"Rinnegan?"
"The final evolution of the Sharingan is actually the legendary eyes of the Six Paths Sage?"
"And also..."
"What did Minato Namikaze say?"
"Uchiha Jin killed the Six Paths Sage?"
"Isn't he a legendary figure?"
"To think he actually lived until now, only to be killed by Uchiha Jin?"
"And then, an unknown enemy!"
"An unknown enemy that even Uchiha Jin, who opened the Rinnegan and killed the Six Paths Sage, finds troublesome and can only try his best to find helpers for?"
Although the information Minato Namikaze revealed was not much, Itachi was still shocked after hearing these words.
There were too many things he couldn't wrap his head around!
However... now was not the time to think about these things, so he immediately nodded: "Alright, I understand."
"I will follow your command!"
Clearly, after the incident where the clan was nearly wiped out, and having been pulled back by Shisui, he had a new assessment of his own abilities.
He was passable as an executor, but he really wasn't qualified to be a commander!
However... looking at Minato Namikaze, who had served as the Fourth Hokage, and Orochimaru, the supreme commander during the Second and Third Great Ninja Wars, he hesitated for a moment before asking: "For the sake of the Village's peace, I previously intended to wipe out the Uchiha Clan."
"Could the two of you give me a fair evaluation of this?"
"I want to know what my previous actions really count for in the eyes of those in power?"
Almost instantly, as Uchiha Itachi spoke, both Minato Namikaze and Orochimaru fell silent.
After a long while, Orochimaru was the first to give an evaluation: "Foolish, in every aspect!"
"You were clearly thoroughly brainwashed by the Old Man. If you can casually wipe out a clan simply for the sake of the Village's peace, then what if you were told to wipe out all of Konoha for the sake of peace in the entire Ninja World?"
"Would you do it?"
"You are the epitome of Uchiha extremist thinking. In my opinion, among the Uchiha, you are even the most extreme one."
"Although the Village is so hostile toward the Uchiha, the main reason is that the Old Man's strength is not high, and the Uchiha Clan produces many strong individuals. He chose to be hostile toward the Uchiha because he didn't want to give up his power..."
"But no matter who becomes Hokage, they would actually be wary of the Uchiha!"
"Strength is actually secondary. The main thing is that after awakening the Mangekyo, every Uchiha becomes extremely extreme."
"Your behavior is proof of that!"
As Orochimaru spoke, Uchiha Itachi's heart sank instantly.
That's right! He was indeed too arrogant, too extreme!
If he could sacrifice the Uchiha Clan for the peace of the Village, then couldn't he sacrifice Konoha for the peace of the Ninja World?
On the other side, before Uchiha Itachi could think it through, Minato Namikaze's words poured into his ears.
"Standing from the perspective of a Hokage, your actions were also extremely wrong!"
"I can understand Hiruzen Sarutobi's choice. After all, he is old and frail now. If he wants to continue maintaining his rule over the Village, he must eliminate the strong individuals who threaten him, so that he can wait for someone new within his clan to take up the position of Hokage."
"But that man, Hiruzen Sarutobi, no longer has the qualification to bear the title of 'Hokage'."
"Have you thought about how the Village, already extremely weak, would face the other Four Great Shinobi Villages after wiping out the Uchiha?"
"And even as a blade, you are actually quite unqualified."
"You—are too sharp!"
"Today you can destroy your own clan for the sake of the Village, but what about when you grow up and your mind matures in the future?"
"The reason Hiruzen Sarutobi can fool you now is actually because you are too young, and your mental state is still in an extremely immature condition."
"But, don't forget!"
"You will slowly grow up. What happens when you realize Hiruzen Sarutobi's actions weren't actually for the future of Konoha, but to protect his own Hokage authority, and to allow the Sarutobi Clan to continue leeching off the Village?"
"You will definitely discover this; it is an unquestionable fact!"
"Because as long as they aren't a complete idiot, by the time a Ninja grows to be around twenty years old, they basically stop believing in things like the Will of Fire."
"You will discover that the Sarutobi Clan has around 1,000 to 1,500 people, with over three hundred Jonin."
"You will find that the so-called great clans of Konoha, the Hyuga and Uchiha combined, or even if you add the Ino–Shika–Chō trio, cannot compare to the Sarutobi Clan..."
"Where does the money come from?"
"After you discover these problems, will your thinking change?"
"The Hokage-sama you trust so much is actually the true cancer of Konoha. Won't you feel deceived and vent all the anger of bearing the death of your entire clan onto Hiruzen Sarutobi?"
"But, there is one thing!"
"Regardless of whether you change your mind, Hiruzen Sarutobi himself will be afraid."
"So, if I'm not mistaken, after you execute the clan extermination plan, Hiruzen Sarutobi will definitely send you far away. After all, he is also afraid that this blade of his might one day turn against him."
"So..."
"If I were to evaluate you, I can only tell you one thing."
"In my eyes, you, Uchiha Itachi, are just a child who hasn't grown up."
"A child whose mind has not fully developed, yet who already possesses the power of destruction."
"If there is no suitable person to guide you, you will become a source of terrifying disaster!"
Minato Namikaze was quite serious.
And after hearing these words, Uchiha Itachi's heart sank even further.
Subsequently, the bitter smile on his face grew more intense, and he couldn't help but shake his head and smile bitterly.
Previously, regarding Shisui's evaluation of him, one could say that since Shisui was an Uchiha, his evaluation wasn't neutral.
Then, what about now?
Orochimaru evaluated him as extremely foolish, just an Uchiha brainwashed by Hiruzen Sarutobi.
He couldn't refute it!
Because just as Orochimaru evaluated, he could destroy the Uchiha for the sake of Konoha's peace, but he couldn't possibly wipe out Konoha for the sake of peace in the Ninja World.
Just based on this point alone, he completely understood that he had indeed been fooled badly!
On the other side, Minato Namikaze, the former Fourth Hokage, although his tone was very gentle, his words hit straight into his heart.
A child who hadn't grown up, a child with an underdeveloped mind, yet who held the power of destruction!
One who, if not guided by the right person, would likely become a source of terrifying disaster.
The Uchiha believe in the strong!
If someone from the Uchiha Clan said this, or if someone not as strong as him said this, Uchiha Itachi would indifferently sneer, thinking the other person's capacity was just that much.
But... the Minato Namikaze and Orochimaru before him were worthy of his respect, regardless of strength or position.
Especially Minato Namikaze, who was the former Fourth Hokage!
Therefore, even though he was influenced by the Mangekyo, his worldview was still shattered into pieces.
And just at this moment, Minato Namikaze saw through Itachi's mindset, pondered for a moment, and then revealed a gentle smile.
"Itachi..."
"If you are willing, then become my disciple."
"I will teach you!"
"I will teach you how to correctly view this world, and how to grow into a mentally sound person."
"..."