Light and Darkness

"Heh, since when did you learn to flatter people?"

The Third Hokage teased Shisui, but judging by his expression, he seemed quite pleased.

"I'm only telling the truth."

Shisui wore a serious expression, his loyalty to the Third Hokage plain.

Hearing that, the Third Hokage looked at the young man before him with even greater fondness and asked with concern:

"I've had you carry out too many missions lately. It must be taking a toll on you. How about you take a few days off and visit your clan more often? I've also heard that some of your clan members seem to have taken issue with you. You should try to get along with them."

It sounded like concern, but it was really a test.

Shisui wasn't a fool. He immediately understood the Third Hokage's implication, so he hurriedly bowed and replied, "Thank you for your concern, Hokage."

Then he voiced his concerns about the Uchiha Clan.

Because Shisui had grown too close to Konoha's high command, he had drawn the ire of the clan's Radical Faction. At tonight's Clan Meeting, they were very likely to turn on him.

If the Radical Faction gained the upper hand, the Uchiha Clan would move even further into opposition to the village.

"Alas."

After hearing him out, the Third Hokage let out a long sigh.

Then, with an anguished expression, he made a show of confessing his regrets to Shisui:

"This is all my fault.

"During my time in office, I failed to resolve the feud between the Uchiha and the village, and in the end, I could only leave that burden to the Fourth Hokage. I never imagined that he would die so young. With no other choice, I had to return to this position.

"Even now, the village still hasn't recovered from the Nine-Tails' Rampage a few years ago. It remains terribly weak.

"And all the major ninja villages, led by Cloud Hidden, are eyeing Konoha hungrily.

"At this critical juncture, if something happened to the Uchiha Clan as well, it would deal Konoha a fatal blow. Internal strife would inevitably lead to conflict beyond our borders.

"If Konoha were to fall then...

"How could I face the First and Second in the Pure Land after I die?"

After pouring out his heartfelt words, the Third Hokage seemed to have grown much older.

Shisui was deeply moved. The words slipped out before he could stop himself:

"Hokage, I'll stop my clansmen. I won't let the kind of thing you fear happen."

Good. That was exactly what he'd been waiting to hear.

The Third Hokage's expression turned solemn. He fixed his gaze on Shisui and spoke with feeling:

"Shisui, your grandfather, Kagami Uchiha, was a dear friend of mine. I've always thought of you as my own grandson.

"Kagami was an extraordinary shinobi. He spent his life embodying the Will of Fire. I've always believed you could inherit his legacy and protect Konoha's future.

"I'm leaving everything in your hands."

In that moment, he entrusted the young man before him with a tremendous burden.

Shisui trembled, then dropped to one knee and declared in a low voice, "Uchiha Shisui swears to complete the mission, even at the cost of his life!"

"Good, good!"

The Third Hokage once again smiled kindly, his eyes full of satisfaction.

First he showed concern, then put on a tragic act, and finally invoked Shisui's ancestor, using the Will of Fire to guilt him into compliance.

The Third Hokage had mastered this combination of tactics.

After watching Shisui leave,

the Third Hokage sat back in his chair and sank into thought once more.

Besides Shisui, he also had Itachi as a piece on the board against the Uchiha. He was attacking on two fronts, so to speak.

But even then, the Third Hokage wasn't entirely reassured. After all, Shisui and Itachi were Uchiha, when all was said and done.

Never trust an Uchiha completely.

That was the advice the Third Hokage's teacher, the Second, Tobirama Senju, had given him before his death.

He had to be on guard.

Ten minutes later,

Kakashi appeared in the Hokage Office.

"I've thought it over, and there's no one in all of Anbu more capable than you. Only someone like you, with the Sharingan, understands the Uchiha well enough and has the skill to infiltrate their compound. Kakashi, I'm assigning this mission to you."

The Third Hokage spoke earnestly.

He wanted Kakashi to secretly enter Naka Shrine and gather intelligence on the Uchiha Clan Meeting.

"Yes."

Kakashi knelt on one knee and answered with his head lowered.

He was always averse to troublesome things, and a mission this tricky naturally filled him with dread. But faced with the Hokage's orders, he had no room to refuse.

The Third Hokage seemed to understand what Kakashi was thinking and added gently:

"Remember, your first priority is to keep yourself safe. If anything seems wrong, withdraw immediately. Don't push yourself."

"I understand, Hokage."

Kakashi answered again.

Although the Third Hokage had said that, Kakashi knew the village's safety was at stake. He had to get useful intelligence, no matter what.

He couldn't return empty-handed.

As Kakashi thought through his infiltration plan, he headed out of the Hokage Building.

To his surprise, he ran into someone he knew at a bend in the corridor.

Danzo.

"Kakashi, I've been impressed by your work in Anbu. I've even considered recruiting you into Root," Danzo said, stopping him and getting straight to the point.

Kakashi's expression changed. He politely declined. "Please don't joke, Lord Danzo."

"No. Root suits you better than Anbu, because you have the makings of someone who belongs in the darkness."

Danzo's gaze was meaningful, as though he had long since seen the darkness buried deep in Kakashi's heart.

He knew that the young man who seemed devoted to the Will of Fire had long harbored a great deal of resentment toward the Third Hokage.

Because...

The Third Hokage had indirectly caused Hatake Sakumo's suicide.

Danzo had also hinted to Kakashi that the Third Hokage called himself a pacifist, yet had inadvertently escalated the fighting and become the culprit behind Obito and Rin's deaths.

Later, when the Third Hokage sought to reclaim his position, he forbade Anbu from joining the battle on the Night of the Nine-Tails' Attack, getting Kakashi's teacher, the Fourth Hokage, killed.

Kakashi had ultimately chosen not to believe Danzo's conspiracy theories, but once a seed of doubt had been planted, it would quietly take root and grow.

Wasn't that right?

"Lord Danzo, if there's nothing else, I'll be going."

Kakashi had no intention of getting entangled with Danzo. He went around him and tried to leave.

Danzo raised his cane, stopped Kakashi again, and narrowed his eyes as he asked:

"The Third Hokage wants you to infiltrate the Uchiha Compound, doesn't he? Sending you alone on such a dangerous mission is too much."

Before Kakashi could answer, Danzo took out a Signal Scroll and told him:

"Don't worry. Every member of Root under my command will be deployed tonight to surround the Uchiha Compound. If you discover that the Uchiha are planning a rebellion, or if you find yourself in danger, unseal this Signal Scroll. Root will come to your aid at once."

Danzo's words made Kakashi feel the gravity of the situation all over again, but he kept his expression neutral as he asked:

"Does the Hokage know about this?"

Danzo shook his head and spoke with righteous conviction:

"The Third Hokage is too indecisive. We have to act swiftly and strike hard against the Uchiha. If he doesn't want to take the blame, then let me, the Hokage Assistant, do it."

Kakashi fell silent.

After all these years as a shinobi, he knew that the Third Hokage and Danzo were Konoha's Light and Darkness.

Neither could do without the other.

That was why even Danzo had been forgiven by the Third Hokage after committing the outrageous crime of attempting to assassinate the Hokage.

There were things the Third Hokage publicly opposed but secretly allowed Danzo to do.

Was this the same?

After hesitating for a moment, Kakashi accepted the Signal Scroll from Danzo.

Watching Kakashi walk away, Danzo's gaze flickered.

He was eager to wipe out the Uchiha not only because they threatened Konoha's peace, but also because he coveted their Sharingan.

But even if tonight's operation failed, it wouldn't matter.

Kakashi had been sent by the Hokage. If things escalated, the blame would fall on the Third Hokage, and Danzo could use the opportunity to force Hiruzen Sarutobi to step down.

No matter what happened, he would win.

Soon it was evening, and the sky began to darken.

At the Fitness Gym, Dan ate dinner at his leisure. His nephew, Uchiha Itachi, arrived right on time.

At his father's instruction, Itachi had come to take Dan to tonight's Clan Meeting.

"Close up early and get some rest. I'll be back soon."

Dan gave Samui his instructions, then left with his nephew.

The uncle and nephew walked along Konoha's streets in silence.

When they reached the entrance to the Clan Compound,

Itachi casually looked up at the several tall buildings around the compound.

He could tell that Anbu had increased their numbers noticeably over the past two days. They were probably inside those buildings right now, keeping the Uchiha under constant surveillance.

The Uchiha Compound, by contrast, was peaceful. Ordinary clan members had no idea of the danger that might soon befall them.

Itachi stole one last glance at his uncle's profile. Dan's face was expressionless, giving nothing away.

He hoped his uncle wouldn't go crazy at the Clan Meeting.

Itachi prayed silently.

Night fell, and a crescent moon hung among the branches.

In the faint moonlight, the uncle and nephew arrived at the Naka Shrine Main Hall. They lifted the seventh tatami mat, revealing a hidden passage.

Following the long corridor, they soon approached the underground Secret Room where the Clan Meeting was being held.

As soon as they opened the door, they heard a clamor of voices and noisy chatter.