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"At night, while you were being monitored and confined in the office building, I took advantage of the village's instability to secretly investigate the Sarutobi clan. I found out that all of this was orchestrated by Sarutobi Mebuki, the daughter-in-law of the Third Hokage."
"At the same time, she collaborated with other advisors. And although Orochimaru's human experiments were ordered to be kept secret, I discreetly visited Orochimaru's research base and discovered some clues."
"What Orochimaru is researching is forbidden jutsu. According to the information left by my father, these are the village's forbidden techniques, strictly prohibited from being studied. In the village, only a very few people have the authority to access this information about the forbidden jutsu, and the teaching of the forbidden jutsu requires the approval of at least two advisory-level figures."
"How did Orochimaru get these forbidden techniques? And everything we did during that time obviously involves the Root's leader, Shimura Danzō, Mebuki, and the two advisors she colluded with. How many other top officials are involved in the Leaf Village?"
Kakashi Hatake began to discuss his investigation and his series of analyses, which left Uchiha Yoru in shock. "Goodness, the other side has been really busy during this time."
As soon as Kakashi finished speaking, Uchiha Shisui angrily said, "Brother Yoru, do you know where the children and ninjas we intercepted have gone?"
"The ones from the Nara family returned to their clan. The children from the Daimyo's residence have gone home. The remaining children and ninjas without any family background were either recruited by the Root or sent to the most dangerous front lines. How many of them can return?"
It was clear that Shisui and Kakashi had exchanged information previously. Uchiha Yoru, seeing their expressions, forced a weak smile.
"Kakashi, Shisui, you must believe in the Will of Fire. Corruption is only temporary. Wait for the new Hokage!"
Before Yoru could finish, Shisui interrupted, "The new Hokage? Sarutobi Shinzo? If such a Hokage emerges, how would he be different from the currently corrupt top officials, who luxuriously live off the sacrifices of young ninjas?"
Shisui's eyes radiated disgust, "Brother Yoru, during the time you were being monitored, the Third Hokage approached me and spoke about the Will of Fire, but in reality, he wanted me to monitor you."
"The current Third is truly rotten. He speaks grandly of the Will of Fire, but sits comfortably in the village, watching young ninjas bleed on the front lines."
Kakashi added in a hoarse voice, "The Third Hokage may have once contributed greatly to the Leaf Village, but now he's become obsessed with power and cannot tolerate any opposition. I was also sent by the Third Hokage to monitor you."
Yoru said gravely, "Kakashi, Shisui, your current mindset is very dangerous."
Yoru continued, "No matter what truths you both have discovered, the Leaf Village cannot afford any more turmoil. I hope you both understand."
Kakashi and Shisui remained silent. Yoru sighed deeply, showing understanding, "The village is not as perfect as you think. I'm even more heartbroken about it than you. Orochimaru was forced to leave, and the village's top officials are to blame. But the Leaf is our home, and we, too, are hands stained with blood."
As he continued, a self-mocking smile appeared on Yoru's face, "Moreover, this war won't end anytime soon."
Kakashi quickly reacted, "Yoru, have you discovered something?"
Shisui might be as strong as, or even stronger than Kakashi, but in terms of resilience and political insight, he's far behind.
Yoru sighed deeply, sitting down tiredly, "The village wants to use the border conflicts to wear down Orochimaru's followers. And, from the information I got from the Root, after stabilizing from the war, the village plans to take action against the Uchiha clan."
What?!
The two of them showed shocked expressions. It was understandable that Orochimaru's followers were targeted, but currently, the border is still in a turbulent phase. The village has already begun preparations to act against the Uchiha clan once the border stabilizes, which seemed somewhat incomprehensible. However, considering Orochimaru's fate, they began to understand a bit more.
The village nowadays has decayed. Uncontrolled powers will be targeted.
"Konoha was founded by the Uchihas and the Senjus! How dare they! It was our Uchiha and Senju clans that took in Sarutobi, Shimura, and the rest. Now, the subordinates are turning against their masters!"
Shisui may be very powerful, but he is far from perfect in this regard. A simple sentence can easily lead to misunderstandings, but Kakashi didn't mind much, especially after seeing the decay of the village.
With Shisui's changing worldview, he was filled with pride for the Senju who founded Konoha and his own clan. He now regarded Konoha as his own, but at this moment, he was filled with anger.
The pride of the Uchiha clan is ingrained in them. At this moment, Shisui finally displayed the unique Uchiha pride, looking at the situation with anger.
Now, Shisui regards Konoha as private property established by the Uchiha. Kakashi, on the other hand, is relatively calm. Even though Shisui may have some obsessive tendencies, he is willing to sacrifice for the village.
"Yoru, what's your plan?"
The calm Kakashi raised his head, revealing a dead-eyed look, and asked. He didn't believe that Uchiha Yoru, who Orochimaru saw as a successor, would sit back and do nothing.
Shisui, who was beside him, looked excitedly at his Brother Yoru. After Orochimaru was expelled from Konoha and felt immense repression, Shisui placed all his hopes on his elder brother.
It can be said that Shisui was born a ninja but was never a leader. His willingness to end his own life by jumping off a waterfall in the original story is evidence of this.
Uchiha Shisui is a powerful ninja but not a qualified clan leader.
Facing Shisui's gaze wasn't much, but being under Kakashi's scrutiny made Uchiha Yoru fall silent. Kakashi might be at his darkest moment now, but analyzing his character from the original story, one can conclude that he's no ordinary ninja.
Ignoring Kakashi's tactics during the Chunin exams for a moment, the mere fact that he later became the Sixth Hokage proves that his vision and breadth of mind were never simple.
The old ancestors once said that a lie requires countless other lies to support it, but a lie will always be a lie and will be exposed someday.
After a long silence, Uchiha Yoru slowly looked up at Kakashi and Shisui. Their mental development was too fast, catching him off guard, and now he had to take a risk.
"All this is unfair to the ninjas fighting at the front. They are still young. Sarutobi Shinzo is serving as the commander on the border of the Land of Lightning, while Sarutobi Asuma enjoys teachings from elite Jounins in the village and relishes all the privileges.
"The Uchiha and Senju ancestors founded Konoha for peace, not to become a tool for some people's greedy desires. I intend to keep the enemy closer to protect ourselves first, then change the village!"
Keep the enemy closer?
This term has never been heard of in the ninja world. Shisui looked a bit puzzled, but Kakashi seemed to grasp something from its literal meaning, showing a shocked expression. He had never thought that the solution would come from this perspective.
After all, this solution had never appeared in the ninja world, making it completely unfamiliar to them. Yet, Uchiha Yoru seriously explained it to the two of them.
During the Third War, while on a mission in a small country, I saw a scene where, due to the chaos of war, merchants had to pay several times more to hire rogue ninjas for protection every time they transported goods. It seemed that these rogue ninjas had reached some kind of secret agreement with the local bandits. Although they fought every time, they never really tried to eradicate each other.
If the rogue ninjas wiped out the bandits, then the roads would be safe and merchants wouldn't need to pay high prices for their protection. Similarly, if the bandits killed the rogue ninjas, the next group of merchants would hire even stronger and more ninjas. Both groups seemed to have an unspoken understanding, showing a strange set of rules in chaotic times.
Kakashi Hatake and Uchiha Shisui listened as Uchiha Yoru recounted the story, showing a bitter smile. "I'm not sure if it's right or wrong, but I know the cost of ending the war here is painful. These ninjas follow Orochimaru-sensei and never make mistakes. After surviving through the Third War, they can only fight on the battlefield while other ninjas enjoy peace in the village. It's unfair for them."
"I too have my own selfish reasons. Once the war ends, the village will turn against the Uchiha clan, who are suspected of causing the Nine-Tails' rampage. I don't want to experience another event like Orochimaru-sensei's. I want to gather strength now and change the rotten village!"
After Uchiha Yoru spoke his mind, Kakashi and Shisui were silent. The events involving Orochimaru and the White Fang caused pain to the Leaf Village. Just two top-tier ninjas caused such upheaval. The Uchiha, being the strongest clan, would surely cause an even bigger disturbance.
"Brother Yoru, are you saying that you're intentionally letting the enemy go or keeping them for balance, making your position more important?"
Though Shisui deeply resents the village's corruption, he doesn't want to start a civil war. But, after some thought, he finds Yoru's point logical.
Yoru responded with a bitter smile, "As long as the war at the front doesn't end, the village won't start a civil war."
Kakashi was secretly alarmed but impressed, "Yoru, the Third Hokage has planted many spies at the front. If the situation stabilizes, they will secretly stir up trouble within the Uchiha clan."
Yoru looked genuinely shocked, "The Third Hokage is very cunning."
"The division within the Hyuga clan showed the higher-ups how to weaken clans with special bloodlines. If I follow my teacher's followers, I will also bear his notorious reputation, which will be used to split the Uchiha."
Kakashi no longer believes in the Third Hokage and betrays the village's top officials. He also trusts Yoru after witnessing everything firsthand.
Yoru passionately stated, "The village is in the hands of decayed old people, lost in their own power. I want to change this. I once vowed if the village becomes rotten, I'll do everything in my power to become the Hokage and change everything. The darkness above the Leaf Village will disappear, and I'll welcome back its heroes."
Yoru's determination resonated with both Shisui and Kakashi.
"Yoru! Change requires sacrifice. I hope you can lead the Leaf Village towards true peace and the Will of Fire."
Kakashi sincerely spoke, and Yoru, seeing Kakashi's choice to help, smiled, "Not just me, but together!"
Their voices echoed in the tent, and no one would have imagined the change that the determination of three young Sharingan-bearing ninjas would bring to the Leaf Village and the ninja world.