As in the original storyline, Naruto left the village with Jiraiya to train.
If everything went as expected, he wouldn't return until three years later.
Thinking of this, Aburame Shigeo reached out and ruffled Naruto's golden hair.
"Make sure you train hard with Jiraiya-sensei. If you have the chance, visit Mount Myoboku more often and build a good relationship with Fukasaku and Shima. Got it?"
"Got it!" Naruto replied enthusiastically before slinging on his massive backpack and heading off.
With his departure, Team 7 under Kakashi was officially disbanded.
However, compared to the original storyline where Sasuke defected, the current events were unfolding far more positively.
The next morning, on his way to work, Shigeo ran into two "familiar faces": Sakura and Ino.
Ever since Sasuke joined the Special Police Force, the two had become regular visitors there.
They constantly dropped by with packed lunches and snacks for Sasuke.
Thanks to their dedication, Sasuke rarely accepted mission rewards and would instead receive double merit points, which he used to exchange for bloodworms.
The irony was that he shamelessly accepted their kindness while consistently maintaining a cold attitude toward them. He had mastered the art of "eating free lunches" to an almost philosophical level.
Because of this, many within the Special Police Force found him insufferable. Yet Sasuke remained oblivious.
His innate arrogance kept him from actively forming bonds with others, leaving him without a team. He operated solo and usually handled low-difficulty missions.
Fortunately, now that he had awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan, his power had grown significantly, allowing him to take on more challenging tasks independently.
"What kind of mission should I give him? Maybe something akin to the original storyline…"
Shigeo's eyes glinted with cold resolve.
Just then, with a loud **bang**, the office door burst open.
Sasuke stood in the doorway, his outstretched hand still on the door, frozen mid-motion.
Seeing this, Shigeo narrowed his eyes slightly and adjusted his sunglasses.
"So, you're here? I thought you'd take a few days off."
"No need," Sasuke replied, stepping inside and stopping right in front of Shigeo. His Mangekyo Sharingan activated, the tomoe spinning in his eyes.
"I've mastered these eyes. Now I want the truth—the truth about the Uchiha Clan's massacre and my family's deaths. Tell me who I need to take revenge on!"
"…"
Shigeo stared at Sasuke's hexagram pupils and the intense hatred on his face. A trace of pity flickered in his eyes.
"This guy has just escaped the hatred Itachi left behind, only to plunge into another abyss of vengeance. If I don't give him a target, he'll lose control."
Resolving himself, Shigeo adopted a serious expression.
"It's time for you to know the truth. Fine, I'll tell you everything."
With that, he waved his hand. A surge of chakra sealed the office door shut.
Turning his back to Sasuke, Shigeo began speaking.
"Sasuke, did you know? The Uchiha Clan's position in the Hidden Leaf Village was always precarious. The villagers were never exactly friendly toward the Uchiha."
"What does that have to do with the truth?" Sasuke frowned.
"Everything."
Shigeo turned to face him.
"Your father, Uchiha Fugaku, wanted to change that. The Fourth Hokage's rise had given him hope. But then the Fourth Hokage died!"
Shigeo's expression darkened.
"Someone controlled the Nine-Tails using a Mangekyo Sharingan and unleashed it on the village. The Fourth Hokage and his wife sacrificed their lives to stop it."
"What? Mangekyo Sharingan?"
Sasuke's face was filled with shock.
"You're saying the Nine-Tails that attacked the village was under the control of an Uchiha? Who was it?"
"A masked man claiming to be Uchiha Madara," Shigeo said with a sarcastic smile.
"Madara was a legendary figure. If he truly wanted to attack the village, why would he hide his identity? The real culprit was Kakashi's former teammate—Uchiha Obito."
"Uchiha Obito?" Sasuke's brows furrowed. "An Uchiha? But why would he do that?"
"That's something only he knows."
Shigeo returned to his seat and rested his hands on the desk, fixing his gaze on Sasuke.
"The Nine-Tails incident killed the Fourth Hokage and his wife, and it left the Uchiha Clan distrusted by the village's leadership. Their compound was relocated to the village outskirts, isolating them further."
"…"
Sasuke fell silent.
Scenes from his childhood flashed through his mind, stirring long-buried memories.
His brows knitted tighter.
"I already knew about the villagers' mistrust. But how is this connected to the Uchiha Clan's annihilation?"
"It's entirely connected!"
Shigeo's expression grew solemn.
"Many in the Uchiha Clan were ambitious and craved power. They refused to accept their marginalization and began plotting a coup d'état."
"What?" Sasuke was stunned, disbelief etched across his face. "The Uchiha Clan planned a coup? And my father…?"
"Uchiha Fugaku was the mastermind."
Shigeo slammed his hand on the desk.
"Utter foolishness! To think they could challenge the village with just one clan's power. It was a path to self-destruction, just like the Kaguya Clan in the Hidden Mist!"
"…"
Sasuke was speechless, overwhelmed by the shocking revelation.
Shigeo continued.
"Uchiha Shisui tried to stop it, but he failed. His death delayed the coup for a year and a half, and it awakened Itachi's Mangekyo Sharingan."
"Shisui…?" Sasuke bit his lip, a hint of sorrow in his eyes.
"So my brother knew the truth all along. No wonder… And then? What happened next? Did the Uchiha rebel?"
"No."
Shigeo shook his head.
"The rebellion never had the chance. When their plans were exposed, Danzo approached Itachi and gave him two choices: perish alongside his clan or…"
Shigeo didn't finish, but Sasuke's expression darkened in understanding.
Eyes brimming with fury and hatred, Sasuke clenched his teeth and growled, "Or spare me and slaughter the entire clan himself, right?"
*(End of Chapter)*