Evil Uchiha Itsuki

**

"Enough, Itsuki. Stop with this pointless talk."

Jiraiya growled in a low voice.

"Pointless?"

Itsuki sneered and said, "By pointless, do you mean the First Hokage, the Second Hokage, or your teacher, the Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen? Are they really that insignificant in your eyes?"

"If you don't want to talk, I'll leave!"

Jiraiya was blunt.

"Good riddance!"

Itsuki was even more direct, not even bothering to lift his eyelids.

Seriously? You invite me here, and then you threaten me?

I'm done with this!

Jiraiya frowned, walked over, and sat beside Itsuki. "You seem really angry today?"

"Seeing you makes me angry."

"Me?"

Jiraiya's eyes widened.

"Yes!"

Itsuki said coldly, "Jiraiya, whether you admit it or not, the state of Konoha and the situation with the Uchiha are partly your responsibility. A big part of it."

Jiraiya's eyes widened in disbelief. "What does that have to do with me? I haven't done anything."

Are you just mad and looking for someone to take it out on?

And you're casually dumping all this responsibility on me?

Let's see if I'll accept it.

Itsuki stared at Jiraiya. "Aren't you a ninja of Konoha?"

"Of course!"

That was a no-brainer!

No matter how much Jiraiya and Tsunade ignored the Hokage's orders, they'd never abandon their identity as Konoha ninjas.

"Do you have what it takes to be Hokage?"

"...Yes!"

Jiraiya had a vague idea of where this was heading.

"Right now, who in Konoha is the most qualified to be Hokage?"

"...Me."

It wasn't bragging. At this stage, Jiraiya was indeed the most suitable candidate.

Even if Tsunade came back, it would still be a tough contest between them.

As for Danzo or Kakashi, they weren't even in the same league!

Itsuki's cold eyes fixed on Jiraiya. "You're a ninja of Konoha, but you haven't fulfilled your responsibility as one. To put it bluntly, you've relied on your strength and disregarded the rules of Konoha."

"You have the qualifications to be Hokage, but you don't want to be Hokage."

"You are the most qualified person for the role, and even though you know Konoha is short-handed, you still refuse. Ha!"

Jiraiya was annoyed. "What nonsense!"

"Nonsense?"

Itsuki sneered. "In all of Konoha, you're the most qualified to be Hokage. But both you and Tsunade ran off. Where does that leave Konoha?"

"Don't you know there's no one to inherit the position of Hokage now?"

"Don't you know that the Third Hokage is already corrupted?"

"You knew this, yet you did nothing. You let him sit in that position and make a mess. Can you honestly say that what's happening to Konoha isn't partly your fault?"

"If you had become Hokage, would the Uchiha have split?"

"Would the war have started?"

"Would so many ninjas have died?"

"It's all your fault!"

Jiraiya felt a headache coming on.

Itsuki was clearly determined to pin the blame on him.

Jiraiya admitted there was some truth to it, but the rest was just pure nonsense.

Nonsense beyond belief!

Too absurd to even look at!

"Itsuki!"

Jiraiya looked at him seriously. "I came here with sincerity, hoping we could talk."

Itsuki didn't even raise his head. "You're talking to the wrong person, Jiraiya-sensei. You should be having this conversation with the Third Hokage, not me. Do you think anything will come of this?"

He calmly looked at Jiraiya. "I don't want war, but the Third Hokage has been pressuring us. The Uchiha have been forced into this fight."

"So, what do you want to talk about? How we should compromise with the Third Hokage?"

"Konoha just formed. Do you think I'm going to compromise? No, I'll fight."

Jiraiya, growing frustrated, said, "But if the Uchiha separate from Konoha, do you think the Third Hokage will back down? He won't either."

"Then we'll fight!"

Without hesitation, Itsuki coldly sneered. "We'll fight until it naturally stops."

"Itsuki!"

Jiraiya said sternly, "You know what my ideals are, what I've always pursued…"

"Stop!"

Itsuki cut him off, sneering. "Don't say that stuff to me. It's meaningless."

"I won't take a single step back!"

"Jiraiya-sensei, you should understand how much the Uchiha have sacrificed for Konoha."

"But!"

"Danzo and the Third have been oppressing the Uchiha. Do you think that's fair?"

"Why?"

"Do they deserve it?"

"When I called for action, over half of the Uchiha immediately followed me, leaving Konoha. Why?"

"Because they've lost hope in Konoha!"

"Back then, when Madara asked them to follow him, they refused. Now, they're willing!"

"And you?"

"Now you come here, asking me to back down, to compromise. Don't you think you're going too far!?"

With that, Itsuki drained his drink in one gulp and walked away.

"I understand what you're saying!"

Jiraiya muttered, watching his back. "But I am a ninja of Konoha!"

Itsuki sneered. "Now you consider yourself a Konoha ninja? Why didn't you think that way before? Like I said, if you had returned earlier and become the Fifth Hokage, would things between Konoha and the Uchiha have turned out this way?"

Jiraiya lowered his head, silent.

Even as Itsuki's figure disappeared, he remained like that, as still as a statue.

Suddenly, a ninja appeared by Jiraiya's side and whispered, "Jiraiya-sama, it's time to make a decision."

"I know."

Jiraiya stood up, sighed, and said, "Proceed with the plan."

"Itsuki..."

He stared at the spot where Itsuki had left, his complex gaze gradually turning cold.

"I'm sorry!"

"Like I said, I am a Konoha ninja!"

Meanwhile, Itsuki, having packed his things, headed toward the Forest of Death.

However, his eyes were full of doubt.

He wasn't surprised that Jiraiya came to him. With the nature of this pervy sage, it was inevitable he wouldn't stay out of it.

But something felt off.

Were they planning to join forces against him?

Fine!

Itsuki sneered.

After Orochimaru gives you a big enough gift, I'll be sure to send Konoha a huge one too.

His gaze shifted to the Hokage Rock being repaired in the distance.

"Konoha Village!"

"I hope you still exist after all this!"

...

Amid all the competing forces, the third round of the Chunin Exams had finally begun.

In the massive, oval-shaped arena, one by one, the higher-ups of Konoha took their seats.

Their eyes were cold, and their very presence hinted at the coming battle.

War was imminent!

Next came the nobles of the Land of Fire.

Finally, the genin participating in the third exam entered.

Among them, Itsuki stood out, his arm around Temari.

Many people cast curious glances at them.

Itsuki didn't care. He simply whispered to Temari, "Remember, protect yourself. Your plan might not succeed; there are too many unpredictable elements involved."

The plan to destroy Konoha?

The moment he stepped in here, Itsuki realized there were going to be plenty of surprises.

(End of Chapter)