Shisui, please go die!!!

After hearing what Qiushan said and learning where the grand elder stood, Shisui Uchiha finally felt reassured.

Only after Qiu Shan Uchiha finished speaking did Shisui remark:

"I never imagined the grand elder valued the Mangekyō Sharingan so highly that he'd even change his stance for it."

Shisui Uchiha looked at Qiushan with a smile in his eyes.

"Qiushan, you've handled this far better than I have. Looks like I should listen to your advice more often from now on. You've always been better at strategy and seeing the bigger picture than me. With your dōjutsu on top of that, your vision and capacity surpass mine. How far the Uchiha Clan can go will depend entirely on you. Don't worry. I'll support you with everything I have."

Hearing Shisui's words, which sounded like both a heartfelt reflection and a vow, Qiushan lost the urge to joke around. He met Shisui's expectant gaze squarely and gave a firm nod.

"Don't worry. Everything will get better."

With Qiu Shan Uchiha's assurance, Shisui let out a breath, as though a weight had been lifted from his heart. Then he told Qiushan about his progress.

"I went to see the Third Hokage last night. He trusts me completely, so things went very smoothly. As you asked, I didn't make any major changes to his mind. I only adjusted it a little, reducing his wariness and hostility toward the Uchiha Clan and increasing his goodwill toward us."

"Also, I told the Third Hokage that I'd awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan. It was thanks to that revelation that I was able to cast Kotoamatsukami so smoothly."

Seeing Qiushan give a slight nod of acknowledgment, Shisui Uchiha continued with a faint frown:

"Afterward, I went to the Root Base to find Shimura Danzō. I don't know whether he was being overly cautious around me or really wasn't in the village, but I waited at the Root Base all night without seeing Danzo. In the end, I was afraid staying any longer would put him on his guard, so I came back."

After hearing Shisui's account, Qiu Shan Uchiha sighed inwardly. He had known things wouldn't go that smoothly.

After all, Shimura Danzō was the root hidden in the shadows and didn't draw as much attention as the Third Hokage. He had also placed the Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal on all the Root members under his command, making them highly secretive. If Shimura Danzō fell under Shisui's Kotoamatsukami, they wouldn't merely make minor adjustments to his thinking as they had with the Third Hokage. They would control him outright, just like Uchiha Fugaku. That would effectively put Danzo's Root under their control as well.

Still, there would be other opportunities. Qiu Shan Uchiha wouldn't sleep soundly until Shimura Danzō, that menace who stirred up trouble everywhere, was either controlled or eliminated.

But Shisui Uchiha had done his best. Shimura Danzō was simply too cunning and slippery; Shisui couldn't be blamed for lacking ability.

Qiu Shan Uchiha reassured him:

"It's fine. As long as the Third Hokage changes his attitude toward the Uchiha, he'll stop Shimura Danzō even if he tries to move against us. After all, the Third Hokage is still our village's leader. He still has the final say in Konoha."

"As for Shimura Danzō, we'll deal with him later. If we try to find him too often right now, we're bound to put him on his guard."

Hearing Qiushan's analysis, Shisui Uchiha nodded in agreement.

"Then we've accomplished more than half of what we set out to do. As long as nothing major goes wrong, our Uchiha Clan should be able to coexist peacefully with the village."

"Yes, and we gained something unexpected, too." Qiu Shan Uchiha decided not to keep Shisui in the dark and to tell him that he had taken control of Uchiha Fugaku.

Seeing Shisui's questioning look, Qiu Shan Uchiha continued.

"I used Kotoamatsukami to take control of the clan head."

Qiushan looked up at the sky, feeling a little embarrassed. After all, he had previously said Uchiha Fugaku wasn't much of a threat and didn't need to be controlled, only to take control of him right afterward.

Before Shisui could ask any questions, Qiu Shan Uchiha went on to explain:

"Although the clan head is relatively friendly toward the village, he's far too indecisive to be of much use. Besides, he's the clan head. Only with him on our side can we carry out what comes next."

Hearing Qiushan's explanation, Shisui found himself in a difficult position. After all, Uchiha Fugaku was Uchiha Itachi's father, and he had always treated Itachi like his own younger brother.

Now, the trusted friend to whom he could entrust his life had taken control of his little brother's father. Shisui's kind nature left him torn.

Qiu Shan Uchiha naturally understood Shisui's temperament. Without giving him time to agonize over it, he laid his cards on the table.

"Shisui, there's another very important thing I need to ask of you. Please make sure you agree. It might be hard on you and put you through some suffering, but I've thought it through carefully, and you're the only suitable person for the job."

Hearing Qiushan's words, Shisui Uchiha set aside his inner conflict for the moment and composed himself, listening intently to Qiu Shan Uchiha.

"Next, Shisui, please go die!!!" Qiu Shan Uchiha stared at Shisui with blazing eyes, but his words sent Shisui Uchiha's heart pounding uncontrollably.

Of course, Shisui Uchiha didn't believe Qiushan would do anything to harm him. His heartbeat gradually settled, and he raised his eyebrows, signaling for Qiushan to continue.

Seeing Shisui's expression, Qiu Shan Uchiha knew he hadn't managed to scare him. A little disgruntled, he said:

"Come on, Shisui. Even if you weren't scared, you could at least play along. I just told you to go die, you know? Aren't you afraid at all? What's with that look?"

Seeing Qiushan's exasperation, Shisui Uchiha said with a broad smile:

"As if I don't know you. You're trying to mess with me again. I trust you. Even if you destroyed the village, you wouldn't kill me."

Hearing Shisui's words, Qiu Shan Uchiha pursed his lips in displeasure and explained:

"Fine, you guessed right. I've got a plan, and I need your cooperation. This way, our Uchiha Clan can stop reacting and take the initiative."

Qiu Shan Uchiha nodded, indicating that he would certainly cooperate, and urged Qiushan to continue.

"Lord Third already knows you've awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan, right? We can let more people find out. Tell me, given Danzo's attitude toward the Uchiha and his greed for the Sharingan, what would he do if he learned you'd awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan?"

Hearing Qiu Shan Uchiha's words, Shisui continued the analysis.

"Knowing Danzo, he'd either try to win me over or kill me when my guard was down and take my Sharingan. But Danzo also knows I'm close to the Third Hokage, so he's more likely to kill me."