Shisui smiled knowingly at the conversation between Sasuke and Naruto, recalling the times he had trained with Itachi.
When he first met Itachi, he was about the same age. After countless training sessions, Itachi grew into the capable ninja he was now. They each joined the ANBU and ROOT, striving to protect the village and the Uchiha clan.
Naruto and Sasuke, these two close friends, would one day walk the same path as him and Itachi — continuing to safeguard the village.
This was the Will of Fire, the faith for which he was willing to sacrifice everything.
After quietly observing for a while, Shisui chose not to interrupt Naruto and Sasuke and instead silently left.
The relationship between the clan and the village was already tense. If the Third Hokage misunderstood his approach to the Jinchuriki, it would be problematic — he might even lose the Hokage's trust.
But when did he truly begin to believe in the Will of Fire?
Was it during ninja school? Or after becoming a Genin, on missions with friends? Or perhaps on the battlefield of the ninja wars?
He couldn't quite recall…
Shisui's eyes narrowed slightly, his gaze somewhat distant, but he quickly dismissed these wandering thoughts.
He had urgent business to attend to — stopping Captain Fugaku's coup attempt was the most important task.
…
Sasuke, sensing Shisui's disappearance, looked around but saw nothing.
Feeling strange, Sasuke asked Naruto, "I feel like someone was spying on us just now. Didn't you feel it too?"
Naruto laughed, "It's probably just your imagination. I didn't sense anything."
Hearing this, Sasuke convinced himself he was being overly sensitive. After all, they were just ninja academy students — who would bother spying on them out of boredom?
As dusk approached, Sasuke said, "Let's stop here for today. We'll continue tomorrow. Your Shadow Clone training is really helpful. One day, I'll beat you."
"I'll be waiting for that day," Naruto replied casually, but inside he was thinking about the spying eyes from earlier.
Sasuke was right — during their sparring, many were watching them, including the ANBU and the ever-watchful Third Hokage.
But the gaze from before wasn't from the ANBU or the Third Hokage. It gave Naruto an unsettling feeling in his chest.
Could it be Danzo Shimura? Or Uchiha Obito?
Naruto instantly thought of those two, both powerful threats. Danzo, a master of Wind Release, rivaled even the Five Kage in strength. Obito, wielder of the Kamui Sharingan, was responsible for the Nine-Tails' attack.
They were the hidden dragons and crouching phoenixes that brought chaos to the ninja world — perfect scapegoats.
"Naruto, the person spying on you appeared near the Uchiha territory. He came from the Hokage Tower and headed toward the Uchiha clan lands," the Nine-Tails suddenly said.
"Thanks, Kurama." Naruto silently expressed his gratitude and quickly narrowed down the suspect to Uchiha Shisui, memories flashing through his mind.
Shisui was an Uchiha who believed in the Will of Fire, hoping until his death for harmony between the Uchiha and Konoha.
But because of Danzo's ambush, he lost one of his Mangekyo Sharingan. To avoid war between the Uchiha and Konoha, he chose to commit suicide off the cliff near Naka Shrine, entrusting his ideals and the other Mangekyo to Uchiha Itachi.
The Mangekyo Sharingan, the Kotoamatsukami — these were powers that posed a real threat.
If Shisui was the one spying on him, Naruto's sense of danger was justified. After all, the Mangekyo can control tailed beasts, and the Kotoamatsukami can alter wills — both extremely dangerous.
But Kurama said Shisui came from the Hokage Tower?
Naruto pondered deeply. Could Shisui have confessed the Kotoamatsukami to the Third Hokage? What was that about? Like he wanted to die faster or something.
Besides, a dōjutsu like Kotoamatsukami can't just be kept secret. No normal person would tolerate that power falling into others' hands.
Especially not the Third Hokage, who'd held power for years — he'd be wary, no doubt about it.
Thinking this, Naruto glanced at the pitch-black woods and sighed softly. From now on, his sleeping hours would probably shrink drastically.
He knew Shisui eventually committed suicide off a cliff but didn't know which one.
He'd have to prepare in advance.
…
Several weeks later, outside the ANBU headquarters.
Shisui glanced at the office where Fugaku was and sighed softly.
These days, he'd been mingling with clan members, witnessing how violently they treated villagers, how they offended the common ninja, pushing most of the village to oppose the Uchiha.
The more he understood, the more worried he became about the clan's future.
Even if he managed to control Captain Fugaku, it would only delay the outbreak of conflict.
With time, clashes between the ANBU and villagers were inevitable — unless the clan was willing to give up the ANBU, a department that offended many.
What troubled him most was that he couldn't find an opportunity to be alone with Captain Fugaku to slowly change his will.
Tonight, the clan would hold their final meeting at Naka Shrine to announce their coup against the elders. It would be Shisui's last chance to act.
How could he completely prevent the clan's conflict with the village?
Shisui felt deeply confused. After hesitating, he headed toward the clan's outskirts, where he had arranged to meet Itachi. Together, they would coordinate to directly control Captain Fugaku at the meeting.
At that moment, a sneaky figure appeared behind Shisui.
Sensing the gaze, Shisui instantly activated Body Flicker Technique and appeared behind the figure.
Seeing the visitor wearing an ANBU mask, he relaxed and said, "ANBU? Please tell the Third Hokage I will stop the Uchiha coup."
The masked ninja shook his head. "I'm not under the Hokage. I serve Danzo, the leader of ROOT. Danzo wants you to come to ROOT."
Shisui frowned slightly. "Danzo wants to see me? Sorry, I don't have the time."
He knew Danzo well — leader of ROOT, Itachi's direct superior, and comrade of his grandfather, Mikagami.
The ROOT ninja said, "Danzo knows your stance and wants to discuss the Uchiha's future with you. If you don't come, he won't force you."
After saying this, the ninja made a gesture as if to report back.
Shisui hesitated but followed for the sake of his clan. Though Danzo had a poor reputation among the Jonin, he was still a high-ranking village official and Mikagami's comrade.
Since he was still under the Third Hokage, just going there should be fine.
Soon, Shisui arrived at the entrance of the ROOT base and saw Danzo — his entire body wrapped in bandages, back turned to him.
(End of chapter)
Support me at my
patreon.com/YugiroTL