Thoughts

Luna was also feeling uneasy, wondering if this would arouse suspicion. But not becoming a normal ninja was the first step; Itachi would suspect something no matter what. Now she just needed to find a suitable excuse to use connections.

The boy with the low ponytail stared blankly for a moment. There were very few people who didn't want to be a ninja. Itachi remembered Izumi from before; she seemed to want to become a ninja as soon as possible to help ease her mother's burden.

Itachi hesitated for a moment, then pulled Izumi a little further away, his tone very gentle: "What happened?"

"I'm in the hospital..." Luna lowered her head and bit her lip, talking about how she saw the injured people brought back to the hospital, their wounds covered in blood, and it was as if she saw her own future and her mother's face full of despair.

“Itachi-kun, am I being cowardly? But a person who is afraid of death can never become a proper ninja. A weak person like me will only hold everyone back. I’m afraid my mother will cry, and I’m even more afraid of causing my teammates to die…”

As Itachi listened to Luna's sobbing complaints, he reached out and patted her shoulder. He hadn't expected his girlfriend to be so frightened in the hospital, but considering her gentle and humble nature, it was understandable that she was afraid of holding him back.

Her eyes were full of hope just now; she must have been under immense pressure to tell herself that. She didn't even dare tell her mother, afraid of disappointing her.

"She can only rely on me now." Itachi sighed inwardly. He didn't have any plans for his girlfriend's career. After marriage, most women stayed at home as housewives, and it wasn't a big deal if they didn't become ninjas.

"If you don't want to be a ninja, what do you want to do?"

"Itachi-kun?" Luna's face showed surprise, joy, and... even more hesitation.

"Tell me your plans." Itachi's voice remained calm; he was only initially surprised.

Indeed, women in this world don't need any ambition.

Luna breathed a sigh of relief; this made her backdoor deal perfectly legitimate. She stole a glance at Itachi, then immediately lowered her head, stealing another glance before slowly speaking, her voice unusually hesitant:

"I can write and do math, and I can even bake desserts. Besides, you know I love reading, and I can write documents too. If I had to pursue a career related to ninjas, I'd like to be a teacher. Don't you... think I'm unambitious?"

"You're all your mother has left." Itachi stroked her head, his dark eyes filled with tenderness. What had just flashed through his mind was so fleeting that he almost couldn't catch it.

Perhaps, Izumi making this choice wasn't a bad thing.

Luna loosened her fingers from the hand seal, glanced at Kakashi and Guy, and seemed to realize she shouldn't have struck up a conversation. Blushing, she said goodbye to Itachi and ran off. She had achieved her goal: to observe Itachi's reaction for the time being.

Even if the Third Hokage couldn't become an ally, she wanted to tell the Hokage that the Uchiha clan wasn't a monolithic entity; there were many people living ordinary lives. Even if they didn't feel compassion, they should at least take some action.

As long as she isn't ignored, she can continue performing this act.

Luna returned home, sat cross-legged and meditated for a while before constructing a spiritual form using chakra. She was small, wearing only a floral dress, with light purple hair tied into two low ponytails hanging down her chest, and a pair of fiery red eyes.

This is Luna's appearance in her previous life, a mental construct she created. In her previous life, her mental strength was insufficient to construct such a mental entity, but now, with the Sharingan's enhancement, creating one is effortless.

In the magical world, this kind of technique is called a "thought entity," referring to an illusion that splits off from a core soul and becomes an independent personality. It can function perfectly well even without the original body's command.

The biggest difference between it and a shadow clone is that one is like a soul, while the other has a physical form. Each has its own use for Luna; now is the time to use the thought clone.

Luna, in her thought form, passed through the wall and vanished instantly.

From Izumi Uchiha's memories, Luna sensed that Itachi was a contradictory person. On one hand, he was kind, and on the other hand, he was brainwashed by the ninja code, and even killing indiscriminately did not shake his beliefs.

Therefore, she speculated that when Itachi discovered internal divisions within the Uchiha clan, he would report it to the Third Hokage immediately. His reasons were loyalty and hope.

Despite Itachi's ruthless extermination of his clan, a part of his goodness made him subconsciously grasp at hope. Even though his heart told him it was futile, he couldn't help but 'struggle'.

As for the children and the elderly being implicated in the future, he wouldn't think it was because Konoha was ruthless, but rather because the Uchiha were too shameless and dared to do such a heinous thing.

This thought process is ridiculous!

Hmm, not hard to guess.

As for the Third Hokage, we'll have to observe him more closely.

Luna followed Itachi to gather information, and after Kakashi and Guy left the Uchiha clan, she went to report to the Third Hokage. She also mentioned that a large portion of the Uchiha clan members had not participated in the clan meeting voluntarily.

The Third Hokage sat upright in his chair, a pipe dangling from his mouth, puffing out smoke rings. His eyes were slightly narrowed, and his silent demeanor conveyed a sense of profound mystery.

"What do you think we should do?" the Third Hokage asked Itachi, since it was a matter for the Uchiha clan.

【Ha!】 Luna sneered. This old fox, as expected, had been pretending to be crazy all along.

She found it strange; how could the Third Hokage, at his advanced age and in charge of the Sarutobi clan, be unaware of clan affairs? It turned out he knew everything, yet he chose to make things difficult for a mere 12-year-old brat.

No matter how smart Itachi Uchiha was, he was never taught by the old fox how to outmaneuver these old men.

"I want to try to win these people over." Itachi wasn't completely without thought, but his ideas were still too naive.

"Then give it a try."

Luna looked at Itachi's grateful face and couldn't bear to watch. The Third Hokage hadn't given any positive feedback, not even a false promise, yet he was already acting like he'd been won over.

Brainwashed people are truly terrifying!

>>>>

When Itachi got home, his heart was pounding. The Uchiha clan was so ambitious now. If some of them wanted to change careers like Koizumi, would his father not have raised the banner of rebellion?

Only my mother was home; my younger brother was at school, and my father was at work. My mother was busy in the kitchen, wearing an apron and moving around. Steam rose from the soup pot, and the aroma filled the air, bringing with it the warmth and coziness of home.

"Mother, I'm back."

Mikoto paused for a moment before turning around and smiling to welcome her son: "Welcome back."

"Let me help you." Itachi had something to say today, so he was naturally extra attentive.

Mikoto could tell that her eldest son had something on his mind, so she didn't make him stop. Instead, the two of them worked together, and she asked him if his work was going well.

Itachi answered each question, then casually asked, "I remember you are skilled in managing accounts."

"What's the matter?"

"Koizumi..." Itachi slowly told her about Izumi's troubles, about how she wanted to find other jobs but didn't dare tell her mother.

"Hazuki has had a tough time. She might actually be happy." Mikoto sighed as she listened to this. She lost her husband at a young age and raised her daughter alone. If something were to happen to her daughter, she really wouldn't be able to bear it.

"Huh?" Itachi was slightly taken aback. Didn't he feel ashamed for not becoming a ninja?

“I’m a mother too. We just want our children to be well. Whether they are successful or not is not important.” Mikoto’s words seemed to have a hidden meaning.

Itachi pursed his lips, his hands continuing to wash the dishes. He knew he had worried his mother.

"Hazuki would feel more at ease if she had a respectable job. Teacher or accountant are both good options, but she's too young right now." Mikoto frowned. Apart from ninja, other professions have certain age requirements.

Itachi continued wiping the dishes without interrupting. Koizumi was only 12 years old. It was impossible for her to become a teacher, and other industries wouldn't hire someone so young. Otherwise, she would only be able to do odd jobs.

Luna's mental form didn't manifest; she simply stood to the side. Her mental energy flowed towards Mikoto's pupa, leaving behind a fleeting thought, and she waited quietly beside her.

"The security force's accounts need to be sorted out. I'll take her there tomorrow to try," Mikoto said after thinking for a moment. The security force also belongs to the ninja system, so recruiting a clerical staff member is still an option.

Luna breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed that this kind of method that sparked a 'bright idea' was also feasible in the ninja world.

"The garrison's accounts?"

"We can do this for now, and consider other options when Koizumi is two years older."

Itachi didn't object. Hazuki Uchiha worked odd jobs and had been raising her daughter alone for years. Koizumi wanted to start working as soon as possible to help ease her mother's burden. The security detail wasn't dangerous, and if she only did bookkeeping, she'd have plenty of free time.

Luna's mental form breathed a sigh of relief. Now that the matter was settled, she could go and monitor Danzo. To get rid of that bastard, she absolutely couldn't let any intelligence slip by.

Meanwhile, Luna's true form was chatting with Hazuki about their future plans; she would soon be starting work at the police force. As for the Third Hokage's approach, it was a dead end; if she had to choose sides, the Third Hokage would definitely side with Danzo.

"If we want him to take a stand, we'll have to use a moral high ground to put him on the defensive. I'll give it a try." Luna felt that the Uchiha clan was still outnumbered and isolated, so it would be better for more clans to get involved.

"Why? Why is the Third Hokage so harsh on the Uchiha?" Hazuki couldn't understand. The Uchiha had made many concessions, moved their clan territory, and given up a lot. Wasn't that enough?

Luna couldn't help but laugh, and her words became even more blunt: "He's old now, and he's become weak."

An aging and weakened ruler is most intolerant of the slightest provocation. The current Third Hokage is extremely sensitive, and his leniency towards Danzo naturally has other reasons. If the Fourth Hokage were alive, things would not have been so different. The Fourth Hokage, in his prime, was broad-minded and more driven; he would have only thought of subduing the Uchiha, not suppressing them to the point of extermination.

When you compare the two, doesn't it show that the two generations are old?

The three generations haven't even looked for their own reasons or reflected on them properly.

Fourth generation?

The title made Hazuki momentarily dazed. Back then, Lord Minato was the undisputed male god of their generation. The name "Yellow Flash" shone brightest not only in other villages but also within the village itself. The youngest Hokage in history, and also the most handsome.

"Lord Minato?"

Seeing her absent-minded look, Luna smiled playfully, propped her chin on her hand, and chuckled to cheer her up: "(*^▽^*) Oh my~ Lord Minato?"

Hazuki: o(*////▽////*)q This kid!