Chapter 38: Shisui's Death is Already Inevitable!
Hokage Office.
Hiruzen Sarutobi took a deep puff from his pipe, slowly exhaling the smoke. Outside the window, Konoha Village appeared tranquil and peaceful under the afterglow of the setting sun. This tranquility was bought with countless sacrifices and dirty deeds. In the future, perhaps the name Uchiha Shisui would also be added to that list.
Just now, Uchiha Shisui, the genius hailed as Shunshin no Shisui and a talent unseen in the Uchiha Clan for a hundred years, had secretly visited him. And he had confessed a secret to him, the Hokage, a secret capable of overturning the entire Ninja World's understanding.
Mangekyō Sharingan — Kotoamatsukami! The strongest genjutsu, capable of permanently altering a person's will without their awareness!
"Hokage-sama, I am willing to use my Kotoamatsukami to change the mind of our Clan Head, Uchiha Fugaku, to make him abandon the idea of a coup, and to lead the Uchiha to reconcile with the Village once more. For the continued existence of the Uchiha Clan, and even more so for the peace of Konoha!"
Kotoamatsukami! Such a terrifying dōjutsu! It could silently change a person's will! If used against enemies, it would naturally be an invincible weapon. But what if… it was used on one's own people? What if it was used on the Hokage? Hiruzen Sarutobi dared not imagine. This power was too dangerous! Too uncontrollable! It should not be held in anyone's hands! Especially… an Uchiha!
When Shisui left the Hokage Office with a hint of relief and hope, the smile on Hiruzen Sarutobi's face instantly vanished without a trace! It was replaced by an unprecedented wariness!
"Homura Mitokado! Utatane Koharu!" He immediately summoned his two Advisors.
Soon, the two elders of Konoha appeared in the Hokage Office.
"Hiruzen, what is so urgent?" Homura Mitokado asked.
Hiruzen Sarutobi recounted everything Shisui had told him about Kotoamatsukami from beginning to end.
"What?! Kotoamatsukami?!" Homura Mitokado and Utatane Koharu were both greatly shocked upon hearing this! As high-ranking officials of Konoha, they naturally knew some secrets about the Mangekyō Sharingan. But such a powerful dōjutsu, they had never heard of before!
"Hiruzen, this matter… is no small thing!" Utatane Koharu's expression became extremely grim. "This power must never be in the hands of an Uchiha! It's too dangerous!"
Homura Mitokado also said in a deep voice, "Exactly! The Uchiha Clan is already unruly. If they gain control of a power that can manipulate people's hearts at will, the consequences will be unimaginable!"
Homura Mitokado and Utatane Koharu exchanged glances.
"Hiruzen, do you mean…"
"Shisui must disappear." Hiruzen Sarutobi's voice was devoid of emotion. "Those eyes must not remain in the hands of the Uchiha."
"But, Shisui is loyal to the Village, and he is powerful, with extremely high prestige within the Uchiha. If we act against him, I'm afraid it might…" Utatane Koharu hesitated.
Hiruzen Sarutobi snorted coldly. "Womanly compassion! Compared to the safety of Konoha, what is the life of an Uchiha genius worth?"
"As for the excuse… sacrificed in a mission, or simply let him 'defect,' either is fine." Hiruzen Sarutobi pondered for a moment. "This matter, it's not suitable for us to act directly. Danzō… might be a suitable candidate."
"Danzō?" They were also quite wary of Danzō's methods.
"You're not unaware of Danzō's desire for the Sharingan," Hiruzen Sarutobi said indifferently. "Moreover, his 'Root' subordinates are most adept at handling these 'dirty jobs.' We only need to 'accidentally' leak the information that Shisui possesses Kotoamatsukami to Danzō, and that's it. The rest, let Danzō handle it."
Homura Mitokado cleared his throat. "Hiruzen, there's no time to lose. Since it's decided, arrangements need to be made quickly."
Utatane Koharu interjected, "As for Danzō…"
"I will handle it." Hiruzen Sarutobi's voice was calm, showing no ripples. As if deciding the fate of a genius ninja was merely a trivial matter.
"Regarding the specific intelligence on Kotoamatsukami, I will have Anbu 'organize' a report, ensuring it lands on Danzō's desk at the 'appropriate' time."
A flicker of understanding passed through Homura Mitokado's eyes. "That way, even if there's an investigation later, it won't involve us," Utatane Koharu added.
Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded slightly, picked up the Hokage hat on his desk, and gently brushed off non-existent dust from it.
"Shisui is a smart child. Unfortunately, he is too idealistic. And he doesn't understand the true nature of power. Konoha doesn't need an uncontrollable genius, and it certainly doesn't need a pair of eyes capable of arbitrarily altering wills, in the hands of the Uchiha. This is for the Village."
Homura Mitokado and Utatane Koharu exchanged glances again. Yes, everything for Konoha. This reason was enough to override everything. Including conscience. Including the lives of the innocent.
"Then, we will await your news." Homura Mitokado stood up.
Utatane Koharu also stood up, saying nothing more. Some things didn't need to be explicitly stated.
Hiruzen Sarutobi re-lit his pipe and took a deep drag. His gaze fell on the giant First Hokage's head carved into the Hokage Rock.
"Senju Hashirama! Shodai-sama, your dream back then was ultimately too distant. Sometimes, to protect this hard-won 'peace,' one has to resort to some… extraordinary measures."
At that moment, an Anbu member silently appeared behind the Third, kneeling on one knee.
"Hokage-sama."
"Speak." Hiruzen Sarutobi did not turn around.
"Regarding Uchiha Shisui, Anbu observed that after he left the Hokage Office today, he did not return directly to the Uchiha Clan Territory."
Hiruzen Sarutobi's brow twitched almost imperceptibly. "Oh? Where did he go?"
"He went to… the Memorial Stone."
The Memorial Stone? Hiruzen Sarutobi narrowed his eyes slightly. What was Shisui doing there? Was it… because he felt lost about the future of the Uchiha and sought guidance from the departed ancestors? Or… had he sensed something? Although Shisui was intelligent, he was ultimately young and inexperienced. He still held the purest trust in Konoha and the Hokage.
"Continue surveillance."
"Yes!" The Anbu disappeared again, as if they had never been there.
"Danzō, oh Danzō, I hope you'll like this 'great gift.'"
Night gradually enveloped the entire Konoha.
And in an unknown corner of the Village, deep within the "Root" base.
Danzō Shimura, the elder of Konoha who walked in the darkness, was scrutinizing a newly delivered secret report with his single eye, not covered by bandages. The content of the secret report was simple. Only a few words.
"Uchiha Shisui, Mangekyō Sharingan, dōjutsu 'Kotoamatsukami,' can permanently alter others' will."
"Kotoamatsukami…" Danzō whispered the name.
A genjutsu that could permanently alter another person's will! This was simply… a power tailor-made for him! If he possessed those eyes… Danzō's breathing involuntarily became heavier.
"Someone!" From the shadows, several "Root" ninja silently appeared, each exuding a cold, deathly aura.
"Send word down, closely monitor every move of Uchiha Shisui. I want all his detailed movement routes."
"Yes!" The "Root" ninja accepted the order and left with extreme efficiency.
Danzō slowly stood up and walked to the window, looking at the dark night sky outside. "Shisui… your eyes will soon be mine. The downfall of the Uchiha, perhaps, will also begin with you."
At the same time, in Konoha Village, in front of the Memorial Stone.
Uchiha Shisui stood quietly, the evening breeze rustling the hair on his forehead. His gaze swept over the names on the stone tablet, both familiar and unfamiliar. The heroic souls who had sacrificed their lives for the Village, for their Clan.
He reached out and gently stroked the cold stone tablet.
"Ancestors… I, Uchiha Shisui, will soon bring true peace to my Clan and to the Village. Hokage-sama has already agreed to support me. With my Kotoamatsukami, I will surely be able to change the minds of the Clan Head and others, and stop that foolish coup."
A relieved smile appeared on Shisui's face.
However, Shisui was completely unaware that he was already on the death list! He also didn't know that the Hokage he trusted had completely sold him out to Danzō!
The night in Konoha remained deep. A huge storm was quietly brewing in this deep night. This was a storm that could change the fate of countless people.