"Itachi, it's been a while since we last talked, hasn't it?" Shisui said with a smile.
"Yeah, ever since your eyes were taken from you, we haven't spoken."
Itachi Uchiha replied.
Hearing Itachi bring up that incident, Shisui shook his head helplessly.
The events of the past few days had revealed many people's true colors to him.
During this time, he had also been reviewing the old records left by the Konoha Military Police Force, and what he discovered beneath the seemingly bright and prosperous surface of the village drastically changed his perspective.
He realized that Kuragami Uchiha taking his eyes was actually an act to protect the clan, the village, and even himself. He now understood how naive he had been in the past.
If Kuragami hadn't intervened in time and had instead let him recklessly use Kotoamatsukami, both the clan and the village could have fallen into irreversible disaster. The darkness within the village would have remained forever concealed.
Kuragami was right; his belief that Kotoamatsukami was the answer to his inner conflict was nothing but arrogance and naivety. In his hands, Kotoamatsukami was like a child wielding a dangerous and uncontrollable sword.
Now, even if Kuragami placed his stolen Mangekyō Sharingan right in front of him, Shisui no longer had the courage to take them back.
Seeing Shisui fall silent, Itachi finally asked after a while: "What exactly happened in the village recently?"
"You've heard about it already?"
Shisui sighed and then explained in detail the chain of events surrounding the recent rumors. As a firsthand witness within the Konoha Military Police Force, his understanding of the situation was far clearer than Sasuke's, who had only heard about it through rumors.
After listening to everything, Itachi furrowed his brow deeply. After a long pause, he finally said:
"No matter what, the Konoha Military Police Force shouldn't have resorted to violence against the villagers."
"Itachi, I understand what you're saying, but Kuragami was already showing a lot of restraint."
Shisui, who knew his friend well, responded. "He originally wanted to resolve the situation through legislation, but due to the influence of certain individuals, things spiraled out of control. I believe even Kuragami didn't want things to escalate like that."
"Shisui, you… "
Itachi Uchiha didn't expect that Shisui would actually speak for Kuragami Uchiha, who robbed his Mangekyō Sharingan.
"But if this happens, the gap between the clan and the village will only get bigger and bigger. Kuragami Uchiha has never thought about integrating the clan into the village! Have you forgotten our dreams?" Itachi Uchiha questioned.
"Itachi, don't you see? The misunderstanding you have about Kuragami is too deep. He has been working to integrate the clan into the village. The best proof of this is the Konoha Military Police Force recruiting civilian ninjas."
Shisui continued. "But at the same time, I've also come to realize something, the clan can integrate with the village, but the Konoha Military Police Force cannot."
Itachi was puzzled by this statement, but Shisui quickly explained: "The Konoha Military Police Force is the village's law enforcement agency. Its duty is to maintain justice, not to build close relationships with the villagers. In this regard, Kuragami is far more clear-headed than we ever were."
"Shisui, have you forgotten the Will of Fire?"
Itachi asked in disbelief while staring at Shisui. Has even he, someone who once wholeheartedly believed in the Will of Fire, been brainwashed by Kuragami Uchiha?
"Itachi, the Konoha Military Police Force fulfilling its duties properly is the true embodiment of the Will of Fire."
Shisui said firmly, seeing how agitated Itachi was.
The two fell into silence again. After a while, Shisui sighed and continued: "Besides, Itachi, some people in the village may not care about the Will of Fire as much as they claim."
"Shisui, don't forget what that guy said that day; he was ready to start a war!" Itachi said through gritted teeth.
"I think that was just Kuragami trying to unsettle me."
Shisui shook his head. "I don't believe he actually wanted to kill me. If he did, with his abilities, he had a thousand ways to do so."
"Enough! I see now you've been completely brainwashed by him! You've forgotten our dreams! You've forgotten the Will of Fire!"
Itachi slammed the table and stood up, his voice low and filled with anger as he turned and stormed out.
The conversation ended on a bitter note. Watching Itachi's retreating figure, Shisui sighed in frustration.
'Itachi, Kuragami once called me arrogant, but I never expected your arrogance to surpass mine.'
If possible, he wanted to show Itachi the shocking evidence hidden within the Konoha Military Police Force's archives. However, due to confidentiality restrictions, he didn't have the authority to reveal such information.
"I guess I'll have to ask Kuragami tomorrow if Itachi can be shown the truth."
Shisui thought, then he returned to his study and picked up the documents again.
Meanwhile, Itachi wandered the village aimlessly. He didn't understand how everyone had changed so much in the short time he was away. His younger brother, who once relied on him the most, and his closest friend, whom he had always seen as a mentor and equal, now seemed like strangers.
Unknowingly, his footsteps led him to the place where he used to contemplate life the most, the cliff overlooking the Naka River.
The cold night wind ruffled his hair. As the breeze brushed past his ears, Itachi let himself be immersed in thought once more about the relationship between the Uchiha and the village.
Among the Uchiha, a clan obsessed with physical power and their own legacy, Itachi was one of the few who truly thought deeply about such issues.
As Hiruzen Sarutobi once said, Itachi had the rare ability to consider things from the Hokage's perspective. He could see the flaws in the relationship between the clan and the village.
However, even the actual Hokage, Hiruzen himself, couldn't find a solution to these problems.
So how could he, someone who merely had the ability to think like a Hokage, hope to succeed where even the Hokage of the village had failed?
In other words, while Itachi possessed the intelligence to analyze these issues, his experiences and knowledge were insufficient to support the conclusions he reached.
If Kuragami Uchiha were here, perhaps he would have been willing to guide this lost soul. However, arrogance and prejudice led Itachi to make a choice he thought was the right one.
The last leaf of early winter drifted down. Itachi's Sharingan flared open, and the three tomoe slowly spun.
His Chakra set the falling leaf ablaze. Through the flickering flames, he gazed toward the highest point in the village, the Hokage rock. The faces of the four Hokage were etched clearly in his vision.
"The Will of Fire... It cannot be wrong."
The ashes of the burned leaf scattered in the wind as Itachi murmured to himself.
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