Chapter 76 Brothers' Disagreement (Part 2)
"Itachi, we haven't talked in a while, have we?" Shisui said with a smile.
"Yeah, ever since you lost your eyes, we haven't talked," Itachi said.
Seeing Itachi bring this up, Shisui shook his head helplessly. The events from a few days ago had revealed the true nature of many people. In the past few days, during his spare time, he had also checked old files left by the Anbu. Beneath the village's seemingly bright exterior, the hidden truths had greatly changed his mindset.
He realized that Touhuan taking his eyes was actually to protect the clan, the village, and even himself. He clearly recognized that his past self had been too naive. If Touhuan hadn't acted in time, and had allowed him to misuse Kotoamatsukami, the clan and village could have fallen into disaster, and the village's hidden evils would have remained concealed.
Touhuan was right—his answer to the inner trial with Kotoamatsukami had been too arrogant and naive. In his hands, Kotoamatsukami was extremely dangerous and uncontrollable.
Now, even if Touhuan placed his Mangekyō Sharingan before Shisui, Shisui no longer had the courage to take it again.
Seeing Shisui fall into silence, Itachi finally asked after a while, "What exactly happened in the village recently?"
"You've heard about it?" Shisui sighed and then explained in detail the rumors and events from earlier. As someone from the Anbu who had experienced the events firsthand, Shisui naturally had a clearer perspective than someone like Sasuke, who only knew through hearsay.
After hearing the full story, Itachi frowned deeply. After a moment, he looked up and said, "No matter what, the Anbu shouldn't have used violence against the villagers."
"Itachi, I know what you mean. Touhuan was already very restrained in this matter," Shisui, understanding his close friend well, said. "He originally intended to resolve it through legislation, but things got out of control due to the actions of some with ulterior motives. I don't think Touhuan wanted it to escalate like this either."
"Itachi, you…" Itachi didn't expect Shisui to defend Touhuan, who had forcibly taken his Mangekyō Sharingan.
"But in this way, the gap between the clan and the village will only grow. Touhuan never considered integrating the clan into the village! Have you forgotten our dream?" Itachi asked.
"Itachi, you misunderstand Touhuan deeply. He has always worked to integrate the clan into the village! Recruiting civilian ninjas into the Anbu is the best proof," Shisui said. "Also, after this matter, I carefully thought about it. The clan can integrate into the village, but the Anbu cannot."
Shisui's words confused Itachi, but Shisui quickly explained: "The Anbu is the village's law enforcement. Its duty is to ensure impartiality, not to build close relations with villagers. In this matter, Touhuan is far more clear-headed than we once were."
"Itachi, have you forgotten the Will of Fire?" Itachi looked at Shisui in disbelief. So soon, even someone like Shisui, who had always believed in the Will of Fire, had been influenced by Touhuan?
"By performing his duties properly, the Anbu truly upholds the Will of Fire," Shisui said seriously, frowning at Itachi's agitation.
The two fell silent again. After a while, Shisui sighed and continued, "Also, Itachi, not everyone in the village may care about the Will of Fire as much as they claim."
"Itachi, don't forget, that guy said he would start a war!" Itachi gritted his teeth.
"I think that was just Touhuan trying to unsettle me," Shisui shook his head. "He probably didn't want to kill me; otherwise, with his ocular powers, he had thousands of ways to do it."
"Enough! I see that you've been brainwashed by him, completely forgetting our dream! Forgetting the Will of Fire!" Itachi slammed the table, shouted, and left with a swish.
Their conversation ended on a sour note. Shisui watched Itachi leave, feeling helpless. He thought, "Itachi, Touhuan once said I was arrogant, but yours is even greater than mine."
If he could, he would have shown Itachi the shocking evidence, but due to confidentiality rules, he didn't have the authority.
"Looks like I'll have to ask Touhuan tomorrow and see if Itachi can also learn the truth." After Itachi left, Shisui returned to his study, took out the documents again, and sighed.
Itachi wandered aimlessly after leaving Shisui's house. He didn't understand why leaving for a short time made it feel as if the entire world had abandoned him. Even his most trusted brother and mentor seemed to have gone down a different path.
Unconsciously, Itachi arrived at the place he once loved to think about life alone—the cliff by the Nanhe River.
The night wind on the cliff tousled his hair. Itachi felt each breeze as he reconsidered the relationship between the clan and the village.
Itachi was one of the few in the Uchiha clan, where most were focused on strength and family honor, who had a mind for thought. As Sarutobi Hiruzen said, Itachi could think from the Hokage's perspective, so he could see the problems between the clan and the village. But how to solve them— even Hiruzen himself, sitting properly as Hokage, couldn't. How could Itachi, who merely could think like a Hokage, manage it?
In other words, Itachi had the intelligence to think this way, but what he had seen and learned couldn't fully support the depth of his thinking.
If Touhuan were here, he might have guided this lost soul, but arrogance and prejudice made Itachi choose what he thought was correct.
The last leaf of early winter fell. Itachi's Sharingan suddenly opened, three tomoe slowly spinning. The falling leaf was ignited by chakra. Through the flames, he looked toward the Hokage Rock, the images of the four Hokage clearly visible in his Sharingan.
"The Will of Fire is not wrong." The ashes of the burned leaf scattered in the wind as Itachi murmured.
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(End of Chapter)