Shisui's expression darkened, his eyes filled with indescribable complexity.
Sigh!
After a soft sigh, he left the Radical Faction's compound.
As for the matter of the village and the Uchiha, Shisui felt that he still needed to think it over carefully. Since Uchiha Jin had no plans to act next, this was a good chance for him to conduct some investigation.
Outside the Radical Faction's compound, everything was desolate.
Although this place still belonged to the Uchiha, all the surrounding houses had been abandoned, giving off an utterly lifeless feeling.
After all, nearly every Uchiha had moved into the Radical Faction's compound.
Unfortunately.
Just as he was preparing to head home and rest while he thought things through, an Anbu appeared and stopped him.
"Shisui, Hokage-sama wishes to see you!"
"Alright, I understand!"
Shisui frowned but still nodded.
Honestly, he did not want to see Sarutobi Hiruzen right now, but the habits he had developed over the years still made him react immediately.
Afterward.
After taking a deep breath, he arrived at the Hokage Office.
"Hokage-sama!"
Shisui dropped to one knee, his face full of loyalty.
His gaze had changed slightly from before as he glanced toward the Anbu concealed in the shadows.
He also noticed many details about Sarutobi Hiruzen, the Hokage, that he had never paid attention to before.
For example, Sarutobi Hiruzen subconsciously lowered his Hokage Hat. While smoking, upon seeing him, he instinctively lowered his eyes, showing no intention of looking at him at all...
Even though he had not activated his Sharingan, he could still keenly sense Sarutobi Hiruzen's faint vigilance.
Though the movements were subtle, they could not escape his notice.
After all, he had come off the battlefield. If he lacked even such basic vigilance and the ability to read people, he would have died on the battlefield long ago.
Therefore.
Before, he had simply trusted Sarutobi Hiruzen too much and had never subconsciously considered such things.
Now, however, things were different!
Even though he still trusted Sarutobi Hiruzen, Uchiha Jin's words had still had some effect. He had begun subconsciously observing these small details. Perhaps he also wanted to prove that Uchiha Jin was wrong.
Unfortunately.
His discoveries instead seemed to prove that Uchiha Jin was right.
Thinking of this, his heart was filled with indescribable complexity.
"Mm, Shisui!"
"Though you are off duty today, the Uchiha matter is too important. I have no choice but to call upon you."
"You and Fugaku went to the Radical Faction's compound today. Can you tell me what happened?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen smiled faintly.
He still wore a kind expression, and his tone was full of warmth.
In response.
Shisui's heart jolted upon hearing the question. He hurriedly suppressed his thoughts deep inside, then recounted everything truthfully.
He concealed nothing!
This included Uchiha Jin's threats toward Fugaku, Fugaku's decision to withdraw from worldly affairs in despair, and Uchiha Jin's warnings and threats toward him.
He recounted every word without omission!
Of course.
He concealed the news that Fugaku had awakened the Mangekyo, as well as what he had heard within the Clan Compound.
On one hand, he feared that the village would become even more wary and its relationship with the Uchiha would grow tense again. But more than that, he simply did not know how to say it, because those speculations were too offensive toward Sarutobi Hiruzen.
There was even a faint fear in his heart.
Because this matter had already begun spreading within the Clan Compound. It was only because clan members rarely went to the village to interact with others that it might not spread outside anytime soon.
But what if...
What if those rumors spread?
He did not dare imagine it!
Thinking of this gave him a headache, and he felt somewhat grateful for the clan's isolation.
"Bullshit!"
"How could I possibly deliberately watch Shisui die?"
"Danzo? Even less likely!"
"He is an Elder of the village. How could he possibly lay a hand on villagers?"
"Uchiha Jin's speculation is nothing but a scheme to destroy the village. Shisui, you must not believe him!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen slammed his hand on the desk.
Forcibly suppressing the terror in his heart, he immediately began refuting him.
Yet likewise.
He was deeply horrified, because Uchiha Jin's judgment was simply too accurate in his view.
Danzo would definitely make a move against Shisui. The only difference was a matter of sooner or later, while he himself would certainly choose to ignore it, then hold Danzo accountable afterward.
That bastard Uchiha Jin had seen through his thoughts far too clearly!
Thinking of this made his scalp tingle.
Having such a man in control of the Uchiha was no good thing for the village. He was far more difficult to deal with than Fugaku.
"Hokage-sama, please rest assured. I am still willing to believe in the village."
Shisui hurriedly spoke upon hearing this.
Seeing the sincerity on Shisui's face, Sarutobi Hiruzen breathed a sigh of relief inwardly and quickly smiled. "Then I am relieved. Shisui, do not overthink things."
"I understand, Hokage-sama." Shisui nodded.
Sarutobi Hiruzen pondered for a moment and steadied his emotions. "How did Uchiha Jin learn of your Mangekyo?"
"I'm not sure. I'm confused as well." Shisui sank completely into confusion, only speaking hesitantly after a long while. "Perhaps it is the effect of his Mangekyo, some sort of prophetic ability?"
Yes.
He could not figure it out either!
After all, he had only told Sarutobi Hiruzen about his Mangekyo's ability.
Thus, for a prophetic Mangekyo like this, he could not think of any other possibility for the moment.
Sarutobi Hiruzen's expression grew even uglier. A prophetic ability made his chest tighten. Did that not mean that no matter how he plotted, Uchiha Jin could learn the information in advance and stop him, perhaps even strike back?
This was—troublesome!
In the end.
After learning everything that had happened within the Uchiha clan today, he comforted Shisui a little more before allowing him to return home and rest.
Once Shisui had left, he angrily slammed his hand on the desk.
"Bastard, damn it!"
"How could this Uchiha Jin be so difficult to handle?"
"Anbu!"
After cursing loudly, Sarutobi Hiruzen knocked on the desk, and an Anbu respectfully dropped to one knee.
Sarutobi Hiruzen pondered briefly before speaking in an indifferent tone. "Organize everything Shisui just said and deliver it to Elder Danzo. Warn him that he absolutely must not make a move against Shisui anytime soon."
"Yes, Hokage-sama!" The Anbu bowed and departed.
After the Anbu left, Sarutobi Hiruzen sighed.
This was just too difficult!
It seemed that dealing with Uchiha Jin would not be accomplished overnight. This man constantly wanted to drag everyone down with him. If he could not be dealt with first, then even if the Uchiha could be destroyed, he would become an enormous threat to the village.
A Mangekyo wielder hiding in the shadows and specifically ambushing ordinary members of the shinobi clans and Commoners—there was simply no defense the village could use to stop him.
Wait a little longer!
First, send the Uchiha into that cesspit known as the Konoha Military Police Force, then find a way to weaken the Uchiha. He could think of ways to handle everything else later.
However...
The one thing he could not bear was how to deal with the village's fiscal deficit.
During the Third Shinobi War, nearly eighty or ninety percent of the Land of Fire's allocated funds had long been seized by the Sarutobi, Utatane, Mitokado, and Shimura clans. Root had directly taken more than half of the little that remained, and the tiny amount left had only barely been enough to support the village until the end of the war.
Now there was still a shortfall in compensation payments. The village also needed to stockpile food, along with Explosive Tags, Kunai, shuriken, and other Supplies for its finances...
The daimyo was unwilling to pay for such an enormous deficit. If he could not quickly destroy the Uchiha, where exactly was he supposed to obtain such a huge sum of assets?
Sarutobi Hiruzen began to get a headache!
Before you continue