Afternoon.
The setting sun cast a blood-red hue over the sky. At the entrance of the Root organization stood a vast square platform, flanked by two massive statues of fierce, ancient figures—Indra and Ashura, embodying wrath and power.
Ren stood watching as Danzo gathered several members, seemingly preparing for something significant.
"Ren, you're quite close to Shisui, aren't you?" Danzo asked, his gaze fixed ahead.
"You could say that."
"Then, do you know what I'm about to do?" Danzo pressed.
"I can guess."
Danzo turned slightly, his eyes glancing sideways at Ren.
"Do you have anything to say?"
"No."
Silence reigned, as usual.
Danzo couldn't quite read Ren's thoughts. If Ren chose to switch sides at the last minute, it could jeopardize his plans.
"Ren," Danzo called again.
"Yes."
"Do you think there's still room for reconciliation between the village and the Uchiha?"
"I wouldn't know."
"Wouldn't know?" Danzo scoffed. "Do you really not know, or are you just unwilling to say?"
"It seems like you hold quite the grudge against the Uchiha, sir," Ren noted.
Danzo let out a cold snort. "That's because you haven't seen the true power of the Uchiha."
His eyes held a deep fear as he continued, "If another like Madara were to rise, Konoha would fall."
"And how do you know Konoha won't produce another like the First Hokage?" Ren countered.
Danzo chuckled derisively. "You have no idea what the power of the First Hokage and Madara really was."
His face darkened as he muttered under his breath, "Orochimaru, the Fourth Hokage, Kakashi Hatake… none of the geniuses Konoha has seen in recent years even compare to them."
"Not even the Third Hokage came close…"
"Shisui Uchiha, Itachi Uchiha… the Uchiha clan keeps producing extraordinary talents. If we don't pressure them, they'll continue to grow. And by then, no one will be able to stand against them."
"If we don't suppress them, Konoha and the Uchiha will be locked in a never-ending cycle of conflict."
"The Third Hokage knew this well, which is why he left behind his policies regarding the Uchiha."
"This is a deadlock. It's better to eliminate the threat at its root."
Deadlock…
Ren listened quietly, his face hidden behind a mask that concealed his expression.
In the end, it all came down to fear—fear of the Uchiha's power and the inability to control them.
This fear gave rise to narrow-mindedness.
Danzo claimed it was for Konoha's sake, but the village had already begun to twist under his leadership.
"Sir, you are right," Ren said calmly. "Killing the problem at its source is the safest method."
Danzo glanced at Ren, his gaze lingering on the flame-patterned mask for a moment.
"For now, you won't be involved in the next mission," Danzo said.
"As you wish," Ren responded, his voice as composed as ever, as if expecting this decision.
Worried I might turn on you? Ren thought to himself, stifling a smile, before vanishing from the spot.
Not long after Ren disappeared, a Root operative appeared before Danzo.
"Sir, Shisui Uchiha has arrived."
Danzo closed his left eye and responded coolly.
"Good."
All the Root operatives immediately concealed themselves, leaving Danzo alone on the platform in front of the Root's base.
In the distance, the shadow of a lone figure began to approach, drawn long by the setting sun.
Midday.
At the Hokage's office, Kakashi had been summoned to meet with Hiruzen Sarutobi.
"Kakashi."
"Gather your team from the Sixth Division. I have a mission for you," Sarutobi said, handing over a scroll.
"A mission... Hokage-sama, Uchiha Itachi from my division has taken leave for the past few days," Kakashi replied.
"No matter."
Kakashi took the scroll and immediately opened it to read.
Political conflicts...
He closed the scroll, deep in thought. He only needed to carry out the mission, nothing more.
"Do you understand your orders?" the Hokage asked.
"Yes, I will deliver your message clearly," Kakashi responded.
In front of the Root's base.
"Is there something you need, Lord Danzo?" Shisui asked, approaching the older man.
The area was eerily quiet, with no sign of anyone else around.
A gentle breeze rustled the leaves, the ground covered in patches of wild grass. The platform beneath Shisui's feet seemed to shift in the wind as his hair swayed.
Danzo narrowed his left eye and began to speak slowly, "If you use your eye on Fugaku and convince the Uchiha to stand down, but the village remains unchanged, what will you do?"
Shisui's heart sank. There was no warmth in Danzo's words.
"The Hokage promised me that things will change," Shisui replied.
Will change?
Danzo smirked inwardly, though his face remained composed as he said, "Even with the Third Hokage's reassurances, the villagers' distrust of the Uchiha will not easily disappear."
"I know," Shisui responded, carefully choosing his words. "But given time, the tensions can be—"
Danzo cut him off, continuing, "And people like me, who are deeply suspicious, won't change our minds either."
"What will you do then?"
The wind suddenly picked up, and the sky darkened as clouds slowly covered the setting sun, casting long shadows over the platform.
"Lord Danzo..." Shisui's voice blended with the growing wind. "Are you trying to stop me?"
Danzo let out a soft chuckle.
He opened his narrowed left eye, a gray and lifeless gaze, devoid of emotion.
"Shisui."
"If the rift between the village and the Uchiha cannot be mended, and the Uchiha plot another coup, and your efforts turn out to be in vain…"
"Who will you use Kotoamatsukami on next?"
"The Hokage... or me?"
A chill ran through Shisui as his heart froze.
"In truth, regarding the Uchiha, both I and the Hokage already know what must be done," Danzo said coldly.
"But you, you fancy yourself a savior, don't you?"
"Do you really think the Uchiha will thank you for what you're doing? What will you do then?"
Behind Danzo, Shisui seemed to sense the looming presence of a monstrous specter, ready to strike.
"Lord Danzo... does the Hokage know about this?" Shisui asked slowly.
A sly smirk formed on Danzo's lips. "Still clinging to hope, are you? If you weren't an Uchiha, your presence in Konoha would have been a blessing."
"Do you think I'd be here if the Hokage didn't know?"
At that moment, Danzo suddenly lunged at Shisui with a rapid strike.
Shisui's eyes narrowed, but he remained composed, activating his Sharingan in the blink of an eye. As Danzo reached him, Shisui caught his arm, his expression unwavering.
"I've caught you in a simple genjutsu. You'll wake up soon."
Releasing Danzo's arm, Shisui turned to leave, but just as he took a few steps, a powerful blow struck his abdomen, forcing him to double over.
His vision blurred, and in his confusion, he saw Danzo standing before him once again.
How…?
Shisui was stunned. He had undoubtedly caught Danzo in a genjutsu.
Another blow landed, knocking Shisui off balance. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed the Danzo behind him slowly fading away.
Could it be...
"Your eyes, I'll be taking them!"
Danzo pressed his advantage, grabbing Shisui by the hair and pulling him up, his gaze fixed on Shisui's Sharingan. Just as Danzo was about to strike and take them, he suddenly felt his body immobilized by an invisible force.
What's going on... Why can't I move?!
Seizing the opportunity, Shisui broke free and swiftly retreated, panting heavily.
"Attack!" Danzo shouted sharply.
Shh, shh, shh, shh!
The words had barely left his mouth when countless Root operatives leapt out from the surrounding trees. Each wore a mask, carried a short blade, and gathered overhead, their shadows crisscrossing the sky, blocking out the sun.
"Fire Release: Great Fireball Jutsu!" Shisui, regaining his composure, quickly formed hand signs and unleashed a fierce torrent of flames toward the Root members.
"Water Release: Water Trumpet!"
Several Root operatives responded in unison, summoning a powerful stream of water to counter the fire.
At that moment, Danzo realized that he could move again, though he remained filled with suspicion.
That binding jutsu... how did it stop? Did Shisui realize what happened?
He hadn't even had time to form hand signs, and the Izanagi technique he had cast should have been impossible for Shisui to anticipate.
Beneath his bandages, Danzo's Sharingan had already lost its light, leaving him visibly displeased.
His sneak attack had failed, and these Root operatives stood little chance against Uchiha Shisui.
Where did it go wrong?
Danzo's eyes darkened as he watched Shisui suppressing the Root operatives with ease. Though they had surrounded him with their superior numbers, Shisui's swift movements took down several of them within moments.
"Enough!"
Suddenly, a voice echoed from above.
Shh, shh, shh!
In an instant, several ninja clad in ANBU attire appeared around them, encircling Shisui and the Root operatives.
Leading them was a white-haired ANBU wearing a fox mask. "The Hokage has ordered Uchiha Shisui to return immediately for consultation," he announced, tossing a scroll toward Danzo.
The battle halted abruptly as the Root operatives retreated back to Danzo's side.
Danzo caught the scroll, his eyes narrowing as he glanced briefly at the white-haired ANBU before unrolling it.
"Hmph!"
His grip tightened on the scroll, his knuckles turning white, and after a brief, frustrated grunt, he turned and walked away, followed by the Root operatives.
Izanagi's trump card may have been exposed. Next time, it'll be harder to succeed.
Damn Sarutobi... What is he trying to pull?!
Danzo stormed off, clutching the scroll tightly, his thoughts filled with anger and confusion.
Shisui, now free from danger, sighed in relief and turned to the white-haired ANBU.
"Kakashi-senpai, thank you," Shisui said.
"Better not use names during a mission. We were just following orders," Kakashi replied flatly.
"The Hokage didn't actually summon you. Those words were meant for Danzo. The Uchiha meeting is about to begin, don't be late."
Shisui froze for a moment, standing in stunned silence as the ANBU vanished one by one.
These people answered to the Hokage, but Shisui was left feeling utterly confused.
Everything Danzo had said... everything that had just happened.
What exactly did the Third Hokage mean by this?
He knew Danzo would make a move against me, yet he didn't stop it. Only when the situation grew dire did he send the ANBU.
And now, I'm expected to continue with the plan and attend the Uchiha meeting?
What do I really mean to the Hokage?
Shisui's mind swirled with doubt, his thoughts a tangled mess.
The disappointment wasn't as overwhelming as he had imagined it would be, but instead, a strange emptiness had taken hold in his heart.
Kakashi and the ANBU had already left, leaving Shisui alone in the now desolate area.
"What am I supposed to do?" Shisui murmured.
Suddenly, a familiar voice spoke from behind, startling him.
"Regretting it?"
Shisui turned quickly to see Ren, his old friend.
"Ren... What are you doing here?"
"What do you think?" Ren replied calmly.
Shisui suddenly recalled that Ren now worked under Danzo. Everything that had happened just now, Ren had probably seen it all.
"Was it you who saved me back there?" Shisui asked, thinking back to the moment when Danzo had almost immobilized him.
"If I hadn't saved you, do you know what would have happened to you?"
Shisui stood frozen, realizing the gravity of the situation. If Danzo had succeeded in taking his eye, the coup would have been unstoppable.
What would I have done then? Even if Danzo didn't kill me, what could I possibly do next?
Suicide.
The only way to stop the Uchiha would be to take my own life, hoping it would delay their plans.
I would have to entrust everything to someone else...
But is it really worth it?
"Ren."
"Hmm?"
"Should I... keep going?"
Shisui's voice trembled as he raised his eyes to his friend, his expression dazed.
"Shisui, are you loyal to the village or to the Hokage?" Ren asked coldly.
"...."
No answer.
"The Uchiha meeting is about to begin," Ren continued. "If you want to prevent a civil war, you should go."
Shisui closed his eyes in pain, struggling with the choice before him.
"Another decision..." he whispered to himself.
"What should I do?"
Ren watched him calmly.
"Go and calm the Uchiha down."
"Tonight, something big is going to happen."
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