103 [Preperations! - Part 2]

"What do you mean Clan head?" I gave him a weird look as he smiled and said, "I'm just kidding Tobi-kun, relax-"

My face must have turned more comical because his smile widened as I realized that I was seeing Itachi smile.

'what the fuck happened to him, is he a white Zetsu clone?'

He probably noticed my change in expression as he asked, "What happened?"

"A clone of Temari that matches the description of White Zetsu was in her place." He realised the implication of my words as I sensed him channel chakra to his eyes and all of a sudden he started dispersing into crows. I flashed my Sharingan for a brief instant breaking the genjutsu as I notice Itachi right by my sight looking at my fading Sharingan in fascination.

'right, it must be a little weird for him too, from always knowing that there are only two people from his clan left to now have half a dozen. Wait did anyone tell him about the Uchiha kids that were found in Danzo's base?'

"Uh, Itachi-san? Did anyone tell about the Uchiha kids we found in Danzo's underground base?"

As we were jumping I felt him flatter for a second as I left him behind before he caught up to me, his perfect poker face screwed as his fists were balled up, I went through some hand signs, bit my thumb and slammed my hand on a nearby wall as a crow flew out of the smoke, "Sasuke will meet us at Tsunade-sama's office, you guys need to talk anyway, plus he will know more about the kids."

He nodded and we both increase our pace going towards the tallest building in the village.

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Once we got close to the village centre I realize that Tsunade-sama's office is blocked off by privacy seals, I took a mask out of my scrolls and threw it to Itachi who caught it and looked at it.

"So you got my old mask huh?"

"Yeah, apparently they needed another child genius to fill that spot."

Instead of arriving through the window, we shunshined to the main entrance and I nodded to Shizune-san. She went up and knocked on the door and after getting a response we both entered the room. I surveyed the room taking note of everyone present, Shikaku-san, Shika, Jiraya-sama, Tsunade-sama, ANBU commander and the elders, Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado. My relationship with the last two have not been optimal but since I spend very less time in the village I mostly ignored their passive aggressive strategy.

'This will be a drag-'

Tsunade-sama activated the privacy seals as we entered and indicated to Itachi to take off his mask.

Shika and the two elders looked astonished but it seems like they were already aware of most of our plans, Itachi threw the mask back to me which I quickly pooled away as he said, "Hokage-sama-"

The familiar tension rose at his casual statement as everybody was deep in their thoughts, "What have you found out Itachi?"

"Suna, Iwa and Kumo are already gathering military strength, Kiri will stay neutral during the conflict as there is no movement from their Ninja's like the other three nations... Iwa only has one Jinchuriki at the moment as the Gobi Jinchuriki were already captured. Roshi the holder of the Yonbi, is a wandering shinobi but he still mostly stays in Iwa so he probably will be in attendance along with Onoki, the fence-sitter... Suna has the Ichibi but its container is a little unstable so it doesn't pose that much of a threat but there puppets and poisons are a nuisance to fight... the main problem is Kumo, not only do they have two perfect Jinchuriki, but also the Raikage and Darui of the black Lightning..."

Everyone listened to the Intel as Shika quickly noted down everything that was said, "will the Akatsuki join this war?" Tsunade-sama asked but Itachi shook his head, "No, every situation was manipulated by Sasori and Zetsu as their sleeper agents invaded the hierarchy and came up with the plan, every situation was carefully manipulated until the three villages conversed with each other out of their own violation to target Konoha, plus Akatsuki's goal is to weaken Konoha and every other nation, it was calculated that Konoha could withstand the challenge and put up a fight as the ninja forces ground against one another thining the security."

Tsunade-sama groaned as she said, "well we will take this as a piece of good news. But how are we supposed to divide our workforce, even if Suna is weak at least me or Ino will have to take the frontlines if we want to counteract those poisons..."

'what... right, Ino-chan's her apprentice-'

I wasn't feeling particularly good about that plan, I was fidgeting and Tsunade-sama caught my state as she sad, "you know she's not that weak right? she'll be fine-" She smiled and I nodded before an Idea struck me, "A suggestion Tsunade-sama-" She nodded at me to go on, "I think I should engage Suna-"

Before I could say anything further Koharu spoke up, "This is not the time for your stupid emotion's boy-" I ignored her and said, "I am not talking about replacing Ino-chan from the frontlines and taking her place because that would certainly be a good idea as they still have thousands of puppeteer left, what I am talking about is a more concentrated attack-"

"Assassination-" Itachi finished the statement for me as I nodded, "exactly, just because 3 villages want to attack us doesn't mean we have to take what they dish, my speed is the perfect counter for Gaara's slow defence, plus their current Kazekage isn't a match either, for the last half-year I have been sneaking around the whole of Hi no Kuni and sometimes even in foreign territory, plus with the Sharingan, I can subdue the Ichibi and escape before everything goes to shit if I fail."

"And if their pillars are gone then we could slowly withdraw our forces after we get the cure to their opinions..." Shikaku-san finished the statement as Itachi spoke up, "Then I would like to volunteer instead, I could get the on done in the same way."

"No-" Tsunade-sama spoke firmly, "You still have a tumour that we need to remove-" Itachi gave me a look here as she continued, "-we will need your experience when thing get tough in the frontlines..." she then turned to me and asked, "-are you sure you can do this?"

I smirked at her and asked, "within two days."

'How strong could Gaara have gotten anyway?'