Danzo's Performance

Night gradually fell, with only a few lingering rays of sunset still hanging on the horizon.

"It's coming!"

Naruto's figure silently appeared in a secluded forest. Standing atop a large tree, he quietly watched the Hokage Building.

Though he could not see them, he could sense that Uchiha Shisui had left the Hokage Building and was heading toward the Uchiha Clan Grounds. Between Shisui and himself, more than a dozen figures were likewise concealing their presence.

Shimura Danzō had also made his preparations. Unfortunately, while the mantis stalked the cicada, the oriole waited behind—one was in the open, the other in the shadows.

The three tomoe in Naruto's eyes spun rapidly, connecting into a line before transforming into a pair of vertical pupils.

His figure vanished once more.

Night had completely fallen. The lingering sunset had disappeared beyond the horizon, and a cold, bright moon quietly rose. Moonlight was broken apart by the dense canopy, leaving only scattered patches of light and shadow on the ground like shattered silver mirrors. The forest was even quieter tonight.

"Rustle—"

Uchiha Shisui traveled quickly, with a trace of urgency in his movements. His clothes brushed against branches and leaves, producing faint rustling sounds.

Since the Fourth Hokage's sacrifice, the Uchiha had finally found another chance to integrate into the village. Uchiha Shisui did not want to miss this opportunity, and neither could the Uchiha.

He wanted to return to the Uchiha as soon as possible, inform Fugaku Clan Head of this matter, gather all Uchiha members for a Clan Meeting, and then conduct a secret investigation.

He understood Fugaku Clan Head's personality. Though Fugaku had vaguely begun leaning toward agreeing to a coup, his indecisive nature meant Shisui had never held much hope for it. As long as he informed Fugaku of the Third Hokage's intentions and his own intelligence, Fugaku would surely support his plan to prevent the coup.

But the other elders were different. They held an almost fanatical yearning for the Mangekyo. Once they learned the truth, it would only strengthen their resolve to stage a coup.

Therefore, the only people he could trust were Fugaku Clan Head and his friend, Uchiha Itachi.

Uchiha Shisui was already beyond saving. As a stubborn idealist, he had always lived in the paradise of his own imagination.

He had already begun envisioning the Uchiha being accepted by the village. Konoha's villagers would no longer fear the Uchiha, Konoha's higher-ups would no longer exclude them, and Uchiha Itachi would become Konoha's Hokage.

The intense emotions caused the Three-Tomoe Sharingan in his eyes to emerge naturally. It spun without pause, transforming into the shape of a single-bladed shuriken.

But fantasies were like bubbles. Once reality's cruelty burst the paradise he imagined, what would happen then?

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!

A series of piercing sounds rang out as several kunai shot toward him from all sorts of tricky angles. They came from every direction, leaving him no room to evade.

But how could someone with the Mangekyō Sharingan's perception possibly be caught off guard by mere kunai? In an instant, Uchiha Shisui had drawn his own kunai and deflected every incoming blade.

Before he could steady himself, however, five ninjas in black robes and animal masks had already surrounded him.

Shuriken, kunai, smoke bombs, and Exploding Tags rained down on him like scattered flowers.

"These people..."

Uchiha Shisui's face changed drastically. Their cold attitude and nearly emotionless killing intent made them seem like mindless machines. A suspicion arose in his heart.

The dust kicked up by the many Exploding Tags and smoke bombs engulfed the entire area. Having prepared for this, Uchiha Shisui had already used the Body Flicker Technique and vanished from the spot.

Uchiha Shisui reappeared atop another large tree. Looking at the five figures ahead, his expression was incomparably grim.

That man's prejudice against the Uchiha Clan was extraordinary. Now that he had suddenly appeared here to ambush him, was he trying to use this to provoke conflict between the village and the Uchiha?

A ruthless gleam flashed through Uchiha Shisui's eyes. A sense of foreboding suddenly rose in his heart. He had to return to the clan as quickly as possible.

"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"

Uchiha Shisui swiftly formed hand seals before his eyes and spat a massive fireball toward the five men.

The five Root ninjas were no ordinary shinobi. Since they had been chosen to ambush Uchiha Shisui, they were naturally elites carefully selected by Shimura Danzō.

The five reacted swiftly, all forming the same hand seals toward the incoming fireball.

"Water Release: Wild Water Wave!"

Water Release countered the Uchiha. This was a conclusion the Second Hokage had reached long ago.

Five rushing streams of water merged in midair, forming a towering wave.

"Sizzle!"

The fireball collided with the massive wave in midair, erupting with a sound like thunder. A great amount of steam burst forth where the two attacks met.

When the attacks finally ended, neither had been able to overcome the other.

Just as Uchiha Shisui prepared to attack again, eight more ninjas dressed in Anbu uniforms and wearing animal masks appeared. At the center of the eight Anbu ninjas, the man behind it all finally revealed himself.

Shimura Danzō emerged, his right eye and right arm both wrapped in bandages, with his right arm suspended against his chest by more bandages. Leaning on a cane, he looked like a frail old man who needed someone to give up their seat for him on a carriage.

Uchiha Shisui stopped forming hand seals and dropped to the ground. He glared at Shimura Danzō with wide eyes and shouted, "Shimura Danzō, what exactly are you trying to do?"

Shimura Danzō signaled for the eight Root members beside him to stop, while he continued walking toward Uchiha Shisui.

After the first two waves of ambushes had failed, he knew the first plan had failed as well. Now, he would carry out the second plan.

He had originally wanted to save himself one Sharingan.

"Stop! What exactly are you trying to do?"

Watching Shimura Danzō approach until he was only five steps away, Uchiha Shisui could not help but shout at him to stop. Though Shimura Danzō looked old, weak, and crippled, his strength could not be underestimated.

Shimura Danzō stopped as well, since he was already close enough.

"Kotoamatsukami. The ability to invade another person's mind without them noticing and permanently, completely alter their will... Truly a terrifying ability."

Shimura Danzō's gaze was deep. He seemed to be praising him, but Uchiha Shisui felt a chill run through him.

His pupils suddenly contracted. He had told only the Third Hokage and Uchiha Itachi about this information. How had Shimura Danzō learned of it?

Had the Third Hokage already discussed this matter with the Hokage advisers?

"Uchiha Shisui, do you really think that a pair of eyes alone can change the relationship between the village and the Uchiha?"

"Even if you use those eyes to control Uchiha Fugaku and persuade the Uchiha Clan, the village will never accept your Uchiha Clan."

Shimura Danzō narrowed his exposed left eye. Half his face was hidden in the shadow of the leaves, concealing the greed in his gaze.

The power of the Mangekyō Sharingan and the effect of Kotoamatsukami made him see the hope of becoming Hokage once again.

Shimura Danzō's words made Uchiha Shisui furrow his brow. "The Third Hokage has already promised me. Things will definitely change."

"Hmph." Shimura Danzō snorted. "Even with the Third Hokage's support, the village's suspicion of the Uchiha will not disappear."

"I understand, but as long as we give it enough time..."

"But what if there are still many suspicious people like me in the village, people who refuse to change their minds? Uchiha Shisui, what will you do then?" Shimura Danzō interrupted him, staring at him coldly.

"Could it be that you intend to use Kotoamatsukami to control us as well?"

"No, that's not it, I..."

Uchiha Shisui was about to explain, but his eyes abruptly widened.

Shimura Danzō had already flung aside his cane and charged at Uchiha Shisui. His left hand rose like a claw, reaching straight for Shisui's right eye.

"I'll be taking your Sharingan!"