Confrontation

Uchiha Shingen thought of this.

Shisui naturally had already thought of it as well, his gaze sweeping across the surroundings.

The familiar streets began to twist and distort, gradually revealing their true appearance.

He only then realized.

He was not within the Uchiha compound at all, but in another old district on the outskirts of Konoha!

A bright moon hung high, and the surroundings were silent and deserted.

Only a few cold crows swept across the low sky, landing on a nearby branch, quietly watching everything happening here!

"Genjutsu!?!"

Shisui was moved.

The Uchiha Sharingan was inherently skilled in Genjutsu, and even better at seeing through it.

Yet the Genjutsu of the person who struck just now could not only deceive Shisui's eyes, but even Uchiha Shingen, who had already activated his Three-Tomoe Sharingan!

In all of Konoha, only the Kurama Clan could perform a Genjutsu so realistic it could pass for truth!

Shisui's gaze swept over the Root ninjas in the distance.

In the back, a frail figure sitting in a wheelchair and wrapped in bandages was exceptionally conspicuous; that was undoubtedly the Kurama Clan ninja who had acted tonight.

The Kurama Clan possessed a powerful Kekkei Genkai said to be able to invert reality and illusion, but they also bore the curse brought by this power.

Almost every Kurama clansman who awakened the Kekkei Genkai would inevitably suffer from a bloodline disease, their lifespans as short as fireworks.

In exchange, they gained Genjutsu abilities so powerful they were absurd, even surpassing the Sharingan!

"Not just that."

Uchiha Shingen shook his head.

He saw things on a deeper level than Shisui; if it were merely a simple Genjutsu, it would be difficult to deceive his eyes, even if it could fool Shisui.

The anomalies in the surrounding environment were now laid bare before his eyes, and the chakra faintly flowing in the air, though thin, could be clearly perceived.

"There should also be a Barrier Ninjutsu."

"With the two combined, even the Sharingan is hard-pressed to see through it."

"This level of insight is worthy of the strength you have displayed!"

A low, hoarse voice came from the darkness in the distance, and Danzo appeared from the shadows, leaning on his cane.

Danzo's gaze swept over the two people present, and when he saw Shisui's face, he paused slightly, a look of reminiscence appearing in his eyes:

"Uchiha Shisui, is it?!"

"You do have a bit of Kagami's shadow in you, whether it be your personality or this talent that surpasses ordinary people."

"I just don't know how much of his will you have inherited."

Shisui did not respond, only looking at Danzo with a guarded expression.

Clearly, even though Danzo mentioned his ancestor, his vigilance did not drop by even a fraction.

Seeing that Shisui would not speak, Danzo was not annoyed, instead turning his gaze to Uchiha Shingen.

In his eyes, usually as still as an ancient well, a look of astonishment appeared for the first time:

"Thirteen years old, possessing Jonin-level combat power, and your on-the-spot reaction ability even suppressed Shisui, who is known as a genius..."

"Are you interested in working for me?!"

Uchiha Shingen refused without even thinking:

"I'm doing quite well at the Konoha Military Police Force and have no plans to jump ship for the time being. I appreciate your offer, but may I leave now?!"

As a die-hard slacker, Uchiha Shingen was very satisfied with his current job.

Good pay, little work, close to home, high status, and light responsibilities.

Of the six points used to evaluate a quality job, a squad leader in the Military Police Force hit four; aside from the status not being high enough and the power not being heavy enough, it was almost flawless.

What's more, this old man in front of him didn't look like a good person at all!

The person behind him was wrapped in bandages and still being dragged out to work overtime—this was blatant exploitation!

"And you?!"

Danzo looked at Shisui again, his tone turning colder.

"I am the same as Captain Shingen."

Shisui also refused, and seeing Danzo's ugly expression, he continued:

"Even if I were not in the Military Police Force, I have already received an invitation from the Hokage to join the Anbu, which reports directly to him."

"Is that so..."

Danzo's voice was indifferent, but his slightly lowered eyes were already filled with a hint of malice.

He did not like the feeling of being rejected, especially not by someone from the Uchiha clan!

"That is truly a pity."

Danzo's voice turned cold, followed immediately by an intense, undisguised killing intent.

If a chess piece cannot be used, then there is no need for it to exist!

Danzo slowly raised his hand.

The Root ninjas surrounding them tensed up in that instant, like arrows about to be loosed from their strings.

A single gesture was all it would take for them to tear every enemy before them into shreds.

Shisui was instantly drenched in a cold sweat, his gaze turning grave to the extreme.

Unlike Uchiha Shingen, who paid no heed to the outside world, he understood far more about the internal factions of Konoha.

Although he had long anticipated Danzo's style of conduct, he had not expected it to be this radical.

This was practically detonating the conflict between Konoha and the Uchiha!

Uchiha Shingen's expression was also grave to the extreme.

The changes tonight had come too fast and too abruptly.

First, Shisui's sneak attack, and then being surrounded by Root ninjas; among the surrounding Root members, there were several whose auras made even him feel wary.

They were undoubtedly veteran Jonin of Konoha!

If they joined forces, let alone winning, even escaping unscathed was a question!

Uchiha Shingen had never imagined that things would develop to this point in just a few breaths; he had the distinct feeling that if one word went wrong, he would be buried right here!

After a moment of thought, Uchiha Shingen was just about to open his mouth to compromise.

However, a powerful palm pressed onto his shoulder at that very moment, and Jiraiya's familiar voice rang out.

"Long time no see, Lord Danzo!"

"I can't let you take away my pen pal so easily tonight~"

The killing intent that had been shrouding Uchiha Shingen suddenly dissipated.

He turned his head.

He saw that Jiraiya had appeared beside him at some point.

In the night wind.

Jiraiya's lion-like silver hair fluttered; even without making a move, he caused the Root ninjas present to freeze, as if they were facing some beast about to be unleashed from its cage.

Uchiha Shingen was suddenly struck by a realization.

The spirit displayed by this boring middle-aged man, who had once discussed erotic novels with him, was even greater than that of the current Uchiha clan head, Fugaku Uchiha!

To hell with it!

How could there really be such a shameless old man who, instead of being a proper ninja, insisted on writing erotic novels?

The lower limits of the ninja world had once again refreshed Uchiha Shingen's worldview.

But right now, he only felt relief.

"Did Hiruzen send you?!"

Danzo lowered his hand, his expression devoid of emotion.

The surrounding Root ninjas retreated in an instant, hiding back into the darkness as if they had never appeared at all.

"Is he really that confident that he can bring the Uchiha under his command?!"

"Oh my~"

Jiraiya's face once again wore an unserious expression as he said thoughtfully:

"We are merely pen pals, nothing more!"