In the Hokage's office, the four great powers of Konoha, together with Uchiha Shisui, had settled on their final decision:
First, kill Uchiha Chiyu!
After that, use Kotoamatsukami to control and completely alter the will of the entire Uchiha clan!
Of course, this was only what Sarutobi Hiruzen and the two advisors had in mind; Shimura Danzō clearly had other motives.
Uchiha Shisui was likewise aware that the final moment was upon them…
He cast a long look at Sarutobi Hiruzen.
"Hokage-sama, I'll go now…
"This shall be the last thing I do to prove my loyalty."
He shot a near-imperceptible glance at Shimura Danzō.
Hiruzen knew what that meant.
If I kill even my own clansmen and use genjutsu to control my own clan—and that still can't prove my loyalty—then there's really nothing more I can do.
Sarutobi Hiruzen sighed.
"I understand, Shisui. In my eyes, you've always been the most loyal one…
"Just like your forefather, Uchiha Kagami.
"Even the Second Hokage, who was so wary of the Uchiha, trusted him as if he were his right-hand man.
"To me, you are my Kagami!"
Hearing his ancestor's name, Uchiha Shisui couldn't help feeling stirred.
"Hokage-sama, I will give my life to repay your trust!"
With those words, Shisui turned and left, disappearing outside the Hokage's office door.
Watching him go, Shimura Danzō let out a cold sneer.
"You're all just going to believe him like that?!"
Turning to him with some surprise, Utatane Koharu frowned.
"Danzō, let him try first—what's the harm?"
"Using one Uchiha to deal with the rest—wouldn't that be the best way?"
Danzō said icily: "You remain so naive even after all these years…"
He stood, about to slip into the shadows.
Sarutobi Hiruzen's gaze followed him.
"Where do you think you're going?!"
"You know very well—"
"You plan to stop Shisui and seize his Mangekyō Sharingan, right?!"
"Danzō… you've gotten bolder and bolder! You really place no importance on me as Hokage, do you?!"
"It's you who are weak! How can you put your faith in an Uchiha?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen gave a cold "hmph."
"Shisui's loyalty far surpasses yours!"
Danzō's eyes narrowed.
He gave a bitter laugh: "Fine, Hiruzen… So after all these years, you finally say it out loud…
"You never fully trusted me."
"Trust has to be earned."
"…Very well—then watch carefully!"
With that, Danzō stormed out without looking back.
"Koharu, Homura—send people to keep an eye on Danzō! Make sure he doesn't ruin things!"
"Understood, Hiruzen."
The two left as well. Within his thoughts, Sarutobi Hiruzen wavered once again.
Is Shisui truly worth trusting?
Or, as Danzō said, should I secure Kotoamatsukami's power myself?
Regardless, it couldn't be allowed to fall into Danzō's hands!
Perhaps he should go personally…
In a flash, several figures appeared and kneeled respectfully before him.
With the sudden emergence of Kotoamatsukami, all Konoha's top brass were harboring their own agendas, and unrest was in the air.
Meanwhile, Uchiha Shisui, far simpler at heart, had only a single goal:
Uchiha Chiyu… must die.
Killing him would atone for Kumo's incident, preserving peace.
Killing him would likewise secure the clan's loyalty.
In Shisui's mind, the other clansmen—Fugaku, or whoever—didn't really matter. Only that man, who had repeatedly shattered his convictions, who had the entire Konoha moving around him—he was the one who had to die.
If Shisui didn't kill him, the Uchiha's rebellion would never be stopped.
Though he'd just declared boldly before Hokage-sama, and he was indeed confident he could defeat Chiyu, the thought of that man's extreme and fanatic gaze made Shisui waver.
It wasn't a matter of strength.
He was fully confident in his abilities.
It was a matter of will.
He lost—what then? There would be no compromise, only kill or be killed. If he died, who would inherit his ideals? Who would serve as that bridge of peace between his clan and the village?
He never doubted that a clash with Uchiha Chiyu would be a fight to the death.
If Shisui should lose, how would he secure that peace?
At once, a figure rose in Shisui's mind…
His younger comrade, his friend, practically a disciple, perhaps his sole confidant.
Before the final battle, he had to entrust his vision to him.
Shisui knew Itachi would be there, diligently training as usual. So he decided to find Itachi first before going to confront Chiyu.
He strode in big steps toward the Naka River's direction.
Like mantis stalking cicadas, an oriole was in pursuit.
Unexpectedly, Shisui didn't even make it to the Naka River before running into Uchiha Itachi. He was only eleven years old at the time, and yet his eyes contained something beyond anyone's comprehension—something even Shisui couldn't fully read.
But there was one thing Shisui never doubted—Itachi's deep love for the village. The Hokage himself had said that at age seven, Itachi possessed a mind on par with the Hokage's, or perhaps greater—exceeding Shisui's own in vision, heart, capacity, and worldview.
If Shisui failed to realize peace, the one who could see it through was certain to be Uchiha Itachi.
"Itachi, you're not down by the river training hard today?" Shisui asked softly, a rare smile on his face.
Itachi was silent for a moment, then spoke with difficulty:
"Shisui, I… I've had a bad feeling all day."
Shisui froze briefly, then gave a smile. Thɪs chapter is updated by ⓝovelFire.net
This kid, as sharp as ever…
No wonder even the Hokage valued him so.
"Something must be going on in the clan?"
Itachi's face was grim.
Shisui didn't hide anything, revealing what had happened.
"So… Chiyu-senpai did all that?!"
Even Itachi was amazed.
"Right… So now he's become the biggest obstacle to peace. For the clan's sake, for the village's sake, I have no choice but to settle things with him…"
Itachi was about to say something but stopped.
"Worried for me? That's unneeded," Shisui said. "Aren't you sure of my strength?"
"But, if… I mean, if I somehow lost to Chiyu… the only one who can carry on my will is you, Itachi."
Shisui patted Itachi's shoulder firmly:
"Yes, you. Uchiha Itachi—you must bring true peace to both the clan and the village…"
Itachi kept quiet for a moment, then finally nodded hard.
"I understand, Shisui.
"I'll do anything to protect the clan and Konoha…"
"Glad to hear it. Then my mind is at ease."
Suddenly, Itachi glanced away.
"Shisui—someone's following you."
Shisui didn't seem concerned.
"Probably the Anbu or Root… I noticed too.
"They all want to witness this battle—since it will decide the clan's and the village's fate…"
Itachi spoke gravely:
"Then I, too, want to witness it."
Shisui laughed gently.
"Come, and treat this as the last lesson I can give you…
"Killing for the sake of peace!"
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