Wait, Bro, You Never Told Me You Were Going to Unleash Your Ultimate Move the Moment We Met!

Along the Naka River, some distance from where Shisui Uchiha had clashed with Root.

A head burst out of the rushing water and swam swiftly toward the bank.

"Huff—huff—!"

Clutching his right eye, Shisui Uchiha gasped for breath like a bellows for quite some time before finally recovering.

Looking at his bedraggled reflection in the water, Shisui Uchiha was suddenly overcome by an indescribable sadness.

Whether it was his clan or Konoha, all he had ever sought was to reconcile their differences without sacrificing either side.

Did he not love his clan?

No, it was because he loved them so deeply.

That he knew full well that if the clan rebelled, they would immediately find themselves vastly outnumbered.

When that happened, it would not be the Uchiha Clan against the Hokage.

It would be all of Konoha's ninja clans joining forces to annihilate the Uchiha Clan.

No matter who won or lost, neither side would come to a good end.

And when that happened, the other ninja villages, already eager to make a move, would seize the opportunity to attack the weakened Konoha.

"The Uchiha coup can no longer be stopped. What am I supposed to do?"

Shisui Uchiha held his head in both hands, clutching his hair tightly.

For a moment, he had no idea which way to turn.

"Shisui Uchiha."

Hagoromo emerged from the dense forest and called out to Shisui Uchiha, who was standing lost on the bank.

"Who's there?!"

Startled, Shisui Uchiha leaped to the left and turned to face the newcomer.

"It's... you?!"

At the first sight of Hagoromo, even Shisui Uchiha was taken aback.

Even if Shimura Danzō had appeared here now, he would not have been this surprised.

Yet Hagoromo, a Konoha Ninja he had met only once, was now dressed in Anbu attire.

"I was ordered by Lord Hiruzen to monitor the Uchiha Clan's gathering."

Hagoromo stood where he was as he spoke to Shisui Uchiha.

Hearing Hiruzen's name, Shisui Uchiha relaxed somewhat.

Still, he fixed his remaining left eye on Hagoromo and asked, "So, you were the one who used the Bringer-of-Darkness Technique?"

He had taken the opportunity to leave using the Body Flicker Technique while performing the Great Fireball Technique.

Although he had not been caught in the Bringer-of-Darkness Technique, he had seen that darkened area clearly.

Hagoromo readily nodded and admitted it. "That's right. Killing a fellow village ninja is a grave taboo, no matter who it is."

"Thank you."

Even without Hagoromo's intervention, he, Shisui Uchiha, could have escaped.

But he still had to offer his thanks.

"No need. I came here mainly to ask whether you'll come with me to see Lord Hiruzen."

Hagoromo shook his head and stated his purpose outright.

Although no one had seen him intervene just now,

Hiruzen had assigned him the task of investigating the Uchiha Clan's gathering.

And Kakashi, who had led the team there, knew Hagoromo had been nowhere to be found at Naka Shrine.

Once Hiruzen realized that, he would come looking for him sooner or later.

So Hagoromo intended to take the initiative and explain everything frankly.

Besides, he no longer intended to let Shimura Danzō go.

Having lost his entire right arm and Shisui Uchiha's Sharingan, Shimura Danzō was now like a tiger without teeth.

If he did not get rid of him now, was he supposed to let him stay and keep making trouble?

"Even if I saw Lord Hiruzen now, it wouldn't change anything."

Shisui Uchiha shook his head despondently. Much as he was unwilling to admit it,

Shimura Danzō was right. If the Council of Elders disagreed, then even if Hiruzen wanted to sit down and talk with the Uchiha Clan, he could not.

Instead, Shisui himself was more like a fuse at this point.

Either side could erupt into conflict because of him.

"Tell me, do all you Uchiha think like this?"

Hagoromo looked at Shisui Uchiha, somewhat speechless.

Do the people in this world really have so little political insight? Or do none of them read?

"Huh?"

Shisui Uchiha was momentarily dumbfounded by Hagoromo's words.

"Tell me, when faced with a blight on Konoha and a clan that could make Konoha stronger if it would only change its mind,

"Which do you think Lord Hiruzen would choose?"

Hagoromo glanced at Shisui Uchiha, then turned to leave, saying in a low voice as he went:

"If you're going to do nothing and just assume your death can resolve the current situation, then go ahead."

"Otherwise, follow me."

Hearing this, Shisui Uchiha abruptly raised his head.

His eyes were full of shock, because Hagoromo had indeed seen through what he was thinking.

Just as Hagoromo was about to disappear into the dense forest, Shisui Uchiha hesitated no longer and hurried to his feet to follow.

Hearing the movement behind him, Hagoromo leaped up and headed toward the village's main district.

Next would come his maneuvering with Hiruzen.

Inside the Hokage Building.

Hiruzen Sarutobi listened quietly to Kakashi Hatake's report without interrupting.

Only when Kakashi stopped did Hiruzen Sarutobi speak.

"What do you think, Kakashi?"

Kakashi, kneeling on one knee, was about to speak when Hiruzen Sarutobi raised a hand and waved it.

"Don't refuse. I need advice right now."

Ever since the Anbu Hiruzen Sarutobi had assigned to investigate uncovered certain matters concerning the Council of Elders,

Hiruzen Sarutobi had felt increasingly old and unequal to the task.

And now, among the entire younger generation of Konoha, only Kakashi had the strength and background

to speak with him properly.

Hearing this, Kakashi Hatake was silent for a long time.

Knock, knock—

Just as Hiruzen Sarutobi had given up on questioning Kakashi further, someone knocked on the Hokage's office door.

Hiruzen Sarutobi looked up and, after a long pause, replied, "Come in."

The door then opened.

When Hiruzen Sarutobi saw who had entered, he froze on the spot.

"Shisui?!"

"Lord Hiruzen!"

Shisui Uchiha immediately dropped to one knee and bowed to Hiruzen Sarutobi.

"Call someone from the medical department here."

Hiruzen Sarutobi rose to his feet and, looking at Shisui Uchiha's bleeding right eye, turned to instruct Kakashi.

Kakashi immediately got up, and another person walked in through the door.

As soon as Hagoromo entered the Hokage's office, he felt Hiruzen Sarutobi and Kakashi turn their gazes on him.

Hagoromo bowed to Hiruzen and said, "Lord Hiruzen, Captain Kakashi."

"Lord Hiruzen, please allow me to report something."

"Concerning Shimura Danzō's crimes: killing fellow village ninja, secretly conducting human experiments, and intending to incite unrest in Konoha and seize the Hokage Position."

In an instant, the entire Hokage's office fell silent.

Even Shisui Uchiha, who had come with Hagoromo, turned to look at him with a shocked expression.

Wait, bro, you never told me you were going to unleash your ultimate move the moment we met!