Dangerous missions didn't come out of nowhere.
As Shisui studied the comparison table for the Task Dispatch and Response Plan, he fell into a truly unsettling silence for the first time.
In the past, he had always believed he could handle things.
If the village needed him, he went.
If the clan needed him, he went too.
As the conflict between the two deepened, he put himself in the most difficult position.
But now, the comparison table told him something.
Someone had long been exploiting that very trait of his.
High-Density Mission Binding made it harder for him to explain himself to the clan.
Private meetings made it easier for Root to assess and manipulate him.
Reduced communication with the clan made him accustomed to bearing everything alone.
Contact with Root's outer circle brought danger closer, little by little, without making it seem abrupt.
Gen looked at the table, his heart heavy.
In the original course of events, Shisui's path toward death had not begun with a single, sudden conspiracy.
It had come when a long-running plan reached a certain point, and the net finally closed.
Fugaku made a demand.
Suspend any Root-related missions that required Shisui to make contact alone.
Danzo immediately objected.
"Does the Uchiha intend to interfere with the village's missions?"
Fugaku replied, "We aren't stopping Shisui's missions. We're only suspending Root-related missions that require him to make contact alone."
Danzo said coldly, "Shisui is a shinobi of the village, not the Uchiha's private soldier."
Shisui finally spoke.
"Of course I'm a shinobi of the village."
The Conference Room fell silent.
Shisui looked at Danzo.
"That's why I request that the Hokage's Anbu serve as witnesses for any future missions involving Root."
For the first time, Danzo's expression visibly chilled.
Because this was not Fugaku making a