I'M NARUTO UZUMAKI

Chapter 322: CHAPTER 322



Friends

After arguing with Fugaku, Itachi stood on the cliff near the Naka River, gazing at the rushing water below.

The weight of his father's words pressed heavily on him. In the past six months, he had failed—failed to bridge the gap between the Uchiha and Konoha, failed to change the minds of the village's higher-ups, and failed to dissuade his father from pursuing a coup.

Even with the Mangekyō Sharingan, the pinnacle of the Uchiha's power, he was powerless to alter the course of fate.

Letting out a quiet sigh, his mind drifted to the past—to the last time he had stood here with Shisui. Back then, they had shared the same dream: to prevent war and find a peaceful resolution. Together, they had worked tirelessly to ease tensions between their clan and the village.

But Shisui was gone.

Half a year had passed since his death, and Itachi alone remained to shoulder the burden of keeping the peace. As a double agent, he lived in the shadows, caught between the expectations of his clan and the demands of the village. The pressure was suffocating, pushing him to the brink of despair.

There were nights he had even contemplated ending his own life.

But he knew that Shisui's death had changed nothing. Sacrificing himself would not resolve the conflict; it was a struggle between two forces unwilling to yield. If he died, it would only hasten the inevitable war.

No—he couldn't afford to hesitate. His father's suspicions only reinforced the urgency of his decision. The moment he awakened the Mangekyō, his path had been set.

He could not stand by and watch the Uchiha's coup destroy Konoha. If the clan went through with it, neither side would be saved. The village would retaliate, and the Uchiha would be eradicated.

There was only one person among the Uchiha he truly cared about—Sasuke.

As Itachi stood lost in thought, a distortion rippled through the air behind him. Emerging from the swirling vortex of Kamui, a masked figure stepped forward.

Obito.

He had been watching. Studying Itachi in silence. Finally, he spoke.

"You still concern yourself with the Uchiha. Your vision is too narrow." His voice was calm yet persuasive. "Forget them. Leave Konoha and join me. We have greater ambitions—to free the shinobi world from the cycle of war and establish a new order."

Itachi remained still, his expression unreadable.

He didn't trust this man. This masked stranger, claiming to be Madara Uchiha, had orchestrated the Nine-Tails' attack on Konoha and was the prime suspect behind Shisui's suicide. Obito was a threat—one he could not allow to move unchecked.

But if he was to protect the village… he needed power. He needed help.

Turning toward the masked man, Itachi spoke with deliberate precision.

"I will join your organization," he said, his voice devoid of emotion. "But first, you must do me a favor—and promise never to harm Konoha again."

Obito tilted his head slightly, intrigued. "And what is it you want from me?"

Itachi met his gaze, his Mangekyō Sharingan gleaming under the moonlight.

"Help me sever my ties with the Uchiha. Help me slaughter my entire clan."

A flicker of amusement passed through Obito's single visible eye.

He had attacked Konoha to weaken it from within, but now, here was an Uchiha willing to destroy his own clan. Did Itachi truly share his disdain for the Uchiha?

After a moment of silence, Obito nodded.

"Very well," he said. "When do we begin?"

Under the pale moonlight, Itachi's shadow stretched across the ground, sharp and ominous. His expression remained unchanged.

"I will decide the right moment," he replied. "And when that time comes, I will call for you."

A slow smile formed beneath Obito's mask. He was eager to see how this would unfold.

---

Meanwhile, in a Hidden Chamber within the Uchiha Compound

Despite the increasing tension, Shisui had secretly gathered a small faction of like-minded Uchiha—those who wished to avoid the coup. Though many within the clan supported the rebellion, there were those who feared its failure, knowing it would bring disaster to their families.

These concerned Uchiha turned to Shisui in secrecy, entrusting him with their wives and children. If the coup was inevitable, they wanted an escape route.

Shisui had failed to stop the coup, but he would not refuse these innocents. If the ambitious were determined to die fighting, then he would ensure the survival of those who wished to flee.

But escaping Konoha would not be easy.

The Hidden Leaf Village was a military stronghold of the Land of Fire. No one could leave without the Hokage's permission—least of all the Uchiha, who were already under heavy surveillance. Even if they gained approval, ANBU would surely monitor them, and any movement could alert the radicals within the clan.

The only way was to leave on the eve of the coup, before suspicions could arise.

After much deliberation, Shisui's group found only one viable method—reverse summoning.

But there was a problem.

Unlike the legendary summons of the Three Great Sage Lands, the Uchiha's contract with the Ninja Cat Clan had limitations. Not every Uchiha had a summoning pact, and even fewer could summon powerful enough creatures to facilitate a mass escape.

In the end, Shisui decided that the children—those under twelve—would be given priority. The rest would have to find other, more dangerous ways to escape.

During a secret meeting, the plan was set in motion. But afterward, a few Uchiha approached Shisui privately. They hesitated before speaking.

"You… aren't Li Huo, are you?" one of them finally said.

Shisui narrowed his eyes.

They had uncovered his disguise.

They had found the real Li Huo—unconscious. And now, they wanted answers.

But instead of attacking, they simply asked, "Who are you?"

Shisui exhaled, loosening his grip on his katana. His voice was calm, yet distant.

"It doesn't matter who I am," he said. "But know this—I have given everything to the Uchiha and to Konoha. And now, I am tired."

The Uchiha exchanged glances.

There were very few among them who had sacrificed everything for both the clan and the village. Those who had… were long dead.

Dead men did not return.

Shisui studied their uncertain expressions. He had expected resistance. But instead, they lowered their heads, silently accepting his words.

Perhaps they, too, were tired.

As he turned away, his thoughts drifted to Itachi.

His best friend was out there, fighting in his own way, searching for his own path.

And even though they had not spoken, Shisui knew—they still understood each other.

Because once, they had walked the same road.

Even in the darkness, they remained connected.

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