"Bang!"
A low thud suddenly echoed through the quiet woods. Lin Feng, who had been training, collapsed, bracing himself with both hands on the ground. His panting was as heavy as a bellows.
After two hours of training that afternoon, Lin Feng had finally learned what it meant to be truly exhausted.
"Sasuke, your body's reached its limit!"
"You've made a lot more progress today than yesterday!"
Watching sweat pour down Lin Feng's face, Shisui Uchiha chuckled.
"I'm still a long way from succeeding!"
Hearing Lin Feng's hoarse laugh, Shisui Uchiha's eyes narrowed slightly. Then he said with confidence, "If you train like this every day, you'll master the Body Flicker Technique in three months!"
"I hope so." Lin Feng nodded. After a moment's silence, he suddenly stared at Shisui Uchiha and asked in a low voice, "Is the Uchiha Clan planning a coup?"
"Sasuke... who told you that?"
Shisui Uchiha was shocked that Lin Feng had brought it up so suddenly.
"I overheard Dad and my brother talking at the door sometimes."
Seeing Shisui Uchiha's expression suddenly turn serious, Lin Feng paused, then answered calmly.
"Sasuke, you're still young. There are some things you shouldn't get involved in. And don't tell anyone what you just said. If it gets around the village, people could easily misunderstand the Uchiha Clan."
Shisui Uchiha sighed and cautioned him.
"Shisui, I don't think the Uchiha Clan is wrong to want a coup."
"Second Hokage Tobirama Senju hated the Uchiha Clan. He held a grudge over the battles between our clans in the past, so he kept making things difficult for us. Even though he established the Konoha Military Police Force and gave the Uchiha most of its positions, it was really just a way to keep tabs on us—to spy on our every move!"
"Didn't the Uchiha Clan help establish the village? Now that our strength is gradually being weakened, the village has pushed us into this remote corner. They're kicking us while we're down!"
After hearing Shisui Uchiha's words, Lin Feng responded with indignation.
Shisui Uchiha fell silent and looked up at Lin Feng's angry face. After a long pause, he said, "The village leaders must have their reasons. But if the Uchiha Clan stages a coup, it'll turn our peaceful village into a battlefield. Other countries might seize the chance to invade, and that could lead to an even greater war..."
"Then, Shisui, do you have a way to stop the Uchiha Clan from staging a coup?"
Knowing Shisui Uchiha would be worried about that, Lin Feng immediately shot back.
Shisui Uchiha hesitated, but then replied softly, "I haven't thought of a good solution yet, but I have a plan. I'm going to discuss it with the Konoha High Command."
As a longtime Naruto fan, Lin Feng knew the plan Shisui Uchiha was talking about: using the Kotoamatsukami genjutsu to control the Uchiha Clan and put an end to the coup.
"Shisui, plans don't always keep up with change. I've thought of a better idea."
Lin Feng's eyes shifted, and he chuckled.
"Heh... Sasuke, what's your idea?"
Shisui Uchiha smiled and asked without thinking.
"If someone from the Uchiha Clan becomes the Fifth Hokage, the clan definitely won't stage a coup!"
Lin Feng stated plainly.
"Become the Fifth Hokage?"
Lin Feng's words left Shisui Uchiha stunned.
"Yeah. What the Uchiha Clan wants most is respect, fame, and power. If someone from the clan becomes Hokage, all those problems can be solved."
Lin Feng nodded confidently.
The Uchiha Clan was staging a coup for power. If one of their own became Hokage, there'd be no problem at all.
"Sasuke, becoming Hokage isn't as simple as shouting a slogan. You have to be exceptional and earn the approval of the Third Hokage and the Council of Elders..."
Shisui Uchiha shook his head, pouring cold water on Lin Feng's idea.
"I know it's hard to become Hokage, but I believe you and my brother can do it. For the Uchiha Clan, and for peace in the village, one of you will become Hokage."
Lin Feng slowly stood up and smiled.
Shisui Uchiha could tell Lin Feng hoped that either he or Uchiha Itachi would become Hokage.
Given Shisui Uchiha and Uchiha Itachi's abilities and strength, either of them could become Hokage in the future. So Lin Feng's idea was worth considering.
"Sasuke, you're very clever. That's an excellent idea. I'll talk it over with Itachi, and I'll bring it up at the clan meeting, too."
Shisui Uchiha patted Lin Feng on the shoulder and smiled.
"My idea will definitely work. Shisui, don't report the Uchiha Clan's coup plans to the Konoha High Command yet!"
Actually, the main reason Lin Feng had talked to Shisui was to keep him from acting too soon.
In the Naruto story, Shisui had also considered many options. In the end, he had no choice but to reveal the Uchiha Clan's coup plans to Sarutobi Hiruzen and the Council of Elders.
Because Shisui and Itachi were both double agents within the Uchiha Clan, Danzo had been able to wipe out the clan so easily.
Of course, Lin Feng knew that with so many Anbu members watching them, it was only a matter of time before the Uchiha Clan's coup plans were exposed.
"Heh, Sasuke, you really are full of surprises. You even guessed what I was thinking."
Shisui's eyes lit up as he stared at Lin Feng in disbelief. He and Itachi had discussed this too, and had been planning to tell the Konoha High Command about the Uchiha Clan's situation.
"Then promise me you won't report it, Shisui!"
As if! I only guessed because I'd seen Naruto!
Lin Feng kept that thought to himself and continued.
"If your idea passes at the clan meeting and can ease the Uchiha Clan's current urgency to stage a coup, I won't report it."
After thinking it over carefully, Shisui replied.
"Haha, that's great!"
Hearing that Shisui had agreed to his request, Lin Feng was thrilled.
Lin Feng was fairly sure his idea would pass at the clan meeting. Not all members of the Uchiha Clan were warmongers. Many of them loved peace and didn't want to seize power through bloodshed. Otherwise, they would have rebelled during Tobirama Senju's time in office.
"It's getting late, Shisui. I should head home!"
Glancing at the darkening sky and not wanting his mother to worry, Lin Feng stopped chatting and spoke softly.
"See you tomorrow!"
Shisui smiled at Lin Feng and waved.
Watching Lin Feng's back disappear into the darkness of the woods, Shisui looked up and murmured, "If becoming Hokage can solve everything, I think Itachi will join me in pursuing that goal, no matter the cost."
When he finished speaking, Shisui vanished from the spot.