Prologue to Volume 2

(3rd PoV)

"How are things going, Itachi?"

Danzo asked, keeping his eyes closed. Afterall, you don't look into the eyes of an Uchiha. More so, if he is a prodigy like Itachi.

"The coup will happen in two weeks."

"I see... It seems this is inevitable. Itachi you must choose now.

Either let the coup happen, in which not only all the Uchihas will die, but Konoha will enter a civil war more bloody and longer than what is happening in Kiri.

Or, 'take care' of the clan yourself, and atleast your brother, Sasuke will live."

"..."

"You have two days to give me your answer. After that, I will take the matter in my own hands."

"...Understood."

As Itachi left, Danzo finally sighed in relief.

Even though Itachi is just 13 years old, he scares him.

Itachi made a perfect suicide note of Shisui, so perfect that even T&I is convinced that the note was written by Shisui himself. The only other people who can do this are Hiruzen, and probably Fugaku, since he is the clan leader of the Uchihas.

Whether Orochimaru is capable of that or not, he doesn't know. Orochimaru wasn't interested in wars from the beginning, or cared about how many lives from Konoha are lost after Nawaki died. Orochimaru hid too many things from him afterall, despite being his right hand man in the ROOT. That's why, Danzo left a trail to exposed him. He even removed the curse seal on his tongue by himself.

If Danzo had such a talent like those people who don't use it, he would have easily destabilised all other countries and their ninja villages, and united the world under Konoha

But alas, the people who have the talent don't use it for the greater good of Konoha, and it has to lose so many ninjas in constant wars, which always start against Konoha for the resources of the Fire country.

'That's why, I must become the Hokage.'

Now that the Uchiha Massacre is near, he has almost achieved his goal of exterminating the Uchiha evil from the world, and put their eyes to correct use.

He will have the power of Uchiha, Senju, and indirectly, Uzumaki.

"How is her training going?"

Danzo oversaw a red headed seven year old girl applying the healing palm jutsu on her wounds from the training from outside a one-way view glass.

She learnt such a difficult technique in just one year. She probably has talent somewhat equivalent to Shizune.

It is a good thing that he had good underworld network in the Grass country, since it has the Blood Prison.

As soon as he heard about an Uzumaki from Shiori as he constantly spies on her, he kidnapped Karin and her mother, promising Karin to heal her dying mother if she trains hard.

Luckily, he was faster than Jiraiya in getting her.

Right now, the ROOT is secretly supporting Kusa in their war against Taki. The goal is to obtain the Seven Tails, and seal it in Karin.

From what Danzo has gathered uptil now, the Seven Tails is relatively calmer tailed beast than others, and doesn't go on much rampages. Plus, it can grant the jinchuriki the ability to fly. And Taki can't do much even if its tailed beast is stolen. Adding to the fact that an Uzumaki will easily be able to contain it, they will think that it has died along with its jinchuriki for a long time.

Well, Taki is in alliance with Konoha, that's why it is able to keep a tailed beast. It has been ally since the formation of Konoha after Kakuzu killed all the leadership for punishing him after he failed to assassinate Hashirama.

Danzo still can't believe how stupid Taki's leadership was. If they wanted to get rid of Kakuzu, there were other ways. More subtle ways. They could have as well openly told him they want to kill him, and it would still be less obvious than sending him to assassinate the First Hokage.

Anyway, alliances are meant to be broken. For the greater good of Konoha.

Aside from Karin, Sakura is also a target of Danzo, for spying on Shiori as her best friend.

For all his incompetence, Hiruzen has been keeping an eye on her parents, and even Danzo since he suspects that he may kill her parents to gain control over her.

For now, let's just focus on the important event that is near, massacring the Uchihas.

-----------------------------

"Excuse me, can I order some grown-up posters?"

Izumi arrived in front of Shiori's stall.

"Yes."

"You are a classmate of Sasuke, right? His birthday is in two weeks. So, I want to get some grown up posters with me, Itachi and Sasuke in them. You know how Itachi looks like, right?"

"Hmm, yeah. I have seen him. Since it is his 7th birthday, I suggest you gift him 7 posters. You only have to pay for 6, I will give one for free."

Shiori tried to persuade Izumi to buy more.

Shiori has noticed that Sasuke has been gradually becoming stronger due to his one-sided rivalry with Naruto, and feared that Indra-Asura bullshit will make Sasuke stronger to keep them more or less equal.

It would have been fine, perhaps, even better since the Otsutsuki drama will start later on. But, the problem is that Sasuke might try to kill Naruto. And she didn't want to waste time on Sasuke, and Naruto can't kill Sasuke because he is essential for the planet to not get consumed my a stupid OP alien goddess.

It all essentially is tied on mental health, right? And Sasuke is more likely to listen to a member of his clan that survived the massacre with him. He wouldn't try to kill the only surviving innocent member of his clan, right?

"That will be 500,000 ryo-"

She handed me a fifty 10,000 ryo notes' bundle, and ran away in a hurry for some reason, even without letting me complete my statement.

"-each."

Well... She can't say that I didn't tell her. Afterall, the prices are written on the board, and I was in the middle of starting the business so I didn't put it up yet.

Not my fault. Instead, she should give me all her money.

Rejoice, Izumi Uchiha! I am going to save you.