Uchiha Shisui was inwardly shaken but immediately forced himself to avoid further contemplation—perhaps because he didn't dare think too deeply about it.
"Let's set aside matters of the village, war, and justice for now. I came here today because you killed those villagers. Including just now—I saw with my own eyes how you crushed a thief's legs until they were completely shattered. Don't you think that's a bit too cruel?"
Chiyu ignored him and finished off his pancakes. Then he glanced at Shisui's untouched portion.
"Are you going to eat that?"
"I… I'm not really hungry…"
Chiyu reached over and took it for himself, shoving it into his mouth and eating heartily.
"If you haven't sorted things out in your own head, then don't bother discussing it with me. The reason I brought up war and justice was that your questions were actually answered just now."
Shisui was taken aback. "When?"
"With the old couple, Teyaki and Uruchi."
Shisui's heart gave a jolt. He understood what Chiyu meant. From the elderly couple's perspective, Chiyu's method—swiftly eradicating the troublemakers for good—had protected their lives. Of course they were deeply grateful to him.
"You're right. From their standpoint, they'd undoubtedly agree wholeheartedly with your approach. Still, some of those 'villains' might have had a chance to turn their lives around…"
Finally, Chiyu let out a mocking laugh.
"That's the difference between us.
"You choose to stand on the side of the 'villains,' while I choose to stand on the side of the good."
Shisui felt as though lightning had struck him, leaving him speechless. Google seaʀᴄh novel·fiɾe·net
Chiyu pressed his advantage:
"On the battlefield, your 'justice' is the survival of the fittest. In everyday life, you put yourself in the villain's shoes. Do you know who makes those kinds of choices?
A sudden surge of anger flared in Shisui, scorching his mind. With a bang, he slammed his hand on the table and jumped to his feet.
"You executioner… you have the nerve to call me a demon?!"
"Executioner? Let's talk about who's killed more people. You've killed ten times as many as I have. And all the ones I've killed were scum. Can you be sure everyone you killed deserved it?"
Shisui's lips trembled as he sank back down into his seat.
Chiyu calmly polished off Shisui's pancakes, then drained his bowl of soup. After belching in contentment, he stood up and clapped his hands.
"Teyaki-ossan, he's paying today."
"Alright, Lord Chiyu. You're leaving already?"
"Mm. I still need to patrol the village."
"Very well—take care. You're always welcome here!"
Chiyu offered a rare smile and walked out. Uchiha Uruchi remained silent as she extended her hand to Shisui for payment.
Shisui gave a wry smile, fished out his coin pouch, and settled the bill. Then he left the shop, following behind Chiyu and speaking in a low voice:
"Chiyu, even if we set aside these arguments about 'justice'—surely you realize the situation in the village right now is incredibly tense, with our clan and the higher-ups deeply suspicious of each other. It's like a taut string that could snap at any moment.
"In such a critical moment, why can't you dial it back a bit? For the sake of the Uchiha clan and for the whole of Konoha. Do you truly want to trigger a catastrophe beyond redemption?"
Chiyu looked at Shisui with an intense gaze.
"Seeing as how you treated me to a meal just now, I'll give you a bit more of my time. Listen carefully, Uchiha Shisui…
"Even if my actions end up igniting a total break between the Uchiha clan and Konoha's top brass—even if it leads to a rebellion with mutual slaughter and both sides suffering greatly…
"That so-called worst-case scenario you envision—compared to the future originally destined for our clan—would be a thousand times better."
Shisui's face went pale. "What are you talking about?"
Chiyu's voice was cold.
"Don't you see? The outcome that was destined from the start is a thousand times more cruel, more bloody, more barbaric, more revolting than anything you can imagine.
"So… trust me on this: if I can provoke a Uchiha rebellion, that might just be the best thing that ever happens to our clan."
With that, Chiyu adjusted his collar and strode away without another word.
Shisui stood rooted to the spot, waves of shock coursing through him. He stared after Chiyu's receding figure, finally unable to hold back.
"Uchiha Chiyu… just how far ahead can those eyes of yours see?!"
All he got in response was the sight of Chiyu's back drawing steadily farther away. Shisui began trembling uncontrollably.
Akagane and Shiden, Shisui's two companions, approached and gazed at him in bewilderment. Shisui, usually so steady, looked close to falling apart. What on earth had that man said to upset this first-ranked powerhouse of the Uchiha clan so much?
Chiyu didn't care for Uchiha Shisui. In his view, Shisui might not be a bad person, but he was a fool. Exposing the secret of his Mangekyō Sharingan's Kotoamatsukami in front of Sarutobi Hiruzen and Shimura Danzō was nothing short of suicide.
Kotoamatsukami could manipulate a person's will without them even knowing. For rulers, that was a dream weapon. Naturally, no ruler would ever allow such a power to exist in the hands of anyone but themselves, no matter how loyal the wielder claimed to be.
In the end, Shisui was driven to suicide by that very naivety. As powerful as he was, power wasn't everything; you could still be a fool, even at the pinnacle of strength.
Caught up in his thoughts, Chiyu was interrupted by two people racing toward him—his subordinates, Uchiha Aoki and Uchiha Yamakaze.
Chiyu's brow furrowed. "Under the Patriarch's orders, you weren't supposed to meet me this morning. Something big must've happened?"
Panting, the two exchanged a look.
Without wasting time, Chiyu dashed in the direction they'd come from.
"Captain, we haven't even told you what it is…"
"Explain on the way."
Chiyu understood that whatever it was, it was urgent—there could be no delay. Wind roared past his ears as he pushed his speed to the limit. His subordinates struggled to keep up.
"Captain, please calm down a bit. This matter is extremely sensitive. I really think we should consult with the Patriarch first…"
"Speak." Chiyu's voice was low.
At last, Uchiha Aoki hesitated, then spoke. "It's… there's been an incident involving the Sarutobi clan…"
Chiyu's mind raced. He understood all too well why they called it "sensitive." But… so what?