Reincarnated as Itachi Uchiha at the Start

The selection process for the Twelve Guardian Ninja was in full swing, making the Land of Fire exceptionally lively.

Izumi Uchiha quietly followed behind the Daimyo's wife of the Land of Fire. By her side was Naori Uchiha, shadowing her every move. Itachi had specially assigned Naori to protect Izumi, his aim being to prevent anyone from acting desperately and harming her.

"Izumi, I hear Itachi became clan head?" The Daimyo's wife glanced at Naori Uchiha, who was clad in Uchiha clan attire, silently carrying a sword, and discreetly following Izumi Uchiha. She asked in a low voice.

"Yes," Izumi Uchiha nodded blissfully, her face full of pride and triumph.

"No wonder Itachi assigned a guard for you. It seems Itachi truly loves you." The Daimyo's wife took a long, meaningful look at Naori Uchiha, with her long purple hair, sunglasses, Konoha forehead protector, and a sword tied at her waist with bandages. This woman walked silently, didn't even seem to breathe, like an emotionless assassin. Coupled with her extremely low presence, if not for the Uchiha clan's fan symbol tattooed on her back, she would have almost mistaken her for a member of the Aburame clan.

"Madam, Naori-senpai isn't my guard. I've always regarded her as a mentor and an older sister, and as for Itachi and I..." Izumi Uchiha's pretty face flushed, and she quickly tried to explain.

"Alright, alright, I know, I know. She's your sister, not your guard," the Daimyo's wife said with a playful chuckle, covering her mouth.

Izumi Uchiha, blushing fiercely, said nothing.

"But, Itachi finally came to his senses. The moment he became clan head, he immediately sent someone to protect you. It truly seems he cares deeply for you."

"Little Izumi~ Guess what? Is Itachi perhaps declaring his authority to our Daimyo's Estate, wanting to take you back from me to be the matriarch of the clan?"

Izumi Uchiha's pretty face turned scarlet: "Madam, Itachi wouldn't! Itachi and I are only thirteen; we can't marry yet."

"Oh my, oh my, I didn't even say anything, and you're already thinking about marriage. It seems my little Izumi can't wait to marry Itachi, can she?"

"Madam!" Izumi Uchiha stomped her foot, her face so red it looked like it was about to smoke.

"Oh, right, I can't let little Izumi do odd jobs anymore. What if Clan Head Itachi gets upset?" The Daimyo's wife teased, feigning concern.

"Madam~" Izumi Uchiha whined, protesting.

"Hehehe~"

"Alright, alright. I won't tease you anymore. What if I upset my little Izumi and anger Clan Head Itachi? Our Daimyo's Estate couldn't bear the Uchiha's wrath!" Seeing Izumi's shy reaction, the Daimyo's wife giggled.

Naori Uchiha gave the Daimyo's wife a deep look. The Daimyo's wife's mocking tone carried veiled implications, even a hint of warning. True to her nature as someone who had triumphed in palace intrigue to become the Daimyo's wife, her every word and action held deep meaning.

Naori Uchiha subtly touched Izumi's arm. Their eyes met, and Izumi Uchiha understood immediately. Her face turned pale, and she quickly knelt down, hastily explaining, "Madam, Itachi has always been loyal to the Land of Fire, loyal to the Daimyo's Estate! His patriotic heart is clear to heaven and earth, witnessed by the sun and moon!"

"Please, don't believe malicious slander!"

"Oh my, little Izumi, what are you doing?" The Daimyo's wife exclaimed in surprise, quickly helping Izumi up. "I was just saying it casually, you know."

"Look how flustered you are."

"Oh. Don't cry, don't cry."

"Look how scared you are," the Daimyo's wife said sympathetically, wiping Izumi Uchiha's tear-filled eyes.

"Madam, Itachi truly has no ill intentions towards the Daimyo. You must believe me!" Izumi Uchiha sniffled, urgently.

"I understand, I understand," the Daimyo's wife said, comforting and teasing at the same time. "What, my little Izumi hasn't even married into the clan yet, and she's already thinking of Itachi?"

"I'm not, I didn't, I just don't want you to misunderstand Itachi, I don't want you to misunderstand the Uchiha," Izumi Uchiha sniffled, defending herself.

"Alright, alright, I know," the Daimyo's wife was clearly pleased with Izumi Uchiha's answer, then asked, "I heard that quite a few of your Uchiha clan members died last night?"

"Huh? How did you know?" Izumi Uchiha was startled.

"It's obvious. Fugaku is in his prime, yet he retired so early; clearly, something major happened to the Uchiha."

"I heard that Konoha's leadership has long been dissatisfied with you Uchiha and has been trying to get rid of you."

"Left with no choice, you Uchiha had to cripple yourselves, pushing Itachi into leadership to earn the higher-ups' laughable trust."

"Just like how the Hyuga clan sacrificed Hizashi back then, in exchange for so-called peace."

"And Itachi, as an Anbu, clearly aligns with the Hokage's faction's interests."

"Itachi taking over the Uchiha clan is equivalent to the Hokage's faction indirectly taking over the Uchiha clan."

"Isn't that right?" the Daimyo's wife asked.

"Y-yes, that's right," Izumi Uchiha replied bitterly.

"So, to prevent the Hokage's faction from harming you, or using you to threaten him, Itachi had no choice but to send you to the Daimyo's Estate to seek our protection, and had her guard you constantly, correct?" The Daimyo's wife said, her words full of profound meaning.

"Huh? How did you know?" Izumi Uchiha was stunned.

"Silly girl, if Itachi truly held all the power, if he truly controlled the Uchiha clan, he would never let the woman he loves be someone else's servant. He'd be too worried about her."

"If you were truly safe, why would he specifically send someone to protect you?"

"So, there's only one possibility: Itachi himself is a puppet, and he's afraid others will harm you, which is why he sent someone to protect you," the Daimyo's wife said.

"Y-yes, that's right. Itachi is actually having a very difficult time," Izumi Uchiha said, worried.

"Izumi, I have a plan that could make Itachi the Hokage and allow you to marry him. Are you willing to hear it?" the Daimyo's wife asked.

"What plan?" Izumi Uchiha and Naori Uchiha exchanged glances before Izumi replied.

"Today's Konoha is corrupt. The quartet led by Hiruzen Sarutobi collude with each other, acting perversely, turning all of Konoha into a chaotic mess, filled with lamentations, with countless Konoha villagers dying at their hands."

"The former Senju clan and Uzumaki clan were even driven to near extinction by them."

"Even your Uchiha clan and the Hyuga clan have suffered greatly under their persecution by these four major families, and it won't be long before you follow in the footsteps of the Senju and Uzumaki clans."

"Therefore, for the peace of the Land of Fire, the Daimyo's Estate has decided to take action against the political group of four led by Hiruzen Sarutobi."

"The Twelve Guardian Ninja is the first step of our plan!"

"What do you say? Is your Uchiha clan interested in participating? If so, our Daimyo's Estate can agree to support Itachi as the Fifth Hokage and promise to marry you to Itachi, making you the First Lady of Konoha."

"If not, then consider this conversation never happened, and you may return to the Uchiha clan. Let's just pretend nothing happened today," the Daimyo's wife said.

"This... I can't decide this on my own. But, could I discuss it with Itachi?" Izumi Uchiha asked.

"You may," the Daimyo's wife smiled radiantly.

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