A High-Stakes Gamble

"Damn you, System! What kind of twisted punishment is this? Just how much do you hate me? And why on earth are you always thinking about things like this? Is your brain broken?"

Uchiha Shisui's sudden appearance had already made Chen anxious, and now the system had to pull a stunt like this. Was it doing this on purpose?

"I am merely urging you to complete your mission. Besides, with your current strength, if you really became a rogue ninja, you wouldn't last a day. Why worry about a measly centimeter?"

"Get lost!"

Chen was incredibly annoyed, but it was clear that dealing with Uchiha Shisui took priority right now.

"Brother Shisui is right; I did leave Konoha for a while."

After a moment of hesitation, Chen chose to admit it. While playing dumb might have gotten him through, some problems couldn't be solved by feigning ignorance.

"You actually admitted it. Should I call you bold, or should I say you trust me too much? Aren't you worried that I might have brought others with me?"

"Because I have something to discuss with Brother Shisui, and it just couldn't wait any longer. Although the timing is poor, I believe it is better to speak up than to let a rift grow between us. Besides, I trust that Brother Shisui will make a wise choice."

Hearing Chen's words, Uchiha Shisui grew even more solemn, for he sensed a maturity in Chen that did not belong to someone of his age. Although he had felt this before, it was now far more pronounced.

"What is it you want to say?"

"I think it would be better to find a place where we won't be overheard. After all, if what I have to say next is leaked, I won't be the only one in trouble."

Uchiha Shisui hesitated, clearly suspicious that Chen might be setting a trap. However, he ultimately chose to trust him, and the two arrived at the side of a small stream—a place Chen recognized instantly as the spot where Uchiha Shisui would eventually entrust his Kotoamatsukami to Itachi.

"No one will disturb us here, and there is a barrier in place. Even Clan Head Uchiha Fugaku would be unable to approach without being detected."

"Indeed, it is a fine place. Brother Shisui, what do you think of the relationship between the Uchiha Clan and the village?"

Chen got straight to the point, leaving Uchiha Shisui stunned. The discord between Konoha and the Uchiha Clan had become sharp, but it was largely confined to the upper echelons. Shisui only knew of it because his grandfather was Kagami Uchiha; others, even among the Uchiha ninja, were unaware of the extent of the tension.

"The conflict between the village and the Uchiha is immense, and with the interference of that man Danzo, it will inevitably grow worse. Though I hate to admit it, many in the Uchiha Clan are far too arrogant. In the era of Madara Uchiha, such arrogance might have been justified by strength, but today, aside from Clan Head Uchiha Fugaku, the Uchiha don't even have a single Kage-level ninja. Brother Shisui, you should know what happens when such a clan clashes with Konoha. Add Danzo to the mix, and the destruction of the Uchiha is only a matter of time—and they will likely be branded as traitors."

Having said this, Chen fell silent, watching Uchiha Shisui quietly. Chen was gambling on Shisui's loyalty to both his clan and Konoha. Although both Shisui and Itachi had inherited the so-called Will of Fire, Chen believed that neither of them truly wished for their clan to be destroyed. He believed that on the night of the massacre, Itachi's heart had been bleeding. And as the one who entrusted everything to Itachi, Shisui loved his clan just as much as he was loyal to Konoha.

"I never expected you to know all this. Where did you hear it from? Even Itachi has only vaguely sensed it."

"Brother Shisui, please don't worry about that for now. I will explain at the right time. I only want to know if you think what I said is correct."

"Hey, when did you start learning from that guy Naruto? Are you trying to master 'Talk no Jutsu'? Let me tell you, I don't have that ninjutsu here; that's exclusive to him."

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

"Damn it, you dare ignore me? Do you want me to force you to kiss Uchiha Shisui right now? Let's see how you explain that."

"Great One, I was wrong. How could I have the energy to chat with you at a time like this? Once I get through this, I'll bow to you three times a day and burn incense morning and night, okay?"

"That's more like it."

Chen finally managed to appease the system, and after a long silence, Uchiha Shisui nodded.

"If no one were deliberately fanning the flames, there might still be hope for the relationship between Konoha and the Uchiha. But that man Danzo will stop at nothing to target the Uchiha for the sake of the Sharingan."

"The Third Hokage's personality is far too weak. Unless he has ironclad evidence, he would never move against Shimura Danzō, and even with such proof, he would still cling to their so-called camaraderie."

"I didn't expect you to have investigated so much, but Lord Third is not..."

"Don't be in such a rush to refute me, Shisui. Once I finish, you will understand."

"After the Nine-Tails Rebellion, the Third Hokage regained power. At that time, Shimura Danzō sent Anbu to assassinate him, yet the Third Hokage did nothing more than offer a few reprimands. Which do you think is the greater crime: assassinating the Hokage, or forcing the Uchiha to rebel?"

"Speaking of the Sharingan, the eyes of your grandfather, Kagami Uchiha, are actually embedded in Shimura Danzō's right eye socket. And it isn't just his right eye. His entire right arm is inlaid with Sharingan, grafted onto his body using the cells of the First Hokage, Senju Hashirama."

"What! How is that possible?"

Shisui was utterly shocked, partly because of Shimura Danzō's arm, and partly because of the revelation regarding Kagami Uchiha.

"Why wouldn't it be? Shimura Danzō and Orochimaru have been colluding for a long time. Orochimaru defected not long ago due to his human experimentation, and a large portion of those test subjects were provided to him by Shimura Danzō. Think carefully: Konoha possesses a vast number of medical ninjas, including one of the Sannin, Tsunade. What kind of injury could possibly prevent someone of Shimura Danzō's status from recovering? Have you ever once seen him reveal his right arm, Shisui?"

Chen did not know if Shimura Danzō had killed Kagami Uchiha, but when it was time to shift the blame, one had to be decisive. Regardless, these were the kinds of things Shimura Danzō did anyway; a few extra pots of filth wouldn't make a difference.

"Kagami Uchiha, Shimura Danzō, and Sarutobi Hiruzen were teammates who lived and died together, yet only Kagami Uchiha ended up dead, and his eyes are now in Shimura Danzō's possession. Do you really believe Sarutobi Hiruzen doesn't have even the slightest suspicion? Even when faced with the assassination of the Hokage or the use of the First Hokage's remains for experiments, the Third Hokage showed nothing. He is the Hokage; I do not believe he is truly ignorant of these things. In such a situation, is his inaction not a form of tacit approval? Compared to all this, how much weight do you think the Uchiha hold, Shisui?"