Shisui quietly glanced at the youthful-looking Second Hokage. Seeing no change in his expression, he continued watching the projection.
[In the image, Konoha's higher-ups were still discussing how to handle the Uchiha clan.]
[Hiruzen Sarutobi: "The Second Hokage's intention was never isolation. It was for the sake of balance between the clans. Have you forgotten our friend from the same generation—Uchiha Kagami?"]
[Danzo Shimura: "How could I forget? His dōjutsu saved me more than once."]
[Hiruzen Sarutobi: "The Uchiha have always been part of Konoha. They must remain."]
[The image zooms in on Danzo Shimura. He narrows his eyes coldly. "If they can remain."]
"?!!!"
Sasuke and Neji, both raised in prestigious clans, instantly caught the hidden meaning in Danzo's words.
Especially Sasuke. A chill ran down his spine.
On the other side, as Danzo's former teacher, Tobirama Senju frowned deeply.
From Danzo's attitude alone, he could tell—
Danzo was going to make a move against the Uchiha.
What Tobirama couldn't understand was this: if Kagami had saved him several times with his Sharingan, why was Danzo still unable to truly accept the Uchiha clan?
Shisui raised a hand to the empty eye socket Danzo had once gouged out.
A faint suspicion surfaced in his mind.
That line—"Kagami's dōjutsu saved me more than once"—was just like the time Danzo used Izanagi to counter his genjutsu.
It wasn't Kagami himself who had saved him.
It was the eye in Danzo's own socket—his grandfather's eye—that had saved him, again and again.
[The image shifts. Several shinobi from Kirigakure are carrying out a mission. Suddenly, multiple ninja collapse—clearly struck by the genjutsu: Demonic Illusion: Hell Viewing Technique.]
["Byakugan!" Ao of Kirigakure activates the Byakugan he stole, discovering that the enemy is the Konoha ninja known as Shisui of the Body Flicker.]
"Byakugan?!!!"
Neji and Hinata cried out at the same time.
Within Konoha, the Hyuga clan head and its members stared at the image of the ninja named Ao with undisguised hostility.
From the other villages—
"Hmph. Even after going to such lengths, Konoha still couldn't fully protect the Dōjutsu of the Hyuga and Uchiha."
"The Land of Water really is shameless."
"Heh. What do you expect? It's the Bloody Mist."
[Next, Ao of Kirigakure retreats without fighting.]
In Kirigakure—
Mei Terumi glanced sideways at Ao.
The other Mist ninja did the same.
Ao straightened up and defended himself, "You youngsters don't know the name 'Shisui the Body Flicker.' If I had led the charge, we would've been wiped out, understand? That was an elite among the Uchiha elites!"
"To make even Ao-sensei retreat in fear—"
"'In fear'?! What do you mean in fear? That was a tactical withdrawal after weighing the pros and cons!"
"Oh, right. So the Uchiha Shisui who made Ao-sensei carefully weigh his options and retreat… did he also die at the hands of that S-rank missing-nin, Uchiha Itachi? Just how strong was that Itachi?"
Ao hesitated. "There are rumors that Shisui committed suicide. Though more people believe Uchiha Itachi took him by surprise."
[In the image, the elite among Uchiha elites returns to Konoha after completing his mission. He kneels on one knee before the Third Hokage, requesting a private audience.]
[On the rooftop of the Hokage building. No one else is around.]
[Uchiha Shisui: "I am deeply pained by the mutual distrust between my clan and the village. I hope to rebuild trust between the Uchiha and Konoha."]
Watching the young Uchiha beside him show such resolve, Tobirama couldn't help but give him an approving look. "As expected of Kagami's grandson."
The Third Hokage nodded as well. "That's right, Shisui… You once said those very words to me. Then why did you later choose to end your own life?"
Shisui fell silent for a moment. "Please continue watching."
He hadn't expected the projection to reveal this much.
But that was good.
Let both sides see that the rift between the Uchiha and Konoha wasn't the fault of just one party.
That was far better than him and Danzo bluntly revealing that he intended to use Kotoamatsukami to control the Uchiha clan head and force him to abandon the coup.
Given a second chance at life, Uchiha Shisui believed nothing was more important than restoring Itachi's identity and freedom.
Even if it meant trading the Uchiha name for it—
So be it.
[Next, the Third Hokage privately authorizes Uchiha Shisui to use the authority and resources available to the Hokage to repair relations between Konoha and the Uchiha.]
["If anything goes wrong, use my name. I will take full responsibility. Go ahead without hesitation." It was both the trust of a grandfather toward an old friend's grandson—and the urgency to mend the village's relationship with the Uchiha.]
Naruto clenched his fists. "That's the Hokage for you!" What courage! Grandpa Third really was worthy of the title!
"Lord Third…" Sasuke murmured, gratitude filling his chest.
Yet unease still lingered in his heart.
After all—
Itachi had wiped out the entire clan.
[The image shifts to the Uchiha compound—Sasuke's former home.]
[At the gate, Uchiha Shisui flickers and vanishes.]
["Big brother, since you're back from your mission, Practice Shurikenjutsu with me!"]
["Sorry, Sasuke. Someone just came to see me."]
…
Now came the crucial part.
Shisui clenched his fists and watched alongside everyone else.
[At the place where Shisui and Itachi often trained together as children, the two exchange greetings. Shisui gets straight to the point.]
[Shisui: "I want the truth, Itachi… How serious is Lord Fugaku?"]
Sasuke froze. "Father?"
[Itachi: "About what?"]
[Shisui: "The coup… against Konoha."]
"!!!!"