Danzo's Conspiracy

In an underground chamber beneath Konoha.

In the dim room, Shisui Uchiha knelt on one knee before a figure whose body was half-covered in bandages.

"Shisui, you dared defy my orders!"

The voice clearly belonged to Shimura Danzō.

"Sir, at the time..."

"I don't want your excuses. I explicitly ordered you not to interfere. What did you do? Acting on your own was bad enough, but you even..."

Danzo's voice sank. He drew a long breath.

"You even used Kotoamatsukami. Do you have any idea how important that ocular technique is? And you wasted it on a mere Tailed Beast."

Shisui said nothing.

As the technique's wielder, he knew it would take more than a decade to recover after one use. Only then could he cast it again.

For all practical purposes, it was a one-use technique.

And Kotoamatsukami had indeed played a decisive role in the battle against the Nine-Tails.

Though it had failed to completely alter the Nine-Tails' consciousness, it had brought him under control. Otherwise, Minato Namikaze and Kushina Uzumaki would never have had a chance to use their Sealing Jutsu.

But only Shisui knew he had done it to save Long Ye, who had been in danger at the time.

"Never mind."

Danzo's tone softened.

"Shisui, some members of the Konoha High Command have gone from fearing the Uchiha to suspecting them. You must know that..."

"They've already begun suppressing your clan. And with Fugaku leading its elders, they may decide their strength gives them the means to stage a coup!"

Shisui was stunned. "They wouldn't! The Uchiha would never rebel!"

"I believe you. But what I believe changes nothing. Konoha isn't mine to command. In a few days, Hiruzen Sarutobi will return to office, and your clan's good days will be over."

"Why?" Shisui asked