Shisui and Itachi

"Shisui, saying that just now will make the clan dissatisfied with you."

Uchiha Itachi was still underage, but his features had already become quite mature. At the same time, his strength had progressed at an astonishing rate. Since childhood, he had possessed eyes that could see through everything, and he had clearly seen his father’s and the other clansmen’s dissatisfaction in the room just now.

But Shisui, whom he regarded as an older brother, merely smiled faintly. How could he not know? Yet some things could not be left undone simply because others were displeased.

"I know, Itachi, but I still have to do it. Do you know why?"

Uchiha Shisui was a descendant of Kagami Uchiha, born bearing the meaning of Clear Mirror, Still Water. He held goodwill toward Konoha and everyone within it, adhering to the Ninja Way that "violence cannot forge peace." Even when facing enemy ninja, he usually relied on his powerful strength and Genjutsu to intimidate them.

Moreover, Uchiha Shisui regarded Itachi as a younger brother. Since childhood, he had taught this fellow clansman who likewise possessed an extraordinary perspective, and even now, he habitually guided Itachi.

Itachi understood the reason very clearly.

"Because you are the strongest of the Uchiha. You think that because of your attitude, they might change their attitude toward that matter?"

Uchiha Shisui nodded. He understood many things, but even after witnessing all manner of darkness in the ninja world, his heart still leaned toward the light. He wanted true peace.

His strength and reputation had both become tools that deepened the clansmen’s pride and rebelliousness. Faced with the village’s pressure and suspicion, the Uchiha Clan disdained to explain themselves. They were determined to confront the village.

But Shisui knew very well that the present world could no longer return to the Warring States Period. The strength of a single clan was simply not enough to survive.

Thus, he continually projected the message, "I am Shisui of Konoha," hoping to calm his increasingly fanatical clansmen. As the strongest among them, he did not wish to launch a coup. Perhaps some people would fear that and slow their steps…

Uchiha Itachi hesitated to speak. Though deeply influenced by Shisui, Itachi was, at his core, an absolute rationalist. Or rather, he was an absolute utilitarian moralist.

Just as a few years ago, when he awakened his Sharingan after witnessing a teammate’s death and received his father’s praise, he had felt disappointed that his clansmen desired power more than they cared about human lives.

And after getting to know Shisui, when Root had pursued an Anbu member, a Root member had said, "That Anbu member carries information about a traitor who threatens the village. For the village’s sake, we must kill the Anbu." At the time, eight-year-old Uchiha Itachi had thought;

On one side was the life of a single Anbu member, and on the other was the safety of the entire village. Perhaps sacrificing one person was the better outcome.

He had actually agreed more with Root’s decision at the time. If not for Shisui’s influence, Itachi might have been more inclined to help Root kill that Anbu member.

The claim that he possessed the mindset of a Hokage at the age of seven was likewise rooted in this moral outlook. His overly broad perspective and overly mature weighing of values had led Uchiha Itachi to contemplate many things from a young age.

At that moment, Itachi was faintly certain that his clansmen would never cease their actions simply because Shisui had expressed closeness to Konoha, as Shisui believed they might.

Huff~

Uchiha Itachi let out a sigh. He suddenly felt disappointed by the "capacity" of his clansmen.

He knew that no matter what Shisui did, those clansmen would not see the larger situation before them. Everyone believed that with these eyes, they could have whatever they wanted, just like Body Flicker Shisui…

Smack.

Shisui patted the braid at the back of Itachi’s head, interrupting his thoughts. Looking at the increasingly pronounced tear troughs beneath Itachi’s eyes, he felt that his little brother might be carrying too much.

"Haha, Itachi, don’t worry. We’ll stop all of it."

Shisui had long since made up his mind. If necessary, he would use that technique. Even if he had to forcibly twist his clansmen’s minds, he would prevent the coup from happening.

Uchiha Itachi smiled, but his heart did not relax. His desire for strength became even more urgent.

The two left the Uchiha compound and happened to see the female Anbu member with golden hair. Itachi frowned. This woman’s origins were mysterious, but she was indeed highly capable. In just a few weeks, she had earned the trust of the higher-ups.

"Shisui, Itachi, do you have time for a chat?"

As Anbu, she should not have spoken so casually with Uchiha members. But Uchiha Shisui and Itachi had both secretly joined the Anbu, so because of that connection, they did not leave immediately.

Instead, they followed the woman to the edge of the woods on the outskirts of the village.

There, the woman removed her mask, causing Shisui to frown even more.

For an Anbu, one’s true identity was the greatest secret. Yet this woman seemed to lack such awareness.

Beneath the mask was a beautiful face, emerald-like pupils, and skin so fair it seemed to glow.

"Let me guess. You’re leaving the village to hunt down a woman?"

Shisui and Itachi did not show any emotion. They did not have much goodwill toward this woman rumored to be able to "bewitch the masses with her words," either.

"State your purpose directly."

Shisui revealed his Sharingan, and his presence changed completely. Seeing this, Heaven’s Will stopped playing with words and said,

"I’m merely very curious about the Uchiha Clan’s two genius ninja and wanted to meet you. And, while I’m at it, give you a reminder."

"A reminder?"

Itachi naturally ignored the woman’s flattery. He looked at her coldly. According to his father, this woman’s presence had intensified the higher-ups’ pressure upon the Uchiha Clan.

This woman seemed to deliberately and repeatedly bring up the Uchiha ninja who had appeared during the Nine-Tails Attack.

Heaven’s Will nodded. She turned around and paced about, boldly exposing her completely unguarded back to the two powerful Uchiha.

Heaven’s Will understood clearly that although the two were powerful, they might actually be the safest Uchiha at present. They were too accustomed to viewing matters from the village’s perspective, thereby overlooking the interests of their own clan.

To a certain extent, the Uchiha’s tragedy was not unrelated to these two top powerhouses of the current Uchiha Clan.

"Mm, a well-intentioned reminder."

"You should already know that the ones protecting that woman are people like me. Those people do indeed come from the same place as I do, but for us, the later someone appears in this world, the stronger they usually are."

She subtly reminded the two that the reincarnators around Hiranaka Hana were stronger than she was.

If Heaven’s Will wanted to control the Uchiha Clan, she had to weaken the clan. Yet she also did not want powerful combat assets like Shisui and Itachi to be depleted, as that would not benefit her subsequent plans. So at this moment, it was as though she were betting on both sides.

She knew very well that with Shisui and Itachi joining forces at this point in the timeline, even ordinary Kage-level Ninja might not be their match. But Uchiha Shisui’s Ninja Way of not killing was definitely a hidden danger when facing reincarnators—especially if they encountered reincarnators highly adept at killing.

She did not want something like Kotoamatsukami to be seized by someone else.

Seeing no change in the expressions of the two Uchiha ninja after her reminder, she decided to feed Danzo some more information later.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh…

Several figures returned from outside Konoha at that moment and swiftly flashed toward the Hokage Office.

Shisui and Itachi, who had just left, glanced back before departing the village in the opposite direction. Heaven’s Will, however, realized that something major must have happened.

She was soon summoned by the Hokage. Upon entering the Hokage Office, she saw that all the higher-ups wore grim expressions.

Sarutobi Hiruzen, the Third Hokage, had not even lit his pipe, and even so, he could not conceal his anger.

"How far has this news spread by now?"

Based on the timing and scope provided by their intelligence, Konoha’s Anbu made a rough estimate and said,

"It should currently be spreading widely throughout the towns, reaching roughly several thousand people. But as time passes, traveling merchants may quickly carry the news to nearby regions. If enemy scouts are nearby, then this information will soon spread to other countries…"

Bang!

Sarutobi Hiruzen had rarely lost his composure so badly since growing old. Danzo was equally furious.

"Hiruzen, I told you long ago that we had to deal with that clan with thunderous measures. Now that everyone knows, Konoha will likely soon be targeted by the other ninja villages. The Fourth Great Ninja War might even break out at any moment…"

"We should immediately gather the Anbu. Intelligence has just reported that Uchiha Shisui and Uchiha Itachi have already left the village. If we strike now, we can certainly end everything before the other villages react!"

After only brief consideration, Sarutobi Hiruzen rejected Danzo’s proposal. How could such an operation be carried out without any preparation?

"No. It’s too hasty."

Danzo looked at the weak Hiruzen and was deeply disappointed.

"You will regret this, Hiruzen."

Sarutobi Hiruzen merely glanced at his old friend and said in a low voice,

"Danzo, I am the Hokage."

Danzo’s expression darkened to the extreme, but he did not erupt. He merely snorted coldly and left the office.

Sarutobi Hiruzen then said to the Anbu beside him,

"Bring Uchiha Fugaku to see me immediately!"

Then, the Third Hokage looked at Heaven’s Will and said,

"The matter of the Uchiha plotting rebellion has already been spread by someone. Now, what proposal do you have?"