I Must Reward You Handsomely!

Compared to Shisui, the gap in Kazuhiko's speed was not just a small margin.

After all, one was Body Flicker Shisui, and the other was a medical ninja; such a disparity was only natural.

When Kazuhiko arrived at the training ground, Itachi was standing in the center, holding a few kunai, his gaze fixed on the bullseye in the distance.

Hearing footsteps, Itachi turned his head to look.

As their eyes met, his gaze faltered ever so slightly.

He still remembered saying things like, "We won't meet again."

Consequently, Itachi couldn't help but avert his eyes, unconsciously tightening his grip on the kunai.

It was a bit awkward.

He felt like he should probably say hello...

Not far away, Shisui leaned against a tree trunk with his arms crossed, offering a faint smile upon seeing Kazuhiko.

"Brother Kazuhiko."

Shisui took the initiative to approach, getting straight to the point:

"Danzo has invited me to join Root."

Kazuhiko was slightly taken aback. "When did this happen?"

"Earlier today. Lord Danzo said that by joining Root, I would gain the authority to mobilize Root operatives."

Shisui was clearly tempted.

"If that's the case, I'll have the opportunity to gradually lift Root's surveillance restrictions on the Uchiha clan and truly possess the power to protect both the village and the Uchiha."

At this, Shisui looked toward Itachi.

"I was thinking... since the Third Hokage says Itachi has the Hokage mindset, he should be more suited for the Anbu than I am. That way, I can join Root with peace of mind."

Shisui looked back at Kazuhiko:

"Brother Kazuhiko, what do you think?"

I think you're being absolutely delusional.

I'd sooner believe in Itachi than believe you can outmaneuver Shimura Danzo.

At the very least, Itachi could make Danzo afraid to lay a hand on Sasuke, whereas in the original story, you didn't just hand everything over—you even donated a Mangekyo Sharingan with Kotoamatsukami.

You had a winning hand and played it into the ground.

Brother Shisui, take a piece of advice from your brother:

The waters in Root are too deep; you can't handle them.

"By saying that, do you mean you think Itachi has a better chance of becoming Hokage than you do?"

Kazuhiko didn't directly refute Shisui, choosing instead to smooth things over by following his line of reasoning.

Although Shisui's favorability had already reached the [Bond] level, it was impossible for him to believe everything Kazuhiko said blindly.

When it came to talking, one still had to employ a bit of artistic flair.

Itachi, who had been practicing his throwing, turned around and looked at Shisui in shock.

Wasn't it agreed that I would support you in running for Hokage?

What's this about me joining the Anbu?

Shisui shook his head in denial:

"It's not that..."

But he immediately looked at Itachi and smiled.

"It's not that he has a better chance than me, but that he is more qualified to be Hokage than I am."

Shisui looked at Kazuhiko with a sincere expression:

"To carry the title of Hokage, raw strength is secondary. The Third Hokage led Konoha through three Ninja World Wars and kept the village standing tall; he didn't rely on strength, but on wisdom. After all..."

Shisui winked at Kazuhiko.

"The Third Hokage has no record of fighting other Kage, yet he is still called the 'Strongest Hokage.' I believe that is the key to becoming Hokage—the 'Hokage Mindset'!"

Brother Shisui, are you being serious right now?

Itachi looked at Shisui with a strange expression.

Kazuhiko was momentarily unable to discern Shisui's true stance.

Was this kid sucking up to the Third, or was he being passive-aggressive?

If you called it passive-aggressive, Shisui was holding the Third up as the gold standard for Hokage.

If you called it sucking up, what was with that comment about the "Strongest Hokage with no record of fighting Kage"?

You should just be thankful this isn't the Uchiha compound and there are no cameras around.

Otherwise, I'd say your career as an Anbu squad leader is finished.

"Therefore, whether one's strength is great or not is fundamentally irrelevant; the strength of one's ideology is the necessary condition to become Hokage!"

Shisui looked at Kazuhiko with a sense of pity.

"In my view, Brother Kazuhiko is the one who should truly become the leader of the Uchiha clan and bear the name of Hokage! It is a pity that in terms of strength..."

It was indeed a bit substandard for now.

But don't worry, little brother, I will catch up in that regard very soon.

Once I go back and pull ten Jonin-level traits, I will shoulder the heavy responsibility of leading the Uchiha clan and bear the name of Hokage; I will absolutely not lose!

No, this kid Shisui is too sensible.

I must bestow powerful traits upon you and reward you heavily!

[You have bestowed the following traits upon the target: Basic Taijutsu (White), Clone Technique (White), Combat Thinking (White)]

[Target already possesses these traits; bestowal failed]

Sigh~ Kazuhiko sighed in his heart.

It is truly a pity that I cannot reward my first believer.

Once I have finished drawing all your traits, the first surplus powerful trait I get will be arranged for you!

"Since Itachi is more qualified than I am to become Hokage, then I will settle for the next best thing—"

Shisui's gaze was firm.

"So I want to join Root, become the next leader of the Root organization, and assist the Hokage."

From its founding to its dissolution, the Root organization had only ever had one leader, and that was—

Shimura Danzō.

Kazuhiko felt so stifled inside that he couldn't help but ask:

"Why do you think you can become the next leader of the Root organization?"

"I have already learned about the structure of the Root organization through the Anbu and understand the duties and responsibilities of Root. Moreover, Shimura Danzō personally invited me to join Root as their leader and made a promise. With so many factors combined, I have no reason to believe I cannot become the leader."

Kazuhiko: ...

A person is rendered speechless when they reach an extreme state.

The national football team is already preparing for the next World Cup early; am I supposed to believe that?

"Do you know that the Root organization has secret methods to control ninjas?"

Shisui shook his head.

"The Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal allows Root ninjas to die without ever betraying Danzō or the secrets of Root."

Kazuhiko looked solemn. "And Danzō has other secret methods I don't even know about, which can erase a ninja's emotions and control their mind. Is this the kind of Root you want to join?"

Shisui opened his mouth, looking somewhat incredulous.

To most people in Konoha, Root was a legendary existence.

They might have heard of Root, but they didn't know where they were or what methods they used.

Shisui's expression shifted several times, his lips moving as if he wanted to say something but held back:

"But if I don't go, the rift between the Uchiha and Konoha will only grow wider. Furthermore, if the Uchiha want to become Hokage, they should move closer to the Konoha high command, and Danzō's status in Konoha is second only to the Hokage..."

Itachi couldn't help but speak up at this point:

"As far as I know, the ninjas of the Root organization truly will not leak any information even in death, which matches the characteristics of the Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal. Moreover, their loyalty to Danzō is terrifying; they are true suicide soldiers."

Having received confirmation from Itachi, Shisui frowned.

"Shisui, a rift needs a bridge, not a sacrifice."

Kazuhiko finally made the call:

"Shimura Danzō's invitation is ill-intentioned. Refuse him directly, and then be wary of Danzō. In Konoha, Danzō is the number one enemy of our Uchiha."

Shisui and Itachi looked at him in confusion.

The Uchiha had many enemies in Konoha; any ninja who targeted the Uchiha's actions could be listed among them.

But if you asked who was the most hated, ninety percent of the Uchiha would say:

The Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama.

What merit did Shimura Danzō have to be considered the number one enemy of the Uchiha clan?

Was he stronger than the Second Hokage?

Or did he also invent many forbidden techniques specifically targeting the Uchiha?

"Brother Kazuhiko seems very certain that Danzō will be detrimental to our Uchiha."

Kazuhiko's gaze moved past Shisui to look at Itachi:

"Remember that 'dream of the future' I showed you? Danzō is the culprit behind it all!"