Shisui's Opinion

Although Shisui hadn't been one of the Third Hokage's personal guards for long, he deeply respected the kind old man.

Perhaps because the Third Hokage had noticed this, Shisui was usually assigned the longest shifts.

Having spent so much time around him, Shisui had naturally learned more about the Senju Clan, once as renowned as the Uchiha Clan.

He knew that after years of silence, the Senju Clan had produced a new young representative.

He just never would have guessed that the glutton in front of him was the rising star the Senju Clan had put forward. Could Senju Senba have Akimichi blood?

"Even though you didn't say anything, I could tell from your eyes that you were thinking something rude." Senba's basin-sized bowl was filled with distinct grains of rice and topped with several enormous pieces of fried pork cutlet. As soon as he finished speaking, he bent his head and dug in.

Uchiha Shisui felt bad about his impolite thoughts and swallowed the apology he'd been about to make, unsure what to do next.

"Shisui, this is yours." Luckily, Tsuki came over just then and handed him a normal-sized bowl of ramen and a small serving of grilled fish. "Senba didn't mean anything by it. He's just like that—he likes to joke around."

Although Tsuki wasn't close to Shisui, they were fellow clan members. And since her younger sister, Uchiha Izumi, and Itachi Uchiha often saw Shisui, she followed Izumi's lead and called him by his name instead of "senior."

Tsuki and Izumi were also less awkward than the other clan members, which gave Shisui a good impression of the sisters. If the rest of the clan were like them, there'd be no need to worry about the relationship between the clan and the village.

Thinking of this, Shisui picked up his ramen and began eating. Across from him, Senba had already polished off a whole basin of rice and was watching him while picking his teeth.

"It's fine. Go ahead and eat. I'm not very hungry today, so I'm done." Senba pushed his bowl aside and spoke languidly.

Since they weren't close, Shisui merely nodded before focusing on the ramen and grilled fish in front of him.

But as time passed, Shisui's movements grew slower and slower. The gaze from across the table was sizing him up, making him deeply uncomfortable.

"Senba, is there something wrong with me?" Shisui sighed softly, set down his bowl and chopsticks, and met the other boy's curious gaze.

That look didn't seem like he was coveting Shisui's Sharingan. It was more like he was examining some strange new creature. It was a little rude.

Unaware that he was staring, Senba instead scooted closer to Shisui as though they were old friends. "Don't get the wrong idea, Shisui. You're just the first genius my age I've ever met."

"If you have time, would you give me some pointers?"

Looking at Senba's smiling eyes, Shisui couldn't tell whether the other boy was challenging him. Pointers? If the Uchiha and Senju prodigies sparred, the clans would take notice.

"My duty is to protect the Third Hokage, so I'm sorry to disappoint you, Senba." In the end, Shisui chose to use the Third Hokage as a shield.

"Right, of course. The Third Hokage works day and night for the village. We shouldn't disturb him right now. I was out of line. Sorry."

Senba seemed to have just remembered Shisui's duties. He spoke with an apologetic look on his face.

Although the boy was somewhat competitive by nature, he wasn't unreasonable. Seeing Senba's apologetic expression, Shisui thought this as he assessed him.

At that moment, Shisui was thinking entirely like a senior judging a junior. He'd forgotten that he was still a boy himself.

"Bang!"

A loud crash echoed through the dark underground chamber. Danzo sat in his chair, his face shadowed with anger, while several masked bodies lay sprawled in pools of blood at his feet.

Nearby, a group of Root Ninja wearing identical masks knelt on one knee, waiting for his orders.

Hiruzen Sarutobi had taken Kō from him. He had effortlessly taken over the success Danzō had poured his heart and soul into creating. Even Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu had opposed him.

In Danzo's eyes, it all came down to one thing: Hiruzen Sarutobi was the Third Hokage, so no matter what Danzo did, Hiruzen always had the upper hand.

At times like this, Danzo would remember the choice that had determined his fate. He'd been one step too late. Just one step.

Danzō's hands bulged with veins as though his heart were being gnawed at by a venomous snake. Hiruzen Sarutobi had taken Kō from him, so Danzō would make him lose a student.

"Spread the news that Orochimaru experimented on our own Ninja. Make it like what happened to Hatake Sakumo back then. I want Hiruzen Sarutobi to kill his own student with his own hands."

A poisonous glint flashed in Danzo's eyes. He'd already thought it through. Hiruzen Sarutobi was getting on in years; if he killed his student with his own hands, the blow would surely take a heavy toll on him, both physically and mentally.

And if Hiruzen Sarutobi let Orochimaru escape, so much the better. Danzo only needed to subtly sway public opinion, then watch Hiruzen explain himself to the villagers.

Only after his subordinates had left did Shimura Danzo feel a little calmer. He'd failed countless times and yet remained full of fighting spirit. But could Hiruzen endure as much?

At the thought, Shimura Danzo's mind turned again to the eyes in the Land of Wind. Before the Mangekyō Sharingan had appeared, the Three-Tomoe Sharingan was the highest level he knew of.

"To have such talent at such a young age... What will happen when he grows up? He'll surely destroy Konoha." Danzo touched his right eye, recalling how their teacher had kept the Uchiha Clan in check while he was alive.

Only Danzo could control this power. Then they could blame Uchiha Shisui's death on the Sand Ninja, and the Uchiha would surely be up in arms.

Danzo had it all planned out. He would join forces with the other two advisors and pressure Hiruzen Sarutobi into sending the Uchiha to sabotage the Sand Ninja. Then he would casually let a little information slip.

By bleeding the Uchiha Clan dry like this, Danzo was sure he'd have plenty of research material.

"Too bad the Senju Clan has already declined." A flicker of reminiscence crossed Danzo's eyes. He remembered the Wood Release experiments, when countless Senju prodigies had eagerly volunteered, only to become expendable test subjects.

The leadership had tacitly agreed to reduce the Senju Clan so openly. After all, the Senju had far too deep a foundation.

The village belonged to everyone, not to any one clan. They had the First to thank for that decree.

Too bad the Uchiha didn't understand the village's difficulties. They still dared to cling together and refuse to budge.

"Foolishly resisting the inevitable!" As he spoke coldly, Danzo's figure disappeared into the surrounding darkness. Darkness was where he belonged.

He was the root that protected Konoha. Without roots, how could there be leaves? He was the most important.