Although Sarutobi Hiruzen was confident in his brainwashing—no, in his own personal charisma—and believed Shisui would never betray him,
it was better to be safe than sorry.
What if everything Shisui had done over the years had been a deliberate act?
One wrong move, and he, the strongest Hokage in history, could have his will rewritten by Kotoamatsukami and become a puppet of the Uchiha Clan.
That was something he could not tolerate.
But he was the Hokage. He had to remain in the light at all times. No matter how intolerable the situation was, he could never choose to attack his own subordinate directly.
That sort of dirty work had to be done by Danzo.
With that in mind, he summoned an Anbu member. "Go and notify Danzo. Tell him to come see me at this time tomorrow. Say I want to discuss how to deal with the Uchiha Clan. Also, bring Itachi to me."
The Third Hokage wasn't entirely unaware that Danzo coveted the Uchiha Clan's Sharingan. If Danzo learned about the abilities of Uchiha Shisui's Mangekyo, he would certainly make a move to seize them, even without any hint from him.
But that still wasn't a sure thing. It might not be enough to eliminate Shisui.
He planned to have Itachi serve as the final safeguard.
If Shisui knew what was good for him, even if he escaped Danzo, he would surely kill himself to atone to Konoha, temporarily quelling the Uchiha Clan's growing strength and ambition.
The coup would be stopped.
That would kill two birds with one stone.
At the Uchiha Izumi residence,
Chiya slowly opened his eyes and withdrew his senses. The result was exactly as he'd expected: Uchiha Shisui had foolishly gone to tell the Third Hokage about his Mangekyo abilities, putting himself in mortal danger.
The Uchiha Clan's festival was tomorrow.
Chiya vaguely remembered that, growing increasingly dissatisfied with Konoha, the Uchiha Clan planned to use the occasion to discuss a coup.
Little did they know, two traitors within their own clan had already informed on them.
In the end, the matter would come to nothing after Uchiha Shisui killed himself.
At the thought, Chiya couldn't help sighing. "What a tragic clan."
They had a Filial Son like Uchiha Itachi and a naive, sweet-natured Uchiha Shisui within the clan, and a chuunibyou like Obito outside it. Even the clan head was a coward who couldn't make up his mind. It was a wonder they could possibly survive.
Just then, Izumi's voice interrupted Chiya's thoughts. "Chiya, dinner's ready."
"Oh, coming." Chiya got up and walked over to the table.
The next day, Chiya entered Sage Mode by activating his cultivation technique, keeping the chakra of both Uchiha Shisui and Danzo under constant watch.
At dusk, after walking Uchiha Izumi home, he sensed the two men's chakra finally converge.
He quickly changed his appearance and followed them to a remote corner of Konoha: the Senju Clan Ruins.
Events unfolded just as they had in the original story. After learning of Uchiha Shisui's Mangekyo abilities, Sarutobi Hiruzen had summoned Danzo.
In Shisui's presence, he had explained Kotoamatsukami's abilities and Shisui's plan to use it to control Uchiha Fugaku, adding that he would improve the Uchiha Clan's treatment afterward.
The inevitable result was that Danzo set his sights on Shisui's Sharingan.
Before Shisui could head to the Uchiha festival, Danzo had summoned him here.
He'd laid an ambush, intending to carry out his eye-stealing plan.
To be honest, Chiya didn't dislike a bleeding-heart like Shisui.
At least he was far easier to get along with than a hypocrite like Sarutobi Hiruzen or a snake like Danzo.
If Chiya wanted to intervene, saving Shisui wouldn't be difficult.
But their values were completely at odds.
Anyone who had watched Naruto knew that Uchiha Shisui was a die-hard supporter and admirer of the Will of Fire.
Even as he died, he still believed in Konoha's leadership.
Although Chiya possessed the Zanpakuto Kyoka Suigetsu,
it could ensure that when facing a Mangekyo Sharingan wielder, he could use control over the five senses to evade genjutsu like Tsukuyomi. He might even be able to break such techniques outright using the formidable spiritual and physical energy granted by his Zanpakuto and cultivation technique.
But Kotoamatsukami, the eye that could control the will, was dangerous. It could turn anyone the caster saw into a puppet.
If Chiya ever turned against Konoha, Shisui would surely be the first to stand in his way.
Better safe than sorry. With an ability on this level, the best choice was either to make it disappear or to keep it in his own hands.
He didn't want to spend every waking moment releasing Kyoka Suigetsu to guard against Uchiha Shisui, living in constant fear.
"If Shisui doesn't die, I'll never sleep or eat in peace."
Thinking this, Chiya peered coldly from beneath his black robe at Danzo and Uchiha Shisui, who were talking up ahead.
"Why did you call me here, Lord Danzo? The gathering is about to begin," Uchiha Shisui asked, puzzled.
"If you acted against Uchiha Fugaku and brought the Uchiha Clan to heel, but the village did nothing to improve their treatment, what would you do?" Danzo's right eye was wrapped in bandages, and his left eye was narrowed. He didn't attack right away, instead asking Shisui what he thought.
The answer was all too predictable. Shisui's response greatly disappointed him and only strengthened his resolve to take Kotoamatsukami.
"Lord Hokage promised me that he would make changes," Uchiha Shisui said firmly.
"Even if you persuaded the Third Hokage, the village's suspicion of the Uchiha would never disappear." At the mention of the Third Hokage, a look of disdain crossed Danzo's eyes. He suddenly opened them, fixing Shisui with a gaze full of greed and desire.
Trusting in Konoha, Shisui failed to sense the danger closing in and clung to his naive beliefs.
"I understand. Given time, I'll..." He was about to say more, but Danzo cut him off.
"That's exactly the problem. A suspicious old man like me won't change his mind so easily. What will you do then?"
Danzo lowered his head slightly, his aged face hidden in shadow. The Sharingan beneath the bandages over his right eye was poised, and he entered the Izanagi state.
"But, Lord Danzo..." Shisui tried to say more, but Danzo interrupted him again. "Will you use Kotoamatsukami against me then?"
As he spoke, Danzo slowly raised his head. His eyes filled with menace. He tossed aside his customary cane, raised his left hand, and lunged for Uchiha Shisui's eyes.
"Those Sharingan of yours belong to me."
Uchiha Shisui was caught off guard, but he was a prodigy of the Uchiha Clan, after all. He wasn't foolish enough to let himself be slaughtered without resistance. He seized Danzo's left hand and used a genjutsu to freeze him in place.
"This is only an ordinary genjutsu. It'll wear off soon." Shisui slowly lowered Danzo's left hand. A deep look of disappointment crossed his eyes, and he turned to leave.
But he hadn't gone far before Danzo, who had just been trapped in the genjutsu, suddenly appeared in front of him. He punched Shisui hard in the abdomen, then reached for his right eye, drawing a long, thin line of blood through the air. His movements were clean and swift, all in one fluid motion.
Wincing in pain, Shisui covered his empty right eye and leaped backward, quickly putting distance between himself and Danzo.
P.S. First update. Please vote and support the monthly pass!
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