Danzo's Ambition!

A dark night with a high moon!

The hazy sky was draped in thick, dark clouds, yet a bright, clear moon pierced through the night, casting its light upon a thin, tall utility pole.

Perhaps because he had not been exposed to the light for so long, Uchiha Shisui, who was perched atop the pole, felt his face tremble slightly. But the tremor lasted only a moment before his expression returned to its usual, deathly stillness.

However...

Thump-thump! Thump-thump! Thump-thump...

Although there was no outward sign of anything unusual, the rapid, pounding rhythm of his heart betrayed that he was not as calm as he appeared.

"For the sake of the village and the Uchiha, I have no other choice!"

The blade-like Mangekyo Sharingan slowly rotated within Shisui's eye sockets, and the capillaries in his eyes swelled with blood, causing the whites to vanish bit by bit...

Finally!

Uchiha Shisui closed his eyes in slight pain, and when he opened them again, they had completely returned to normal.

Ever since he witnessed Jin leading the Uchiha clan into a complete fallout with Sarutobi Hiruzen and the other high-ranking officials of Konoha, Shisui had known clearly that the clan and the village were teetering on a dangerous edge.

Impeaching the Hokage!

It was an act that had thoroughly offended the Third Hokage, a man who had once uttered the precious words, "The village trusts the Uchiha," while simultaneously pushing the Uchiha clan into direct opposition with Sarutobi Hiruzen.

And then there was that man, Danzo...

In Shisui's mind, the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, was the very embodiment of the Will of Fire; how could he be so incompetent? It was clear that behind all of this, the black sheep Shimura Danzo was pulling the strings.

The Hokage... the Hokage was merely... burdened by his sentiments...

But regardless of what had happened in the past, the village and the clan were now on the brink of destruction. Realizing he had to do something, Shisui decisively followed Sarutobi Hiruzen's hint and quietly slipped away from the Uchiha clan's barbecue gathering.

It was just...

Why had Jin's gaze been so meaningful before he left?

But none of that mattered now!

Recalling how Danzo had raged in the Hokage Building, constantly accusing the Uchiha and frantically trying to incite a war between the clan and the village, Shisui could barely suppress the sea of killing intent rising in his heart.

Yet, his heart was filled with the Will of Fire, which allowed him to suppress that impulse with great difficulty.

Furthermore, by proactively revealing his Mangekyo Sharingan and his ocular jutsu, he could finally secure a glimmer of hope for peace between the clan and the village.

That was right.

Although he knew that under Jin's series of heavy blows, Sarutobi Hiruzen had temporarily lost the ability to mobilize all of Konoha's forces against the Uchiha.

And that so-called impeachment of the Hokage, along with the push for Uchiha Fugaku to become a candidate for Hokage—these things looked like they could create a harmonious future.

But Shisui knew these were nothing more than fragile bubbles. Even if they appeared beautiful and alluring, they would only lead to two outcomes.

The destruction of the Uchiha!

Or the mutual annihilation of the Uchiha and the village!

These were outcomes Shisui could never accept, but the situation had spiraled beyond his individual control, even with a pair of Mangekyo that made everyone fear him...

Therefore.

Shisui was gambling!

If the clan could compromise, then the Hokage, who had once spoken the essence of the Will of Fire—"The village trusts the Uchiha"—would surely be able to mend the relationship between the village and the clan.

Recalling the Third Hokage's trembling hands upon his shoulders and that firm, "trusting" gaze, Shisui believed he could not be wrong about the man.

Under the illumination of the Will of Fire, the Hokage would surely guide the clan and the village toward a path of greater harmony.

Therefore!

"Clan Leader, forgive me!"

As the last shred of hesitation in his heart was severed, the blade-like Mangekyo Sharingan manifested once more in his eye sockets.

Swish!

As Shisui's phantom image dissipated into the air, dozens of kunai embedded themselves deep into the utility pole from various, tricky angles.

Easily dodging all the kunai, Shisui solidified his form once more, standing before several Root ninja clad in black cloaks and animal masks.

"Lord Danzo, what do you want with me?"

Shisui ignored the Root ninja, who held kunai with cold, murderous intent, and instead looked toward the figure slowly emerging from the darkness behind them.

"As expected of the Mangekyo Sharingan!"

As Danzo spoke slowly, two shadows suddenly appeared at Shisui's sides.

Clang! Clang!

As two shuriken struck toward his vitals, Shisui, not knowing Danzo's true goal and unwilling to kill, could only fight while retreating, using his pride-and-joy Phantom Body Flicker Technique to dance through the narrow street.

"Body Flicker Shisui, is it? Such fast phantoms."

As the figure emerging from the dark woods was fully illuminated by the moonlight, Shimura Danzo—his right eye bandaged, his right arm in a sling, looking like a frail, elderly invalid—finally spoke again.

"Stand down!"

Following Danzo's order, the Root members who had been ambushing Uchiha Shisui finally ceased their assault, once again silently retreating into the dark corners.

"Danzo, what exactly are you trying to do?"

At this moment, Uchiha Shisui was growing impatient; he truly wished he could just cut down this fool who kept stirring up trouble.

However, due to the special relationship between Danzo and the Third Hokage, coupled with the delicate situation between the Uchiha Clan and the Hokage's faction, Uchiha Shisui suppressed his urge to strike at Danzo.

Hmph!

I must teach Danzo a lesson when the opportunity arises, perhaps by trapping him in an infinite loop of genjutsu—the same humiliation of being trampled under Uchiha Jin's feet!

"The matter at hand is of great importance. How could this old man trust you to complete the mission without testing your abilities first?"

Danzo's face was filled with a condescending, authoritative air, and there was not a hint of apology in his tone; instead, the corners of his mouth curled into a sinister smile.

Foolish Uchiha!

To think you were so easily drained of a portion of your chakra. This foolish naivety will surely be a lesson you remember for the rest of your life.

"Did the Hokage send you to assist me?"

A flicker of hesitation appeared in Uchiha Shisui's eyes, but recalling that Danzo had also been at the Hokage Building at the time, he felt it was not entirely impossible.

Danzo did not answer the question, however. Instead, he slowly walked up to Uchiha Shisui, his single left eye narrowing slightly to scrutinize the man before him before he continued slowly.

"If you were to strike at Uchiha Fugaku, manipulating the Uchiha Clan so they no longer harbor thoughts of a coup, yet the village refuses to change its treatment of the Uchiha Clan..."

As he said this, Danzo stared fixedly at Uchiha Shisui, revealing a cruel smile like a vulture eyeing a piece of carrion.

"What would you do then?"

This sudden question from Danzo made Uchiha Shisui's heart tremble; it was a question he had always wanted to avoid but could not escape.

But recalling Sarutobi Hiruzen's hand resting on his shoulder—that trembling yet powerful hand—Uchiha Shisui gritted his teeth and answered firmly.

"The Third Hokage promised me that he would lead the village and the Uchiha toward peace!"

"Ridiculous."

Hearing such a naive answer, Danzo could not help but show a ruthless sneer, and Uchiha Shisui's naivety only strengthened his resolve to seize Kotoamatsukami.

The opposition between the Uchiha and Konoha was merely a matter of time.

Even if he controlled Uchiha Fugaku, it would only buy a little more time. The evil Uchiha were beyond saving; total eradication was the only optimal choice for Konoha.

Therefore.

Use Kotoamatsukami to control Fugaku?

What use was there in controlling such a weak, indecisive man? How could Shimura Danzo accept such a waste of a divine gift?

One had to realize that such a great power, capable of manipulating hearts and rewriting wills, could only reach its full potential under the command of the "Darkness of the Ninja World"!

And as long as he, Shimura Danzo, could obtain this power, it would be equivalent to possessing the qualifications to control Konoha and the entire ninja world. He would lead Konoha to its true peak.

As long as he could control...

Sarutobi Hiruzen!