Shisui's Resolve!

"It seemed Itachi had refused your invitation. Didn't you explain it clearly to him?"

"Sorry, Habara. I couldn't convince him. Perhaps I didn't express myself clearly enough, which was why he didn't accept our ideas."

In a simply decorated room, Habara, Shisui, Uchiha Zong, Uchiha Takechi, and the others sat together. Shisui looked rather guilty.

Shisui had thoroughly recounted his meeting with Itachi and exactly how he had explained things to him.

Whether it was Habara or the elders, none of them felt there had been any problem with it.

Shisui's account had neither exposed Habara's existence nor revealed what they intended to do next. He had merely stated something that almost the entire clan understood.

The clan could not be weak, but neither could it be arrogant. What they sought was peace and fairness. They wanted Konoha to hear their voices, nothing more!

Yet judging by Itachi's reaction from Shisui's account, he seemed to have heard only that the Uchiha wanted to resist the Hokage and oppose Konoha.

But the Hokage and Konoha were one, while also being separable. Resisting the Hokage did not mean opposing Konoha.

They wanted everyone in Konoha to hear their voices, not to wage war against Konoha.

Itachi's attitude truly gave them a headache, and it was exceptionally clear: he firmly opposed these changes.

He vehemently opposed conflict between the clan and the village, longing to use peaceful means to bring the village and the clan to a consensus.

"I said long ago that Itachi is a child with a firm will. He won't easily change his stance or beliefs."

Uchiha Zong sighed helplessly. He did not speak too harshly, because there was no need to.

He knew very well what Shisui's relationship with Itachi was like. The two had grown up together, and this incident had dealt Shisui no small blow.

Naturally, he did not wish to keep rubbing salt into Shisui's wounds. Likewise, he knew Habara had wanted to try bringing Itachi over to their side. Now that it had failed, there was no need to dwell on it.

"Let it go if it failed. You can't be blamed for this. Perhaps it was because I didn't let you say everything. I'll go see him next time."

Habara could not help but shake his head at Shisui's guilty expression before speaking to comfort him.

To be honest, he was not overly disappointed by Itachi's choice. Though it was somewhat regrettable that someone with the potential for the Mangekyo could not join him.

But Habara was not someone who obsessed over things. Itachi had potential, but he had not truly awakened it.

Besides, his mindset was extremely radical as well. Though Shisui had been rather cowardly at the most desperate and critical moment.

At the very least, he had not done anything that would outrage both man and god.

But Itachi had truly been cold-blooded enough to slaughter his entire clan, leaving behind only his beloved younger brother.

From Konoha's perspective, Itachi's actions might have been called putting righteousness before family, but was Konoha truly in the right?

Shaking his head, Habara could not be bothered to think about Itachi any longer. Whether it was a misunderstanding or his own decision, one had to see one's own choices through.

This was a cruel world. You had to take responsibility for your own choices!

"Thank you for comforting me. I'm fine, Habara."

Shisui forced a smile, then took a deep breath before speaking seriously.

"Although it's regrettable that Itachi made this choice, there are some things none of us can control."

At that, Shisui paused slightly, and his expression grew even more solemn.

"So what we need to do is look forward and do our very best.

Only then can we show him that we are right, that our choice is the correct one!"

Habara could not help but nod at Shisui's appearance, but what would proving they were right accomplish?

Could Itachi possibly come back to them?

Even if he truly did return, Habara could accept him, but whether these elders could was another matter.

Furthermore, Habara had no doubt that Itachi would report this incident.

Even if what he reported was not particularly serious, it would still create a huge rift.

After all, what clan did not hate traitors?

But at the thought of traitors, Habara unconsciously glanced at Shisui again. This kid had originally counted as one too, hadn't he?

"What is it, Habara?" Shisui naturally noticed Habara's gaze. Being stared at like that made him feel rather uncomfortable.

"Nothing. I was just thinking about something."

Habara immediately shook his head. After pondering for a moment, however, he suddenly asked.

"If—just if—Itachi chooses to oppose us, just as he told you, and takes actual action because of it, what would you do?"

Shisui had also relayed Itachi's threatening words, so Habara and the elders naturally knew about them.

Habara's question made the elders look at Shisui with interest as well. They were curious how Shisui would face his own "younger brother."

"I'll stop him. I won't let him become an obstacle in our path."

Without the slightest hesitation, Shisui spoke in a deep voice.

"If things truly reach an unavoidable point, I will not show any mercy.

He has his beliefs, and I have my convictions. Even if I still regard him as my younger brother, there are some things I cannot yield on, not even a single step!"

Shisui's attitude was exceedingly resolute, and it brought smiles to Habara's and the elders' faces.

No one wanted any more trouble at this stage, especially when they had already completed their basic arrangements!

The contradictions and disputes between the Moderates and the Hardliners had greatly improved through Habara's mediation and their own mutual compromises.

Habara had also basically visited and contacted the lowest-ranking members of the Uchiha Clan. He understood their circumstances and knew what they needed.

Under such circumstances, all they needed to do was challenge Uchiha Fugaku at the clan meeting tomorrow night!

Challenging the clan head, even forcing him to step down, was unprecedented in Uchiha history.

To be honest, they were somewhat worried about this. Only the presence of two Mangekyo had put their minds at ease.

If one of the Mangekyo ran into trouble at such a critical time, and the person affecting him was the clan head's son, anyone would be worried.

Fortunately, Shisui had not disappointed them. This time, he had not disappointed them!

"You don't need to do something so cruel. You don't need to prove anything. We all believe in you."

Habara patted Shisui on the shoulder, then continued with a smile.

"If necessary, I'll face him. At least I don't have much old attachment to him.

You need to adjust yourself properly. Tomorrow night is the clan meeting, and tomorrow is our most important moment."

Indeed, tomorrow night's clan meeting would mark the beginning of the Uchiha's transformation. No matter what, Shisui had to adjust himself to face any possible unexpected situations.

The Uchiha's change would begin tomorrow. Shisui silently clenched his fists. Although his conversation with Itachi had turned out this way.

No matter what, Shisui had already resolved to walk this path. He would never change his mind.

Just as he had said, he needed to look forward. He needed to do the best he could, and he needed to show Itachi who was right!

"I'll show you, Itachi!"

Handling Itachi was truly difficult. On one hand, he was very powerful; on the other, he was indeed cold-blooded.

Considering that there were only a few months left until the clan massacre, and that the Third Hokage had said Itachi had considered problems from a Hokage's perspective since childhood.

So when he viewed Shisui's words from the Hokage's perspective, the result naturally would not be good.

And judging from the clan massacre, his desire for peace was indeed firm, but his methods were also extremely radical and cold-blooded.

So in the end, it was decided that he should leave Konoha and the Uchiha first. After all, Uchiha Itachi without the Mangekyo was somewhat lacking.

Besides, it would be troublesome without someone in Akatsuki. They could not possibly send Shisui in undercover again, could they? In the previous book, Shisui had gone.

As for why he had not been brainwashed from childhood, on one hand, it had already been mentioned earlier that Itachi ignored the protagonist. On the other hand, he was the clan head's son. Could he really be approached so casually?

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