Will of Root

[The host's intervention has changed Shimura Danzo's fate, turning him into a Konoha rogue ninja. System reward: Will of Root Lv. 1]

"Will of Root? What is that? I thought I might get something like Hashirama Cells as a reward."

The system's previous rewards had all been tangible things. This was the first time Shisui had received such an abstract reward.

"I see. It can make my subordinates absolutely loyal to me..."

Shisui read the system's explanation of "Will of Root" as he considered how he could use it.

"Itachi may listen to me, but he isn't my subordinate." Shisui glanced at Itachi, who stood obediently beside him, and dismissed that idea.

Shisui would rather have Itachi trust him willingly than use some coercive method.

Otherwise, he would have used Kotoamatsukami on Itachi long ago.

"Looking at it this way, this ability would be perfect for the Konoha Military Police Force." Shisui finally settled on a plan.

Shisui had already been in a position to become deputy commander of the Konoha Military Police Force. But at the time, he had focused entirely on improving his personal strength. The force could do little to help him, and Fugaku Uchiha was already serving as its commander, so Shisui had politely declined Uchiha Inabi's offer to step down in his favor.

Now that he had the Will of Root ability, Shisui could begin reaching for power.

"Itachi, Shisui, you're finally back! Neither of you is hurt, are you?"

As soon as Shisui and Itachi returned to the Uchiha Clan Compound, Mikoto Uchiha hurried over and began checking them for injuries.

Fugaku Uchiha, the clan head, stood behind her with several elders, watching them.

It was only natural. The commotion that day had been enormous, and even the Fourth Hokage had gone to the scene. The Uchiha Clan couldn't have failed to hear about it.

"Mother, I'm fine. Big Brother Shisui protected me very well." Itachi struggled to free his head from Mikoto's embrace. He was mature for his age and had long since grown unused to his mother's affection.

At the same time, Itachi couldn't help comparing how it felt when his mother stroked his head with how it felt when Shisui did.

*Big Brother Shisui's touch feels better,* he thought.

"Thank you for looking after Itachi, Shisui." In front of everyone, Mikoto, the clan head's wife, bowed to Shisui to express her gratitude. In that moment, she was simply a mother worried about her child.

"Mikoto, looking after Itachi is what I should do as his big brother. Please, don't make so much of it." Knowing that she was pregnant, Shisui hurried to help Mikoto up. In doing so, he accidentally touched her waist. Though she was already a mother, Mikoto had no extra weight to speak of. No wonder her relationship with Fugaku had remained as loving as ever after all these years.

Fugaku stepped forward as well, looking at Shisui with approval. "I know what happened. You faced members of Root on your own and protected Itachi. You couldn't stop Danzo from defecting, but even I couldn't have done any better."

"Mikoto was right. As a father, I also thank you for helping Itachi. As long as it's within my power, I'll grant you one request."

He had made that promise in front of all the Uchiha elders. Even Shisui hadn't expected Fugaku to offer such a generous reward.

In truth, Fugaku had his own reasons for making the promise.

Just moments ago, Fugaku, who also possessed the Mangekyō Sharingan, had been highly sensitive to the fluctuations of energy around Shisui. He had keenly sensed that the power and strength of Shisui's Mangekyō Sharingan far surpassed those of his own eyes. That meant Shisui's potential was boundless; he might even reach a level Fugaku's eyes could not foresee.

Fugaku was investing in Shisui in exchange for his future care of Itachi.

In that case, Shisui didn't hold back. He gave his answer directly. "Clan Head, I want the position of commander of the Konoha Military Police Force."

Even the Uchiha elders, who had seen plenty, were shocked by Shisui's request. They voiced their objections one after another. "You may be exceptionally talented and have brought our clan plenty of honor, but the Konoha Military Police Force is the core of our clan's power. By tradition, the clan head holds that position. You're not ready to shoulder that responsibility."

The first to speak was Elder Tenwa Uchiha. As the Dove Faction's leader, he naturally wanted to look out for Shisui, a loyal member of the faction. He clearly had no idea how much Shisui had changed in this life.

The leader of the Hawk Faction wasn't about to miss the chance to take a shot at the Doves, either.

"Hmph, you're so young and already this arrogant. You've only reached the Three-Tomoe Sharingan, yet you act so high and mighty. How can we trust you to uphold the glory of the Uchiha Clan?"

The one speaking with such righteous indignation was the Hawk Faction's leader, Setsuna Uchiha.

"Your Dove Faction is so short-sighted. You keep compromising and backing down, and that's why our clan's power has dwindled to this point. You can't even see the future of the Uchiha Clan."

Hot-tempered Setsuna Uchiha showed no regard for the bonds between clan members. He wanted to crush the pride of the young Dove Faction member before him.

Seeing one of their faction's promising juniors so thoroughly insulted, the elders from the other factions could no longer stand by.

"Old geezer Setsuna, that's going too far!" Another elder stepped out from the group, glaring furiously at Setsuna Uchiha.

"What, old geezer Kinzen? Was I wrong? You Doves are a bunch of fools! If you don't like it, why don't we settle this with a fight?" Setsuna Uchiha fixed Uchiha Kinzen with a sinister glare. When it came down to a real fight, he feared no one.

"Elder Setsuna, you..." Just as Fugaku, the clan head, could no longer stand to watch and was about to step in to stop the two factions from arguing, Shisui, the cause of the dispute, stepped forward.

"Since Elder Setsuna objects, I don't mind showing him what I can do." Shisui calmly looked at the arrogant, rebellious Setsuna Uchiha across from him. He could tell the man didn't possess eyes like the Mangekyō.