Fugaku and Shisui!

Facing the young man's question, Fugaku folded his arms before his chest and said in a deep voice, "Shisui, you didn't take part in the Bellflower Mountain Campaign, did you?"

Shisui answered, "No, Uncle Fugaku. I took part in Konoha's Battle of the Upper Water Flow against the Blood Mist. That battle was certainly brutal, but it could not compare to Konoha's Fushi River Battle and Kannabi Bridge Battle against Hidden Stone, or the Bellflower Mountain Campaign against Sand and Hidden Cloud Village." (Illustration later)

"The original work has always been vague about Shisui's exact age. The anime has scenes suggesting that Shisui and Itachi were close in age, but the manga does not, and that also conflicts with the main setting. Therefore, this work will not reference it. It will instead follow the original work's main setting: 'Shisui rose to fame in the shinobi world as Body Flicker Shisui during the Third Shinobi World War.' Based on the flashback silhouette from Byakugan Ao during the Five Kage Summit, Shisui is set to be twelve years old in this work."

Fugaku's gaze darkened. "During that campaign, I witnessed the deaths of my most important close friends, as well as far too many members of our clan. Yet after the battle ended, I could not even bring back their remains."

Shisui hesitantly asked, "Then this trip of yours... was it to recover their remains?"

Fugaku shook his head. "It is too late. Our clan's Sharingan is the most precious Kekkei Genkai power, coveted by countless people. I can almost certainly say that their eyes have already fallen into the hands of shinobi from other countries, perhaps even... our own people."

"Our own people..." Shisui lowered his head and quietly clenched his fist. He possessed a clear and perceptive heart, so he was among the few who knew the truth.

The darkness of the village had always been watching the light of the clan.

Shimura... Danzo.

This man's ninja way bore Konoha's wariness and covetousness toward the Uchiha clan since its founding!

A layer of gloom also fell over Fugaku's face.

"Your ancestor, Kagami Uchiha, once taught me as a child not to forget how hard-won peace was, to cast aside the clan's prejudices, and to coexist peacefully with the village."

"But ironically, not long after he said those words... he died under unclear circumstances during a reconnaissance mission."

"I simply cannot imagine someone of his strength being ambushed by shinobi of an enemy nation. The only people who could have ambushed him were likely those he trusted most."

Shisui murmured, "Ancestor... the people he trusted most were Konoha's higher-ups, who were also disciples of the Second Hokage."

After a silence, Fugaku said deeply, "The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, possessed rare talent as a Hokage. He treated others with 'benevolence,' but for that benevolence to be carried out, it had to rely on an iron hand."

"Furthermore, the Third considered the bigger picture. Thus, when making decisions on locally sensitive issues, he found it difficult to act decisively. He was easily swayed by hardliners into making compromises, causing conflicts to accumulate and intensify."

"Likewise, precisely because he considered the bigger picture, when local conflicts intensified to the point where they could no longer be eased, he would choose to sacrifice the part in order to preserve the whole."

Fugaku's eyes suddenly turned sharp. "Therefore, Shisui, I dare say this! If the Third Hokage remains in office, then within ten years at most, our clan will surely face a crossroads between survival and extinction!"

"!!" Shisui raised his eyes in astonishment, looking at the stern profile of this elder... For a moment, he could not refute him.

The sharpness in Fugaku's eyes receded. "Fortunately, the Third also understood the flaws of his own administration. That was why he selected a successor early on, hoping Konoha could embark on a path of revival under this fresh wind."

"His choice was wise."

"Minato Namikaze also took part in the final Bellflower Mountain Campaign, just as I did. First of all, I could not sense the slightest prejudice toward the Uchiha clan from him."

"I had thought it was merely the same 'conciliatory approach' passed down from the Third Hokage, until something happened later that completely changed my view of him."

Shisui asked, "What was it?"

Fugaku's gaze grew distant with recollection. "At a critical moment in the war, shinobi from Hidden Cloud Village actually abducted a relative of the Fire Country's daimyo and used them to threaten Konoha's shinobi into submission! In that situation, everyone, myself included, was afraid to act... But he acted without the slightest hesitation!"

"He killed every enemy and saved the daimyo's relative!"

"I understood his resolve very clearly. It was not merely confidence in his own strength. He also clearly understood what consequences came from being controlled by others at the brink of life and death!"

"Even if he could not save the daimyo's relative, he would still have acted decisively!"

"This incident also showed me the courage beneath his conciliatory exterior—a courage the Third Hokage would never possess!"

"His words—Minato Namikaze's words—would never be swayed by the village's dark side!"

"Because of that... I saw hope for resolving the conflict between the clan and the village."

"As long as Minato Namikaze remained in office, the clan would not be pushed to the brink of rebellion!"

Fugaku raised his head and looked at the sun, appearing and disappearing among the clouds.

"So, Shisui. I have decided to place the hope of your grandfather upon this young Hokage. I will lead the clan in fully supporting his position as Hokage."

Shisui's eyes shone. So that was it... Mr. Fugaku.

Fugaku said in a low voice, "But the younger people in the village probably will not willingly obey. So I can only reveal this resolve to you first."

"Because whether in ninja talent or breadth of vision, you are the clan's finest genius. I want to place the hope of changing the clan's younger generation upon you."

A bright smile appeared on Shisui's face. "So that was why you volunteered to take on this mission, and why... you brought only me along for it?"

"Exactly. In another year, that young Hokage will also become the father of a newborn. He should be able to understand my resolve as a father as well."

"Shisui, there is one more matter—a personal request."

Fugaku lowered his head to look at Shisui and said solemnly, "That child Itachi possesses vision as exceptional as yours, as well as a delicate heart, despite his young age."

"But what worries me is that he witnessed the brutality of war and the coldness of death too early. That has made the foundation of his heart bleak and oppressive. Even if he possesses love, it is love shaded in gray. I fear that growing up too early will greatly influence how he conducts himself in the future."

"From now on, I would like to ask you... to guide that child more."

Shisui turned around and said solemnly, "Yes, thank you for your trust. It would be my honor!"

Fugaku lowered his arms from before his chest and rolled up his sleeves, revealing a long-lost smile. "All right, now that there is nothing weighing on my mind, let's get to work..."

"We're here. This is the place." After an unknown amount of time, Nagato stopped walking.

Konan glanced behind her. "Human Path has not replenished itself. Is that all right?"

"It is fine. Five Paths against the two standouts should be more than enough."

A smile of ambition rose at the corner of Nagato's mouth.

Shisui, Fugaku... my future also lies with you!