Chapter 26: But, I Refuse

Facing Uchiha Dan's request for guidance, Danzo raised his voice, "Because I'm not like the Third Hokage and the others, I believe in the Uchihas."

At this moment, Danzo extended his left hand towards Dan, making a sincere invitation, "Dan, you should join us. Join the Anbu with Itachi. Konoha needs talents like you, not to suppress the Uchihas."

Hearing this, Dan's eyes flickered, seemingly tempted. Seeing this, Danzo threw out more bait, "In the Anbu, you can not only grow stronger but also gain power. I will recommend you to the Third Hokage, to become a squad leader in the Anbu, and work with Itachi. Isn't this what you want, Dan?"

"What do I need to give in return?" Dan asked.

"Simple, you just need to trust me, like Itachi does." Danzo's gaze was intense, emphasizing the word "trust."

Dan took a deep breath and said, "Lord Danzo, your magnanimity and courage are admirable. Joining the Anbu is indeed tempting for me. Do I really... just need to trust you, and that's enough?"

His gaze was fixed on Danzo. "Of course," Danzo replied, his face calm and without any other requests.

In reality, once Dan joined the Anbu, he wouldn't be able to act according to his own nature. Danzo would have plenty of time and means to tame this rebellious tiger.

After a few seconds of contemplation, Dan slowly opened his mouth, seemingly about to give Danzo the answer he wanted. But then, he suddenly lifted his chin, his eyes coldly looking at Danzo, and arrogantly said, "But, I refuse."

"Why?!" Danzo's expression immediately tightened, almost losing his composure. "Because, one of the things I, Uchiha Dan, enjoy the most is rejecting those who think they're superior. It brings me pleasure."

As he spoke, Dan stood up with Itachi, adding, "And also, I don't like living with a mask on, like your subordinates."

Danzo, leaning on his cane, stood up and angrily said, "Are you sure you won't regret this, Uchiha Dan?" "Sorry, my nephew is feeling a bit unwell, I need to take him home to rest. Excuse us."

Leaving these words behind, Dan picked up Itachi and headed towards the door. Without a word, Yūgao Aburame blocked Dan's path. The Root ninjas outside the tea house also put their hands on their ninja blades, ready to strike.

The atmosphere was tense. Dan's gaze turned cold. If they really annoyed him, he might as well use his "Za Warudo" here and take out Danzo.

Just as the situation was about to escalate, Danzo spoke, "Let them go." His voice had returned to its usual calm. Hearing this, Yūgao Aburame silently stepped aside, and Dan strode out of the tea house.

Under the watchful eyes of the Root ninjas, the silhouettes of the uncle and nephew disappeared into the night. "Lord Danzo, how should we deal with Uchiha Dan?" Yūgao Aburame asked. He knew that Danzo wasn't really planning to let Dan go.

Indeed, Danzo's murky eyes flashed with a hint of killing intent, and he ordered, "There are people from the Third's side watching Dan. Make sure your subordinates do a clean job, don't leave any traces."

If he couldn't be used and had become a threat, then

it was better to eliminate him. After all, he was just a civilian without even a ninja status. If he died, he died. What could be done about it? "I understand," Yūgao Aburame accepted the order.

"Hmph." Danzo snorted coldly, tapped the ground with his cane, and then, surrounded by his guards, turned and left.

On the main street, Itachi, leaning against a wall, was still feeling a bit unwell. Dan bought a bottle of water from a convenience store and handed it to his nephew. "Thank you, Uncle," Itachi drank half the bottle of water, rinsed his mouth, and finally felt a bit better. But then he immediately said to Dan with a serious face, "Uncle, you've offended Danzo. He won't let this go."

Itachi was worried. His uncle didn't understand Danzo, didn't know how terrifying he could be. "Don't worry about me, I'll handle it," Dan said nonchalantly, then warned Itachi, "As for you, don't have anything to do with Danzo in the future. That old man is clearly not a good person."

"…" Hearing this, Itachi wanted to tell Dan that he didn't exactly seem like a good person either, but in the end, he just nodded, "Okay… I understand."

Seeing Itachi clutching his stomach and bending over, clearly unable to walk, Dan sighed, squatted down in front of his nephew, and turned his back to him. Itachi was a bit surprised, but eventually, he climbed onto Dan's back and wrapped his arms around his uncle's neck.

Dan carried his nephew and headed towards the Uchiha clan's territory. Along the way, the uncle and nephew were silent. Itachi's feelings were complicated. He couldn't tell how his uncle really felt about him, his nephew. It seemed like he disliked him, but he was also taking care of him.

Up until now, besides his uncle, only Shisui had carried Itachi. The difference was that his uncle's back was wider and steadier than Shisui's, like a big bed.

When they were about to reach the clan's territory, a clear voice suddenly came from the side of the road, "Itachi, is that you?"

Itachi turned his head towards the sound and saw a pretty young girl standing under a street lamp, looking at the uncle and nephew in surprise. She had beautiful long black hair, a teardrop mole at the corner of her right eye, and the Leaf Village headband on her forehead indicated her ninja status.

"…Izumi." Itachi hesitated for a moment, then waved at the girl. Dan also noticed Uchiha Izumi and turned to ask his nephew, "Such a pretty girl, is she your girlfriend?"

As soon as he said this, Izumi's face turned red, and she shyly lowered her head, her fingers intertwined. Itachi's face also changed, and he quickly denied in a low voice, "No, Uncle."

"I'm just joking. Don't be nervous, I won't interfere with your early love." Dan said, then squatted down and put Itachi back on the ground.

Then, Dan walked up to Uchiha Izumi, smiled slightly, and said, "Young lady, I'm Itachi's uncle, Uchiha Dan." "Ah… Hello, Senior Dan," Izumi quickly bowed, looking very formal.

The next second, the smile on Dan's face disappeared, replaced by an intense killing intent that was almost tangible, like a cold wave, descending on Izumi's head. Izumi instantly reacted, her whole body's hair stood on end, and she quickly retreated, pulling out a kunai from her ninja pouch. At the same time, her eyes turned into the red three-tomoe Sharingan pattern.

"Oh, impressive. Another prodigy," Dan remarked, seeing Izumi's Sharingan. His previously intense killing intent receded as if nothing had happened.

Izumi stood there, disheveled in the wind. Itachi quietly explained, "Izumi activated her Sharingan on the night of the Nine-Tails attack. She was only five years old then and witnessed the death of her parents…"

"I see, that's truly a sad story," Dan commented. He remembered that Uchiha Izumi was considered Itachi's half-lover and later died at the hands of Tobi during the Uchiha Clan Massacre, her eyes even taken.

Izumi, who could activate the three-tomoe Sharingan at the age of 11, would surely become a formidable Jounin in a few years, and might even awaken the Mangekyou Sharingan. After all, she was so young and had great potential, the future held endless possibilities.

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