Naruto: The Fall of the Uchiha - Chapter 44
It was a dark and windy night.
The murky sky was shrouded with thick clouds, and a bright moon cut through the night sky, casting its light on a solitary, slender telephone pole.
Seated atop the pole, Uchiha Shisui’s face involuntarily twitched as he was exposed to the moonlight after being accustomed to darkness for so long. However, this brief moment of discomfort quickly faded, and his expression returned to its usual deadpan state.
But…
Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump…
While Shisui’s exterior remained calm, the rapid pounding of his heart betrayed his inner turmoil, showing that he wasn’t as composed as he appeared.
“For the sake of the village and the Uchiha, I have no choice!”
The blade-like Mangekyou Sharingan in Shisui’s eyes slowly rotated, and the blood vessels around them filled and swelled, reducing the whites of his eyes.
Finally!
Shisui shut his eyes in pain and reopened them; they are now completely back to normal.
Having witnessed Jin leading the Uchiha clan to a confrontation with Hiruzen Sarutobi and the other Konoha elders, Shisui realized that the clan and the village were teetering on the edge of a dangerous precipice.
Impeaching the Hokage!
Such a move had undoubtedly enraged the Third Hokage, who had declared, “The village trusts the Uchiha,” pushing the clan firmly into opposition against Hiruzen.
And then there was Danzo…
In Shisui’s eyes, Hiruzen Sarutobi, the embodiment of the Will of Fire, couldn’t be as disgraceful as he seemed. Danzo was the rotten apple spoiling the bunch.
Lord Hokage… he is merely… holding onto old bonds…
But regardless of what had happened in the past, the village and the Uchiha clan were now on the brink of destruction. Realizing he had to do something, Shisui responded to Hiruzen’s hint and quietly left the Uchiha’s barbecue gathering.
Yet…
Why did Jin’s gaze seem so meaningful before I left?
It doesn’t matter anymore!
Recalling Danzo’s frenzied accusations against the Uchiha and his attempts to incite conflict between the clan and the village, Shisui could barely contain the ocean of killing intent within him.
However, the Will of Fire within him helped Shisui suppress this impulse.
By revealing his Mangekyou Sharingan and its powers, he hoped to create a chance for peace between the clan and the village.
Indeed.
Shisui knew that Jin’s aggressive tactics had temporarily stripped Hiruzen of the ability to rally all of Konoha against the Uchiha and that impeaching the Hokage and nominating Fugaku as a candidate might seem to create a harmonious future.
He understood these were just illusions. No matter how appealing they seemed, they would ultimately lead to two outcomes:
The Uchiha’s destruction!
Mutual annihilation between the Uchiha and the village!
Shisui was determined to avoid these outcomes, even if he possessed a pair of Mangekyou Sharingan that could instill fear in anyone.
So.
Shisui was taking a gamble!
If the clan could compromise, surely the Hokage, who had expressed his trust in the Uchiha with words embodying the Will of Fire, could resolve the tension between the village and the clan.
Remembering the Third Hokage’s trembling yet firm hand on his shoulder and the stubborn look in his eyes, Shisui believed he hadn’t misjudged him.
Under the guidance of the Will of Fire, Lord Hokage would lead both the village and the Uchiha toward a more harmonious future.
Therefore!
“I’m sorry, Clan Leader!”
With the last trace of hesitation eliminated, Shisui’s Mangekyou Sharingan reappeared in his eyes.
Swoosh!
As Shisui’s shadow flickered in the air, dozens of kunai embedded themselves in the telephone pole from tricky angles.
Effortlessly dodging the kunai, Shisui reappeared, now facing several ‘Root’ ninjas in black cloaks and animal masks.
“Lord Danzo, what do you want from me?”
Ignoring the Root ninja’s cold, murderous expressions, Shisui looked at the shadowy figure emerging from the darkness.
“As expected of the Mangekyou Sharingan!”
As Danzo spoke, two shadows suddenly appeared beside Shisui.
Clang! Clang!
Two shuriken aimed at Shisui’s vital points forced him to retreat. Unwilling to kill his attackers, Shisui danced through the narrow street using his renowned Body Flicker Technique.
“So, this is the famed ‘Shisui of the Body Flicker.’ Such quick illusions.”
As the moonlight fully illuminated the figure in the shadows, Danzo’s bandaged right eye and arm in a sling gave him the appearance of an old, frail man.
“Stand down!”
The attacking Root ninja halted at Danzo’s command and melted into the shadows.
“Danzo, what do you want?”
Shisui, now impatient, felt the urge to cut down on this troublemaker.
However, considering Danzo’s close relationship with the Third Hokage and the current tension between the Uchiha and the Hokage faction, Shisui restrained himself.
Hmm!
Next time, I’ll give Danzo an endless loop of being stomped on by Jin!
“What I have to discuss is of great importance. How could I trust you to complete the mission without testing your abilities first?”
Danzo’s tone carried an air of superiority, showing no hint of apology, and his lips curled into a sinister smile.
Foolish Uchiha!
To think you would waste your chakra so easily. Your naivety will be your downfall tonight.
“Did Lord Hokage send you to assist me?”
Shisui hesitated, but considering Danzo’s presence in the Hokage’s office earlier, he thought it possible.
Danzo didn’t respond to Shisui’s question. Instead, he stepped closer, scrutinizing Shisui with his single visible eye before speaking.
“If you use Kotoamatsukami on Fugaku, to stop the Uchiha from rebelling, but the village doesn’t change its treatment of the clan…”
Danzo’s eyes bore into Shisui’s like a vulture eyeing a corpse, and he smiled cruelly.
“What will you do then?”
Danzo’s question struck a chord within Shisui, who had always tried to avoid this issue.
But remembering the Third Hokage’s trembling yet strong hand on his shoulder, Shisui bit his lip and answered firmly.
“The Third Hokage promised me he would lead the village and the Uchiha to peace!”
“How laughable.”
Danzo sneered at Shisui’s naive answer, his resolve to seize Kotoamatsukami only strengthening.
The conflict between the Uchiha and Konoha was inevitable.
Even controlling Fugaku would only buy some time, but the Uchiha were irredeemably evil. They needed to be eradicated for Konoha’s sake.
Therefore.
Using Kotoamatsukami on Fugaku?
What good is controlling that weak, indecisive man? Danzo was indifferent to such a waste of a powerful tool.
This power to control minds and rewrite wills should be wielded by the “Darkness of the Shinobi World”!
As long as Danzo obtained this power, he could control Konoha and the entire shinobi world, leading Konoha to its true pinnacle.
All he needed was to control…
Hiruzen Sarutobi!
…
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