Should We Find Shisui a Girlfriend?

Before long, more than half a month had passed.

During that time, Konoha had been shrouded in a strange atmosphere. Anbu agents were conducting investigations in the village from time to time, making it clear to nearly everyone that the Third Hokage really was looking into the matter.

A notice from the Hokage Office also temporarily quelled the rumors in Konoha.

On the third day after the notice was issued, the Uchiha put up a recruitment notice outside the Police Force Building, using the momentum to recruit people into the Police Force.

Hayato had no idea what Fugaku had said to the Third Hokage. In any case, ever since the notice went up, civilian ninja and members of several small, declining clans had come to apply.

Hayato had Shisui and the others carefully vet each applicant before bringing them in.

"You mean someone's been approaching you, trying to get you to join Anbu?"

Inside the Police Force Building, Hayato had just finished interviewing a group of applicants with Shisui. They'd returned to their private room, and Shisui had just told him about it.

"Yeah. It's just that those people didn't really seem like Anbu."

Shisui scratched his head, sounding unsure.

"Have you forgotten? The ones who stopped us that night and tried to take you away?" Hayato suddenly realized, then spoke up.

"You mean Root?" Shisui blinked, then his expression darkened. "Didn't the Third Hokage order Danzo to stay home and reflect on his actions?"

The notice from the Hokage Office confirmed that everything previously said about the Uchiha had been nothing but rumors. Danzo's punishment was to remain at home for the time being and step down from his position on the Council of Elders.

"Come on. Just because they said it, you actually believe it? Don't get your hopes up about Danzo listening."

Hayato unrolled a scroll, not even looking up as he spoke. "This is just one of the measures the Third Hokage took to keep Konoha from tearing itself apart right now. Kumogakure has recently started launching small-scale raids along the border again."

"At a time like this, Konoha still needs the clans to help mobilize supplies for the front lines."

After the Nine-Tails Incident two years ago, the Fourth Hokage, Namikaze Minato, had died in battle. Kumogakure had immediately taken advantage of the chaos to invade the border, and war had broken out.

But the attacks had all been small-scale, so Konoha had merely stretched the front and continued to wear down Kumogakure, while keeping an eye out for other villages.

For now, there hadn't been any major battles.

Still, Hayato paused as he looked at the scroll. He figured it wouldn't be long.

There should be a battle soon that would inflict heavy losses on Kumogakure, prompting them to seek peace and sign a treaty with Konoha.

In other words, Hyuga Neji's tragedy was about to begin.

"You mean a battle might break out at the front?" Shisui frowned. "Should we tell..."

"Shisui, don't be foolish." Hayato looked straight at him. "First of all, this is only my guess. And do you really think Konoha doesn't already know? Any news from the border is relayed to the village as quickly as possible."

"If you went and reported it now, what would you be trying to say?"

Shisui froze when Hayato cut him off. A cold sweat broke out across his face.

"Looks like you understand now."

"The village's distrust of the Uchiha is etched into its bones. Even if the Third Hokage doesn't want things between Konoha and the Uchiha to stay so strained, he can't stop it. All he can do right now is maintain stability."

"Prejudice is a mountain in people's hearts. Besides, you're an Uchiha. If you went there to explain things under these circumstances, the Council of Elders—or even the Hokage—would only think the Uchiha had informants on the border too."

"What do you think would happen to the Uchiha if they really believed that?"

Hayato's words made Shisui think hard. A chill ran down his spine, and after a long moment, he let out a heavy breath. "I was too naive."

"Don't overthink it, and don't think too highly of yourself. You're an Uchiha first, and a shinobi of Konoha second."

Hayato patted Shisui on the shoulder. "Our priority now is still to handle our own affairs. The Police Force's friendly patrols have already started to make a difference."

Hearing that, Shisui smiled. He'd always hoped that the clan could reconcile with Konoha.

No one had been willing to accept his earlier approach, but the clan was actually willing to carry out Hayato's plan.

"Don't celebrate too soon. We still have a long way to go. The clan agreed because I revealed my Mangekyo. If anything happens, it could bring this whole process to a halt."

Hayato shook his head, warning Shisui not to get ahead of himself.

"What do you mean?"

Shisui blinked, not quite understanding.

"You've probably learned a little about what kind of person Danzo is, besides what I've told you, right?" Hayato said quietly.

Shisui froze, recalling what he'd heard.

Danzo had been the Third Hokage's teammate before he became Hokage. They'd grown up together and had both been disciples of the Second Hokage. He had an extreme personality.

That was what some of the clan's older members had told Shisui. They'd also said that Danzo had always hated and distrusted the Uchiha.

"Last time, he sent people to stop us and try to bring you in. Now he's using Anbu as a cover to invite you. I think he must have figured something out." Hayato rubbed his chin.

Most likely, Danzo suspected that Shisui had awakened the Mangekyo.

Otherwise, he wouldn't be so fixated on Shisui. First he'd sent people to intercept him, and now he was pretending to be Anbu to invite him over. He was probably trying to confirm his suspicions.

If Shisui really went, there'd be no hiding the Mangekyo.

"If something happens to you, the clan leader and I won't be able to hold back the clan members once they go berserk."

"That can't be right. I've never shown my abilities, and you're the only one in the clan who knows." Shisui sounded uncertain.

"Nothing's impossible. These people are old foxes who've lived through several shinobi wars. They've seen and heard more than we have." Hayato dismissed Shisui's hopeful thinking. He'd come to that conclusion after what happened last time.

Compared to them, he and Shisui were still too green.

He might have the natural advantage of knowing the story, but that didn't mean he could blindly act on that knowledge.

Maybe, in their eyes, everything he'd done so far was nothing more than a child's game. But so what?

In the Ninja World, strength was what mattered.

If our methods weren't good enough, we'd rely on our strength instead.

"From now on, don't go wandering around on your own. Stay here in the Police Force Building when you're supposed to, and I'll go with you when you head home."

"Understood."

Shisui nodded, though his expression still wasn't entirely relaxed.

"All right, why are you worrying so much?" Hayato grumbled, patting Shisui on the head. "I'm only telling you this to keep you alert, not to make you fret over things you can't control."

"You and I share the same goal, and we're teammates who can rely on each other. If you keep acting like this, how are we supposed to handle everything that comes next?"

Hayato's words moved Shisui. He and Hayato hadn't exactly gotten off to a friendly start, but over time they'd come to share the same goal.

"I'm sorry, Hayato. I'll try to change," Shisui promised solemnly.

"Good. Let's work hard together. Only by continuing to move forward can we reach our goal." Hayato was quite pleased that Shisui was willing to listen to him.

The Uchiha had plenty of flaws, but they all shared one trait: once they accepted someone, they'd even entrust that person with their life.

Still, Shisui's gaze seemed a little too intense. Hayato hurriedly picked up the scroll in his hands, wondering if he should find Shisui a girlfriend.