Chapter 027: Itachi’s Subtle Moves

After a series of events, the Uchiha, one of the two great ninja clans that founded the Hidden Leaf, had been pushed to the village’s outskirts, their circumstances grim and humiliating. The Uchiha were teetering at the brink of extinction, and most within the clan were ready to risk everything. If they were to die, let it be with a resounding roar, or else they would reclaim what was rightfully theirs. At this moment, the Uchiha stood at a crossroads.

He had never spoken of it to his father, but his father knew nonetheless. In truth, Itachi was a double agent—a channel for the flow of information. He passed Uchiha intelligence to Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi and relayed the Hokage faction’s secrets back to his clan. Once, Sarutobi treated him with kindness, and Itachi had hoped there might truly be a chance for reconciliation. But, recalling the recent events, and in light of Shisui’s fate, Itachi felt numb and plunged into despair.

Sarutobi’s words sounded noble—he spoke of the village’s greater good, of the Will of Fire, and prayed for peace between clan and village—but they were all lies. He had concealed the most crucial truths. No one knows a son better than his father. Seeing Itachi’s ashen face, Fugaku sensed that something terrible had happened, something he himself did not know.

“Itachi, what’s wrong? Did you encounter something unexpected?” Fugaku’s words had barely fallen when Shisui’s gaze also shifted toward him.

Itachi hesitated for a long time, lips trembling, before finally letting out a sigh and saying, “I think the clan’s resistance is doomed to fail. The Hokage’s strength is simply overwhelming—so powerful that it drives me to despair.”

Both Fugaku and Shisui were stunned. They exchanged a look, alarmed. Of course, they knew a bit about the Hokage faction’s power, but to hear Itachi—a prodigy—speak of despair was truly unsettling.

“What happened? Was it something just now?” Shisui pressed. “Who did you meet?”

“Uzumaki Naruto.”

“Naruto?!”

“The Nine-Tails Jinchuriki?!”

Both Fugaku and Shisui exclaimed in shock.

“At such a dangerous time, how could you dare—” Shisui began to scold Itachi, but Fugaku stopped him.

“Go on,” Fugaku said.

Itachi nodded. “Yes, the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki—Uzumaki Naruto—is a monster of a power that strikes fear into the heart.”

“What do you mean by that?” Fugaku frowned. “Naruto is Sasuke’s age, even a few months younger. I can understand if he’s a bit stronger than Sasuke, but you say he’s so strong that it leaves you in despair? What happened?”

Itachi closed his eyes for a long moment before opening them again. This time, his eyes blazed crimson; in each pupil, three tomoe spun in the shape of a great windmill.

Fugaku was still confused as to why Itachi’s eyes had transformed, but Shisui, who had seen much, instantly sensed the overwhelming ocular power radiating from Itachi.

He leapt up in shock. “This is—the Mangekyo Sharingan! Itachi, you awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan!”

Fugaku was just as excited, never having imagined his son would awaken the legendary Mangekyo. With two Mangekyo now in the clan, Fugaku nearly believed he was witnessing the twilight of the Warring States era, when the Uchiha stood at their zenith.

He was just about to say something grandiose or laugh uproariously to vent his excitement—but then he realized his son had not laughed, and was still intent on recounting Naruto’s tale. Suppressing his old habits, Fugaku pressed Itachi to continue.

“Do you believe,” Itachi said, “that even with these eyes, I am no match for Uzumaki Naruto?”

Fugaku and Shisui’s jaws nearly dropped in disbelief as Itachi, gathering his thoughts, recounted everything that had transpired since dusk...

“Is there a way to improve it?” Itachi asked Naruto. He was quite impressed by the steam crossbow Naruto had devised.

His expertise lay in genjutsu and ninjutsu, but his arsenal of deadly attacks was still limited; he still relied on ninja blades and shuriken for effective lethality. If the steam crossbow’s firepower could be made denser, its sustained destructive ability greater, it would be perfect for his needs. In that case, Itachi would do everything in his power to get his hands on one.

But he doubted that such a formidable weapon was really Naruto’s invention. Who would believe a child not yet seven could develop something as terrifying as a Barrett sniper rifle?

More than anything, Itachi wanted to probe—who had given such a weapon to Naruto, and why Naruto had just happened to be there, demonstrating such power before him. Could it be the Hokage’s faction was up to something, but unwilling to tell him directly?

Itachi’s mind was a tangle of speculation.

“Of course there are ways to improve it,” Naruto replied, oblivious to Itachi’s suspicions. “There are many, many mature upgrade plans for the steam crossbow.” Without hesitation, he pulled out a drum magazine and a clever mechanical attachment, fitting them to the weapon.

And then Itachi witnessed a miracle.

Rat-tat-tat-tat-tat—

The steam crossbow let loose a barrage, tearing a massive wound into the forest. Then, with a metallic click and a hiss of vapor, Naruto swapped out the attachment and reloaded another drum magazine. In only a few seconds, the crossbow roared again.

Itachi and Sasuke both stared wide-eyed.

If those drum magazines were loaded not just with ordinary bolts but with devastating jutsu-charged bolts, Naruto could rain down a nearly unceasing bombardment on his enemies!

Sasuke was simply entranced by the weapon’s power, but Itachi’s heart was in turmoil. He knew his clan was on the verge of rebellion. If the Hokage and the ANBU brought such weapons to suppress them—what kind of hellish carnage would that be?

And this was only the steam crossbow. There were still the untested psionic short sword, and those steam-powered gauntlets. In the end, Itachi made a decision: he would find an opportunity to destroy these weapons.

He believed their numbers were still few, perhaps only experimental models. If he could destroy them, perhaps he could win the Uchiha a sliver of hope.

“Naruto, could you fire the steam crossbow at me?” Itachi asked. “I want to feel its power firsthand.”

“Brother!”

“Itachi!”

Sasuke and Kakashi cried out together. Sasuke feared for his brother’s safety, while Kakashi had already seen through Itachi’s intentions. He wasn’t worried for Naruto, but for the bridge Itachi represented between the village and the Uchiha.

Itachi waved them off. “It’s fine. I only want to test its power… And Naruto, you can use that sword and the gauntlet as well. I want to experience all your weapons.”

“And please, use your full strength against me. Because facing such weapons, I won’t hold back either.”

Naruto scratched his cheek. “I don’t mind, but are you sure you want me to go all out?”

“Of course!” Itachi, a veteran of many battles, couldn’t believe he’d stumble on such a straightforward challenge.

And then, Itachi regretted it.

“Is this kid really only seven?!”