After Shisui arrived at the Hokage Building, he came clean to the Third Hokage and the other members of the High Command about what his Mangekyō Sharingan could do.
When they learned that Kotoamatsukami could rewrite another person's will, turning them into a puppet to be controlled, the Third Hokage and the other senior officials couldn't help feeling deeply wary of Shisui.
After all, Kotoamatsukami was far too powerful. No one could help fearing that they might be controlled.
And to an ambitious man, the ability to control another person's will was far too tempting.
As Danzo listened to Shisui explain his ability, a glint flashed in his eyes—the unmistakable look of someone consumed by greed.
At the same time, he burned with anger that Shisui had hidden his Mangekyō Sharingan from him.
Shisui was a member of Root, after all. As its leader, Danzo expected him to report any important information to him first.
If he'd known from the start that Shisui had awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan, it would've been much easier to make his plans.
Instead, things had become public knowledge. It would be much harder to make a move against Shisui now—but that wouldn't stop him.
After Shisui left, the senior officials in the room began discussing what to do with him.
"What is there to discuss? We all saw the Nine-Tails being controlled by the Sharingan that night. Shisui is a prime suspect. I propose we take him into custody and interrogate him."
After Danzo finished speaking, the two elders, Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura, didn't object outright.
It wasn't that they thought Shisui was a suspect. They were simply deeply wary of his Kotoamatsukami, and instinctively felt that a dangerous person like him needed to be kept under strict control.
They couldn't risk being turned into puppets without even realizing it. That would be disastrous.
Shisui could hardly have imagined that if he'd only admitted to awakening the Mangekyō Sharingan without revealing his Dojutsu, Danzo and the other Konoha leaders would still have feared him—but they wouldn't be so eager to get rid of him.
After all, Shisui had recently distinguished himself by driving back the Fourth Raikage. It was one thing not to reward him; moving to kill the goose that laid the golden eggs so quickly was too much even for old political hands like Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura.
But since Danzo was willing to take the blame and play the villain, they had no reason to object. Their silence amounted to tacit approval of his proposal.
Danzo was naturally delighted to see things go this way. With the other two senior officials on his side, surely Sarutobi Hiruzen would have no choice but to yield on this matter.
Once he captured Shisui and took his Mangekyō Sharingan, he'd have Kotoamatsukami at his disposal, and the hope of Konoha's revival would rest on his shoulders. Then he could make Konoha great again.
Yes, everything he was doing was for the village—not because he coveted the power of the Mangekyō Sharingan or anything like that.
Danzo kept brainwashing himself, growing ever more determined to make a move against Shisui.
But after smoking for a while with a furrowed brow, the Third Hokage shook his head at Danzo's proposal.
"Shisui was willing to tell us about his Dojutsu. That shows his heart is still with the village. He is a successor to the Will of Fire.
"Don't forget, he is Kagami's descendant. I believe he'll be like Kagami, seeing beyond the interests of the clans and becoming a true member of the village.
"So we can't act recklessly when it comes to Shisui."
Seeing the Third Hokage reject his proposal, Danzo grew anxious.
"You can't judge a book by its cover. How do you know what he's really thinking beneath that facade?
"Don't forget what our teacher once said: the Uchiha Clan is a clan born evil, and those who awaken the cursed eyes of the Mangekyō Sharingan are the source of disaster.
"And he's only Kagami's descendant, not Kagami himself. As Hokage, how can you let sentiment cloud your judgment on such an important matter?"
They had once served under the Second Hokage Tobirama Senju alongside Kagami Uchiha, and Tobirama himself had acknowledged that Kagami's outlook went beyond that of a clan and that he was truly trustworthy.
But Danzo coveted the Sharingan of the Uchiha Clan. He wouldn't let that history keep him from going after Shisui.
It wasn't as if Shisui shared his bond with Kagami. And even if Kagami himself had awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan—and a godlike Dojutsu like Kotoamatsukami—Danzo believed he wouldn't hesitate to move against him. In fact, his teacher, Tobirama Senju, would probably have acted first.
The Uchiha Clan was born evil and had to be eliminated. Any Uchiha who awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan had to be dealt with as soon as possible.
Hiruzen was being indecisive over something this important. It seemed he'd forgotten their teacher's earnest lessons.
Teacher, if you can see this from beyond the grave, wouldn't this break your heart?
Hiruzen has betrayed your convictions. I, Danzo, am the true inheritor of your will. I'm the one who truly deserves to be Hokage!
Facing Danzo's near-challenge to his authority, the Third Hokage stood his ground.
"I'll handle Shisui myself. Without my orders, you are not to act on your own, Danzo. Otherwise, don't expect me to show any regard for our old friendship."
"Hiruzen, you're jeopardizing our chance to act. You're putting the village's safety in the hands of someone else's character. Such indecision is a profound disappointment..."
In response to Danzo's accusation, the Third Hokage slammed his hand on the table and cut him off.
"Enough, Danzo. Remember:
I'm the Hokage!
You don't get to tell me what to do."
When the Third Hokage used his position to put Danzo in his place, Danzo was both furious and anxious.
The Hokage. It was all because of the Hokage!
If he were in that position, he'd do a far better job.
Hiruzen no longer deserved to be Hokage. For the village's future, Danzo had to make plans as soon as possible.
Seeing Sarutobi Hiruzen and Danzo lose their tempers over how to handle Shisui, the two elders, Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura, stepped in to mediate.
The Council Elders existed to advise the Hokage—and, if necessary, keep the Hokage Position in check. They should have sided with Danzo.
But Hiruzen had now invoked the authority of the Hokage Position. A village couldn't function without a leader, and the Hokage's authority had to be upheld for the good of the village.
So, caught between Hiruzen and Danzo, the two elders had no choice but to publicly support the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, and try to talk Danzo down.
Seeing the Council Elders switch sides like weather vanes and back the Third Hokage again, Danzo could only think that these fools were impossible to work with.
He looked at the Third Hokage and the two elders and spoke in a low voice.
"One day, the decision you've made today will become the darkness of this village and bring it enormous losses.
"When that day comes, Hiruzen, you'll regret this..."