Just like Shinsuke Uchiha, Fugaku wasn't willing to give up.
But unlike that hotheaded kid, he knew some questions couldn't be asked out in the open.
Orochimaru gave Fugaku a long look but didn't answer. Instead, he asked, "At a time like this, would Shisui regaining his sight be a good thing for the Uchiha and the village?"
Fugaku's heart tightened. Blinded by his desire for gain, he suddenly realized he'd been too impatient.
Battle achievements, prestige, influence... The Uchiha had made a fortune from this war. Compared with what they'd gained, the losses suffered by the Police Force seemed insignificant.
If Shisui's Mangekyō Sharingan hadn't gone blind, it would be hard to avoid the impression that the Uchiha were the masterminds behind everything.
That was also why, before the war, Fugaku had agreed to Orochimaru's demand that the Uchiha suffer heavy losses, to dispel suspicion over the Nine-Tails Incident.
It was just that Kumogakure had retreated faster than expected, and after both major battles, top medical ninja like Orochimaru had treated the wounded. As a result, the Uchiha Police Force's losses hadn't been as great as they'd imagined.
Fugaku had thought that, now things had come this far, Orochimaru couldn't possibly deliberately cause casualties. He hadn't realized that the missing losses had already been made up through Shisui.
At the thought, Fugaku's voice turned hoarse. "Did Shisui know about the deal between us?"
"That's right. But you don't need to worry about him letting it slip. Shisui volunteered to be the sacrifice."
Orochimaru nodded. "I agree with him, too. The symbolic value of the Mangekyō Sharingan is far greater than the lives of other Uchiha."
"Lord Orochimaru, is there really no way to restore Shisui's eyes?"
Fugaku fell silent for a while, then asked the question again.
After learning