Tricking Shisui

Having arrived in Konoha ahead of schedule, Uchiha Shisui did not remain idle while waiting for the right moment. He spent his days wandering the streets and alleys of Konoha, appearing leisurely while secretly gathering all manner of intelligence.

As the day of Kushina's labor drew near, security in Konoha grew increasingly stringent. Anbu ninjas patrolled with hurried steps and vigilant eyes, as if the entire village were shrouded in an invisible, tense atmosphere.

On this day, Shisui stepped into the newly opened Ichiraku Ramen and ordered a bowl of their signature ramen. Just as he began to eat, a conversation from outside suddenly piqued his interest.

"Itachi, how about we go practice Shuriken tonight?"

The voice was crisp and bright, carrying a hint of enthusiasm and anticipation.

Shisui lifted his gaze slightly, looking through the gap in the ramen shop's curtain. He saw Shisui Uchiha looking at Itachi Uchiha beside him with a smile.

"Shisui-san, my apologies," Itachi's voice was calm and gentle. "If I go back too late, Sasuke will cry and make a fuss."

His eyes revealed a trace of helplessness, yet they were filled with doting affection for his younger brother.

"Alright," Shisui laughed and patted Itachi on the shoulder. "Itachi, you must take good care of your brother."

After watching Itachi Uchiha depart, Shisui seemed to notice something. He suddenly looked toward a hidden mark on a street pillar.

A flash of realization crossed his eyes, and with a stir in his heart, he instantly activated his Body Flicker technique. Like a bolt of black lightning, he sped toward a forest, leaving behind only the fallen leaves stirred up by the gust of wind.

In a deserted training ground within the forest, sunlight filtered through the gaps in the lush foliage, casting mottled shadows.

Shisui Uchiha walked with steady steps, treading carefully with every movement as he entered this seemingly ordinary patch of woods.

His eyes flashed with a vigilant light, ready at any moment to deal with potential danger.

"Who are you? Why do you have the secret code of Uchiha Shisui?"

Shisui's voice was clear and cold, his gaze locked tightly onto the mysterious figure in a black robe with red clouds, who stood with his back to him.

At this moment, his muscles were tense, and chakra circulated quietly within his body, prepared to launch an attack or defense at any second.

"Shisui, it has been a long time. I want to see how much of my will you have inherited."

The figure turned slowly, and a familiar voice emerged from his lips, carrying a trace of the vicissitudes of time and an elusive quality.

"Shisui-san! You..."

Shisui was filled with shock. Before he could finish his sentence, he saw Shisui's hand move rapidly with a Kunai, carrying biting killing intent as he attacked him like a bolt of black lightning.

Shisui reacted with incredible speed, instantly activating his Body Flicker technique. With a "whoosh," his body turned into an afterimage. Immediately following, two identical Shisui clones split off, each holding a short blade, hacking toward Shisui from the left and right with fierce momentum.

Their movements were perfectly synchronized, their eyes filled with determination.

"It seems the reputation of Body Flicker Shisui is not false. Even I cannot see through these clones."

Shisui muttered to himself, a flash of surprise and admiration crossing his eyes.

He quickly turned to the side, nimbly dodging the incoming short blades, while simultaneously thrusting his Kunai into the body of one of the Shisui clones with lightning speed.

However, the next second, the struck Shisui dissipated like a phantom.

Shisui felt a stir in his heart and quickly retreated, putting distance between himself and Shisui. Shisui stood his ground, choosing not to continue the attack.

His gaze remained fixed on Shisui. By now, he had clearly seen the other man's face and confirmed that the person before him was indeed Shisui.

Since that was the case, there was no need for this meaningless fight to continue.

"Shisui-san, I have inherited your will, but I have also inherited the Will of Fire. And why would you defect from Konoha?"

Shisui frowned, his eyes full of confusion, wanting to hear the answer from this very source.

"Shisui, you are still too naive."

Shisui shook his head gently, his tone carrying an unquestionable certainty.

"Inheriting both wills simultaneously is unfeasible. The prerequisite for making the entire Shinobi World a giant Konoha is that one must first leave Konoha. Only by using external forces to shatter the old order can a new one be established; that is why I left. Furthermore, Konoha's wariness toward the Uchiha clan is deepening by the day. The many ninja clans within Konoha alone would never allow you to use the village's power to conquer the Shinobi World; they each have their own agendas and their own interests."

Shisui took a step forward, his eyes seemingly seeing through everything.

"I have come this time to resolve some trouble first. Once I have finished my business, you will leave with me."

With that, Uchiha Shisui looked at the Uchiha Shisui before him, wanting to see what choice he would make.

After listening, Shisui fell into a long silence.

He lowered his head in contemplation, his mind constantly replaying Shisui's words. The beliefs and ideas he had previously held so firmly now seemed riddled with holes under this explanation.

He knew well that although the Fourth Hokage was powerful and wise, the task of unifying the Shinobi World into a giant Konoha using only the power of the village was indeed fraught with difficulties—an almost impossible mission to complete.

Thinking of this, a flash of resolve crossed Uchiha Shisui's eyes. He nodded heavily and said, "Very well, Shisui-san, I will go with you."

Shisui looked at the youth before him and nodded with satisfaction. He felt secretly smug; it was worth the massive amount of energy he had spent years ago instilling his ideology into Shisui. These seemingly profound theories were easy to use to hoodwink this naive child. Everything was moving in the direction he had hoped for.

Seeing that the matter was settled, a satisfied, faint smile appeared on Uchiha Shisui's face. He raised his hand and patted Shisui's shoulder heavily, saying:

"Go and accept a mission to leave the village today. Konoha won't be peaceful lately. Once I finish what I have on hand, we will leave together."

Uchiha Shisui took a deep breath, nodded with a grave expression, and then turned, walking with firm steps toward the place where missions were assigned.

The afterglow of the setting sun elongated his silhouette, resembling a paper cutout, signaling that he was about to bid farewell to his past identity.

Uchiha Shisui stood silently in place, watching Shisui depart until his figure vanished at the edge of his vision. Only then did he turn abruptly, unleashing the Body Flicker Technique to disappear like a phantom, leaving behind only faint ripples of chakra in the air.

The mountains behind Konoha were shrouded in silence.

Obito remained hidden within the shadows, his movements practiced as he bent down to wrap iron chains around his wrists.

Sensing someone approaching from behind, he did not turn around, merely speaking slowly: "The Nine-Tails Jinchuriki will give birth tonight. Act according to the situation when the time comes."

"Most of the ninjas mobilized by Konoha recently have been sent to that barrier; such a blatant move is clearly intended to lure us into a trap. However, these petty tricks cannot deceive me. I know exactly where the birth will take place, and for that, I have Kakashi to thank."

Obito let out a cold snort and pulled his black hood low, obscuring most of his face. The iron chains in his hands clattered against one another, the metallic rattling sounding jarringly loud in the quiet forest.

He lifted his head, his eyes glinting with a cold, murderous light as he stared fixedly at the vast and peaceful Konoha. That place was about to become the primary battlefield for his plan.