Shisui began to seriously explain how his technique worked.
When he was finished, he looked earnestly at Uchiha Gin, hoping Gin would approve of his plan.
"Your idea isn't bad, but unfortunately, the chances of success aren't very high."
"If someone changes too much, people are bound to notice. Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura will realize something is wrong. And when they do, the Uchiha will be the first suspects, without a doubt. Once the genjutsu is broken, Konoha will plunge straight into civil war."
Uchiha Gin dismissed Shisui's plan.
Kotoamatsukami couldn't completely control someone else's memories. It changed their will, altering their perception.
An ordinary person might think Liu Yifei was beautiful, but after their will was rewritten, they might believe an ugly woman was beautiful—and that Liu Yifei was ugly.
The greater the difference between someone's perceptions before and after, the easier it was to notice.
And the effect wasn't permanent. It could be undone, and the more likely the target was to notice something was wrong, the more likely they were to break free.
It could be maintained if Shisui kept using it privately over a long period, but if something unexpected happened, it might well wear off.
After hearing Gin out, Shisui began to doubt himself.
Was there really nothing I could do to change things?
Gin, meanwhile, let out a quiet sigh of relief. Now that he understood the details of Kotoamatsukami, he had at least found a way to guard against it.
Keeping a diary would do the trick. If he noticed a change in his own perception, he could find a way to undo it.
The best method would be to check security footage, but that wasn't widely available yet, so it wouldn't be much help.
"Shisui, do you lean more toward the village or your clan?"
Gin asked him.
"I hope to be a bridge between the village and the Uchiha. I want both sides to live in peace."
Shisui answered seriously.
Hmph. Hokage thinking.
Gin grumbled inwardly.
Naruto was the kind of guy who'd been brainwashed by the Will of Fire. Shisui, and Itachi later on, were different: they always considered the bigger picture. That way of thinking was known as the Hokage mindset—supposedly, putting the greater good first.
"Would you be willing to fall into darkness and sacrifice everything for that?"
Gin asked.
"Even if I have to fall into darkness, I'm willing to sacrifice everything if it can bring peace between the village and my clan!"
Shisui nodded and answered solemnly.
He could sense that Gin had a plan. Gin was his mentor in life.
"I have an idea, but you'll have to become a rogue ninja and join an organization..."
Gin thought it over. He might as well send this guy with the Hokage mindset away for a while.
In this life, Itachi wouldn't become a rogue ninja, so Shisui could take on that role instead.
He could also keep an eye on Obito and confirm what Black Zetsu was up to. And since Danzo would be out there too, Shisui could cause him some trouble. All of that would be a good thing.
That way, when it came time to get things done, Shisui wouldn't suddenly have a fit of Hokage thinking and start an internal feud. That would be ridiculous.
False Peace and Shisui's Resolve
"So this organization called Akatsuki—is it really possible that Uchiha Madara is hiding there?"
Shisui asked.
He wasn't about to become a rogue ninja just because Gin said so. He needed to learn more about the situation first.
Gin explained the situation with Akatsuki to Shisui.
It was an organization made up of rogue ninjas, with Uchiha Madara lurking in the shadows.
Becoming a rogue ninja would also put pressure on Konoha's High Command. A Mangekyō Sharingan wielder operating outside the village would be a significant threat to them.
As long as they couldn't be sure they could deal with the situation perfectly, Konoha would be much more hesitant to move against the Uchiha.
"Mm. I wasn't making things up when I gave you that information."
"That organization called Akatsuki really is suspicious. It's made up of rogue ninjas from the major villages. They're not just mercenaries."
"But once you go rogue, your clan will have a hard time helping you. The Uchiha have no influence outside the village, so you'll have to rely on yourself. You'll also need to investigate Shimura Danzō. It's a heavy burden."
Gin continued.
If he could have a Sixth, he'd definitely support Shisui. But for now, he might as well go out and have some fun.
"I understand. This organization really is dangerous."
"Should I defect right away?"
Shisui accepted Gin's explanation.
Akatsuki was dangerous, and his being outside the village really could ease the pressure on the Uchiha from Konoha's High Command.
"I know you care more about the safety of the whole village. I can promise you that after you become a rogue ninja, the Uchiha Clan won't be the ones to start a civil war."
"Even if they're fighting for their own interests, they'll follow the village's rules."
Gin gave Shisui his word.
But he knew Sarutobi Hiruzen would be the first to lose patience when the time came, so making that promise didn't trouble him at all.
"Thank you!"
Shisui was moved.
He could tell Gin was being honest with him.
At last, there was some hope that all his efforts might pay off.
"If you're going to defect, fight me first."
"I'll tell everyone you awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan and learned that Uchiha Madara had a Mangekyō Sharingan with no drawbacks. You stole another pair of Mangekyō Sharingan to get it, then ambushed me to take mine."
Gin explained the cover story he'd come up with for Shisui.
The best haul would come from defecting after stealing the Scroll of Seals, but Shisui obviously wouldn't do something like that.
A defection needed a plausible excuse. Coveting forbidden jutsu was one thing, but seeking power by taking someone's Mangekyō was just as believable. Assassinating the Hokage would also work, but that would inflame tensions, so it wasn't suitable.
"Is that method real?"
Shisui looked shocked when he heard Gin's explanation.
"No. That method only works if two brothers both awaken the Mangekyō. Otherwise, why would Uchiha Madara be the only one in the whole clan's history?"
"Once you're in Akatsuki, if you run into Uchiha Madara, you can use that story too."
Gin explained the details.
Aside from Gin, the person in the clan who knew the most about the First Hokage Cells was Uchiha Itachi. Even Fugaku only knew part of the story.
He only knew they were working with Orochimaru to find a way to cure the Mangekyo Bloodline Disease. He didn't know the details.
It wasn't the kind of information they could spread widely. Gin didn't believe Shisui was the clan's only spy, and letting the secret out would give the Uchiha Clan a shot in the arm.
Then they might really think they were invincible and start a fight before they were ready. That would be a problem.
"I see!"
Shisui committed the information to memory.
He wouldn't need it himself, but he still had to remember the story for the act he'd be putting on later.
"If you're really going to leave, take care of your personal matters first. It'll be hard to come back once you're gone."
Gin added.
He'd considered coming up with a cover story for Itachi, but without killing Shisui—or going after Sasuke and his parents—there was basically no chance Itachi would awaken the Mangekyō.
So there was no need.
"Mm, I understand."
"Before I defect, I'll use Kotoamatsukami on the Third Hokage and make him focus on Akatsuki, putting the Uchiha Clan on the back burner. That should at least ease some of the pressure on everyone."
Shisui took a deep breath and made up his mind.
He was going to use Kotoamatsukami on the Third Hokage.
It was a difficult decision for him. He'd been taught to be loyal to the Hokage all his life. He never thought he'd turn against the Third Hokage.
Even if he was only changing the priority of one matter, it was still a genuine betrayal. That made becoming a rogue ninja seem only right.
"I'll do everything I can to stop the clan from 'starting' a conflict."
Gin gave his word once more.
Shisui nodded, then left.
Gin watched him go.
"Show me how determined you are, Shisui."
Gin wouldn't trust him completely until he'd truly left.
The information Gin had revealed today wasn't confidential, so there was no need to worry about exposing anything.
Back when the Uchiha Clan was wiped out, Shisui had played a significant part in it and had deeply influenced Itachi. Gin couldn't afford not to be cautious.
What if Shisui had a sudden fit of Hokage thinking?
It was easier to predict someone who was selfish and had personal ambitions.
Gin admired people who were so selfless, but he didn't want one on his side.
Gin didn't tell Fugaku about the plan he'd discussed with Shisui.
He didn't want Fugaku's performance to seem insincere later.
These past few days, the Uchiha had walked around with their heads held high. Shimura Danzō, that annoying pest, had been driven out, and everyone was delighted.
And with Hyuga Himon taking the fall and handling the tasks in the "city management" department, they didn't have to put up with nearly as much abuse.
The Uchiha Restaurant had also become a hit.
Delicious food spoke for itself, and there were plenty of wealthy people in Konoha. There were roughly ten civilians for every ninja.
Although the Uchiha Restaurant's prices were high—thirty percent higher than those at the Yakiniku Restaurant, Konoha's most popular dining spot—plenty of people still came.
Gin dropped by whenever he had time. He also insisted that everyone in the clan pay their bills instead of running up a tab.
No one in Konoha dared to run up a tab on Uchiha turf, so money poured in. Their monthly earnings were already comparable to what several Jonin made from missions.
Soon, it was time for the Uchiha Clan's monthly meeting.
That afternoon, at the Hokage Building, Sarutobi Hiruzen summoned Shisui.
"Does the Uchiha Clan still feel a strong sense of resentment?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen asked.
Shisui could feel that the Third Hokage's attitude had changed greatly. His usual warmth seemed to have vanished.
"No. Everyone was happy when Lord Danzo was listed as a wanted criminal."
"And new things keep appearing within the clan. Everyone cares more about Captain Gin's opinion. He wants us to diversify and not fixate on the Military Police Force as our only role."
Shisui knelt with his head bowed as he answered Sarutobi Hiruzen.
As he lowered his head, Shisui activated his Mangekyō Sharingan.
A Susanoo Showdown?
"What do you think of Uchiha Gin?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen furrowed his brow.
He had clearly noticed that the Uchiha Clan was changing for the better.
Before you continue