Get Lost, Shisui

"Indeed, he was six." Uchiha Shisui nodded seriously, then added, "Itachi went to the battlefield when he was four."

All right.

Akira finally understood. Ninjas really did mature early—so early that they became sensible at six or seven. Yet they married late; there were plenty who remained unmarried into their forties or fifties.

The contrast was the whole point.

After more than an hour of Shisui's explanation, Akira roughly understood the situation.

Shisui had made many efforts over the years.

These included discussing the Will of Fire with many Uchiha Clan members, helping other villagers develop a favorable impression of the Uchiha, offering suggestions to Uchiha Fugaku, pledging loyalty to Hiruzen Sarutobi, and so on.

It could be said—

He had done everything he could. Shisui had exhausted himself physically and mentally, yet he could only watch as the village and the Uchiha drifted toward a split.

"Shisui, has anyone ever told you—" Akira bared his teeth.

"What?" Shisui asked in confusion.

"—that you're a complete idiot?"

Shisui: "..."

His expression stiffened. "No, Akira, there was no need to pause so dramatically just to insult me, was there? I don't think I've done anything wrong."

Who in the Uchiha Clan or Konoha didn't have something good to say about him?

That was the reputation of Uchiha Shisui!

"Heh."

Akira sneered. He set down his teacup, tapping one hand against his knee while propping his cheek on the coffee table with the other. "You say you haven't done anything wrong?"

"Shisui, do you know the saying, 'A common man is innocent, but possessing jade makes him guilty'?"

"You had the corresponding strength. Since you got involved in the muddy waters between the Uchiha and Konoha, failing to produce any results was your mistake."

What?

Shisui stared at him in disbelief and argued with some dissatisfaction, "Not getting results counts as a mistake?"

"Even if I have no achievements, I still put in the work, didn't I? I've always been trying to change the relationship between the Uchiha and the village. How can you say that not getting results means I was wrong?"

That was far too arbitrary.

And it was equally hard for Shisui to accept!

"Oh? Then I'll put it more plainly."

Akira chuckled softly, his gaze seeming to scrutinize Shisui while also peering into him. "Shisui, forget about whether you have the capacity for it or not. Tell me, just how far are you willing to go for the Uchiha and the village?"

How far was he willing to go?

Shisui's expression turned solemn. "Even if it costs me my life!"

"As long as it can save the Uchiha, I'm willing to pay any price!"

His eyes were resolute, like those of a warrior ready to make a sacrifice at any moment.

"What if it meant enduring humiliation and carrying a burden for the Uchiha?" Akira suddenly asked.

Uchiha Shisui's heart trembled. Akira's dark eyes seemed capable of seeing through every thought in his mind. He froze, then finally gave a bitter smile. "I... I don't know."

His fingers plunged into his short hair. His brows had been tightly furrowed from long-term repression, and now they twisted even further.

"Akira, I've never been an especially strong person."

There was a trace of confusion in Shisui's eyes. "When that moment truly comes, I don't know what choice I'll make."

Shisui and Itachi each had their own strengths and weaknesses.

Itachi's strength was his absolute rationality.

Especially after Shisui's death, that trait became even more pronounced.

As for Shisui, his strengths were tolerance, generosity, and optimism. He could be ruthless toward enemies, but when facing Konoha's "family," he would become indecisive.

"Shisui, you're actually somewhat like Minato." Akira suddenly changed the subject.

"Minato?"

Shisui was taken aback, and admiration appeared in his eyes. "I fought alongside Lord Minato. If Minato were still alive, the village and the Uchiha would never have reached this point."

"You two are both cheerful and generous, and both incredibly powerful, but—"

Uchiha Akira paused, looking at Shisui with a half-smile. "You don't have Minato's courage, nor do you have Minato's wisdom."

Minato had the ability to balance the Uchiha and Konoha.

And he had the strength to back it up.

Shisui fell silent. "That's true. I'm not as good as Minato."

"Tsk! Are you seriously this dense?"

Akira looked utterly speechless. "Who the hell doesn't know you're not as good as Minato? The problem is, Minato's correct answer has been sitting right in front of you this whole time. What the hell have you been doing all these years, babbling on about the Will of Fire and the Uchiha's will?"

Hadn't Minato already written out the answer?

You just had to copy it!

Yet you insisted on sitting there and fumbling around on your own!

"Huh? Lord Minato already gave us the answer?"

Shisui sank into confusion. He began thinking deeply, and after a long while, asked, "What... answer did Lord Minato give?"

Haa—

Akira drew in a deep breath and glanced sideways at Shisui as though looking at an idiot.

Tsk.

Sometimes, things were just that strange. The answer was clearly right there, yet some people could still get it wrong even when copying it, while others couldn't even see the damn answer at all!

"Shisui, did you put all your skill points into charisma and combat ability or something?"

Akira smacked his lips, deeply worried and frustrated at Shisui's failure to live up to expectations. "Look at the Fourth Hokage. Why did everyone listen to him? Why was there no trouble between the Uchiha and the village during his term?"

"Minato didn't rely on words alone. He had disciples and subordinates in the Anbu, and he had his guard unit! If anyone refused to obey, Minato would actually beat the hell out of them!"

"His own strength was only part of it. The key was that he knew how to win people over!"

He tapped Shisui on the forehead. "Tell me, what the hell can you do?"

"All you know is Talk no Jutsu? What, do you think you're Naruto?"

You had Kotoamatsukami but refused to use it.

Instead, you insisted on using your mouth.

You put your skill points in the wrong place, kid.

"Huh?"

Shisui felt as though he had grasped something, but he was still somewhat bewildered. "Lord Minato truly was beloved by the people. He was a Hokage full of compassion and responsibility. Even the Uchiha Clan thought highly of the Fourth Hokage."

There was no doubt about that.

Uchiha Fugaku, in particular, trusted the Fourth Hokage greatly.

"Quit spouting that useless nonsense."

Uchiha Akira helplessly looked up at the ceiling. "Shisui, you're like a block of wood. How can you still not understand? What I mean is, you're already strong enough. If you want the village and the Uchiha Clan to coexist peacefully, what you need is to build your own power base!"

"People who follow your orders, submit to your leadership, and can restrain the Uchiha—or even Konoha!"

"That is the only solution!"

—Dignity exists only at the edge of a sword; truth exists only within the range of cannons.

It applied under any circumstances.

"What?"

Shisui was stunned. "Build... my own power base? H-how can that work? Wouldn't that be the same as betraying the clan? Absolutely not!"

"No, as a member of the Uchiha Clan, I can never do something so rebellious!"

His expression changed drastically.

It was as though he had touched some untouchable taboo. Merely considering it made his whole body stiffen, and he did not dare cross that line by even the slightest bit!

Tsk.

Mockery filled Akira's eyes.

He wanted to save the Uchiha. He wanted the Uchiha and Konoha to coexist peacefully. Yet he could not overstep the rules in the slightest. Akira said flatly, "Then why are you talking to me about saving the Uchiha?"

"Shisui, you don't dare shoulder responsibility."

"You don't dare bear sin, yet you keep talking about salvation every day. You can't even save yourself. Get lost, get lost!"