Preparations

"N-Naruto, y-you..."

Minato Namikaze recovered from his vacant, disbelieving stare and called out to Naruto with a face full of hesitation. He wanted to say something, but he stammered and could not get the words out.

"What is it?"

Naruto had been observing the area around the Uchiha Clan Grounds when Minato Namikaze's sudden voice caught his attention. He had no idea what that strange tone meant.

"I-it's, it's you, y-your..."

Minato Namikaze was clearly trying his hardest to speak. His face had turned red from the effort, but it was as though something was blocking his throat, keeping him from saying it.

"?"

Minato Namikaze was acting strangely. Naruto thought there might be something wrong with his Chakra, so he found a safe place and sent his consciousness into the Sealing Space to check on him.

"Ha ha ha ha! Ha ha ha ha! I'm dying!"

Though he had been reading manga, the Nine-Tails had kept an eye on Minato Namikaze the entire time. At last, he could not hold back his laughter any longer.

Minato Namikaze's expression was more entertaining than the manga.

"Kurama, what's wrong with the Fourth Hokage?"

Hearing the Nine-Tails laughing, Naruto knew it understood the situation and asked it.

A mischievous grin appeared on the Nine-Tails' face. "After seeing your eyes, this guy is wondering whether he got cheated on. Ha ha ha ha!"

Minato Namikaze's face turned bright red, and he could not say a word. He knew it was impossible. Naruto's hair and eyes looked exactly like his, and there was no one else in Konoha with that appearance. But those Sharingan—he did not have Uchiha Clan blood.

Could Kushina have had an Uchiha Clan elder in her family?

Minato Namikaze's astonishing wisdom suddenly kicked in. Could it be that, besides intermarrying with the Senju Clan, the Uzumaki Clan had also intermarried with the Uchiha Clan?

"Uh..."

Only then did Naruto realize that, after all this time, he seemed never to have used his Sharingan in front of Minato Namikaze. Lately, he had either been training with Kakashi and Might Guy or practicing Sealing Techniques, so he had never had an opportunity to use it.

"These aren't my own eyes."

Naruto could not be bothered to make up an excuse. He simply told the truth. Uchiha Shisui was the priority right now.

Minato Namikaze came back to his senses as well. Though Naruto's words gave him an unpleasant thought, at least it was not what he had imagined.

"I-I see. Ha ha, I wasn't really thinking too much into it."

Minato Namikaze awkwardly scratched the back of his head in explanation.

"Mm. I found a few good spots. If there's nothing else, I'll go set up the seals first."

Naruto spoke calmly, and his figure vanished once more.

"Ah ha ha." Seeing Naruto's unconcerned expression, Minato Namikaze gave an awkward laugh.

"Whew..."

"These seals should be enough."

Naruto let out a long breath as he completed the final step of this seal.

To be safe, he had set up four seals in total. One was by the Naka River. Since he often used Malice Perception to survey all of Konoha, he naturally knew the place where Uchiha Shisui and Uchiha Itachi often met in secret.

He had placed the other three seals along the only route from the Hokage Building to the Uchiha Clan Grounds, forming a three-sided encirclement. With only a little guidance from him, Uchiha Shisui would definitely step into one of them.

Danzo, hurry up and make your move.

"Shisui, it's been over a month. The village still has no information on the intruder. How are things on your end at the Military Police Force?"

Inside the Hokage's office, Sarutobi Hiruzen stood before the window, admiring the bustling, lively Konoha Street below.

Because Sarutobi Hiruzen had his back to Uchiha Shisui, Shisui could not see his expression. Yet from his low voice, he could still sense Sarutobi Hiruzen's dissatisfaction.

Uchiha Shisui also felt bitter about the Third Hokage's displeasure. Over the past month, the Uchiha Military Police Force had done its best to search for clues about that intruder. At the same time, Uchiha Shisui had secretly tested everyone within the Uchiha Clan, only to find nothing.

Uchiha Shisui had begun to wonder whether the person who ambushed him really was from the Uchiha Clan.

But if he was not an Uchiha, how could he wield the Mangekyō Sharingan? After all, for other shinobi, even a Three-Tomoe Sharingan was difficult to use without Uchiha Clan blood.

Even the Son of the White Fang, the genius shinobi Kakashi Hatake, struggled to use a single Three-Tomoe Sharingan, let alone a Mangekyō Sharingan.

"My apologies, Third Hokage. The Military Police Force has no leads either." Unable to see Sarutobi Hiruzen's expression, Uchiha Shisui felt extremely uneasy.

"I see." Sarutobi Hiruzen pursed his lips, his eyes deep. "In that case, we cannot continue like this. We can only put the investigation into the intruder on hold for now."

"Third Hokage! But what if more villagers are harmed?" Uchiha Shisui was worried.

"We cannot keep wasting Konoha's manpower and resources. Today, I recalled all the investigators. From now on, this matter will be left to your Military Police Force. I believe the Uchiha Clan can protect Konoha well."

Sarutobi Hiruzen's voice was soft and calm, yet to Uchiha Shisui, his words crashed down like thunder. Shisui's anxious expression once again became excited.

Sarutobi Hiruzen's words finally put Uchiha Shisui's anxious heart at ease.

Entrusting such an important task to the Military Police Force was undoubtedly a sign of the Third Hokage's trust in the Uchiha. And having the Uchiha protect Konoha was also an opportunity for them. This was the Third Hokage giving the Uchiha a chance to integrate into the village. As long as the Uchiha could find that person and protect Konoha, the relationship between both sides would surely improve further.

He had decided. When he returned, he would tell Fugaku Clan Head the truth about the intruder being an Uchiha and ask him to help with the investigation. They would definitely find that Uchiha. The Uchiha had to seize this opportunity.

"Please rest assured, Third Hokage. The Uchiha will definitely complete your mission!"

Uchiha Shisui's voice became exceptionally excited. After speaking, he raised his head slightly and looked at Sarutobi Hiruzen's somewhat hunched back.

Sarutobi Hiruzen also nodded with feigned satisfaction. After hesitating for a moment, he still asked, "Shisui, your eyes... have you used them?"

Uchiha Shisui froze for a moment, then said with some self-reproach, "My apologies, Third Hokage. The Military Police Force has been investigating the intruder, so I haven't found a suitable opportunity."

Uchiha Shisui's answer made Sarutobi Hiruzen's gaze sharpen slightly.

Using the intruder to divert attention? Or...

As he thought about it, Sarutobi Hiruzen suddenly broke out in a cold sweat. He had not been controlled, had he?

Sarutobi Hiruzen repeated Tobirama-sensei's words several times in his mind, then thought several more times about how the Uchiha were evil by nature. Only after confirming that he had not been influenced did he speak again.

"It's all right, Shisui. I have always believed in your Will of Fire, and I have always believed in the Uchiha Clan's love for Konoha. Whatever you need to do, do it boldly. Once this incident is over, I will, in the name of the Third Hokage, publicize the Uchiha Clan's contributions throughout Konoha and use that to ease the relationship between Konoha and the Uchiha."

"Th-thank you, Third Hokage!"

The excitement in Uchiha Shisui's eyes could no longer be concealed. He was just short of dropping to his knees and bowing directly.

At that moment, the Will of Fire in his heart burned fiercely. Sarutobi Hiruzen's image became incomparably lofty. Sure enough, the Third Hokage had always been working to help the Uchiha integrate into Konoha.

"Mm." Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded.

"In that case, you may leave first."

"Yes. I'll return and inform Fugaku Clan Head of this news."

Uchiha Shisui left in high spirits, but Sarutobi Hiruzen, who remained behind, clenched his fists. His face was expressionless, but the wariness in his eyes grew even deeper.

Shisui, perhaps your Will of Fire is genuine, but the safety of all Konoha and the Land of Fire rests on my shoulders. I cannot take that gamble.

Danzo, I hope you don't make any mistakes.