Shisui Is Given a New Mission, Joins the Anbu!

"..."

Shisui was instantly choked up. After a long silence, he nodded forcefully and gritted his teeth. "Although our ideals differ and Yan has many misunderstandings about me, I have to admit that his proposal is right. It may add some expenses, but it can save the Uchiha and the Police Department a lot of trouble."

"And what about the Dove Faction?"

Fugaku continued questioning him.

Shisui himself was one of the Dove Faction's leading figures.

Now, the Dove Faction's position within the Uchiha clan could not have been more awkward.

Though they had not quite become rats scurrying across the street, they were not much better off.

Fugaku wanted to know whether Shisui, as a member of the Dove Faction, harbored any resentment toward Yan, seeing as Yan had caused all this.

Another deadly, heart-piercing question. Fugaku was relentlessly stomping on Shisui's sore spots.

Shisui remained silent for a moment.

"At present, it seems he is right. I also believe that everything he has done is for the Uchiha. If doing this can make the clan better and reduce its conflicts with the village, then I would rather see the Dove Faction disappear from the clan."

After thinking for a long time, Shisui gave a fair answer that favored neither side.

Even though these matters had put him through hell, Shisui did not let his personal feelings lead him to target Yan.

Even though Yan had attacked the elder Shisui respected most and berated him viciously, Shisui had not allowed personal emotions to influence him.

"If..."

Fugaku's gaze remained calm, but the words he spoke made Shisui leap to his feet.

"If... his goal is not limited to that, but he wants to sit in my position and control the entire Uchiha?"

"..."

Shisui suddenly had the urge to dig at his ears. He suspected he had misheard, or perhaps he was hallucinating, which was why he had heard such earth-shattering words.

Shisui was completely dumbfounded, as if struck by lightning. His head buzzed nonstop.

"Clan Head, I don't think Yan would have the nerve to be that ambitious. He probably... isn't..."

Shisui was so flustered that he did not even know what he was saying. He gave a dry laugh as he spoke, trying to ease the strange atmosphere.

"No. He does."

Fugaku's tone was utterly certain, making it clear that he was not joking.

"Judging from his series of actions, his next step will be to target the Hardline Faction and gradually dismantle its members. He has already laid a solid foundation. Many young people in the clan will gradually come to support him because of what he has done."

"When the time is right, he will be able to gradually break apart the Hardline Faction and ultimately unite the clan's strength."

"Shisui, when that time comes, what do you think Uchiha Yan will do next?"

"..."

Shisui felt like his mind had exploded.

Fugaku continued as if nothing had happened.

"At that point, I will be the stumbling block in his path.

"If he wants to control all of the Uchiha's strength, he can only remove me, that stumbling block.

"When all the clan's power is gathered in his hands, do you think I will still be able to remain in the clan head's seat?"

"I'll stop him."

Shisui rose anxiously. He wanted to find Yan and demand an explanation.

If Yan's ambitions were truly that great, he had to stop him, even if it meant using Kotoamatsukami on him.

"Sit down!"

Fugaku's voice drifted over. Shisui, who had just stood up, seemed to have been struck by an immobilizing technique. His body stiffened for several seconds before he sat back down dejectedly.

After reprimanding Shisui, Fugaku slowly refilled his teacup and savored it carefully.

"I did not tell you this so you could stop him.

"Shisui, although the clan has many misunderstandings about you, I still trust you. I believe in you."

"Clan Head, what do you want me to do?"

Shisui lowered his head, gritting his teeth.

Fugaku's words were astonishing.

"Join the Anbu. When necessary, give the village some of the clan's intelligence, but at the same time, secretly offer Yan some help. As long as he follows the steps I have laid out, do not obstruct him in any way."

Shisui raised his head in disbelief.

"Wh... why?"

Shisui swallowed with difficulty, unable to believe the clan head would say such a thing.

To Shisui, who held an extremely rigid view of hierarchy, it was no different from the sky collapsing.

"Because when that day truly comes, it will no longer matter who becomes the clan head. What matters is that the Uchiha will rise again."

A rare look of excitement appeared in Fugaku's eyes, and it felt as though Shisui's heart had been struck heavily by a hammer.

This secret meeting did not last long.

When it was all over, Shisui was still in a daze.

Everything felt like a dream.

Sitting atop a utility pole in the clan grounds, Shisui was like a ghost in the darkness, blending into the night as he quietly let the cool night breeze wash over him, trying to clear his mind.

But Fugaku's every word lingered in his heart. Everything told him that this was no dream. It was all real.

After sitting there for who knew how long, Shisui finally sorted through the tangled emotions in his heart and returned home.

Many matters awaited him tomorrow, along with all the trouble involved in joining the Anbu.

A new day arrived, but Yan was kept in the office, no longer even assigned patrol duties.

Izumi, who had just joined the Police Department, also found herself with little to do. She took on the role of Yan's little secretary, serving tea, delivering water, cleaning, and organizing documents.

Yan had grown accustomed to having a group of hot-tempered rough men around him. With a girl suddenly appearing and keeping everything in perfect order, he found himself somewhat unaccustomed to it.

Being unable to go out meant that, for the time being, he could not stake out Sasuke and Naruto.

Sasuke was manageable. If he was lucky, he might run into him on his way to school.

But as for Naruto, Yan truly had no way to approach him.

Given how closely the higher-ups were watching him now, using his cheat ability on Naruto would not be easy.

Copy.

Since he had not used today's copy opportunity yet, Yan simply used it on Izumi.

Copy successful. Obtained a portion of Sharingan ocular power. Fuse?

What Yan had not expected was that Izumi gave him a pleasant surprise. The copy reward was actually a portion of Sharingan ocular power!

Yan had long figured out the patterns of his cheat ability.

With good luck, he could obtain rewards such as mental power or ocular power. With exceptionally good luck, he could obtain Indra Chakra, Asura Chakra, and the like.

When his luck was poor, he would receive training and usage experience for ninjutsu, taijutsu, or swordsmanship.

The rewards also varied in quantity.

"A small amount" meant very little, while "a portion" meant more.

Most importantly, the greater the potential of the copied target, the better the rewards he could receive.

Just from the reward, one could tell how great Izumi's potential was.