Shisui lays his cards on the table: catastrophe for the Uchiha?!

After saying goodbye to Itachi, Shisui went to see Bai Ye.

He actually admired Bai Ye quite a bit. The more he learned about what had recently happened to the Uchiha,

the more conflicted he became.

Was he really going to do this?!

He could not help questioning his own actions.

Shisui no longer knew how he should view this matter.

Would doing this really make things better for the Uchiha?!

Perhaps... not necessarily!

But deep down, Shisui knew that what he planned to do might deal the Uchiha a devastating blow.

Thanks to Bai Ye's reforms, many of their clansmen were now living far better than before.

Wasn't that exactly what he wanted to see?!

"Shisui?!"

At Bai Ye's home.

When Bai Ye saw Shisui standing at his door with a conflicted expression, a moment's thought told him why Shisui had come.

Hadn't Hiruzen Sarutobi sent Shisui to discuss that matter with him-or simply use Kotoamatsukami?!

Knowing about Shisui's ocular technique, Kotoamatsukami, Bai Ye figured those were the only two possibilities.

But Kotoamatsukami would not work on him. His ocular techniques countered it perfectly: either seeing the future or returning to a past state could render it completely ineffective.

More importantly, besides those abilities, his Sage Body might also grant him immunity.

The idea of Danzo using Kotoamatsukami on Naruto right at the start of the anime to change his thinking was essentially nonsense.

After all, if Kotoamatsukami could really control someone with a Sage Body,

then that ocular technique would be absurdly overpowered. It could not control the corresponding Sage Eyes-the Rinnegan-either.

So his Sage Body should keep him from being controlled, even without senjutsu chakra.

Naturally, Bai Ye had absolutely no worries when facing Shisui.

Whether in raw power or the limits of his abilities, he now completely outclassed Shisui.

He also wanted to see why Shisui had come this time, and whether he would ultimately side with the Uchiha or the village.

That would also help him set his plans in motion afterward.

"Yes. Clan Head Bai Ye, could we talk?!"

Shisui answered, then stepped into the main hall as Bai Ye moved aside.

After sitting down, Shisui weighed how to bring all this up with Bai Ye.

What position was he even representing by coming here?

Would saying these things create conflict between them?!

Besides, he had no right to criticize Bai Ye.

He had worked hard for years, yet relations between the Uchiha and the village had only deteriorated, while life for the Uchiha had grown worse.

Bai Ye, meanwhile, had pulled the Uchiha out of the mire after only about a month in charge.

That was why Shisui Uchiha respected Bai Ye from the bottom of his heart.

"Go ahead, Shisui. What did you come to see me about?"

Bai Ye wasted no time on pleasantries. If Shisui had come to persuade him, there was nothing to discuss.

After all, Bai Ye had no desire to hear Shisui tell the Uchiha to surrender the benefits that were rightfully theirs.

"Clan Head Bai Ye, actually... Lord Hokage asked me to come persuade you!"

After hesitating for a while, Shisui told Bai Ye the truth.

He genuinely did not know how to face Bai Ye now.

Wasn't he essentially asking the Uchiha to give up what already belonged to them?!

"That's not all, is it?!"

Bai Ye's words instantly laid Shisui's intentions bare.

A trace of embarrassment crossed Shisui's face, and he nodded.

Bai Ye was right. That was not his only intention.

How could he not know what he had come to see Bai Ye for?!

He simply did not know how to say it, yet Bai Ye had figured it out before he even spoke.

"Shisui, my question remains the same. Are you on the Uchiha's side, or Hiruzen Sarutobi's?!"

Once again, Bai Ye asked the question he had posed before.

Only this time, he was far more direct.

Hearing Bai Ye's words, Shisui instinctively asked, "Don't you mean the village?!"

That wasn't right, was it?!

How had it suddenly become a choice between Hiruzen Sarutobi and the Uchiha?!

Of course, Shisui immediately understood the question.

But hadn't Bai Ye said the village last time?

"No. I mean Hiruzen Sarutobi!"

Without waiting for Shisui to respond, Bai Ye continued, "Before, you could still fool yourself into thinking it was the Uchiha against the village. But now we've proved something.

"Whether it's the villagers or the other ninja clans, we Uchiha can still maintain good relations with them.

"So isn't it obvious who's targeting us now?!

"The people targeting the Uchiha have always been Konoha High Command, led by Hiruzen Sarutobi!!!"

Bai Ye's words pierced Shisui's heart like a needle.

How could he not know Bai Ye was right?!

In the past, Shisui might have found some grounds to argue, but now he truly could not think of anything to refute Bai Ye.

The Uchiha had now completely resolved their internal problems.

Previously, the clan had been divided into three factions: the Dove Faction, the Middle Faction, and the Radical Faction.

Back then, they could not even properly manage their own internal affairs.

So Shisui had never believed the Uchiha had the ability to resolve this matter.

Externally, the villagers really had treated the Uchiha poorly at the time.

That was why Shisui had believed the Uchiha were facing the entire village.

Winning that fight was obviously impossible!

Besides, the Uchiha could hardly avoid losing anyone!

If Bai Ye truly chose to wage war against Konoha now, even if he fought only that particular group, surely there would still be casualties?!

People from the village would definitely die too!

That was not what Shisui wanted to see.

But now Bai Ye had resolved their internal and external troubles, leaving Hiruzen Sarutobi and his associates as their greatest remaining problem.

Shisui now felt that Bai Ye was indeed right.

"Clan Head Bai Ye, I'll be honest with you. Back then, I couldn't see any hope for the Uchiha. The clan was split into three factions.

"And the Uchiha's reputation in the village had always been poor.

"I've always stood firmly on the Uchiha's side.

"But I don't want to see a war between the village and the Uchiha.

"That wouldn't benefit either side. Whether it's the village or the Uchiha, once fighting breaks out, people will die. I don't want to see anyone shed blood over this!!"

At this point, Shisui laid his deepest thoughts before Bai Ye.

He simply did not want anyone to die or get hurt because of these matters.

That was why he had always worked toward a peaceful resolution, helping ease the conflict between the village and the Uchiha.

But now, looking back, his past efforts seemed rather laughable.

He had done so much, only for all of it to amount to nothing.

Shisui openly confessed his thoughts.

These were the things he had worried about all along.

Bai Ye was hardly surprised by Shisui's thoughts. He understood them quite well.

In matters like these, Shisui was unquestionably on the Uchiha's side.

But the anime had made it clear: Shisui could see no hope for the Uchiha, and after Danzo stole his Mangekyo Sharingan,

he realized that the village could no longer be trusted either.

Danzo had dared to directly steal Shisui Uchiha's Mangekyo Sharingan, and afterward, the Anbu had not even found Shisui's body.

There was absolutely no way Hiruzen Sarutobi had known nothing about it.

Most likely, Hiruzen Sarutobi had tacitly approved. Even if he knew, he never exposed it.

Had anyone else conducted the experiments Danzo and Orochimaru had carried out back then, they would have been finished long ago.

But their Third Hokage had double standards!

Not only had he refused to hold Danzo accountable, he had even let Orochimaru escape.

So was it really surprising that he would turn a blind eye to Shisui's stolen eye?!

Ultimately, Hiruzen Sarutobi was infamous for his double standards!

Besides, Shisui's Kotoamatsukami was too terrifying.

At least for those around early on, the ability to freely alter someone's will was something few could face without fearing their own minds might be changed.

So once Shisui revealed his ability, having it stolen was only a matter of time.

After all, while they shouted about the inherently evil Uchiha, they were always coveting the Uchiha's Sharingan.

In Bai Ye's view, Shisui was a little too softhearted.

But his intentions were unquestionably rooted in loyalty to the Uchiha.

As for that oh-so-filial son, he was simply insane. Bai Ye had no desire to guess what went through his head.

Still, without Shisui's sacrifice this time, that filial son might not awaken his Mangekyo Sharingan.

Putting those stray thoughts aside, Bai Ye looked at Shisui and said, "There's no such thing as a bloodless war. In this war, either the Uchiha die, or Hiruzen Sarutobi and his people do.

"Things have already reached this point between us. Do you really think backing down will settle everything?!"

Looking at Shisui, Bai Ye shook his head, a trace of emotion on his face.

This fellow really was as naive as ever!

Though the two sides had not quite reached the point of fighting to the death, they were close enough.

As things stood in Konoha, the Uchiha and Hiruzen Sarutobi's group could not coexist.

War between them was only a matter of time.

If the Uchiha did not initiate it, Hiruzen Sarutobi's side would.

In the anime, the Uchiha had been backed into a corner and left with no choice but to act. This time, only the people involved had changed.

The other side would still do the same thing.

That made this conflict unavoidable.

After hearing Bai Ye's words, a bitter smile crossed Shisui's face.

So that was how it was?!

Although Shisui had already considered this possibility,

he only gave up hope after hearing it from Bai Ye himself.

"But... what if I have the Mangekyo Sharingan?!"

After speaking, Shisui stared intently at Bai Ye.

Clearly, he had decided to lay his cards on the table.

In the past, Shisui would never have told the other Uchiha that he possessed the Mangekyo Sharingan.

But things were different now.

Plenty of people already knew about his Mangekyo Sharingan today, anyway.

One more person hardly mattered.

So after some thought, Shisui decided he might as well tell Bai Ye about his Mangekyo Sharingan.

"The Mangekyo Sharingan?! Who doesn't have it?"

With that, three tomoe appeared in Bai Ye's eyes, then spun continuously until they formed the pattern of a Mangekyo Sharingan.

The moment Shisui saw that Mangekyo Sharingan, he froze.

What?!

So Bai Ye had the Mangekyo Sharingan too!

Bai Ye had thought carefully about revealing this to Shisui.

After all, if he wanted to win Shisui over now, he needed to demonstrate his strength.

He had already explained everything that needed explaining.

Now, the most important thing was to reveal some of his power to Shisui as well.

That would give Shisui a chance to prepare himself mentally.

It would also help sway Shisui toward his side.

As for Shisui, beyond his shock, he did indeed realize exactly what gave Bai Ye his confidence, just as Bai Ye had intended.

"My ability is Kotoamatsukami. It can influence someone's will without them noticing. For example, it could instantly turn your current intention to wage war against Konoha into a desire to protect it."

Shisui took a deep breath. By telling Bai Ye about his ability, he really was revealing some of his most guarded secrets.

He no longer intended to use Kotoamatsukami on Bai Ye.

If he had genuinely felt some hesitation at first,

then by now, Shisui had decided not to use it.

After all, there was no need to control him-and he could not control him either!

"So you told Hiruzen Sarutobi and the others about this ability?!"

Seeing the expression on Shisui's face, Bai Ye guessed exactly what he had been thinking.

In other words, Shisui had indeed told Hiruzen Sarutobi.

As for Danzo, Bai Ye assumed he knew as well.

Since they knew, Bai Ye now had a perfect plan.

It seemed that upon his return this time, Shisui had laid everything out for Hiruzen Sarutobi and the others.

That was why this attempt to control Bai Ye with Kotoamatsukami had come about.

Although Shisui did not understand why Bai Ye was asking, he nodded and said, "Yes, I told them about my ocular technique.

But I don't want to control you, Clan Head, because I truly feel that the Uchiha are changing for the better..."

Shisui did not want to control a Clan Head who could genuinely lead the Uchiha toward a better future.

Given the current situation, he knew full well that once he controlled Bai Ye, the Uchiha would go back to the way they had been.

"But do you realize that telling Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo about this ability could bring utter ruin upon you, or even the Uchiha?!"

The moment Bai Ye finished speaking, Shisui's expression changed, and a sense of foreboding rose in his heart.

What?!

What did he mean, bring utter ruin upon me and the Uchiha?!

What exactly was he saying?!