"My hemophobia has been cured. Chiyo's poisons and puppets are no match for me."
Tsunade spoke first. She and Chiyo were old rivals. Although Tsunade hadn't been able to fight on the front lines in the past, she had been the one to develop antidotes to Chiyo's poisons back at camp.
"I can handle the One-Tail Jinchuriki and the Kazekage, but facing them both at once would be too risky. We should wait for a chance to take them down one at a time."
Uchiha Iori wanted to hold something back. He had already shown how strong he was, and now he needed to rein himself in so he could strike a killing blow when the opportunity came.
"The Ketsuryūgan user can be left to Naoya and me. This has always been the Uchiha Clan's responsibility. I'll show him why the Sharingan is the greatest of all dōjutsu."
Shisui Uchiha stood up to speak as well. He was in the prime of his youth, and the name Body Flicker Shisui had already spread throughout the Ninja World.
"You can leave reconnaissance to us Hyuga. Our Byakugan can see everything within a kilometer."
Hyuga Hideki was determined not to be outdone. The Hyuga weren't the strongest fighters, but their Byakugan was unparalleled for strategic purposes.
"Then it's settled. Everyone, prepare for battle. When the Fourth Kazekage and the One-Tail Jinchuriki are separated, we'll launch a surprise attack on the Sunagakure Ninja and strike them where it hurts."
Orochimaru laid out the counterattack plan. All they had to do now was wait for the Hyuga Clan's jonin to report back.
Everyone filed out. "Shisui, let's talk," Uchiha Iori called after him, then left with him.
"It's been a while. How have you been these past few months?" Uchiha Iori asked casually, patting Shisui on the shoulder.
They stood surrounded by rocky walls. Firelight played over their faces, making them alternately bright and shadowed.
"I'm doing well. Everyone's been taking good care of me. But, Iori, you've changed so much. Your eyes give me a dangerous feeling." Shisui smiled shyly, then asked, "What about you?"
He sensed danger in Iori, too. As a Mangekyo user, he trusted his instincts.
"You've awakened yours too, Shisui?" Iori asked pointedly. The original story never specified when Shisui awakened his eyes, but judging by the events, it must have happened around this time.
"Yeah. I got these eyes too." Shisui didn't hide it. He activated his Mangekyo and showed it to Iori. He trusted Iori as family.
Looking at Shisui's eyes, Iori couldn't help patting him on the head. "It must have been hard. The price of awakening those eyes couldn't have been small."
Thinking of what the others had gone through to awaken their eyes, Iori couldn't help feeling a pang of sympathy.
"Wasn't it the same for you, Iori? You must have lost something important too. That's why these cursed eyes awakened, right?"
Shisui's expression fell. He had awakened his eyes some time ago, but he still hadn't moved on from the shadow of that day.
"Don't think of it that way, Shisui. We're far luckier than other people. After experiencing loss, we gained the strength to make sure we wouldn't lose anything else."
"We should see it as our ancestors' protection, not as a curse fate placed on the Uchiha Clan."
Iori tried to comfort Shisui. He meant every word. Compared to ordinary people who gained nothing from their losses, the Uchiha Clan was far more fortunate.
Without power, tragedy would only repeat itself. Only by gaining power could they take control of their own fate.
If Iori hadn't gotten the Golden Finger, he would still be just another face in the crowd, swept along by fate and waiting for his appointed death.
But now, he was the master of his own fate. Sooner or later, the world would be in his hands.
"This world is cruel. Our job is to change it, so no one else has to suffer the tragedies we've been through."
Iori looked at Shisui and spoke earnestly. He would change Shisui's fate and bring him into his fold. He couldn't promise Shisui a happy life, but at the very least, he would make his life count.
Dying because of his own naivete and infighting within the village was simply too stupid.
"I believe in you, Iori. I've always thought you could bridge the gap between the clan and the village. Please guide me. I'm willing to use my power for you."
Shisui grasped Iori's hand. After years of depending on each other, Shisui trusted him without reservation. Unlike Itachi Uchiha, Shisui weighed the village and the clan equally.
Only when left with no other choice in the future would Shisui entrust everything to Itachi Uchiha, hoping he could bring peace between the village and the clan. But Itachi would disappoint him.
Now, Shisui entrusted his life to Iori and offered him his strength.
"Then, Iori, what do you need me to do?"
Once he had calmed down, Shisui let go of Iori's hand and asked about their plans for the future.
"Bring over the moderates who are willing to side with us, along with the hardliners who have a brain. After this war, I should have enough prestige."
"I'll challenge Fugaku Uchiha for the position of clan leader and unite the clan's strength."
Iori explained his plan to Shisui. A hesitant look came over Shisui's face.
Iori found it strange and asked, "What is it? Is there a problem with the plan?"
"Um... Iori, could you spare the clan leader's life? His son, Itachi, is my friend."
Shisui hesitated as he made his request. He had only just met Itachi Uchiha, but some people were just destined to be friends.
"No problem. As long as he accepts things as they are after losing, I won't kill him. I don't want to slaughter my own clan without good reason."
Iori agreed without hesitation. Fugaku Uchiha was important to both Itachi Uchiha and Sasuke Uchiha, and both were key to his plans.
Itachi Uchiha had outstanding talent and ability. As for his brains—if the Will of Fire could brainwash him, why couldn't I?
With Shisui helping out, he was basically guaranteed to become one of my dogs.
Sasuke Uchiha was even more important. He was one of the chosen saviors, and the reincarnation of Indra's Chakra. Half of Iori's hope of awakening the Rinnegan rested on him.
"Thank you, Iori."
Shisui didn't know what Iori was really thinking. From his perspective, Iori had given up killing his biggest rival just because he'd asked.
Shisui's eyes brimmed with emotion. He resolved to fight to the death for the future Iori had promised him.
"Tsunade and I have already reached an agreement. I'll become the Fourth Hokage's aide—and the future Fifth Hokage."
"I'll lead the Uchiha into Konoha and bring peace to everyone in the village."
Iori spoke passionately to Shisui about his plans and ambitions.
"I have no other demands of you, Shisui. Get stronger—strong enough to stand at my side."
"I won't let you down, Iori."
Shisui Uchiha's eyes were filled with resolve. After seeing the future Iori had promised him, he was no longer lost. He was brimming with motivation.