Danzo must die.
Xu Fan believed that a large part of the Uchiha clan's arrogance and defiance stemmed from their bloodline.
As long as one parent belonged to the Uchiha, the children born would inherit the powerful kekkei genkai—the Sharingan.
By contrast, the genes of the Senju clan seemed weak. Aside from Hashirama Senju, none of them had awakened the Wood Release (Mokuton), their clan's famed bloodline ability.
That was one of the reasons why the Senju gradually faded from prominence in the village, to the point of being absent in the later Ninja Wars.
The Uchiha, on the other hand, were the opposite—their bloodline was overwhelmingly strong.
In truth, the Uchiha clan did not strictly oppose marrying outsiders. Take Uchiha Izumi, for instance: her father wasn't from the Uchiha clan. Yet when she returned to live in the Uchiha district, she wasn't ostracized.
That alone was proof that the Uchiha were capable of accepting those from outside, contrary to what many in the village believed.
Xu Fan even suspected that the Uchiha were forcibly moved to the outskirts of Konoha not just because of political reasons, but to subtly limit their integration and reproduction with outsiders.
Of course, this was just Xu Fan's speculation.
After casting a genjutsu to put Kakashi and the others to sleep, Xu Fan and Uchiha Itachi moved them to the medical ward for rest.
"If nothing unexpected happens, they won't wake up for at least five days," Xu Fan said casually.
"What's your plan?" Itachi asked, glancing at Kakashi and the others.
Earlier, when they were outside, Xu Fan had avoided discussing anything important. Now that they were alone and secure from surveillance, he could speak openly.
The most important point was this—Xu Fan, having mastered Kotoamatsukami, could dispel the illusion he cast. Yet he chose not to. That fact alone tipped Itachi off that Xu Fan had a larger scheme in motion.
"What do you think caused Shisui's failure?" Xu Fan asked.
"What are you getting at?" Itachi frowned.
If Xu Fan believed Shisui failed simply because Danzo intervened, then he was being naive.
Even without Danzo, there would still be others—Koharu, Homura, and other elders—standing against the Uchiha.
"I'll be blunt," Xu Fan said. "Shisui failed because he was just a pawn. A piece used by the Third Hokage to reach the Uchiha, and a piece Danzo intended to sacrifice for his own ambitions."
"He thought Kotoamatsukami could rewrite reality—erase the thought of rebellion—but the truth is…"
Xu Fan shook his head. "Danzo never cared about whether the Uchiha launched a coup or not."
"Even if the Uchiha remained completely submissive, Danzo would still find excuses to suppress them until they were wiped from Konoha's history."
"That's why Shisui failed. He wasn't a player in the game—just a piece on the board. He may have taken a noble step, but he never had control of the board."
Uchiha Itachi stared at Xu Fan, memories of Shisui's final moments flashing in his mind—his tragic smile, and the eye he entrusted to him.
If there had been a way, Itachi would have protected his clan, his family, his younger brother Sasuke.
But the more he was drawn into the web of politics between the Hokage, Danzo, and his father Fugaku, the more powerless he felt.
The Third Hokage offered no real solutions, Danzo wanted to annihilate the clan, and his fellow Uchiha were preparing for war.
And Itachi… couldn't bring himself to fully trust or follow his father's lead. If he had to choose, his loyalty leaned toward Konoha.
Yet today, Xu Fan had planted a new idea in his mind.
Since the path of a pawn was doomed, then perhaps he could become a player.
If he could rise into Konoha's inner circle of power—maybe then he could change everything.
"Becoming a player in the game isn't that easy," Itachi said. He wasn't naïve—he understood politics. From the Third Shinobi War to the Nine-Tails' attack, the Uchiha had made their mark, but their influence still wasn't enough. Neither Hiruzen nor Danzo would ever let a Uchiha rise into the high ranks of Konoha.
And without that, becoming a player was impossible.
"I'll be the sun that shines on Konoha," Xu Fan said, placing a hand on Itachi's shoulder. "And you will be the shadow that guards its roots."
"In three days, I will accompany the Three Hokage to the Land of Iron for a summit with the Raikage. Who do you think will oversee the village while we're gone?"
"…Danzo," Itachi said after a pause. Though Koharu and Homura were influential, it was clear who Xu Fan meant.
"Exactly," Xu Fan nodded. "The Third says Danzo's only an advisor, but once we're gone, he'll make his move."
"Kakashi and Yamato—two of the village's top Anbu—are trapped in my illusion. In three days, the village will be at its weakest."
"…Danzo must die," Xu Fan said in a low voice. "If Danzo falls, the pressure on the Uchiha will ease. The tide will begin to turn."
Itachi's eyes widened as he looked at Kakashi and the others. They were the Hokage's direct Anbu guards. Once Hiruzen left, their duties would shift to Danzo.
"It seems you understand," Xu Fan said.
"But don't worry. I won't make you do this alone. I'll leave a shadow clone with you."
This wasn't just to help Itachi carry out the mission.
It was insurance.
Because Xu Fan was certain that Danzo possessed Izanagi.
If Itachi got caught off guard—even for a second—it could be fatal.
Leaving a clone was a safety net.
And Itachi understood that.
Xu Fan wasn't just trying to eliminate Danzo.
He intended to provoke war with the Hidden Cloud, elevate his own status, and use that fame to pave his way to the Hokage seat.
This man…
"Itachi," Xu Fan said, holding out his hand. "I believe the world can change. That life can be rewritten. That we can seize our fate with our own hands."
"Will you stand with me?"
Uchiha Itachi stared at the hand extended before him.
And the only thought in his mind was—
This guy… is crazier than Danzo.