Changes in Shisui's State of Mind

[Host: Uchiha Yoru (One Tomoe)]

[Chakra Reserves: Chūnin (LV3)]

[Chakra Nature: Fire (LV3), Lightning (LV4)]

[Swordsmanship (Taijutsu): LV4, Medical Ninjutsu LV4]

[Gold: 12.35 million]

Inside the Konoha camp, Uchiha Yoru wore a worried expression, while Shisui across from him looked ashamed, as though he wanted to help but could not offer any assistance at all.

"Shisui, Teacher Orochimaru's research has reached its most critical stage. He needs some rare research materials, and you know that gold is the hard currency for dealing with the outside world right now."

Seeing Uchiha Yoru's worried expression, Shisui nodded solemnly. "Don't worry, Brother Yoru. I'll contact the clan right away. This is the funding for this time."

With that, he pushed over a heavy suitcase. Upon seeing the gold within reach, not only was Uchiha Yoru not happy in the slightest, he instead put on an even more troubled look and sighed.

Seeing this, Shisui could not help but look puzzled. "Brother Yoru, if Lord Orochimaru has a major funding shortage, I will definitely report it to the clan head and apply for more."

He had already taken over ten million in kickbacks, swallowing fully half the funds. Converted into cash, it amounted to at least fifty million—equivalent to one and a half Sarutobi Asumas.

In the original story, Jirō's underground bounty had been thirty million, while Sarutobi Asuma's had been thirty-five million. Some claimed that was the price of an Elite Jonin, but everyone had forgotten their identities.

An ordinary ninja had one price, but if, aside from their strength, they also had status backing them, their value would multiply several times over.

Jirō and Sarutobi Asuma had both been members of the Land of Fire's Twelve Guardian Shinobi. That status was like being the head bodyguard of a nation's president. Jirō later became the abbot of the Fire Temple, while Sarutobi Asuma's identity as the Third Hokage's son explained everything.

He may as well have been the president's son. The Third Hokage's son had a bounty of thirty-five million on his life—how could other Elite Jonin compare?

Moreover, a bounty was much like in his previous life. Some people needed to assassinate individuals of extremely high status. Whatever their purpose, after pulling off a job like that, they might not live in luxury for the rest of their lives, but they could at least coast for three years.

Therefore, Sarutobi Asuma's thirty-five million bounty was absolutely a massive sum.

By now, the Uchiha Clan had gradually provided Orochimaru with over a hundred million in financial support. They could definitely be considered generous. It was only that he had taken half of it as kickbacks.

"Ah, Shisui!"

Uchiha Yoru revealed an expression as though he wanted to speak but hesitated. Shisui immediately looked both confused and worried, and said in a deep voice, "Brother Yoru, have you encountered some difficulty? The clan has ordered that if anything happens, the Uchiha elites on the Front Line are to prioritize Brother Yoru's missions."

It had to be said that, in order to win over Orochimaru, the future Fifth Hokage, the Uchiha Clan was putting in everything they had. In the original story, they had lacked direction. This time, under Uchiha Yoru's lead, they had found one directly. Orochimaru needed money? Fine, they would throw money at him—all to gain trust, the trust of a future Hokage.

Seeing Shisui's solemn expression, Uchiha Yoru hesitated before sighing. "Shisui, Teacher Orochimaru has shed countless amounts of blood for the village. He also finally succeeded in creating a Wood Style Ninja, but from what Teacher Orochimaru said, it seems Lord Danzo is using this matter to threaten him."

"What!" Shisui revealed a shocked expression, then suppressed his shock and asked in a deep voice, "What exactly is going on?"

In Shisui's mind, the Third Hokage, Danzo, and the other higher-ups were all disciples of the Second Hokage. Danzo in particular was the Hokage's right-hand man. Why would he suddenly threaten Orochimaru for no reason?

Lord Orochimaru was not only the future Fifth Hokage—he was also the Third Hokage's disciple.

Seeing Shisui's shock, Uchiha Yoru shook his head and sighed. "I'm not clear on the details. From Teacher Orochimaru's furious reaction, it seems Danzo does not want him to become Hokage."

"What about the Third Hokage? Does the Hokage not know about Lord Danzo's—"

Shisui suddenly froze mid-sentence. He did not say the rest, but when he saw Uchiha Yoru's bitter smile, he seemed to understand something.

How could the Third Hokage not know? He was the Hokage, after all. But why did he not stop it? Why did he even seem unwilling to let Lord Orochimaru become Hokage?

Uchiha Shisui buried all these questions deep in his heart. His mind only buzzed. In his impression, he had always viewed Orochimaru through the lens of the Hokage position, and thus held nothing but respect and blind trust for him.

But all of a sudden, he seemed to discover that the radiance around Danzo and the Third Hokage, who was about to step down, had dimmed by a layer.

That was the effect of first impressions. With Orochimaru carrying the halo of a Hokage, Shisui naturally trusted and respected him. Meanwhile, the halo around a Hokage who was about to step down naturally became somewhat weaker.

Especially when the two were compared, he became even more confused. What reason could there be for even the Third Hokage to stand by and do nothing? Lord Orochimaru was the Hokage's disciple.

"Shisui, at most, Danzo can delay Teacher Orochimaru's succession to the position of Hokage, but he cannot stop it for long. Moreover, Teacher Orochimaru has already begun developing Wood Style experiments for the village once again with all his strength. Once another Wood Style Ninja appears, with such an enormous achievement, no one will be able to stop Teacher Orochimaru from becoming the Fifth Hokage."

Uchiha Yoru spoke with a resolute expression. He did not say anything bad about the Third Hokage, nor did he say how despicable Danzo was. He only said that Teacher Orochimaru was prepared to use a Wood Style Ninja as an achievement to become the Fifth Hokage with unstoppable momentum.

After all, no one would have imagined that a ninja of Orochimaru's status would defect. One of the Sannin, the Third Hokage's disciple, once a powerful contender for Fourth Hokage, and the future Fifth Hokage—under the blessing of all those halos, let alone Shisui, even the Kage of other nations would not have believed it at this time.

Tell them now that Orochimaru, one of Konoha's Sannin, was going to defect? They would absolutely sneer in disdain.

"Don't worry, Brother Yoru. This time, I'll personally report the importance of this matter to the clan head. I will definitely help Lord Orochimaru succeed!"

At that moment, human experimentation had become acceptable in Shisui's mind. After all, the Second Hokage had done it, and it had also been done during the Third Hokage's administration. It had all been for the village. Lord Orochimaru was likewise carrying it out under orders, so naturally it was also for the village. Besides, look—hadn't it succeeded?

Seeing Shisui's assurance, Uchiha Yoru also revealed a resolute expression and nodded solemnly. "Shisui, I'm counting on you. Danzo has practically cut off all funding for Teacher's research. This is also our Uchiha's only opportunity. Whether this experiment succeeds or not, as long as Teacher Orochimaru becomes the Fifth Hokage, the Uchiha will once again gain the Hokage's trust and surely return to the center of Konoha's power."

Those resolute words, filled with yearning for the future, immediately made Shisui even more fired up. He said in a deep voice, "Don't worry, Brother Yoru. The Uchiha Clan may lack other things, but money is the one thing we do not lack."

Damn, that was truly lavish. Worthy of Konoha's Premier Noble Clan. At that moment, Uchiha Yoru, who had still felt faintly guilty inside, could not help but mutter to himself that he still needed to work harder.

Look at that—they had said it themselves. Konoha's Premier Noble Clan lacked everything except money. He was also working to save the Uchiha, working for the Uchiha all along. What was wrong with spending a bit of his own clan's money? Wasn't that perfectly normal?

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