Izuna leaned forward, his expression serious as he continued. "Danzo is a threat that needs to be dealt with sooner rather than later. He's a danger not just to the Uchiha, but to the entire village. I mentioned his name because the sooner he's taken out, the better."
Itachi frowned. "Many in the village consider Danzo to be a hero. He's been protecting Konoha from the shadows for years."
"Which is precisely why he needs to be disgraced before he can be executed," Izuna replied sharply. "If we don't expose him for who he truly is, there will always be those who will see him as a martyr, as someone who died for Konoha's sake. But if we can prove his treachery, if we can show that he was stealing from his own village, then no one will mourn him. He'll be remembered as the traitor he truly is."
Shisui narrowed his eyes. "You're that certain he has a Sharingan?"
"I am," Izuna replied without hesitation. "You see, for a transplant to work, there has to be an eye placed into the socket. If someone is missing an eye, the wound eventually closes, and it becomes nearly impossible to insert a new one. Danzo has kept his right eye covered for years. If he suddenly reveals that he has a functioning eye in the future, it means he's had that Sharingan implanted all along. It's not just a theory—it's a fact."
Itachi's eyes widened slightly, the implications of what Izuna was saying becoming clearer. "And if we can prove he has a stolen Sharingan…"
Izuna nodded. "Then he'll be executed. Even if he somehow manages to clear his name of any involvement in the Nine-Tails attack, the fact that he stole a bloodline from his own village would be enough to warrant execution. It's an unforgivable crime, one that the village will not tolerate."
Shisui let out a low whistle, clearly impressed. "You're planning to use the village's own laws against him."
"Precisely," Izuna said with a smirk. "Danzo may be powerful, but he's not invincible. And the moment he oversteps, the moment he reveals that Sharingan, we'll have him."
Itachi was silent for a moment, processing everything he'd just learned. "You've thought this through."
"I've had a lot of time to think," Izuna replied with a shrug. "Danzo is dangerous, but he's also arrogant. He believes himself untouchable. And that will be his downfall."
The Uchiha duo exchanged a glance, a silent understanding passing between them. It was clear that they were starting to see the full picture, to understand just how deep Danzo's treachery ran.
Finally, Itachi spoke, his voice calm but determined. "We'll do what we can to gather more information. But be careful, Izuna. If Danzo suspects that you're onto him, he won't hesitate to eliminate you."
Izuna offered a small, almost amused smile. "Let him try."
As the door closed behind Itachi and Shisui, Izuna leaned against the wall, releasing a deep breath he didn't realize he had been holding. The tension in the room dissipated, but his mind remained sharp, racing through the implications of the conversation.
He hadn't mentioned Obito or Madara during their discussion. Bringing up such grand plans would have only sounded unbelievable, even to the Uchiha duo. They were already grappling with the truth about Danzo's treachery; adding the names of legendary figures to the mix would have pushed their trust to the breaking point. For now, Danzo was the immediate threat, and that's where his focus needed to lie.
A flicker of anger coursed through him as he thought about Obito. That traitor had caused immeasurable pain and suffering, not just to the Uchiha clan but to the entire village. Izuna's resolve hardened. The moment he came across Obito, he wouldn't hesitate. He didn't fear the man, not even without his Sharingan. There was a fury within him that would drive him to take down Obito once and for all.
And then there was Nagato. Izuna knew the power of the Rinnegan, the potential destruction it could bring if left unchecked. He envisioned a future where Nagato was dead, his eyes destroyed and the threat of the Fourth Shinobi War eliminated before it even had a chance to start. Izuna would track Nagato down, and he would end him, ensuring that the cycle of war and pain could be broken.
The shadows of past failures, the weight of loss and betrayal, fueled Izuna's determination. He was no longer just a blind, one-handed man; he was a warrior with a mission, a protector of his home.
With a sense of purpose igniting within him, Izuna picked up his walking stick, preparing to head back out into the streets of Konoha. The sun was beginning to set, casting long shadows across the village, but he felt a new light guiding his path. He would gather information, watch for threats, and prepare for the inevitable confrontations ahead.
In this war-torn world, he would be the force that shifted the balance, the one who would ensure that no more blood was spilled in the name of ambition and betrayal. The names of Obito and Nagato would soon join the list of those who had underestimated him.
Izuna made his way through the familiar streets of Konoha, tapping his walking stick along the ground as he navigated his path. Despite his blindness, he moved with ease and confidence, his senses heightened to the point where he could identify each step, each sound, and even the subtle changes in the wind. He had learned to thrive in darkness, to turn his disability into strength.
As he approached the academy, he could already hear Naruto's excited voice, chatting animatedly with some of his classmates. The moment Naruto spotted him, his face lit up with a wide grin, and he rushed over, taking Izuna's hand in his own. "Hey, Uncle Izuna! How was your day?" Naruto asked eagerly.
Izuna smiled, patting Naruto's head. "It was good, Naruto. But more importantly, how was yours? Did you learn anything new today?"
"Yeah! Iruka-sensei said I did a great job on the shuriken throwing! I hit the target almost every time!" Naruto beamed, clearly proud of himself.
"That's excellent. You're getting better," Izuna praised him, letting Naruto lead the way. They made their way toward the park, where Naruto liked to play for a bit before heading home. As usual, Naruto joined some of the other children, laughing and running around, while Izuna took a seat on a nearby bench, listening to the lively chatter around him.
In time, the sun began to dip below the horizon, casting a warm orange glow over the village. Naruto ran up to him, his cheeks flushed from running. "Uncle, can we go to Ichiraku Ramen now? You promised!" Naruto reminded him with a hopeful look in his eyes.
Izuna chuckled softly. "Yes, yes, I did promise, didn't I? You've earned it, Naruto, especially with how hard you worked today." He stood up, and Naruto eagerly grabbed his hand, guiding him through the streets of Konoha as they headed towards their favorite ramen stand.
Ichiraku Ramen was already bustling with customers, but the moment they stepped inside, Teuchi, the owner, greeted them warmly. "Ah, Naruto, Izuna! Your usual seats are open. Come on in!"
Naruto practically bounced over to the counter, pulling Izuna along with him. "Two bowls, please! One for me and one for Uncle Izuna!" Naruto exclaimed.
Izuna chuckled again. "Make that three. I think Naruto's appetite has grown since last time," he added with a knowing smile.
As they waited, Naruto began to excitedly recount his day at the academy, talking about his lessons, his friends, and even a prank or two that he had pulled. Izuna listened intently, offering words of encouragement or advice whenever necessary. These moments with Naruto, where they could simply be family enjoying a meal together, were the moments Izuna treasured the most.
Soon, their steaming bowls of ramen were placed in front of them, and Naruto wasted no time digging in. Izuna took his time, savoring the flavors and the warmth of the broth. "You did well today, Naruto," he said quietly, reaching out to ruffle Naruto's hair. "I'm proud of you."
Naruto paused, his eyes shining with gratitude and happiness. "Thanks, Uncle Izuna. I'll keep working hard, just like you taught me."
And as they sat together, enjoying their meal, Izuna felt a sense of peace wash over him. In that moment, despite the challenges, the dangers, and the uncertainties that lay ahead, everything felt right. They had each other, and that was enough.
Izuna noticed the subtle shift in Naruto's behavior over time, but he hadn't expected it to come to this. When Naruto first started calling him "Uncle Izuna," it had taken him by surprise, and for a brief moment, he felt something stir within him—something warm and fulfilling. It was a simple title, but for Naruto, it meant everything. It provided him with a sense of belonging and normalcy, something he had been denied for so long.
Naruto often heard the other kids at the academy talk about their families, how their parents or siblings would come to pick them up, and how they'd spend time together at home. The more Naruto heard, the more he began to feel the absence of those things in his own life. It became even more apparent when some of the children asked about Izuna. "Who's that old man who picks you up?" they'd ask, some with genuine curiosity, while others snickered behind their hands.
"Is he your grandpa?" one of the braver ones asked one day, and Naruto had scowled, the insult to his caretaker cutting deeper than any taunt aimed at himself. "No! He's not my grandpa! He's my... he's my uncle!" Naruto had blurted out the first thing that came to his mind, and the words had felt right. They stuck with him after that, and Izuna didn't have the heart to correct him.
Naruto seemed so proud of himself whenever he introduced Izuna as "Uncle," as if that simple word could make others see what Naruto saw in him—someone who was always there, someone who cared. And if that gave Naruto a sense of pride and joy, then who was Izuna to take that away?
One evening, after they had finished their sparring session, Naruto collapsed onto the ground, breathing heavily, his face flushed with excitement. "You did well today, Naruto," Izuna said, kneeling beside him. "Your chakra control is improving, and you're getting faster."
Naruto beamed up at him, wiping the sweat from his forehead. "Thanks, Uncle Izuna!" he said cheerfully, and Izuna couldn't help but smile. It still felt strange to be called that, but it warmed his heart every time.
"Why the sudden change, Naruto?" Izuna asked casually, though he already knew the answer.
Naruto looked away for a moment, fiddling with a loose thread on his sleeve. "Well... the kids at the academy kept asking about you, and I thought... I thought it'd be cool to have an uncle, you know?" He glanced up at Izuna, his eyes earnest. "Is that okay?"
Izuna's smile softened, and he ruffled Naruto's hair. "It's more than okay, Naruto. I'm honored."
Naruto's eyes lit up, and he jumped to his feet, grabbing Izuna's hand. "Good! Because you're the best uncle ever!" he declared, and for a moment, all the worries, all the dangers lurking in the shadows, seemed to fade away.
The next few days at the academy were different. Naruto held his head a little higher, his chest puffed out as he proudly told anyone who would listen about his "uncle." And whenever someone tried to mock Izuna's white hair or his blindness, Naruto would jump to his defense, his voice loud and fierce, declaring that his uncle was the strongest, smartest, and coolest shinobi in the entire village.
"He's just old!" one kid had taunted.
"Yeah, well, old means wise, and Uncle Izuna knows more jutsu than all your dads put together!" Naruto shot back, and Izuna couldn't help but chuckle when he heard about it later.
One afternoon, as they sat together in their small apartment, Naruto looked up from his homework and said, "Uncle Izuna, why don't you ever get mad when they call you names? Doesn't it bother you?"
Izuna paused, setting down the book he had been reading. "People will always find something to mock or ridicule, Naruto," he said softly. "What they say doesn't define who I am. What matters is how I see myself and how those who truly know me see me. And I have you, don't I?"
Naruto nodded, his eyes wide and thoughtful. "Yeah, you do."
"Then that's all that matters," Izuna said with a smile. "Let others think what they want. We know the truth."
Naruto grinned. "You're right! You're the best uncle ever, and I'm the luckiest ninja in Konoha!"
Izuna's heart swelled with pride, and he reached out to ruffle Naruto's hair again. "And I'm the luckiest uncle," he replied, his voice warm. "Now, finish your homework, or we'll be late for training."
"Yes, Uncle Izuna!" Naruto chirped, and as he turned back to his work, Izuna couldn't help but feel grateful for the bond they had formed—a bond that went beyond blood, beyond titles, and beyond the taunts and whispers of others. They were family, and that was all that mattered.
Author Note:
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