On the bustling streets, Chizhao paused inside Ino's vibrant flower shop, joyfully admiring the colorful, blooming flowers.
"These are the seeds you wanted. Why the sudden interest in planting flowers?" Ino handed a small packet of carefully selected flower seeds to Chizhao, her voice full of curiosity and bewilderment.
"Because the place where I practice feels too plain, so I wanted to plant some flowers to add color," Chizhao explained honestly to Ino as she took the seeds, her face filled with anticipation.
"That sounds wonderful! When the flowers bloom, can I come visit your training spot?"
"Of course! When the flowers bloom, I'll invite you all to come over!" After waving goodbye to Ino with a smile, Chizhao headed towards the back mountain.
Shisui leaned back comfortably on the steps of the wooden cabin, basking in the warm sunlight, feeling lazy and content.
Hearing the rustling sound from the lawn, he slowly looked up and said softly, "You're here, Chizhao."
Chizhao clutched the flower seeds in her hand, her lips curving into an unconscious smile, and quickly ran across the small wooden bridge to sit beside Shisui.
"Brother Shisui, guess what I bought today?"
Shisui, faced with the 'no-prize guessing game' thrown at him, still played along, putting on a thoughtful expression.
"Is it dango?"
"No."
"Taiyaki?"
"Not that either. It's not something to eat."
Now Shisui was genuinely puzzled. He furrowed his brow, clearly a little surprised by the answer that wasn't food.
Every time, the little girl would bring some food. This time, he really couldn't guess anything other than food.
"It's flower seeds," Chizhao's voice was soft and gentle, like a feather, drifting in the breeze.
"I see. Chizhao wants to plant beautiful flowers around the wooden cabin, doesn't she?" Shisui turned his head, sensing the subtle movements of the girl beside him.
"Yes! That way, the little wooden cabin won't seem so monotonous, and I can invite my friends to come visit."
"That's wonderful. I really hope I can come and admire these beautiful flowers then."
Shisui's distinctly jointed hand gently patted Chizhao's head, as if reminding her not to forget her big brother.
"Of course! Brother Shisui can come anytime."
Just as the two were talking, a crow's cry pierced the sky, and a black feather floated gently down in front of Chizhao.
She looked up and saw Itachi squatting on the eaves in a Ninja's characteristic posture, gazing at them with deep eyes.
"Shisui, I have something to tell you."
The three moved inside the wooden cabin. Shisui and Itachi sat facing each other, and the atmosphere instantly became solemn.
Meanwhile, Chizhao sat by the window, meticulously sorting the flower seeds in her hand while also listening intently to their conversation.
"The clan is already planning a coup, and I have also informed Konoha of this intelligence."
Shisui's eyelashes trembled slightly, and Chizhao's prophecy now flashed in his mind.
"And then?" Faced with Shisui's question, Itachi lowered his head, clenching his jaw, as if the words he was about to say were difficult for him to utter.
After a struggle, Itachi's voice trembled: "The prediction was correct. The Konoha elders… indeed made me choose: either I personally slaughter the entire clan… or they will personally eliminate the Uchiha…"
Hearing this, a flower seed in Chizhao's hand accidentally slipped and fell to the ground, making a faint sound.
This day, it had finally arrived.
Shisui remained silent, his brows tightly furrowed.
Although he had been prepared, hearing Itachi's statement firsthand still deeply shook him.
"Itachi, what are your thoughts then…?" Shisui's voice was low and hoarse.
After all, he was now a 'dead' person, and the power to speak was not in his hands. Itachi's decision was key to the Uchiha's future.
Itachi, with a complex heart, turned his gaze towards Chizhao, who was leaning by the window.
"Is the Turtle Sage's messenger still here?"
Chizhao, momentarily disoriented, paused, then quickly grabbed Little Wang, who was sound asleep nearby, and woke him up in her mind.
"Little Wang, don't sleep! Time to work!"
"He's here!" Chizhao carefully placed the sleepy Little Wang on the table, her role seemingly reversed, as if she were now the little assistant.
"Regarding the plan to save the Uchiha, could you explain it in detail once more?" Based on Chizhao's voice in his mind, Little Wang raised his head, taking on the heavy responsibility of being the messenger.
The next morning, the plan to save the Uchiha quietly began.
Itachi, using the pretext of an external mission, placed the tempered film Chizhao gave him near the previously surveyed basin, to be used later to transfer his clansmen there.
Immediately after, he avoided other eyes and ears, and went alone to the Root's stronghold to meet Danzo Shimura.
In the dim indoor light, Itachi knelt on one knee expressionlessly, his activated Sharingan filled with complex patterns, emitting a dangerous aura.
Danzo, behind the screen, peered through the gap, captivated by those eyes.
He fantasized about possessing that power for himself.
"Have you made your decision, Itachi?" Danzo's cold and authoritative voice drifted from behind the screen.
"Yes. I have decided to personally carry out the mission to slaughter my clan, but please, Lord Danzo, do not harm the young Sasuke."
The air was filled with a musty, damp smell. Danzo observed Itachi's blurred figure through the screen, curling his lips in disdain: "Why do you think you have the right to negotiate with me?"
Itachi's gaze suddenly sharpened. He looked directly into Danzo's eyes through the gap in the screen, the threatening meaning of his Mangekyo self-evident: "I have written all of Konoha's intelligence on a scroll. If Sasuke's life is threatened by others, the crow sealed within will automatically sense it and send the scroll to an enemy nation…"
At these words, Danzo couldn't help but dangerously narrow his left eye, his sharp gaze piercing through the screen, directly at the hidden figure.
His hand gripping the armrest tightened unconsciously.
Looking at Uchiha Itachi, who exuded a murderous aura, Danzo felt a hint of apprehension.
Itachi might just be executing an empty fort strategy to intimidate him, but with his unfathomable strength, it wasn't impossible for him to achieve such a feat.
Amidst complex psychological struggles, Danzo knew that Konoha's future was not to be trifled with, and he would never dare to easily put it on the gambling table.
"Hmph, I didn't expect you had this trick up your sleeve. Alright, I agree."
"Thank you, Lord Danzo. I will take my leave now."
"Wait…" Itachi paused, turning slightly to listen to his next words.
"Be quick about it, understood?" Disgusted by Danzo's words, Itachi gritted his teeth in the shadows where the other couldn't see him.
After a normal-sounding reply, he pushed open the door and walked out.
Retreating from Danzo's chambers, Itachi walked directly through the dim corridor, pulled the tempered film from his combat uniform, and discreetly tossed it into an unnoticed corner.
He then walked out of the dim interior, stepped into the open ground outside, and was exposed to the sunlight.
He subtly scanned his surroundings, confirmed the positions of the Root members, and then, under their gaze, left this stronghold full of schemes and power struggles.
The sky was covered with layers of clouds, and the sun appeared and disappeared intermittently.
Hiruzen stood on the spacious balcony, his gaze following the flickering sun, his heart filled with desolation.
A gust of wind blew, and suddenly a young man he had long awaited appeared behind him.
The young man knelt on one knee, his soft, black hair drifting naturally in the wind.
"Itachi? It seems you've already made up your mind."
"Yes. I entrust Sasuke to the care of the Third Hokage."
Hiruzen slowly closed his eyes. Regarding this final outcome, his heart was filled with an unspeakable sense of regret.
However, the conflict had reached this point, and the peace plan had ended with Shisui's death; it seemed there were no other viable options.
"Then, when?"
"Three days from now."
The breeze, accompanied by leaves, swept across the sky, scattering their conversation in the sunlight.
A bird flew over their heads, soaring freely in the Konoha sky.
The wind outlined its wings, smooth and white.
It gracefully weaved through the crowd and between rooftops, in several beautiful arcs of flight.
Finally, it perched on a dense tree, its head tilted playfully, meeting the gaze of the thoughtful girl by the window.
This sudden bird made Chizhao's thoughts pause for a moment.
She smiled slightly, her eyes filled with a prayer.
Oh, little bird yearning for freedom, please bring peace to the world.