Hashirama to take over the guard force.
He also stated that no one else could be competent besides Hashirama.
In addition, there was a statement about the Uchiha moving.
Due to the damage to their territory, the Uchiha clan decided to relocate and rebuild five kilometers outside of Konoha Village.
This five-kilometer distance was full of meaning. Why?
Because the furthest reach of Konoha Village's detection barrier is five kilometers.
The Uchiha's meaning was clear, there was no need to protect us with the detection barrier anymore, we'll take care of our own safety.
But also please don't keep an eye on us anymore, we'll have our fun.
Since you don't consider Itachi a rogue ninja, then the Uchiha clan still belongs to Konoha, just living a bit further away.
Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at the pile of documents before him.
He felt more exhausted than handling a day's affairs. Not only did Fugaku resign himself, but several high-ranking members of the guard force also resigned.
Among them were the third elder Uchiha Takuya and the fourth elder Uchiha Yohhei, who had left with Itachi.
There were no more traces of the Uchiha clan in the management.
Only some of the Uchiha from the branch families remained, at the bottom, and they were few in number.
It was probably the Uchiha intentionally left behind, to look after their industries.
In the past, the Third Hokage went to great lengths to keep the Uchiha clan within the guard force.
And spread rumors to make the villagers suspicious of them.
For fear that once the Uchiha's power grew, they would gain more power and run for Hokage.
But now, the Uchiha are no longer participating in the game.
You Hokage don't want us Uchiha to hold power, then we'll no longer covet it, we'll give it up.
As for Uchiha Itachi's departure, it's hard to say whether it was Fugaku's orders or Kawasaki's scheme.
Because this move struck at the heart of Konoha.
First, the Uchiha publicly claim that someone is trying to steal their precious Sharingan, forcing them to leave their homeland.
Second, to show their power, they used the incredible power of the Mangekyo Sharingan to intimidate all the ninja clans.
To let everyone understand the high price to be paid for confronting the Uchiha.
Third, to reduce the threat, Itachi's departure took away a large number of the Uchiha's elite.
The Uchiha are no longer as numerous as before, any attempts to control them will be met with the excuse of a shortage of manpower.
Furthermore, if someone really wants to attack the Uchiha, they have at least three pairs of Mangekyo Sharingan to retaliate with.
More importantly, Itachi's whereabouts are unknown, and he could appear at any time.
Finally, the timing, Konoha is currently negotiating a peace treaty with Kumogakure.
At this critical moment, if the Third Hokage sends the Anbu to deal with the Uchiha, his position of power will be precarious.
Now the Uchiha are simply "leaving home".
If they are forced to become traitors, Kumogakure will probably not come to sign a treaty, but to wage war.
This is all Danzo's fault for being clever and taking away Shisui's eyes, otherwise how could things have turned out like this.
It is important to remember that both Itachi and Shisui were loyal to the village.
......
In the dense forest of the Land of Fire.
Tap tap tap...
Over a hundred Uchiha clan members were moving through the woods.
At the front of the group was the third elder, Uchiha Takuya.
Since he had foreseen the "future" in Kawasaki's illusion, he was deeply convinced of Kawasaki's ability and took the initiative to help the Uchiha clan members who were leaving.
Although Itachi was strong in combat, he was still young and inexperienced, Takuya's assistance provided extra security.
Most of these over a hundred clan members were members of the hawk faction.
The rest were Uchiha with special talents.
They had all been selected by Kawasaki and had previously had their minds altered by Kotoamatsukami.
Now, they were all loyal to Uchiha Kawasaki, fighting for the future of the Uchiha.
These Uchiha were all ninjas, mostly Chunin, with a few Jonin and Genin, these over a hundred people were nearly half of the clan's total combat strength.
As for the other nearly thousand civilians and family members, they did not leave with them.
They planned to stabilize their foundation before considering whether to relocate their families.
Whether it was the Uchiha who stayed in the village or the Uchiha who left, both sides had their own problems.
A figure jumped next to Itachi, handing him a string of tricolor dumplings.
Itachi took them without expression: “You don't need to come.”
Although his words were cold, he put the tricolor dumplings in his mouth.
Uchiha Izumi had a faint smile on her face.
“If you left, no one would accompany me to eat tricolor dumplings by the river.”
Ever since Itachi invited Izumi that day.
Izumi finally understood Itachi's feelings and decided to stay by Itachi's side until the truth was revealed.
The other Uchiha clan members around them seemed to be deaf, even spreading out a bit, giving the two of them space to talk.
Itachi remained silent for a long time, his expression changed slightly.
Finally, he chuckled and said: “Kawasaki-senpai's plan has a lot of new foods, I'll treat you when they're ready.”
Izumi smiled sweetly in response, her eyes only on Itachi.
The journey was long and arduous, and their destination was the small country of the Land of Rice Fields, on the edge of Konoha.
There was a small ninja village there, Otogakure.
The other people selected by Kawasaki were unable to reach it on foot, so they had to find another way.
At this moment, Itachi seemed to sense something.
“Stop!”
Uchiha Itachi clenched his fist.
The clan members behind him all stopped.
In the open space ahead, space twisted, and a masked ninja appeared from the vortex.
Itachi looked at him warily.
“You're the one who was lurking around the shrine, right?”
Obito chuckled, “I didn't expect you to be so sharp, you noticed me back then?”
Itachi's tone was cold, neither hot nor cold, indifferent and distant.
He waved his hand behind him, and the other Uchiha clan members continued on without a word.
Only Itachi and Obito remained.
Obito didn't stop the others from leaving, his goal was Itachi.
To bring Itachi to his side, the operation would be easier....