Konoha, Third Training Ground.
The last rays of sunset spilled through the dense woods, tinting the leaves orange-red.
The crisp clang of metal rang through the trees again and again.
Shisui Uchiha darted swiftly back and forth between several large trees.
He moved so fast that the naked eye could catch only blurred afterimages.
Uchiha Itachi stood in the center of the clearing, holding three shuriken ready.
His black eyes had turned red, a single tomoe spinning rapidly in each pupil.
The three shuriken left his hand, tracing three tricky arcs through the air.
They precisely blocked all three places where Shisui could land.
Shisui twisted his body in midair and drew the short sword from his back.
He swung it several times in front of him, knocking down all three shuriken.
Sparks flew, followed by a series of metallic clatters as the weapons hit the ground.
Shisui landed firmly and sheathed his short sword.
He looked at Itachi across from him and smiled in approval.
"Itachi, your Sharingan's perception keeps getting sharper."
"Those three shuriken came in at tricky angles. You almost cut off every place I could land."
Itachi returned the kunai in his hand to his ninja tool pouch, his expression calm.
"Shisui, your Body Flicker Technique is what's truly impressive."
"Even if I can see your movements clearly, my body can't keep up with your speed."
They walked over to a wooden post at the edge of the training ground, picked up their water bottles, and took a few sips.
After their intense sparring session, both their foreheads were covered in sweat.
An evening breeze passed through, bringing a little cool relief.
Itachi set down his bottle and looked toward the Hokage Building.
"Shisui."
"Are you still angry about what happened earlier today?"
Shisui paused as he wiped away his sweat.
He sighed, walked over to the wooden post, and sat down.
"I'm not angry."
"I'm just very worried."
Shisui looked at the slightly worn short sword in his hand, his voice full of concern.
"What Deputy Captain Chikage did at the Hokage Building today was far too risky."
"He arrived at the Hokage Building with the Second Squad, and Clan Leader Fugaku then gathered nearly a hundred clan members."
"In the end, he even forced Lord Danzo to sign a Payment Receipt in front of everyone."
"Three hundred and fifty thousand ryo isn't a large sum for the Shimura Clan."
"But that receipt was the same as slapping Lord Danzo in the face in front of the entire village."
"The leadership backed down today because of the evidence and the law, but their resentment will only deepen."
Itachi walked over and sat beside Shisui on the wooden post.
His eight-year-old face held a composure far beyond that of other children his age.
"But, Shisui."
"If we hadn't fought for him, Yashiro might already have died in Root's dungeon."
"You saw his injuries too."
"Root didn't have the Hokage's Order at all. They were arresting people without authorization."
Shisui shook his head and earnestly explained his reasoning.
"I know what Root did was wrong."
"But the village is one whole. We can't focus only on who wins or loses this one confrontation."
"Clan Leader Fugaku could have spoken to Lord Hokage first and clearly explained the evidence and the circumstances."
"Once Lord Hokage learned the truth, he would still have ordered Yashiro's release."
"Deputy Captain Chikage brought an entire squad to block the Plaza. One wrong step, and people could have called it an attempt to force the Hokage's hand."
"That sort of behavior can easily make the other ninja clans question the Uchiha's loyalties."
Itachi turned his head, the red of his Sharingan fading until his eyes were black again.
He looked at Shisui and voiced his doubts.
"Would talking in private really work?"
"It's been three years since the Nine-Tails' Rampage."
"For those three years, the Uchiha have kept backing down and cooperating with the leadership's arrangements."
"But have they reduced their surveillance of us?"
"No."
"They're even preparing to move the Uchiha District to the edge of the village."
"When Shimura Ken smashed up shops on South Street today, who would have compensated the shopkeepers if the Konoha Military Police Force hadn't arrested him?"
Shisui fell silent.
He opened his mouth, wanting to explain through the Will of Fire.
But with the words on the tip of his tongue, he couldn't bring himself to say them.
Itachi continued.
"Chikage said at the Plaza today that he was upholding the laws established by the Second Hokage."
"Every piece of evidence he presented followed the Konoha Military Police Force's procedures."
"He didn't use force to pressure the leadership. He laid out the evidence and the rules in front of everyone."
"Word has already spread through the clan that Chikage plans to frame that Payment Receipt and hang it in the Konoha Military Police Force Hall."
Shisui nearly jumped up from the wooden post when he heard that.
"What?"
"He's going to hang that receipt on the wall?"
"That's blatantly provoking Lord Danzo!"
Seeing how agitated Shisui was, Itachi instead gave a soft smile.
"Hikaru and the others are all very happy."
"Morale in the Konoha Military Police Force is high right now."
"The shopkeepers on South Street are starting to believe the Konoha Military Police Force can really protect them."
"Shisui, Chikage used the rules to protect the villagers. Isn't that also preserving the village's peace?"
Shisui raked his fingers through his hair, looking deeply troubled.
"Itachi, things aren't as simple as you think."
"The rules are written on paper, but people are the ones who enforce them."
"With Lord Danzo's temperament, he will never let this go."
"After suffering such humiliation today, he'll definitely find a way to retaliate against Chikage. He might even take his anger out on the entire Uchiha clan."
"Deputy Captain Chikage is drawing far too much attention right now."
"The tallest tree in the forest is the first to be battered by the wind."
"I'm worried he'll become a target for both the leadership and Root."
Itachi lowered his head and looked at the fallen leaves on the ground.
"If Lord Danzo really retaliates over this, that proves he doesn't care about the village's rules at all."
"If even the leadership won't follow the rules, what can we gain by constantly backing down?"
"It will only make them even more brazen next time."
Silence fell between them on the training ground.
Shisui believed that bitter confrontation would only drive the village and the clan toward a rupture more quickly.
To avoid bloodshed, he was willing to endure unfair treatment and mediate between the two sides.
Itachi, however, had seen another possibility in Chikage's actions.
Use the rules to fight injustice, and stand firm to defend the line that must not be crossed.
Though dangerous, that approach could free the Uchiha from having to buy peace with their silence.
Just as the two were lost in their own thoughts.
A faint rustle of leaves came from the woods.
Shisui and Itachi grew alert at the same time.
Both quickly rose, their hands already reaching for their ninja tool pouches.
A dark figure leaped down from the canopy and landed firmly before them.
The newcomer wore a gray vest and a cat-faced mask.
It was an Anbu ninja serving directly under the Hokage.
The Anbu ninja straightened and turned toward Shisui.
"Shisui Uchiha."
"Lord Hokage orders you to proceed to the Hokage Building immediately. He has an important matter to discuss with you."
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