Saga of Tanya the Kunoichi

Under the reflection of the mirror, the mangekyo sharingan in his eyes represents his inner turmoil.

His clansmen doesn't trust him anymore, even suspecting that he's the cause of Shisui's suicide.

While the coup is postponed, he knows it will soon happen. He will have to report this to Hokage… he just wished there's other ways.

Itachi takes a walk around Konoha, wanting to get fresh air. He doesn't feel well staying inside the Uchiha compound. 

As he walked around the perimeter of Konoha, he didn't notice he had walked to the end of the village, where the forest lies.

He was about to turn around, but noticed some sounds further away.

Thud. Thud. Thud.

Itachi gets curious, and even suspicious and thus went to take a look. He's surprised to see it's someone still training even after the sun had set. Using body flicker, landing kicks and punches, throwing shuriken in between the flicker.

Upon closer look, he figured out its Tsuyu Uzumaki.

Tsuyu stopped her training for a second to take a breather. She turned her head to see who's watching her. She had noticed Itachi's presence far earlier.

"Itachi-san?".

Tanya wiped the sweat on her forehead.

***

Itachi ends up observing and giving Tsuyu direction as she practices. He just wants to clear his mind meanwhile.

"Itachi-san, you seem to be distracted. If it's not too personal, I can offer a listening ear". - How to Make People Like You 101 by Carl Smith - No. 1 - Listen more.

Itachi's gaze returned to Tsuyu for a while. He's not sure why he felt like saying this to Tsuyu, but he felt she is intelligent and perhaps he sees her as an adult like himself and can understand.

'Tsuyu-kun. If you had to choose between the village, or your family, what would you do?'.

Hm. What a strange question. Perhaps he is testing me. To see where I stand as a shinobi.

"Itachi-san, your question is very complex. I believe it's not simple. But as a shinobi of Konoha, I will place Konoha's interest as priority. The village is the system in place to keep order and peace - protecting the families under it. The village stability is a part of the family's interest and therefore, prioritizing my village is also for the families and would always take precedence".

'Then what if… you have to sacrifice your own, for the sake of the village?'.

…

"Itachi-san… thats…".

If it has nothing to do with her, she could care less about what's sacrificed as long as she and what she deemed important benefits from the system in place (the village of Konoha).

"It may not sound shinobi-like for me to say this, so I hope you can keep it a secret. But I will give you my honest thoughts. I see you love your little brother much. And I cherished my brother as well, so I can understand. They are our families".

Itachi turned his focus to Tanya.

"The village exists because of the families in it. And every family's interest is to have their peace and safety ensured - this is why the village was established by the 1st Hokage to begin with and why the clans agree to join together as Konoha today".

…

"If I have to sacrifice my own family and those I deem important for the village as a whole - the village, the system, would then have already failed its intended purpose already. A flawed system that does not align with any of my interests and even takes things away from me is not worth the sacrifice or loyalty".

…

'I see…'. Itachi digested Tsuyu's words carefully. 

It's as if he had some revelation, even if he felt uncomfortable hearing the bitter truth from Tsuyu's words. That the village of Konoha, had in fact, failed the Uchiha clan. Even when Uchiha is one of the founders of the village, they are treated like an outcast by the higher ups, placed at the edge of the village, and always under observation and distrust. Uchiha still deserves the treatment like other clans.

A part of Itachi believes in the will of fire, and wants to carry Shisui's will. But Tanya's words cause a slight shift inside of him.

I will find another way… for both Konoha, and my own family. Itachi clenched his fist.

Itachi firms his resolve. He will talk to his clansmen and Hokage tomorrow; as he has decided what he will do.

'Thank you for your honesty, Tsuyu-kun. I have to admit, I cannot find flaws in your words'.

"It's just my honest opinion, Itachi-san".

'It's getting late. It's nice to be able to talk to you, Tsuyu-kun'.

"It's a pleasure for me as well".

***

Uchiha District, Fugaku's Reading Room

"Father…".

Fugaku drops the scroll he's reading, turning his gaze to his son. 

"Please talk to the clansmen. The coup will fail and it will only cause unnecessary sacrifice. The Hokage and higher ups are already onto us".

Fugaku sighed.

'I have already tried. But you know how the village had been oppressing our clan'.

…

"Father... The 3rd had ordered me to exterminate the clan… before the coup happens".

Fugaku clenched his fist, crumpling the scroll in his hand. He gritted his teeth, but soon returned to his calm demeanor.

'I see. So, the relationship between us is irreconcilable'. 

…

'I don't blame you, Itachi. Even if I am disappointed that you act as the spy for them. It would still be inevitable, regardless'.

"... I am sorry, father. I disappointed you".

Fugaku raised his hand, dismissing Itachi.

'The Uchiha hsa to compromise and lose this time. This is the only way for the clan to survive. I will talk to the Hokage… thank you for telling me and trusting me to make a decision for all of us, Itachi'.

***

Fugaku entered the Hokage office, facing Hiruzen with a calm face, but there's hint of resignation in his eyes.

"I already know about your decision. But I hope you can reconsider"

'Is this a threat, Fugaku?', Hiruzen let out a puff of smoke coldly.

"No. It's a consideration…", Fugaku gave Hiruzen a scroll. It contains the lists of all Uchiha hardliners who supported and wanted rebellion. It consists of two-third of the Uchiha clans excluding the children and the olds, compiled by Itachi and Fugaku.

'If there's really no choice… I hope you can reconsider, Sandaime-sama', Fugaku bowed his head down.

…

"I understand… Fugaku, your clan sacrifice will be remembered. You will always be a part of Konoha".

'Yes, Sandaime-sama…'.

***

In the next few days, Fugaku finally received the order from above. He announced a clan meeting, inviting everyone in the clan.

"Hokage-sama had assigned us a very important mission. It is up to the Uchiha clan to complete the mission and to gain their trust towards us. This is a chance given to us to fulfil and ease our relationship".

Whispers and murmurs sounded. As if thinking it wouldn't matter even if they did a good job. Some even suspect something is off already.

"The mission detail is of high secrecy, and I will personally select those I find qualified".

Fugaku then listed them one by one. But as the list goes on, it's clear that it's filled with their most talented Uchiha… that's also a hardliner that supports the rebellion. Meanwhile the ones that aren't are not in the list.

One of the elders stood angrily, shouting.

"Fugaku! Are you selling out your own clansmen?!", he pointed at Fugaku with rage.

"Fugaku-sama! Please reconsider! This is definitely a trap!", one of the Uchiha selected voiced out with anxiety.

Fugaku's fist clenched tight, trembling. His eyes bloodshot from frustration.

"SILENCE!", Fugaku opened his mangekyo sharingan, sending cold and heavy aura pressing down to everyone shutting them up.

"M-mangekyo…".

"Th-thats…".

…

"This is for the good of Uchiha… those listed, you are to stay temporarily at the left wing of the clan compound. This is an order. Refusal to follow orders is considered as treason, and I will personally execute them on the spot!".

One of the hardliners stood.

"Fugaku-sama! Please reconsider! With the Mangekyo, no one in Konoha is a match for us!".

Fugaku felt his head bursting with anger. It's as if these fools can't see how futile it is. The rebellion is doomed from the very start. 

The elder finding Fugaku having mangekyou gets angrier.

"Fugaku! If you aren't such a coward, why would our clan step down to such a level now! You are no longer fit to be the clan patriarch!". The old man's sharingan open up, openly challenging Fugaku's authority.

Some of the Uchiha's also stood up, each of them opening their sharingan and emitting a killing intent. An infighting is about to happen.

"You don't dese-".

Fugaku had enough! AMATERASU!

One of Fugaku's eyes bled, and an intense black flame appeared and burned the flesh of the elder starting from his feet.

"AHHH!!! AHHHHH! STOP!!! STOPPP!!! AHHHHH!".

Everyone watched in horror as the smell of burnt flesh and sight of dark flame consumed the old man… the screams of his agony did not stop for seconds.

"Ahhh!!! Ahh… ahh….".

…

The corpse turned to char, and with Fugaku's wave of hand the black flame dispersed instantly.

"Anyone who disobeys, is treason!", Fugaku said resolutely.

***

Fugaku returned to his study, feeling his knees weak. He collapses on his chair, letting out a sigh of relief it's all over.

Itachi came to his side, feeling proud for his father for the first time.

The two are silent, but both of them had an acknowledgement to each other that it's the best choice of action for the clan to survive.

***