Facing the boy's question, Fugaku folded his arms across his chest and said gravely, "Shisui, you didn't take part in the Kikyō Mountain Campaign, did you?"
Shisui replied, "No, Uncle Fugaku. I took part in Konoha's Battle of the Upper Water Flow against the Blood Mist. Though that battle was brutal, it could not compare to Konoha's Fushi River Battle and Kannabi Bridge Battle against Hidden Stone, or the Kikyō Mountain Campaign against Sand and Hidden Cloud Village." (Illustration later)
"Shisui's exact age had always been a mystery in the original work. The anime showed scenes suggesting that Shisui and Itachi were close in age, but the manga did not, and that did not fit the main setting. Therefore, this work will not use it as a reference. It will instead follow the original main setting: 'Shisui became famous throughout the Shinobi World during the Third Shinobi World War under the name Body Flicker Shisui.' Based on the silhouette from Byakugan Ao's recollection 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 friends, as well as far too many clansmen. Yet after the battle ended, I could not even bring back their remains."
Shisui hesitated before asking, "So... did you come here to recover their remains?"
Fugaku shook his head. "It's too late. Our clan's Sharingan is the most precious Kekkei Genkai. Countless people covet it. I can almost be certain that their eyes have already fallen into the hands of ninja from other countries, or even... our own people."
"Our own people..." Shisui lowered his head and silently clenched his fist. He possessed a clear and perceptive heart, so he was among the few who knew the truth.
The village's darkness had always been watching the clan's light.
Shimura... Danzo.
This man's ninja way carried Konoha's wariness and covetousness toward the Uchiha clan since the village's founding!
A shadow also fell over Fugaku's face.
"Your ancestor, Kagami Uchiha, 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 saying those words... he died under unclear circumstances during a reconnaissance mission."
"I simply cannot imagine someone of his strength being ambushed by enemy ninja. The only ones who could have plotted against him were likely the people 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 long silence, Fugaku said gravely, "The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, possessed rare talent as Hokage. He treated others with 'kindness,' but that kindness required an iron hand to ensure it could be carried out."
"Furthermore, the Third always considered the bigger picture. Because of that, he found it difficult to make decisions on sensitive local issues and was easily swayed by hardliners into making compromises, causing conflicts to accumulate and intensify."
"Likewise, because he considered the bigger picture, when local conflicts intensified beyond reconciliation, he would choose to abandon the part in order to preserve the whole."
Fugaku's gaze abruptly turned sharp. "Therefore, Shisui, I dare say this! If the Third Hokage remains in office, then within ten years at most, our clan will inevitably face a crisis of survival!"
"!!" Shisui looked up in astonishment at the stern profile of this elder... For a moment, he could not refute him.
The sharpness in Fugaku's eyes faded. "Fortunately, the Third also understands the flaws in his rule. That is why he chose a successor early on, hoping Konoha could embark on a path of revival under this new wind."
"His choice was wise."
"Minato Namikaze took part in the final Kikyō Mountain Campaign as I did. First of all, I could not sense the slightest prejudice against the Uchiha clan from him."
"I initially thought that was merely the same 'conciliatory approach' inherited from the Third Hokage, until something happened later that completely changed my opinion of him."
Shisui asked, "What happened?"
Fugaku's gaze became distant. "At a critical moment in the war, ninja from Hidden Cloud Village actually seized relatives of the Fire Country's daimyo and used them to threaten Konoha's ninja into submission! Under those circumstances, everyone, myself included, was hesitant... But he acted without the slightest hesitation!"
"He killed every enemy and rescued the daimyo's relatives!"
"I understood clearly that his decisiveness was not merely confidence in his own strength. He also understood what consequences would arise from being controlled by others at a moment of life and death!"
"Even if he could not save the daimyo's relatives, he would still have acted decisively!"
"This also let me see the courage beneath his conciliatory exterior—the kind of courage the Third Hokage would never possess!"
"Minato Namikaze's resolve will never be shaken by the village's dark side!"
"Because of this... I saw hope for resolving the conflict between the clan and the village."
"As long as Minato Namikaze remains in office, the clan will not be pushed to the brink of rebellion!"
Fugaku raised his head and looked at the sun appearing and disappearing behind the clouds.
"So, Shisui. I have decided to place your grandfather's hopes in 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 young people in the village probably will not obey willingly. So, I can only reveal this resolve to you first."
"Because whether in ninja talent or vision, you are the clan's finest genius. I want to place my hopes of changing the younger generation of the clan upon you."
A bright smile appeared on Shisui's face. "So that is why you volunteered to take this mission, and why... you brought only me along for it?"
"Exactly. That young Hokage will also become a father to a newborn child in a year. He should be able to understand my resolve as a father."
"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 outstanding as yours and a sensitive heart, despite his young age."
"But what worries me is that he witnessed the cruelty of war and the coldness of death too early. That has made the foundation of his heart bleak and repressed. Even though he has love, it is love with a gray undertone. I fear that premature maturity will, to a great extent, shape how he handles matters in the future."
"From now on, I would like to ask you... to guide that child more often."
Shisui turned around and said solemnly, "Yes. Thank you for your trust. It would be my honor!"
Fugaku lowered his hands from before his chest and rolled up his sleeves, revealing a long-lost smile. "All right, no more worries. 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 provided any reinforcements. Is that all right?"
"It's fine. Five Paths against two elites should be more than enough."
A smile filled with ambition curled at Nagato's lips.
Shisui, Fugaku... my future lies with you as well!
Before you continue