Choice

Choice

Third Hokage held his forehead and spoke with difficulty.

"Itachi, you know that some matters can't be resolved through words alone. The Root did lose two men, after all."

Itachi lowered his head and said nothing, his attitude firm.

Third Hokage could only shake his head helplessly.

"Itachi, withdraw for now. I'll handle this matter properly."

Itachi had no choice but to rise and leave in silence.

After a long while, another person arrived before Third Hokage.

With white hair, a black mask, and a forehead protector covering his left eye, it was Kakashi.

"Lord Third—"

Third Hokage interrupted Kakashi.

"Kakashi, I know what you want to say, but this is difficult for me as well. Danzo's side really did lose people, and there's currently no evidence proving that Danzo made the first move. So I can only arrest Kagato."

Kakashi spoke with determination.

"Even so, I still have to ask the Hokage to release Kagato. He was once my student. Although we weren't together for very long, it was long enough for me to understand what kind of person he is. He works extremely hard at training, but he doesn't care much about other things and is even somewhat slow-witted in that regard. Someone like him wouldn't take the initiative to attack Root members."

Third Hokage rose, turned his back to Kakashi, and looked out the window.

"Kakashi, I want to resolve this matter as quickly as possible. If we let it continue, the relationship between the Uchiha and the village will only keep deteriorating. So I want to settle it soon. But I also have to take Danzo's feelings into consideration. His Root really did lose two men. Until there's evidence proving Danzo made the first move, I won't release Kagato."

Kakashi's expression was hidden beneath his mask, but the disappointment in his exposed right eye was unmistakable. He could tell that Third Hokage wouldn't easily change his decision.

"In that case, I'll take my leave."

"Mm."

On the opposite bank of a waterfall, Shisui and Itachi faced the cascading water.

"Itachi, I have to rescue Kagato. And I have to save Kagato's parents as well."

"Mm. Shisui, I understand your decision. How do you plan to do it?"

Shisui turned to look at Itachi.

"Before rescuing Kagato, we need to ease the hostility between the Uchiha and the village. With that hostility between us, it'll be difficult to save Kagato from the village."

Shisui closed his eyes.

"So..."

The next moment, Shisui abruptly opened his eyes. His pupils had changed from black to blood-red, displaying a pattern resembling four blades.

"I plan to use the power of these eyes to completely change the clan's thinking!"

Itachi stared at Shisui's eyes. He recognized them—the Mangekyō Sharingan.

"Have you made up your mind?"

Shisui closed his eyes. When he opened them again, his pupils had returned to black.

"What happened to Kagato made me realize that getting the village leadership and the clan to share the same views is extremely difficult. We have to rely on other means to achieve peace."

"Kotoamatsukami?"

Having stayed with Shisui all this time, Itachi naturally knew a little about the abilities of Shisui's Mangekyo.

"Yes. There'll be a gathering soon. I want to use my Kotoamatsukami at that gathering to completely change the clan's plans for a coup, and then rescue Kagato."

"Is there anything you need me to do?"

"Mm. Not for now. When the gathering takes place, we'll meet first and come up with an action plan. After that, just cooperate with me depending on the situation."

Itachi was silent for a moment before speaking.

"Understood."

This method of forcibly changing the clan's thinking wasn't Itachi and Shisui's first choice. Their ideal choice was still to rely on their own efforts to help the Uchiha and the village understand each other, and then resolve their hostility.

But the village's merciless arrest of Kagato, along with the Uchiha's growing resentment, had made them understand one thing: getting both sides to understand each other was simply too difficult. In the end, they still needed to resort to force.

This went against their beliefs all along. Using force meant that all their previous efforts would come to nothing, leaving them somewhat saddened. They fell silent.

Inside the room where Kagato was imprisoned, the door was opened for the first time in a long while.

Because he was blindfolded with black cloth, Kagato had no idea who had entered. He was extremely weak and couldn't be bothered to speak first, so he quietly waited for the newcomer to say something.

That person spoke soon enough.

"Uchiha Kagato, I came here to tell you something."

Kagato froze. He recognized the voice. It should be Danzo.

"What is it?"

Kagato's voice was extremely weak. Even speaking felt exhausting to him now.

Danzo sneered.

"You may not know this, but you aren't the only one who was arrested. Your parents were also arrested by my Root."

"You!"

Despite his weakness, Kagato forced himself to stand and stared intently toward the source of the voice, even though he couldn't see anything.

"Don't be so hasty. Rest assured, I won't do anything to your parents. However, there is one condition."

Kagato spoke through clenched teeth.

"Tell me."

Danzo glanced behind him. The shinobi guarding the door then retreated far away, clearly unwilling to let anyone else hear what Danzo was about to say.

"You should know the relationship between the village and the Uchiha, right? Their relationship is so tense, yet the Uchiha has produced a genius like you. That certainly can't be considered a good thing for Konoha. If you were like Shisui and Itachi, devoting yourself wholeheartedly to the village, that would naturally be excellent. Unfortunately, you aren't. You focus only on increasing your strength and don't participate in this matter at all. In Hiruzen's eyes, you may be an outsider who doesn't need to be dealt with.

"But I'm different. I see things very clearly. You're an Uchiha clansman, no matter what. Since you haven't come over to the village's side, you must be on the Uchiha's side. To Konoha, you're an unstable factor. My method of dealing with people like you has always been very simple.

"It was my mistake that those two Root members failed to kill you before. Now that Hiruzen has captured you, I can't make another move against you. Unless—unless you do it to yourself. Do you understand what I mean?

"Choose one: your parents or yourself. I'll give you three days. After three days, I'll come back to see you. If I find a living Uchiha Kagato, then you'll see a pair of dead parents. If I find a dead Uchiha Kagato, then your parents will remain safe."

Kagato roared with all his strength.

"Danzo!!!"

Danzo snorted coldly.

"I've made myself perfectly clear. The choice is yours. I have no interest in talking with someone like you any longer. I'm leaving."

Immediately afterward came the sound of the door closing. Danzo left.