Can These Eyes of Mine See the Uchiha's Future?

"Can these eyes of mine see the Uchiha's future?"

Shisui's voice rang throughout the genjutsu space, etching itself deep into the hearts of the elders.

Though Shisui never appeared, he controlled every corner of this space.

"You actually awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan. An eight-year-old with the Mangekyō Sharingan..."

At that moment, Setsuna Uchiha stared at Shisui in utter disbelief. Then, in an instant, his expression turned fervent.

As one of the witnesses to Uchiha Madara's former glory, Setsuna Uchiha held the Mangekyō Sharingan in the highest reverence.

"Shisui, I, Setsuna Uchiha, am willing to pledge my loyalty to you."

To everyone's astonishment, Setsuna Uchiha, an elder, knelt on one knee before them all, facing the Mangekyō in the sky, and accepted Shisui as his master.

The others were caught off guard, but, unusually, no one voiced any objection.

With Setsuna Uchiha, the Hawk Faction's leader, taking the lead, the other Hawk Faction elders present followed suit.

"I, Yoru Uchiha, pledge my loyalty to Shisui."

"I, Kohaku Uchiha, pledge my loyalty to Shisui."

"I..."

Whether they were sincere or not, at that moment, half of the Uchiha Clan's forces had sided with Shisui.

The remaining Dove Faction and neutral elders stood hesitating, unsure what to do. Then the Mangekyō Sharingan hanging overhead like the moon focused its attention on them, and a pressure rising from deep within their blood made their bodies and souls shudder.

"I, Tenwa Uchiha, am willing to work with Shisui for the future of the Uchiha."

Though he had to bow his head under someone else's roof, Tenwa Uchiha, leader of the Dove Faction, did not pledge himself completely to Shisui as the Hawk Faction had. They wanted an equal partnership, with the right to refuse.

Just as they had once dealt with Lord Madara.

Shisui didn't mind.

"Remember the promises you've made."

The tremendous eye power of the Mangekyō in the sky fell upon everyone present, as if it would see right through them.

"Shisui, I believe you now. You are the future glory of the Uchiha, the one who comes after Lord Madara."

Setsuna Uchiha had once been so arrogant; now, he was just as devout.

He and the other radical members of the Hawk Faction gazed fervently at the crimson eye in the sky, a symbol of power and an omen of calamity. Their admiration was plain in their eyes.

Among them were old-timers like Kohaku Uchiha, who had followed Uchiha Madara in the fight against the Senju Clan.

"I'll use these eyes to watch how you perform from now on."

As Shisui's voice faded, the Uchiha elders in the genjutsu space saw their surroundings begin to break apart. Pieces of the scene fell away like shards of glass and disappeared, until they finally returned to the Uchiha Clan Compound.

"Has Shisui's eye power really reached this level..."

Although Fugaku Uchiha and his family hadn't been within the range of Shisui's genjutsu, Fugaku Uchiha, who also possessed the Mangekyō Sharingan, could still sense traces of it.

"I lost." Back in the real world, Setsuna Uchiha lowered his proud head, but didn't show the fervor he'd displayed in Shisui's genjutsu space. Shisui had instructed him to do that beforehand.

After speaking, Setsuna Uchiha left first with several Hawk Faction elders. It suited his usual character well enough.

Meanwhile, Tenwa Uchiha of the Dove Faction and several elders beside him gazed at the calm Shisui with complicated expressions. They hesitated and struggled for a moment, but in the end, said nothing. That was tantamount to accepting the agreement they had reached with Shisui in the genjutsu space.

As for the remaining neutral elders, they were even more careful to protect themselves and wouldn't reveal a word about what had happened in the genjutsu space.

"Clan leader, I've already convinced Elder Setsuna. He won't interfere with your decisions anymore," Shisui told Fugaku Uchiha.

"Your way of convincing him was very Uchiha." Fugaku smiled at Shisui, feeling relieved. He was glad that someone like Shisui could become a pillar of the Uchiha's future among the younger generation.

After winning over the Hawk Faction, Shisui had gained enough personal strength and influence to stand against Fugaku Uchiha, but he had no intention of doing so.

For a great clan like the Uchiha, with a legacy stretching back thousands of years, orderly traditions and succession were the foundation that had allowed it to stand for so long.

A coup could grant someone great power in a short time, but it would also sow the seeds of chaos, which would eventually erupt, sooner or later.

Besides, Fugaku Uchiha wasn't obsessed with power. Otherwise, there wouldn't have been so many disputes between the Hawk and Dove Factions.

Shisui and Fugaku Uchiha had also reached an understanding, and Fugaku was a force Shisui needed to win over.

"Then I'll entrust the responsibilities of captain of the Konoha Military Police Force to Shisui." Since no one objected anymore, Fugaku immediately honored his promise.

"Congratulations, Shisui!" Seeing that everything had been settled, Itachi ran happily from his mother's side toward Shisui, a genuine smile on his little face.

"Our Itachi is excellent too. Once you're a little older, I'll hand this position over to you." Shisui gently patted the little boy's head. He meant what he said.

In Shisui's plans, Itachi was both exceptionally capable and emotionally intelligent. He was also the natural heir to Fugaku Uchiha, and, most importantly, he trusted and relied on Shisui. Having Itachi manage the Uchiha Clan on Shisui's behalf would be the best choice.

As for Shisui himself, he had more important things to do.

By now, everyone else had taken their leave. Only Fugaku Uchiha and his wife Mikoto remained, watching the brothers share this warm, affectionate moment.

A united Uchiha Clan would be a nightmare for all its enemies in the Shinobi World.

If he could, Fugaku Uchiha would hand the clan leader's position to Shisui right now.

Even if the time wasn't right, he would protect Shisui, just as Shisui looked after Itachi.

"Mikoto, Itachi and I haven't eaten all day. I'm hungry." Just moments ago, Shisui had been decisive and ruthless in front of the elders. Now, he was a big boy acting spoiled with his older sister. For an eight-year-old like Shisui, it wasn't at all out of place.

"It's your fault. You didn't realize the children were starving." The mature, beautiful Mikoto Uchiha playfully tapped her husband beside her, then stepped forward and took Shisui and Itachi by the hand.

"Come on, let's go home. The clan sent over some fresh hairtail and plump crabs today. I'll cook you..."

Fugaku Uchiha could only smile wryly as he watched the two boys and their mother walking ahead. He quickly hurried after them.

"Mikoto, wait for me. I'm hungry too..."