The Uchiha clan had suddenly become the hottest topic in Konoha.
Aside from Ryoma and Shisui, even those at the top were bewildered.
"What happened?"
The Third Hokage exhaled a slow stream of smoke, his gaze fixed on the ANBU operative wearing a frog mask kneeling before him.
For a moment, Hiruzen Sarutobi had wondered whether fatigue had finally caught up to him — perhaps a side effect of overusing the Telescope Technique. But reality was far stranger than hallucination.
"It concerns Uchiha Shisui," the ANBU reported calmly.
He was professionally trained, rarely shaken. Even so, he had verified the information multiple times before daring to present it to the Hokage.
Shisui was his colleague — serious, disciplined, dependable.
He had not expected this from him.
Hiruzen took another drag from his pipe, the glow reflecting in eyes that had witnessed decades of war.
He knew Shisui well.
This kind of move was not something the young Uchiha would devise on his own.
If Jiraiya had not still been away gathering intelligence, Hiruzen might have suspected him. But even Jiraiya would never secretly approach the Uchiha clan without informing the Hokage.
Something was off.
"Bring me a record of everyone Shisui has contacted in the past few days," Hiruzen ordered, lifting his hand.
The ANBU vanished and returned instantly with a file.
Though Shisui served in ANBU, he was still monitored — retrieving this information required almost no time.
Hiruzen scanned the list and frowned.
Every name was ordinary.
ANBU personnel. Uchiha clansmen.
No outsiders. No suspicious encounters.
Yet that normality itself felt unnatural.
Shisui had even proposed something resembling a honey trap tactic — completely out of character.
Hiruzen tapped his pipe against the ashtray.
"Who has he spent the most time with recently?"
"Uchiha Itachi… and Uchiha Ryougi," the ANBU replied.
"Ryougi?" Hiruzen raised an eyebrow. "The prodigy said to rival even Itachi?"
Itachi's name did not surprise him — the two were close.
But Ryougi's involvement was unexpected.
"I see."
The ANBU continued. "Two days ago, Uchiha Ryougi graduated from the Academy. Shisui visited him afterward and spoke with him at length. Yesterday, the three of them went together to the Konoha Police Force headquarters."
So that was it.
Hiruzen's eyes sharpened.
The Police Force — the stronghold of Uchiha authority within the village.
Still, he could not conclude Shisui had betrayed Konoha. Losing their inside observer within the Uchiha would be disastrous. And Shisui himself was a rare genius.
Konoha already faced a dangerous generational gap.
Minato was gone.
Kakashi remained emotionally distant.
True leadership candidates among the younger shinobi were few.
Shisui and Itachi stood above the rest — yet both were Uchiha.
And Hiruzen could not fully trust the clan.
A familiar heaviness settled in his chest.
Then — a colder presence entered the room.
Shimura Danzō.
"You may leave," Hiruzen told the ANBU.
Once they were alone, Hiruzen asked, "You're here because of the Police Force?"
Danzō nodded slightly.
"Shisui's actions have shifted public opinion toward the Uchiha Police. Even small changes can become cracks in the foundation."
Hiruzen exhaled smoke.
"That seems an exaggeration."
"A dam collapses because of a single leak," Danzō said flatly. "I warned you before. Shisui should have been placed in Root."
Hiruzen's eyes narrowed.
He knew exactly what Root did to those under its control. Handing Shisui over was unthinkable.
Still — Danzō was not wrong about the danger.
The Uchiha clan's resentment had been building ever since they were pushed to the village outskirts after the Nine-Tails incident.
If Shisui strayed even slightly, the situation could spiral beyond recovery.
"Shisui is essential to maintaining balance," Danzō said. "Your sentimentality will become a weakness. I will handle this."
They had worked together too long. Hiruzen knew Danzō would act regardless.
"Wait," Hiruzen said quietly. "Observe a little longer. Fugaku's squad is leaving on a mission tomorrow — Itachi included. We'll watch before making a move."
Unlike Danzō, Hiruzen still hoped conflict could be avoided.
Danzō snorted.
"You'll regret hesitation."
He turned and left.
The Next Day — Konoha's Main Gate
"Shisui-nii," Ryoma murmured, keeping his voice low, "follow us — but stay out of ANBU sight."
Shisui blinked. "Are they planning to attack you?"
It sounded absurd.
One was the clan head's son.
The other, his prized apprentice.
Who would dare?
"Not necessarily an attack," Ryoma replied. "But they will make a move."
Since the Nine-Tails' rampage, the Uchiha had lived under constant surveillance. Hiruzen and Danzō would notice any deviation immediately.
They were not invincible in open war — but in internal power struggles, they were unmatched.
Ryoma understood his advantage lay only in information. In direct confrontation, he had no chance.
"I understand," Shisui said quietly.
Yet hesitation flickered in his eyes.
He wanted Ryoma to be wrong.
And feared he was right.
Their conversation ended. Ryoma stepped away.
Itachi, waiting nearby, had clearly noticed — but asked nothing.
He never wasted words.
Looking at him, Ryoma couldn't help thinking: this boy didn't resemble a ten-year-old — he carried himself like a veteran shinobi twice his age.
Brilliant. Detached. Dangerous.
His methods already mirrored Danzō's — efficient, merciless, emotionless.
Without the simulator's guidance, Ryoma would rather not deal with him at all.
"You're still a genin," Itachi said, unrolling a mission scroll. "This assignment won't be difficult. Read the details yourself."