Get Lost, Shisui

"It really is six years old." Uchiha Shisui nodded seriously, adding, "Itachi was four when he went to the battlefield."

Fine.

Siming understood now—shinobi really did mature early, gaining awareness at six or seven, yet they married late, with plenty still single at forty or fifty.

The ultimate contrast.

After over an hour of Shisui's explanations, Siming roughly grasped the situation.

Shisui had put in a lot of effort over the years.

This included: talking about the Will of Fire with many Uchiha clan members, helping other villagers build goodwill toward the Uchiha, offering advice to Uchiha Fugaku, pledging loyalty to Hiruzen Sarutobi, and so on.

It could be said.

He'd done everything he could, to the point of physical and mental exhaustion, yet he could only watch the village and the Uchiha drift toward division.

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

"What?" Shisui asked in confusion.

"—that you're a fucking idiot?"

Shisui: "..."

His expression stiffened: "Hey, Siming, no need to drag out the insult like that, right? I don't think I did anything wrong."

Throughout the entire Uchiha clan or Konoha, who wouldn't speak well of him?

That was his, Uchiha Shisui's, reputation!

"Heh."

Siming let out a scoff, setting down his teacup. One hand rested on his knee, tapping rhythmically, while the other propped up his cheek on the tea table: "You say you didn't do anything wrong?"

"Shisui, do you know the saying, 'A man may be innocent, but possessing a treasure is a crime'?"

"You have the strength to match your position. Since you waded into the muddy waters of the Uchiha and Konoha, failing to achieve anything is your fault."

What?

Shisui was stunned, then argued with some dissatisfaction: "Not achieving anything counts as a fault?"

"Even without merit, I've put in effort, haven't I? I've always been working to change the relationship between the Uchiha and the village. How can you say 'not achieving anything counts as a fault'?"

That was too arbitrary.

And it felt hard for Shisui to accept!

"Oh? Then let me put it bluntly."

Siming chuckled lightly, his gaze both scrutinizing and probing: "Shisui, don't talk about capacity or measure. Tell me, to what extent would you go for the Uchiha and the village?"

To what extent?

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

"As long as I can save the Uchiha, I'll pay any price!"

His gaze was firm, like a Champion ready to sacrifice at any moment.

"And what if it means enduring humiliation for the Uchiha?" Siming suddenly spoke.

Uchiha Shisui's heart trembled. He felt as if Siming's dark eyes could see through all his thoughts. He froze for a moment, then let out a bitter laugh: "I... I don't know."

He ran his fingers through his short hair. From long-term suppression, his brows were perpetually furrowed, now twisting even more.

"Siming, I've never been a particularly strong person."

A trace of confusion lingered in Shisui's eyes: "When it comes down to it, I don't know how I'd choose."

Shisui and Itachi each had their strengths and weaknesses.

Itachi's strength was absolute rationality.

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

As for Shisui, his strengths were tolerance, magnanimity, and optimism. He could be ruthless toward enemies, but when facing Konoha's "family," he fell into indecisiveness.

"Shisui, you're actually a bit like Minato," Siming suddenly changed the subject.

"Minato?"

Shisui was taken aback, a hint of admiration surfacing in his eyes: "I fought alongside Lord Minato. If Lord Minato were still here, the village and the Uchiha would never have reached this state."

"You're both equally optimistic and magnanimous, equally powerful—but—"

Uchiha Siming paused, looking at Shisui with a half-smile: "You don't have Minato's boldness, nor his wisdom."

Minato had the ability to balance the Uchiha and Konoha.

And the strength to back it up.

Shisui fell silent: "Indeed, I'm not as good as Minato."

"Tch! What the hell are you on about!"

Siming looked utterly speechless: "Who the hell doesn't know you're worse than Yondaime? The thing is, Yondaime's correct answer is right here in front of you. All these years, what the hell have you been doing with your 'Will of Fire' and 'Uchiha Will'?"

Yondaime already wrote the answer out long ago, didn't he?

All you have to do is copy it.

Why the hell do you have to sit here and overthink everything on your own?

"Ah? Lord Yondaime gave an answer?"

Shisui fell into confusion, sinking into deep thought. After a long moment: "Lord Yondaime... what answer did he give?"

Whoosh—

Siming took a deep breath, glancing sideways at Shisui like he was looking at an idiot.

Tch.

Sometimes, things are just that strange. The answer is clearly right there, yet some people still manage to copy it wrong, and others can't even see the damn answer at all!

"Shisui, you dumped all your skill points into emotional intelligence and combat power, didn't you?"

Siming clicked his tongue, feeling deeply worried and frustrated at his failure: "Look at the Fourth Hokage. Why does everyone listen to him? Why did the Uchiha and the village get along fine during his term?"

"Yondaime didn't just talk. He had disciples and subordinates in the Anbu, and he had a guard squad! If anyone didn't obey, Yondaime actually took them on!"

"His own strength was part of it, but the key was that he knew how to win people over!"

He poked Shisui's forehead: "Tell me, what the hell can you do?"

"Just talk no jutsu? You think you're Naruto?"

You have Kotoamatsukami and don't use it.

Instead, you insist on using Kotoamatsukami talk.

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

"Huh?"

Shisui felt like he was grasping at something, but he was still confused: "Lord Yondaime was indeed beloved. He was a compassionate and responsible Hokage. Even the Uchiha clan had a good impression of the Fourth Hokage."

There was no doubt about that.

Especially Uchiha Fugaku, who trusted the Fourth Hokage deeply.

"Stop spouting this useless crap."

Uchiha Siming looked up at the ceiling in helplessness: "Shisui, you're like a block of wood. Why can't you understand? What I mean is, you already have enough strength. If you want the village and the Uchiha clan to coexist peacefully, you need to build your own power!"

"People who obey your orders, follow your leadership, and can check the Uchiha or even Konoha!"

"That is the only solution!"

—Dignity lies only on the edge of the sword, truth only within the range of cannons.

This applies in any situation.

"What?"

Shisui was stunned: "Build... my own power? How can that be? Wouldn't that make us traitors to 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 if he had touched some untouchable taboo. Just thinking about it made his whole body stiffen, unable to cross even an inch!

Tch.

Mockery flickered in Siming's eyes.

Wanting to save the Uchiha, wanting the Uchiha and Konoha to coexist peacefully, yet unable to break the rules in the slightest, he said flatly: "Then why are you still talking to me about saving the Uchiha?"

"Shisui, you don't dare to take responsibility."

"You don't dare to bear the burden of sin. And yet you go on and on about saving people. You can't even save yourself. Get lost, get lost!"