A Huge Gamble

"You piece-of-shit system, what kind of twisted punishment is this? Just how much do you hate me?!

"And why are you always thinking about this sort of thing? Is there something wrong with your brain?"

Shisui's appearance had already made Chen uneasy, and now the system had pulled something like this. Was it seriously not doing this on purpose?

"I'm just making sure you complete your mission.

"Besides, with your current strength, if you really became a rogue ninja, you'd probably last only a day. What does a centimeter or two matter?"

"Get lost!"

Chen was furious, but right now, he clearly needed to deal with Uchiha Shisui first.

"Shisui, you're right. I was away from Konoha for a while."

After hesitating, Chen chose to admit it. Playing dumb might have let him get away with it, but pretending not to know wouldn't solve everything.

"You actually admitted it. Should I say you're bold, or that you trust me too much?

"Weren't you worried I'd bring others here?"

"Because there's something I need to discuss with you, Shisui. I suppose we've just had to talk about it sooner than planned.

"Though this isn't the right time, I think it's better to say it than let things turn unpleasant between us.

"Besides, I trust you'll make the right choice."

Hearing Chen's words, Shisui grew even more solemn. Chen seemed far more mature than someone his age ought to be.

He'd sensed that maturity in Chen before, but now it was even more pronounced.

"What do you want to say?"

"I think we should find somewhere no one can eavesdrop. If anyone hears what I'm about to say, I won't be the only one in trouble."

Shisui hesitated, clearly wondering if Chen had set a trap.

In the end, though, he chose to trust Chen. The two of them went to a stream, and Chen recognized the place at a glance. This was where Shisui had entrusted his Kotoamatsukami to Itachi.

"No one will disturb us here, and there's a barrier, too. Even Clan Leader Fugaku can't approach without being noticed."

"Yeah, it's a good spot.

"Shisui, what do you think of the relationship between the Uchiha and the village?"

Chen got straight to the point, and Shisui stared at him in surprise.

The rift between Konoha and the Uchiha Clan had grown severe, but the conflict was still limited to the upper ranks.

Shisui knew about it only because his grandfather was Kagami Uchiha. No one else did—not even the other Uchiha ninja.

"The village and the Uchiha are at odds, and with Danzo interfering, that rift is bound to keep growing.

"I hate to admit it, but many in the Uchiha Clan are too arrogant.

"That kind of arrogance might have been fine in Madara Uchiha's time, when they had the strength to back it up. But now, aside from Clan Leader Uchiha Fugaku, the Uchiha don't even have a single Kage Level ninja. You know what will happen if they keep antagonizing Konoha under those circumstances.

"And with Danzo in the picture, the Uchiha Clan's destruction is only a matter of time. Most likely, they'll be branded traitors, too."

Chen fell silent and gazed steadily at Shisui.

He was taking a gamble, betting on Shisui's loyalty to both his clan and Konoha.

Shisui and Itachi had both inherited the so-called Will of Fire, but Chen believed that neither of them wanted to see their clan destroyed.

Chen was sure that on the night of the massacre, Itachi's heart had been bleeding.

And Shisui, who had entrusted everything to Itachi, loved his clan even as he remained loyal to Konoha.

"I can't believe you know all this. Where did you hear it?

"Even Itachi has only vaguely sensed it."

"Don't worry about that just yet, Shisui. I'll explain when the time is right.

"I just want to know whether you think I'm right."

"Hey, when did you start taking lessons from Naruto? Planning to talk your way out of everything now?

"Just so you know, I don't have a talk-no-jutsu. That technique belongs exclusively to Naruto."

The system's voice suddenly rang out. Chen ignored it.

"Damn, you dare ignore me? Want me to make you kiss Uchiha Shisui right now?

"Let's see how you explain that!"

"My lord, I was wrong. How can I spare you any attention at a time like this? Once I get through this, I'll bow to you three times morning and night and burn incense for you every day. Deal?"

"That's more like it."

Chen finally placated the system. After a moment's silence, Shisui nodded.

"If no one deliberately stirs things up, there's still hope of improving relations between Konoha and the Uchiha.

"But Danzo will keep using every means at his disposal to target the Uchiha for their Sharingan.

"And the Third Hokage is too weak-willed. Unless there's conclusive evidence, he'd never move against Danzo. Even with hard evidence, he'd still hesitate out of some sense of loyalty to his old comrade."

"I didn't expect you to have looked into so much. But Lord Third isn't—"

"Shisui, don't rush to defend him. You'll understand once I'm done.

"After the Nine-Tails Rebellion, the Third Hokage regained power. At the time, Danzo sent Anbu to assassinate him. The Third did nothing beyond a few words of reprimand.

"Which crime do you think is worse: trying to assassinate the Hokage, or driving the Uchiha into rebellion?

"I just mentioned the Sharingan. Your grandfather Kagami Uchiha's eye is in Danzo's right eye. And that's not all.

"His entire right arm is embedded with Sharingan. He had it made using cells from the First, Senju Hashirama."

"What?! How is that possible?"

Shisui was utterly shocked, partly because of Danzo's arm and partly because of what Chen had said about Kagami Uchiha.

"How is it not possible? Danzo and Orochimaru have been working together for a long time. Not long ago, Orochimaru defected because of his human experiments. Many of the test subjects were provided to him by Danzo.

"Think about it. Konoha has plenty of medical ninja, and even Tsunade, one of the Sannin. What kind of injury could a powerful man like Danzo have that they couldn't heal?

"Have you ever seen Danzo expose his right arm?"

Chen didn't know whether Danzo had killed Kagami Uchiha, but when it came to shifting the blame, he had to do it. Danzo was guilty of all sorts of things anyway, so adding another accusation wouldn't hurt.

"Kagami Uchiha, Shimura Danzo, and Sarutobi Hiruzen were three comrades who had risked their lives together. Yet Kagami Uchiha was the only one who died, and his eye ended up in Danzo's possession. Did Sarutobi Hiruzen not suspect anything at all?

"Danzo tried to assassinate the Hokage and even experimented with the First, yet the Third Hokage showed no reaction.

"He's the Hokage. I don't believe he knew nothing. If nothing happened despite all that, doesn't that mean he approved?

"Compared to all this, Shisui, how much do you think the Uchiha matter to him?"