"Hiss... Shisui, you're still as strong as ever."
Uchiha Itachi held his backside with one hand and gave Shisui Uchiha a thumbs-up with the other.
"You're not bad yourself. In a few more years, you might even catch up to me, Itachi."
"Yeah!"
Encouraged by Shisui Uchiha, Uchiha Itachi's eyes lit up, but they soon dimmed again. He propped his chin in both hands and gazed at the moon overhead.
"Ah, Shisui, tell me-what's really the best choice for us Uchiha?"
"Our pride as Uchiha? But for that pride, we lost far too many clansmen in this battle. And if it was for Konoha's Will of Fire, the Third Hokage hasn't acknowledged anything we sacrificed in this battle."
"What path should we Uchiha take from here?"
Looking at Uchiha Itachi's tightly furrowed brow, Shisui Uchiha smiled faintly and struck again.
This little brother of his, Uchiha Itachi, had tremendous talent for ninjutsu and combat. He simply thought about too many things.
"Ow! Shisui, why did you hit my head again? That hurts!"
"Itachi, I've given you so many hints all this time, but you're still thinking in the wrong direction. I'm disappointed."
"Huh? I'm thinking in the wrong direction?"
At Shisui Uchiha's words, Uchiha Itachi froze, instantly forgetting the pain in his head. His eyes widened as he looked at Shisui Uchiha expectantly.
"Shisui, stop keeping me in suspense. Just tell me."
"I really can't say no to you. All right."
Seeing that the moment had come, Shisui Uchiha wasted no more words and spoke with a serious expression.
"Itachi, didn't I tell you before that perhaps the Will of Fire would suit the Uchiha better as we are now, that it could save us from the flames?"
"Yes!"
Uchiha Itachi nodded.
"But what do you think the true Will of Fire is?"
"The true one? Konoha's interests, as represented by the Third Hokage, the overall direction of Konoha's future, and..."
"Ow!"
Uchiha Itachi took another knock to the head.
"Wrong!"
Shisui Uchiha's expression abruptly turned solemn.
"That isn't the true Will of Fire. That's the will of Konoha's current leaders. The only Will of Fire worthy of our Uchiha's belief, the only one that can save us from this misery, is the First Hokage's Will of Fire!"
"Not the current Will of Fire, but the First Hokage's Will of Fire, the Will of Fire of the Senju lineage's heirs..."
Hearing Shisui Uchiha's words, Uchiha Itachi sank into thoughtful silence.
In the very beginning, Lord Madara Uchiha, the representative of their Uchiha Clan, and Lord Hashirama Senju of the Senju Clan had moved forward with a shared goal.
In that era, the Uchiha Clan and the Senju Clan had lived together in peace, working together to establish Konoha.
Shisui seemed to be right!
Seeing the light in Uchiha Itachi's eyes slowly turn resolute, Shisui Uchiha nodded slightly and spoke again, fanning the flames.
"Itachi, I originally didn't want to give you the answer outright, but I suspect it won't be long before a series of blows from forces inside and outside the village shatters Konoha's peace. Our generation of young Uchiha doesn't have much time left."
"So you can't keep feeling lost. It'll slow down your progress! In the future, I'll need you at my side to protect our family, to protect the Uchiha!"
Uchiha Itachi already trusted Shisui Uchiha implicitly and even idolized him. Hearing those words, his eyes sparkled, and he answered excitedly.
"Yes, Shisui! I won't let you down. I'll do everything I can to get stronger!"
"Good."
Shisui Uchiha reached out and stroked Uchiha Itachi's head. Then, after helping him with a few questions about ninjutsu, he turned and left Uchiha Itachi's home.
After all, he still belonged to Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi's faction. Staying here too long might arouse the man's suspicions.
When dealing with that old fox, he had to stay cautious at all times!
Still, before leaving, he made a contingency preparation for what lay ahead.
"Wood Release: Wood Clone Technique!"
Although Hiruzen Sarutobi could use his crystal ball to observe events within a certain area, he wouldn't dare spy on the Uchiha Clan Head's residence late at night with Uchiha Fugaku there!
After concealing one of his Wood Clones in the darkness, Shisui Uchiha used the Body Flicker Technique and returned to Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi's residence to report.
Then, after completing his assigned patrol, he fell asleep with his back against a tree near Hiruzen Sarutobi's residence.
At present, Hiruzen Sarutobi saw him as an extremely valuable pawn, so he had no need to worry about the man attacking him.
Moreover, this behavior would make Hiruzen Sarutobi lower his guard around him more and more. Once the man had dropped his guard completely, his chance to act would come!
Meanwhile, outside Orochimaru's residence, a dark figure flickered through the night at an unbelievable speed. Like a phantom, he evaded one Root ninja after another.
"Orochimaru, my first ally, here I come."
Before you continue