The two had just sat down when Fugaku Uchiha got straight to the point and asked what was on his mind.
Shisui knew he couldn't keep his Mangekyō secret for long unless he never used its abilities.
But what difference would that make from having fine clothes and sneaking around at night?
"I won't hide it from you, Clan Head. I was fortunate enough to obtain new eyes today."
With that, Shisui activated his Mangekyō Sharingan and showed it to Fugaku.
"So it really is those eyes."
After sensing the powerful ocular chakra in Shisui's eyes, Fugaku Uchiha wasn't too surprised. He activated his own Mangekyō Sharingan as well.
"Clan Head, you also..."
Shisui had actually suspected the existence of other Mangekyō Sharingan before.
Ever since Uchiha Madara left, not a single Mangekyō Sharingan had appeared in the clan all these years.
Was it possible that he, Obito, and Itachi really were the most talented members of the clan in all that time?
That was probably not the case.
If the emotional trigger was strong enough, then in theory every Uchiha could awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan.
The conclusion was obvious: the Uchiha Clan's leadership had concealed the existence of Mangekyō Sharingan within the clan.
Shisui could guess a few reasons why they would do that.
Just then, the system suddenly gave a notification:
[Detected that the other party also possesses the Mangekyō Sharingan. Meets the conditions for Yamata to activate] [Pilfering the bloodline of a fellow clan member (whose strength is similar to or greater than your own) can increase Indra Bloodline development, enhance Mangekyō Sharingan ocular power, and grant you the other party's ocular technique]
The instant Fugaku Uchiha activated his Mangekyō Sharingan, Shisui had felt a craving coming from his left eye.
He just hadn't expected Yamata's ability to be capable of stealing the other party's Mangekyō Sharingan.
Fugaku Uchiha could also feel the oppressive force coming from Shisui's eyes.
"Shisui, your eyes must have an incredibly powerful ocular technique. They've made me feel intensely threatened."
After confirming that Shisui possessed the Mangekyō, Fugaku Uchiha had already begun to regard him as an equal.
After a pause, Fugaku Uchiha went so far as to reveal the abilities of his own eyes.
"My Mangekyō's ability is to predict the future."
"My left eye can make predictions according to my subjective will. For example, if I chose to attack you now, I could predict that I would be the one to lose."
"As for my right eye, it predicts the future more objectively. My subjective will won't cause much variation, so you could also think of it as an unchangeable future."
"But this prediction has its limits. I can't see too far into the future, and the scenes I see are blurry and fragmented."
After hearing Fugaku Uchiha explain his ocular techniques, Shisui understood why, on the night of the clan's massacre, Fugaku Uchiha had chosen to offer his neck to Itachi Uchiha.
Most likely, both his left and right eyes had predicted the same future, and Fugaku Uchiha had been powerless to change that outcome.
So, faced with the choice between a pointless sacrifice and protecting his two sons, Fugaku had chosen the latter.
"As for my eyes' abilities, Clan Head, I'm sorry, but I don't want to talk about them."
Whether it was Kotoamatsukami in Shisui's left eye or Yamata in his right, revealing either ability would only make Shisui a public enemy of the Shinobi World.
"That's all right, Shisui. Everyone has their secrets. You're the future backbone of the Uchiha Clan, so you need to learn to protect yourself."
What Fugaku Uchiha didn't say was that he had also used his eyes to predict Shisui Uchiha's future.
Some of the scenes he had seen showed a Shisui who was the polar opposite of the quiet, reserved young man before him.
That had shocked Fugaku Uchiha.
But, fortunately, the Uchiha Clan in those scenes was much stronger.
Itachi Uchiha and Fugaku's second child, who had yet to be born, were both living healthy, happy lives.
For Fugaku, that was enough.
"Shisui, go ahead and do whatever you want. I and the Uchiha Clan will support you."
"Also, I'll be counting on you to teach Itachi," Fugaku said sincerely.
"Thank you for your support, Clan Head. I'll take good care of Itachi."
At that moment, the two clever men reached an agreement.
In stark contrast to the harmony within the Uchiha Clan, Hiruzen Sarutobi was currently facing an agitated Shimura Danzō.
In Konoha, inside the Sarutobi Clan Compound, at Hiruzen Sarutobi's home.
"Hiruzen, just look at what the village has become! The Uchiha Clan is using the Konoha Military Police Force to openly recruit other ninja clans and form factions. Minato Namikaze just sits by and does nothing, letting the Uchiha Clan grow more powerful. And he even..."
Faced with Shimura Danzō's endless ranting, Hiruzen Sarutobi quickly cut him off.
"Danzō, you should show the Fourth Hokage more respect. Minato Namikaze is my grand-disciple, not an outsider. You should try to understand and support his work."
Looking at Danzō, who was nagging like a scorned wife, Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes flashed with impatience.
He had already stepped down from the Hokage Position, and Minato Namikaze still treated him with respect. Many of the village's key positions were still held by Hiruzen Sarutobi's old associates.
Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't want to disrupt the balance they had now.
"But what about the evil Uchiha Clan? Destroying them was Teacher Tobirama's will. Have you forgotten?"
Seeing that Hiruzen Sarutobi wouldn't take the bait, Danzō invoked the two men's former teacher, Tobirama Senju.
"Enough! Was that really our teacher's will, or are you just using it to serve your own ends? Do I really need to spell it out?"
"You're still not satisfied, even now. You have to sit in the Hokage Position? Then do things openly, like Minato, instead of scheming behind everyone's backs."
Hiruzen Sarutobi berated Danzō without holding back.
"Hiruzen, you... Cough, cough, cough!"
Danzō was so furious he nearly choked and went straight to meet Tobirama Senju.
Now Danzō understood. Back when Hiruzen was in office and needed him, he had called him his darling.
Now Hiruzen had no use for him and kicked him aside like a chamber pot.
"Hiruzen, you'll regret this!"
With that, Shimura Danzō left the Sarutobi Clan Compound without looking back.
"Danzō, don't forget that I'm the Hok... I'm the Third Hokage."
Although Minato Namikaze currently treated Hiruzen Sarutobi with respect, he didn't actually approve of some of Hiruzen's actions during his time in office.
And Hiruzen Sarutobi hadn't stepped down of his own accord.
Rather, the factions that had supported Minato Namikaze's rise to power had grown stronger and stronger, inevitably clashing with Hiruzen's old guard.
In the end, both sides had backed down.
Hiruzen stepped down to protect his old comrades' interests.
Minato took office and promised his supporters a future.
Both of them understood this perfectly well.
So Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't want any further contact with Danzō, lest he get burned if Minato ever came after him.
Before you continue