Shisui Uchiha walked down Konoha's bustling streets with an unusually light step.
The sunlight overhead fell across his shoulders, bringing a pleasant warmth.
The gloom that had weighed on his heart for days had lifted. He felt he had absolutely done the right thing.
He would surely find a balance between the village and the Family.
As long as Lord Hokage agreed to his plan, every conflict would resolve itself.
Kotoamatsukami could change Clan Head Fugaku's radical thinking.
Then the Family would abandon its unrealistic demands for compensation and move peacefully to the New Clan Grounds.
Once the higher-ups saw the Uchiha's sincerity, they would naturally let down their guard.
That way, the village would not have to shed blood, and the Uchiha would not have to risk annihilation.
Shisui passed a fruit stall, and its middle-aged owner greeted him warmly.
The man even picked out two big, red apples and pressed them into Shisui's hands.
Shisui took out some coins and offered them, but the man waved his hands and adamantly refused.
The stall owner said with a smile that this was his thanks to the Konoha Military Police Force for keeping South Street safe lately.
Ever since Deputy Captain Chikage had straightened out the regulations and paperwork, everyone had felt much more secure doing business.
Holding the apples, Shisui felt warmth well up in his heart.
This was the Konoha he wanted to protect with his life.
The villagers were simple and kind. As long as the Family was willing to take a step back, everyone could live in harmony.
He bit into an apple. It was crisp and sweet.
Deputy Captain Chikage's methods could indeed secure benefits for the Family in the short term.
But using regulations to pressure the higher-ups was simply too dangerous.
Forcing Shimura