Damn, Itachi is a reactionary!

Shisui walked away in despair: "Siming, I'll find my own way!"

Siming lay there with a pained expression.

"Damn it, this mission is really a pain in the ass to complete."

The difficulty wasn't his plan, but Shisui's way of thinking—stubborn and foul as a rock in a latrine, hard and stinking. The Uchiha Clan bent but wouldn't break, yet somehow they produced this fool Shisui, who wanted to win people over with virtue.

And he had his own way?

His way was just Kotoamatsukami to control Uchiha Fugaku? You don't have a damn chance!

"The seed of doubt has been planted; just wait for it to sprout. If Shisui really doesn't measure up, I'll find a chance to snatch his Kotoamatsukami."

Siming rubbed his chin, eyes narrowing.

This thing—a strategic-level weapon.

Giving it to that old geezer Danzo would be too generous.

Shisui probably never imagined that as he walked away in despair, Siming was already scheming to dig out his eyeballs.

Hokage Building.

Office.

Looking at the bewildered Shisui before him, Hiruzen Sarutobi felt a headache coming on. Shisui was good in every way except his obsession with philosophy—always overthinking nonsense, sometimes asking questions even he couldn't answer.

"Shisui, how's your investigation into Uchiha Siming going?"

Shisui paused, snapping back to reality: "Lord Hokage, please trust Siming's loyalty. Like me, he's willing to give everything for the village's peace, only... his conviction might be even purer."

His expression was complicated.

For the peace of the village and the Uchiha, he was even willing to bear the burden of sin—what kind of conviction was that!

"Siming is an Uchiha with the same conviction as the Fourth Hokage!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi looked up, startled: "I understand."

Such praise from Shisui's mouth was naturally trustworthy, but purer conviction?

That was hard to say.

How pure could it get?

Could it be purer than his own as Hokage? That was nonsense!

"Lord Hokage, may I ask you something?" Shisui hesitated, his expression lost.

"Of course."

Hiruzen Sarutobi braced himself—the philosopher was about to question!

"How should the conflict between the Uchiha Clan and the village be resolved? Through mutual understanding, or ultimately... through violent suppression?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi narrowed his eyes.

This question was very direct.

It was almost asking if Konoha would use force if the Uchiha and the village couldn't resolve their conflict peacefully. If any other Uchiha asked this, he'd suspect they were planning a rebellion!

But the one asking was Shisui.

The one who inherited Kagami Uchiha's Will of Fire.

"Don't worry, Shisui."

Hiruzen Sarutobi frowned deeply, speaking solemnly: "No matter what, I will do my utmost to resolve the conflict between Konoha and the Uchiha!"

"I understand, Lord Hokage."

Shisui withdrew. Normally, receiving the Hokage's promise would bring him a shred of comfort, but for some reason, instead of feeling at ease, his heart grew more anxious.

As if... Siming's words were being proven one by one!

"What would the Fourth Hokage have done when faced with such a problem?"

The Fourth would have personally visited, spoken with Lord Fugaku about the conflicts between the village and the clan, then issued a series of announcements to prevent the issue from escalating. The Uchiha clansmen were actually quite easy to appease.

Every time they saw the Fourth's announcements.

They felt valued.

The resentment in their hearts turned into seemingly dismissive but actually pleased chuckles.

But now...

Just as Uchiha Shisui returned to the clan grounds, Itachi, who had been waiting anxiously, hurried over: "Shisui, how did your talk with that guy go? The conflict between the village and the Uchiha is escalating by the day."

"Just now, another Police Department clansman clashed with a villager during an enforcement!"

His eyes burned with anger, his voice laced with disappointment.

In his lowered gaze was darkness, and a dampness that stirred no ripples, like his tear troughs—forever marked by a fate of hardship.

"Siming is a man with conviction on par with a Hokage."

Shisui had long grown accustomed to the conflicts between the Police Department and the villagers.

But when Itachi heard Shisui's assessment, his youthful, mature face showed a flicker of surprise: "What? That slacker has caliber comparable to the Hokage?"

This was even more absurd than the Senju Clan awakening the Sharingan.

"Itachi, let me ask you a question."

Shisui looked at Itachi, who was slightly younger than him but no less in caliber, and said: "The conflict between the Uchiha and the village may have reached an irreconcilable point, even... possibly heading toward war."

"Do you have a solution?"

Uchiha Itachi paused, then shook his head: "No."

The predicament they faced was exactly this—no solution, only able to watch helplessly as the Uchiha Clan plunged into the abyss.

"But Siming has a way."

"How is that possible?!" Uchiha Itachi's pupils contracted. He couldn't believe that a Uchiha half-blood who hadn't even awakened the Sharingan could see through the fate of the Uchiha Clan!

"When the Uchiha Clan builds its own power, bears all the blame, and when that power is strong enough to suppress the Hawk faction, then the current state of the Uchiha and the village can be changed!"

The moment Shisui spoke.

Uchiha Itachi was stunned at first, then couldn't help but draw in a sharp breath. He keenly realized this plan was feasible. Perhaps... Uchiha Siming wasn't as useless as he had thought?

"But the person who carries out this plan will bear pressure from the Hawk faction within the clan, the Dove faction, and even the village and the clan leader!"

"That guy Siming... has such caliber?"

He also recognized the difficulty of the plan.

One wrong step.

And it would be utter ruin!

Similarly, unlike the Hawk and Dove factions within the clan, taking this step—recruiting subordinates and building one's own power—was almost no different from betraying the clan!

At that moment, a strange thought suddenly rose in Itachi's mind.

Siming's caliber surpasses mine!

"This is the plan Siming proposed. What do you think, Itachi?" Shisui's heart was full of anxiety.

So bold, so against the grain—which Uchiha could accept it?

"I think it's very feasible!" Uchiha Itachi said firmly.

"Huh?"

Shisui's expression stiffened, and he cast a suspicious look at Itachi's face: "Wait, Itachi, you think... it's very feasible?"

Sss—!

He couldn't help but draw in a sharp breath.

Before, he had always felt that his younger brother Itachi shared his will and convictions, willing to do anything for the peace of the Uchiha and Konoha, and would never commit betrayal. But after this matter came to light, Shisui realized one thing.

Damn.

Itachi was a reactionary too!