Danzo Prepares to Make His Move

The next day.

The atmosphere in Konoha had clearly become somewhat different.

Ordinary villagers might not have noticed anything.

But any ninja with even slightly sharp senses could detect that the undercurrents around the Uchiha Clan Grounds were accelerating.

The Police Force continued its regular patrols.

The Uchiha Clan members continued coming and going on schedule.

Along the Naka River, young clansmen continued training with shuriken and Fire Release.

Everything appeared no different from usual.

Yet the difference was hidden precisely within that "no difference."

Previously, the Uchiha Clan Grounds had been the side under surveillance.

ANBU stood at high places.

Root hid in the shadows.

The Uchiha Clan knew they were being watched, yet could only pretend not to see it.

But starting today, things had changed.

Several fixed surveillance points outside the clan grounds had all been secretly marked by the Uchiha Clan.

The ANBU shift-change times had been recorded by the Police Force under the pretext of "public security patrols."

Two of the hidden routes Root had once used had also been quietly sealed off by Uchiha Chuan and his men.

There was no conflict, but the people sent by Konoha's upper ranks to monitor the Uchiha Clan all clearly felt an indescribable discomfort.

It was as if they had once watched their prey from the shadows.

But when they looked up today, they found that the prey was watching them too.

At the edge of the Uchiha Clan Grounds.

An ANBU wearing a cat-faced mask stood atop a roof, his gaze sweeping over the distant street.

He appeared to be conducting ordinary surveillance.

But the next instant, his body suddenly stiffened slightly.

At the end of the street, a member of the Uchiha Police Force was looking up at him.

That Uchiha even took out a scroll and jotted down a few notes.

The cat-faced ANBU frowned slightly and flashed away, changing to another surveillance position.

Yet the moment he landed, another Uchiha Police Force member not far away casually turned his head.

And continued recording.

Cat-faced ANBU: "..."

He finally realized that the other side had not discovered him by chance.

They were conducting counter-surveillance.

Their ANBU operatives were actually being recorded as suspicious targets by the Uchiha Police Force!

It made him feel extremely uncomfortable.

They had always been the ones watching the Uchiha Clan.

Since when had it become the Uchiha Clan's turn to watch them?

Yet he could not make a fuss about it.

Because the Police Force had the authority to keep public security records.

They had not made a move. They were merely standing on the street, holding scrolls and writing a few notes.

What could he say?

Say that I'm secretly monitoring you, so you aren't allowed to notice me?

Wouldn't that expose himself?

The cat-faced ANBU felt utterly stifled and could only retreat silently.

In the distance, Uchiha Chuan watched the ANBU leave, a cold smile appearing at the corner of his mouth.

"You used to have a great time watching us, didn't you?"

"Now it's time for you to have a taste of what it feels like to be watched."

A young Uchiha beside him asked in a low voice:

"Brother Chuan, should we keep following him?"

Uchiha Chuan shook his head.

"No."

"You said not to press them too hard."

"It's enough to let them know we've noticed them."

"The real killing move isn't here."

The young Uchiha's eyes lit up.

"Does Lord You have another move prepared?"

Uchiha Chuan glanced at him.

"Don't ask."

"You only need to remember that from today on, we Uchiha are no longer blind."

The young Uchiha nodded heavily.

"Understood!"

Inside the clan grounds.

Shisui Uchiha stood in the courtyard, staring at the letter in his hand with a deeply furrowed brow.

The letter had been sent by Root.

Its contents were simple.

Shimura Danzō had asked him to meet at a secluded training ground outside the village at dusk.

The reason was:

To discuss the crisis between the Uchiha Clan and the village.

In the past, Shisui would not have hesitated at all.

Because he had always believed that as long as both sides could still talk, there was a possibility of a peaceful resolution.

But now, he hesitated.

Uchiha You's words were nailed into his mind like spikes.

"If Danzo asks to meet you alone, you must tell me."

"He wants your eyes."

Shisui instinctively raised a hand to touch his eyes.

Kotoamatsukami.

This was his greatest trump card.

It was also the power he had always believed could save both the Uchiha Clan and Konoha.

But what if Danzo had truly set his sights on these eyes?

Shisui closed his eyes.

He did not want to believe it.

But he could no longer completely disbelieve it.

Just then, a voice came from behind him.

"He invited you?"

Shisui spun around.

At some point, Uchiha You had appeared at the courtyard gate.

His arms were folded, his expression calm, as though he had long known this would happen.

After a moment of silence, Shisui handed him the letter.

Uchiha You took it and glanced over it, the corner of his mouth lifting slightly.

"He really is impatient."

Shisui asked:

"You knew already?"

Uchiha You said flatly:

"I told you, he couldn't hold himself back."

Shisui frowned.

"Maybe he just wants to talk."

Uchiha You gave him a look.

"Shisui, there's nothing wrong with you as a person."

"You just sometimes treat other people too much like people."

Shisui: "..."

Uchiha You put away the letter, his tone calm.

"You'll go."

Shisui froze.

"You want me to go?"

Uchiha You nodded.

"If you don't go, how will you make him bare his fangs?"

Shisui's expression changed.

"You, do you want to ambush Danzo?"

Uchiha You asked in return:

"Can't I?"

Shisui said gravely:

"Danzo is the Hokage Advisor, after all."

"If we attack him first, it'll completely confirm that the Uchiha Clan is in rebellion."

Hearing Shisui's words, Uchiha You could not help laughing.

"So we can't make the first move."

"We have to let him move first."

"Doesn't he want your eyes?"

"Then give him an opportunity."

Shisui's pupils contracted slightly.

He finally understood what Uchiha You intended to do.

Use him as bait.

Make Danzo reveal his intent to kill.

As long as Danzo made a move, the nature of the matter would change completely.

It would not be the Uchiha Clan attacking the Hokage Advisor.

It would be the Hokage Advisor attempting to seize an Uchiha clansman's Mangekyo Sharingan.

The difference between those two was as vast as heaven and earth.

Shisui remained silent for a long time.

"What if he doesn't make a move?"

Uchiha You said flatly:

"Then that would be best."

"It would mean I was wrong."

"It would mean Danzo still has a bit of humanity, and you can keep believing in the village."

Shisui looked at him.

Uchiha You continued:

"But do you dare gamble on it?"

Shisui did not answer.

Did he dare?

If it were only his own life, he would.

But if losing the wager meant his Mangekyo Sharingan falling into Danzo's hands, meant the Uchiha Clan losing its last bargaining chip for peace, then he did not dare.

Shisui drew a deep breath.

"How do you plan to do this?"

A chill flashed through Uchiha You's eyes.

"Very simply."

"You'll attend the meeting as usual."

"I'll remain hidden."

"Besides that, several elite clan members will provide support from a distance."

Shisui immediately said:

"We can't bring too many people."

"Too many people would make us easier to expose."

Uchiha You nodded.

"So there are only three people."

"Uchiha Chuan will handle the perimeter."

"Two Three-Tomoe Sharingan clan members will seal off the escape routes."

"I'll be the only one who actually makes a move."

Shisui looked at him, his expression complicated.

"You, if Danzo really makes a move..."

Uchiha You cut him off:

"Then it's time for you to wake up."

Shisui's heart trembled.

Uchiha You patted his shoulder.

"Shisui."

"You've always wanted to use Kotoamatsukami to change the Uchiha Clan."

"Tonight, I'll let you see with your own eyes who it is whose will truly needs to be changed."