Shisui's Thoughts
After finishing his day's work, Shisui Uchiha left the Uzushio Village administrative office and walked toward the Uchiha settlement.
It was called clan land, but in reality, it was merely a cluster of a dozen or so buildings grouped together. There were no official boundaries, just an informal designation to make it easier for the Uchiha to communicate amongst themselves.
As for why no strict borders were drawn—on one hand, they were outsiders in Uzushio Village. On the other hand, the Uchiha held a deep-seated resentment toward the idea of territorial segregation. Back in Konoha, the village leadership had intentionally pushed the Uchiha to the outskirts, confining them to a district far from the village center, under constant surveillance by the ANBU.
Had Shisui not "returned from the dead," he would have had no choice but to flee Konoha with his clan.
In that scenario, the Uchiha would have likely perished under the combined efforts of Itachi and the village higher-ups, erased from the ninja world entirely.
With a soft sigh, Shisui continued walking home. Along the way, he encountered many clansmen returning from work. They greeted him warmly, inviting him to their homes.
Shisui declined their invitations with a gentle smile.
Though the clan members looked exhausted, their eyes gleamed with a sense of hope—a stark contrast to the growing despair they had once felt in Konoha.
Leaving Konoha had not only freed them from persecution but had also given them a chance to reflect on their own mistakes.
Menma-sama had once pointed out that the Uchiha's alienation wasn't solely due to oppression from Konoha's leadership. Part of the problem lay in the Uchiha themselves.
The Konoha Police Force, once a symbol of Uchiha's authority, had become a double-edged sword. Instead of serving as a bridge between the Uchiha and the villagers, it had turned into a barrier. The Uchiha viewed matters from the perspective of enforcers rather than protectors, failing to understand the people's needs. With the Hokage administration subtly diverting resentment toward them, the Uchiha gradually became more isolated, losing their chance to ever reach the position of Hokage.
But here, in Uzushio Village, things were different.
Stripped of their former privileges, the Uchiha had no choice but to contribute to the village's growth—engaging in labor, trade, and governance alongside the locals. Ironically, this forced integration had led to a friendlier relationship with Uzushio's residents.
Yet, despite witnessing this newfound unity, Shisui remained vigilant.
The situation reminded him of Konoha's early days, when the Uchiha had joined forces with the Senju to build the Hidden Leaf. Back then, too, Uchiha had coexisted peacefully with the other clans.
So when had everything gone wrong?
Was it when Uchiha Madara became a rogue ninja? Or when the Second Hokage established the Konoha Police Force, effectively isolating the clan?
Shisui didn't have an answer. But he needed to find one. Only by understanding the past could he prevent history from repeating itself and ensure the Uchiha's survival in the long run.
As he arrived at his home and reached for his key, he heard approaching footsteps.
From a nearby doorway, Uchiha Mikoto peeked out with a warm smile.
"Shisui, you're back. I made dinner for you and Izumi. Would you like to eat now?"
Shisui hesitated briefly but ultimately accepted her offer.
On one hand, he had little time to cook for himself. On the other hand, he wanted to support Mikoto.
Though Mikoto was a victim of the Uchiha downfall, she was still Itachi's mother, and her husband, Uchiha Fugaku, had been perceived as weak by the clan—his inaction contributing to their downfall.
Even though she had once been a powerful kunoichi, the weight of the past had taken its toll on her.
As he ate, Shisui smiled. "Mikoto-senpai, your cooking is still just as good as I remember."
Mikoto blushed slightly. "Menma-sama also complimented my cooking. I think it's fairly simple, but I've learned to choose good ingredients."
"Selecting the right ingredients is a skill too," Shisui replied with a smirk.
After a brief pause, his expression turned serious. "Mikoto-senpai, have those... radicals in the clan been in contact with you lately?"
The radicals Shisui referred to were the remaining loyalists of Fugaku—clan members who had refused to follow Shisui and had chosen to fight to the death instead. They now operated from the underground black markets in the Land of Fire, secretly reaching out to Mikoto, hoping to reclaim Konoha by force.
Mikoto nodded slightly. "They've sent messages through the ninja cats I contracted."
Shisui exhaled slowly. "I won't force them to follow me, but they cannot learn our exact location. If they do… I won't hesitate to eliminate them."
Mikoto lowered her gaze. "I understand. I'll ensure the ninja cats don't reveal anything."
Still, she couldn't help but ask, "But… do you really think there's no chance for the Uchiha to return to Konoha? I still want to see Sasuke."
Shisui set down his chopsticks, his gaze steady. "Maybe one day. But that decision isn't mine to make—it belongs to Menma-sama."
Mikoto repeated the name softly.
When she first heard of Menma Uzumaki, she had assumed he was merely a wandering doctor who had saved her. She never imagined he would be the one to give the Uchiha a second chance at survival.
Just then, a series of hurried footsteps approached.
Uchiha Izumi, now a patrol leader, arrived with a tense expression.
"Shisui-san, a group of unknown ninja have landed on the coastline near Uzushio Village. Should we notify Menma-sama?"
Shisui's eyes sharpened. "Unknown ninja?"
Izumi nodded. "They covered their forehead protectors, but based on their jutsu, they seem to be from Kirigakure. Apart from the Mist, few villages have such mastery over Water Release."
"Kirigakure shinobi!?" Shisui's expression darkened.
Kirigakure's Water Release techniques and hidden mist tactics were particularly dangerous against Uchiha fighters, as they disrupted Sharingan users' ability to track movement.
If this was merely a small group of wandering ninja, it wouldn't be a problem. But if Kirigakure had its sights set on Uzushio Village, this could spell disaster.
Shisui turned to Izumi. "Gather the clan's combat-ready shinobi. I'll inform Menma-sama and Huato. Be ready to move at any time."
With that, he activated the Body Flicker Technique and disappeared toward the Uzushio Village office.
Izumi and Mikoto exchanged glances before rushing off in different directions—Izumi to gather the Uchiha, and Mikoto to ensure the safety of the civilians.
This would be the first true test of the Uchiha's role in Uzushio. Their actions tonight would determine their standing in the village.
Failure was not an option.
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