Shimura Danzō abruptly, adamantly voiced his objection.
Sarutobi Hiruzen and the two advisors were taken aback.
"What are you getting at, Danzō?"
Danzō said coldly, "Using Kotoamatsukami against the Uchiha Clan…
Is this your plan, Hiruzen?"
"What's wrong with that?" Hiruzen replied.
"I cannot trust the Uchiha Clan."
Hiruzen frowned. "So using Kotoamatsukami to alter their will and halt their rebellion—would that not be the correct path?"
Danzō spoke in a low voice: "You're overlooking one crucial point…"
Those hawk-like eyes of his rose to lock onto Uchiha Shisui.
"The man standing here is also an Uchiha."
"Danzō-sama, you still don't trust me?"
"I told you: I cannot trust any Uchiha, and that includes you.
How can I be sure you're telling the truth?
How can I know that you really used Kotoamatsukami on all the Uchiha, making them abandon rebellion and swear loyalty to Konoha?
And how do I know you won't quietly release them from that control, letting them rebuild their strength in secret and rise up once more?"
Shisui's face changed drastically.
"I... I'd never do that!"
"You say that, but it's only your claim."
Shisui never expected that, by finally summoning the courage to share his last resort, he would be met with such suspicion. Furious and unwilling, he turned to Sarutobi Hiruzen:
"Hokage-sama, don't you believe me either?!"
Originally, Hiruzen did have great faith in him. Yet Danzō's words stirred doubts in him as well.
Even though Shisui appeared devoted… as Danzō said…
After all, Kotoamatsukami was so terrifying that he himself couldn't be sure what was real. Updates are released by novèlfire.net
If the Uchiha, in fact, had not been brainwashed, and Shisui had actually brainwashed the Hokage's side instead…
That would be the most frightening possibility of all…
Thinking of it, Hiruzen felt cold sweat forming.
"Shisui, of course I trust you. Nobody understands your Will of Fire better than I do.
But… Danzō isn't entirely wrong, either…
This is a momentous matter. How can we verify that you've truly taken hold of every Uchiha's will?
Remember, this concerns the life or death of the entire village…"
Shisui's heart froze.
"Hokage-sama… how can I prove my loyalty?!"
Before Hiruzen could speak, Danzō cut in:
"It's very simple. Hand over your Mangekyō Sharingan—
Uchiha Shisui stared wide-eyed in disbelief!
Sarutobi Hiruzen was also shocked, but almost instantly a thought flashed through his mind…
Giving them to Danzō would never be possible, or else Danzō might turn on him!
Such a terrifying power could never be left in someone else's hands.
You know that's impossible!"
Danzō lowered his head grimly, eyes filled with a menacing, predatory glint, no doubt scheming in his mind.
Hiruzen too grasped his intentions. Still…
"Shisui. Even with Kotoamatsukami, there must be certain limitations, right? No jutsu in the ninja world is truly invincible."
Shisui nodded. "Yes, Hokage-sama.
Kotoamatsukami can be triggered without the target noticing, and in theory it can even hit multiple people simultaneously.
However… while it's said to permanently change one's will, if someone discovers the usage, it can still be dispelled.
Also, it has a cooldown of several years—or even over a decade—once it's been cast…"
Indeed, in the original story, Danzō tried using Kotoamatsukami at the Five Kage Summit, and Kirigakure's Ao, using his Byakugan, exposed the scheme, causing it to fail. This shows that Kotoamatsukami is not infallible.
"Anyway," Shisui added, "Even if we succeed in using it, we risk it being undone, and if I fire it off once, I can't use it again for over ten years. We must be exceedingly cautious."
Certainly, if one possessed Hashirama's cells, the cooldown might shorten to half a day or so. The so-called "Hashirama cells" remain the ninja world's prime cheat code. But not even Shisui himself knew that information; only Chiyu had gleaned it.
Shimura Danzō spoke icily: "So even if it works, it might be undone, and once used, you'd need a ten-plus-year cooldown…
"Hiruzen, you still plan on depending on a jutsu like that?"
He looked to the two elder advisors.
"What do you both think?"
They exchanged glances.
Koharu said, "It does indeed sound like Kotoamatsukami is frightening yet imperfect.
But if it can actually prevent the Uchiha from rebelling… letting Shisui try it might not be a bad idea. Worst case, it's discovered, and the Uchiha strike back— But that was an outcome we were expecting anyway."
Homura nodded. "Exactly. And this matter can be combined with the Kumogakure issue. If Shisui manages to control the entire Uchiha, we can hand over that culprit Uchiha Chiyu to them to atone for the incident—maybe it'll quell the conflict."
Hiruzen said, "It won't be so simple…
Even if we push everything onto Uchiha Chiyu, the Raikage's temperament won't let it go easily…"
Koharu mused, "But if we also present them with Chiyu's Sharingan—already ruined, of course—just like what happened with Hyūga Hizashi's death, then Kumo can't exactly object.
They can't openly admit they're coveting another's bloodline limit…
Though, if we do that, the other families might respond in…"
Homura replied, "There's no help for it.
We have Shisui brainwash the entire Uchiha clan, and then offer Uchiha Chiyu as a scapegoat for the Kumo fiasco—two birds with one stone."
"But the question remains…" He turned to Shisui. "Can you really do it? Uchiha Chiyu also has the Mangekyō—"
Shisui responded resolutely, "True, any Uchiha with Mangekyō is formidable. But Uchiha Chiyu's Mangekyō is newly awakened; it's impossible for him to stand against Kotoamatsukami.
I'm utterly confident."
Koharu said, "So, Shisui, your initial plan was to manipulate Chiyu with Kotoamatsukami—make him loyal to Konoha? You still had high hopes for him, right?"
Shisui sighed. "In terms of talent and power, Uchiha Chiyu is extraordinary.
He may be no less gifted than I or Itachi…
Which is why, if possible, I didn't want him dead—rather, I'd have him serve the village. But… that man's stubbornness—"
Understanding Shisui's concern, Sarutobi Hiruzen said, "In that case, we can never be fully sure.
Thus, his death is the only way to give me peace of mind and quell the hatred.
So that's decided, then…
Uchiha Chiyu must die.
We'll deliver his corpse, along with his Mangekyō, to Kumogakure for restitution.
Meanwhile, the rest of the clan will fall under Shisui's Kotoamatsukami."
Shisui took a deep breath.
Then, mustering all his resolve, he nodded heavily.
"I understand, Hokage-sama.
…will attain true peace and stability in my hands."
For Every 100 Powerstone = 1 Bonus Chapter! Please Vote for more Chapters!
Please vote and share the fanfic! Thank You!
— Currently You can Read 100 Chapters Ahead of Others!