Shisui's Death Was Already Inevitable!

Hokage's Office.

Hiruzen Sarutobi took a deep draw from his pipe and slowly exhaled the smoke.

Outside the window, Konoha lay peaceful and tranquil beneath the glow of the setting sun.

That peace had been bought with countless sacrifices and filthy deeds.

In the future, perhaps Uchiha Shisui's name would be added to that list.

Just moments ago, Uchiha Shisui—the genius hailed as "Body Flicker Shisui," a talent the Uchiha Clan saw only once in a century—had secretly visited him.

And he had confessed to him, the Hokage, a secret capable of overturning the entire Shinobi World's understanding.

Mangekyō Sharingan—Kotoamatsukami!

The strongest genjutsu, capable of permanently altering someone's will without them noticing in the slightest!

"Third Hokage-sama, I am willing to use my Kotoamatsukami to change our clan head Uchiha Fugaku's mind, make him abandon the idea of a coup d'état, and lead the Uchiha toward reconciliation with the village."

"For the Uchiha Clan's survival, and even more so, for Konoha's peace!"

Kotoamatsukami!

Such a terrifying ocular technique!

It could silently alter a person's will!

Used against enemies, it was naturally an unbeatable weapon.

But if it were... used on one's own people?

Used on the Hokage?

Hiruzen Sarutobi did not dare imagine it.

That power was far too dangerous! Far too uncontrollable!

It should not be in anyone's hands!

Especially... an Uchiha's!

After Shisui left the Hokage's Office with a trace of relief and hope, the smile on Hiruzen Sarutobi's face vanished without a trace!

In its place was an unprecedented wariness!

"Mitokado Homura! Utatane Koharu!" He immediately summoned the two advisors.

Soon, the two elders of Konoha appeared in the Hokage's Office.

"Hiruzen, what is so urgent?" Mitokado Homura asked.

Hiruzen Sarutobi recounted, word for word, what Shisui had told him about Kotoamatsukami.

"What?! Kotoamatsukami?!"

Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu were both utterly shocked!

As Konoha's upper echelon, they naturally knew some secrets concerning the Mangekyō Sharingan.

But this was the first time they had heard of such a powerful ocular technique!

"Hiruzen, this matter... is no trivial one!" Utatane Koharu's expression turned exceptionally grim. "This power must never be allowed to remain in an Uchiha's hands! It is far too dangerous!"

Mitokado Homura also said gravely, "That's right! The Uchiha Clan has always been arrogant and unruly. If they gain a power capable of freely controlling people's hearts, the consequences would be unthinkable!"

Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu exchanged glances.

"Hiruzen, you mean..."

"Shisui must disappear." Hiruzen Sarutobi's voice carried not a shred of emotion.

"Those eyes must not remain in the Uchiha's hands."

"But Shisui is utterly loyal to the village, and he is powerful. He also has immense prestige within the Uchiha. If we move against him, I'm afraid..." Utatane Koharu hesitated.

Hiruzen Sarutobi snorted coldly. "Womanly sentimentality! Compared to Konoha's safety, what does the life of one Uchiha genius amount to?"

"As for an excuse... he could die on a mission, or we could simply have him 'defect.' Either would do."

Hiruzen Sarutobi pondered for a moment. "It would not be appropriate for us to act personally. Danzo... may be a suitable choice."

"Danzo?"

They were also quite wary of Danzo's methods.

"You know perfectly well how much Danzo covets the Sharingan," Hiruzen Sarutobi said calmly. "Besides, his Root is most adept at handling this sort of 'dirty work.'"

"We only need to 'inadvertently' let Danzo learn that Shisui possesses Kotoamatsukami."

"Leave the rest to Danzo."

Mitokado Homura gave a dry cough.

"Hiruzen, there is no time to lose."

"Since we have decided, we must make arrangements as soon as possible."

Utatane Koharu continued, "As for Danzo..."

"I will handle it."

Hiruzen Sarutobi's voice was calm, without the slightest ripple.

As if deciding the life or death of a genius shinobi had been nothing more than a trivial matter.

"As for the detailed intelligence on Kotoamatsukami, I will have ANBU 'prepare' a report and ensure it lands on Danzo's desk at the 'proper' time."

A look of understanding flashed through Mitokado Homura's eyes.

"That way, even if there is an investigation afterward, it will have nothing to do with us," Utatane Koharu added.

Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded slightly, picked up the Hokage's hat on the desk, and gently brushed away dust that did not exist.

"Shisui is a clever child."

"Unfortunately, he is too idealistic."

"And he understands the nature of power far too little."

There was a trace of regret in Hiruzen Sarutobi's tone.

"Konoha does not need a genius it cannot control, much less a pair of eyes capable of freely rewriting wills in Uchiha hands."

"This is for the village."

Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu exchanged glances again.

Yes, everything was for Konoha.

That reason was enough to crush everything.

Including conscience.

Including innocent lives.

"Then we shall await the news." Mitokado Homura rose to his feet.

Utatane Koharu rose as well and said no more.

Some things did not need to be spelled out.

Hiruzen Sarutobi relit his pipe and took a deep draw.

His gaze fell upon the enormous face of the First Hokage on Hokage Rock.

"Hashirama Senju!"

That man who had once dreamed that the shinobi villages could truly understand one another and coexist in peace.

"First Hokage-sama, your dream back then was ultimately too distant."

Hiruzen Sarutobi muttered to himself.

"Sometimes, in order to protect this hard-won 'peace,' one has no choice but to employ some... extraordinary measures."

At that moment, an ANBU appeared soundlessly behind the Third Hokage and dropped to one knee.

"Hokage-sama."

"Speak." Hiruzen Sarutobi did not turn around.

"Regarding Uchiha Shisui, ANBU observed that after leaving the Hokage Building today, he did not return directly to the Uchiha Clan Compound."

Hiruzen Sarutobi's brow twitched almost imperceptibly.

"Oh? Where did he go?"

"He went to... the Memorial Stone."

The Memorial Stone?

Hiruzen Sarutobi narrowed his eyes slightly.

What was Shisui doing there?

Could it be... that he was confused about the Uchiha's future and had gone to seek guidance from deceased predecessors?

Or had he... noticed something?

Though Shisui was intelligent, he was still young and inexperienced in the ways of the world.

He still held the purest trust in Konoha and the Hokage.

"Continue watching him."

"Yes!"

The ANBU vanished again, as if he had never appeared.

"Danzo, Danzo, I hope you will enjoy this 'great gift.'"

Night gradually shrouded all of Konoha.

And deep within the Root base, hidden in an unknown corner of the village.

Shimura Danzō, the Konoha elder who walked in darkness, was examining a secret report that had just arrived with the one eye not wrapped in bandages.

The contents of the report were simple.

There were only a few lines.

"Uchiha Shisui. Mangekyō Sharingan. Ocular technique: Kotoamatsukami. Capable of permanently altering another's will."

"Kotoamatsukami..."

Danzo murmured the name.

A genjutsu capable of permanently changing another person's will!

This was simply... power tailored specifically for him!

If he possessed those eyes...

Danzo's breathing grew heavier.

"Someone!"

Several Root shinobi silently emerged from the shadows, each radiating a cold, deathly aura.

"Pass down the order. Watch Uchiha Shisui's every move closely."

"I want every detail of his movements and routes."

"Yes!"

The Root shinobi accepted the order and departed with remarkable efficiency.

Danzo slowly rose and walked to the window, looking out at the pitch-black night sky.

"Shisui... your eyes will soon be mine."

"The Uchiha's destruction may begin with you as well."

Meanwhile.

Before Konoha's Memorial Stone.

Uchiha Shisui stood silently as the evening breeze stirred the loose strands of hair over his forehead.

His gaze passed over the familiar yet unfamiliar names carved into the stone one by one.

Those heroic souls who had given their lives for the village and for their clan.

He reached out and gently touched the cold stone.

"Honored predecessors..."

"I, Uchiha Shisui, will soon be able to bring true peace to the clan and the village."

His voice was soft, yet filled with incomparable resolve.

"The Third Hokage-sama has already agreed to support me."

"With my Kotoamatsukami, I will surely be able to change the clan head's mind and stop that foolish coup d'état."

A relieved smile appeared on Shisui's face.

However,

Shisui had no idea that his name was already on the death list!

He knew even less that the Hokage he trusted had completely sold him out to Danzo!

Konoha's night remained deep.

A massive storm was quietly brewing within that profound darkness.

It was a storm capable of changing countless people's fates.