This ultimate dōjutsu, capable of reviving its user on the spot, was in some respects even more powerful than the Rinnegan!
"That's right." Haruma nodded. "That sneaky bastard's knowledge and research into our Uchiha Clan go far deeper than you imagine."
Shisui's brow furrowed tightly. Though he found it unbelievable, these words came from his close friend, who could see the future, so he did not doubt them.
Puzzled, Shisui asked outright, "But Danzo doesn't have our Uchiha Clan's bloodline, does he?"
"Without the support of our kekkei genkai, even transplanted Sharingan would soon suffer from rejection."
Members of the Uchiha Clan needed to experience intense stimulation to awaken their eyes.
Some clan members never even had a chance to awaken their eyes in their entire lives.
Many members of the Uchiha Clan had died on the battlefield. The reason ninja from other countries had not transplanted their Sharingan was that they did not possess the Uchiha Clan's bloodline.
They did not even meet the conditions for awakening or evolving the eyes.
Forcibly transplanting them would cause a rejection reaction between the bloodline and the eyes. As a result, the Sharingan would permanently lose the ability to deactivate or evolve.
The activated Sharingan would continuously drain their host's chakra, twenty-four hours a day.
That was why Shisui found this so unbelievable.
Shisui could understand Danzo stealing his Mangekyō Sharingan.
After all, the power of Kotoamatsukami spoke for itself.
It could invade another person's brain and directly rewrite their consciousness, subtly turning them into an obedient puppet.
With vast chakra reserves approaching Kage Level, sustaining a single Mangekyō Sharingan would not be too great a burden. Shisui would not be surprised if Danzo transplanted a Sharingan to use for a sneak attack.
But if they were merely other two-tomoe or three-tomoe Sharingan, transplanting them would not strengthen Danzo.
That was precisely what Shisui could not understand.
"Shisui, you're still underestimating Danzo." Haruma crossed his legs and said calmly, "Danzo's ambition and nerve are enormous."
"Our Uchiha Clan isn't the only thing he's been researching, you know~"
"After all, Konoha's history does include someone who could beat Madara Uchiha to a pulp head-on!"
"The First Hokage... Hashirama Senju!!!"
Shisui quickly picked up the thread, a trace of horror entering his voice!
After all, back then, there had been only one person capable of defeating Madara Uchiha head-on, not just in Konoha, but in the entire Shinobi World.
After saying that, Shisui was rendered speechless by Danzo's ruthlessness and audacity.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk."
Rather than answer, Haruma sneered. "I wonder how Danzo's teacher, Tobirama Senju, would feel if he knew his student was experimenting with cells from his beloved older brother's remains?"
"Extensive human experimentation, combined with assistance from Orochimaru, the Shinobi World's great scientist..."
"If Danzo, who has transplanted Hashirama cells, also equipped himself with the Uchiha Clan's Sharingan..."
"A mere position as the Hokage's assistant wouldn't satisfy his ambition."
"That's also what gives him the confidence to turn himself into a many-eyed monster."
Glancing at Shisui, who was still standing there in a daze, Haruma continued, "Danzo certainly won't readily believe what's in the letter, but as long as there's even a one-percent chance... he'll definitely show up tonight."
"After all, Danzo already has Hashirama cells and has mastered the dōjutsu Izanagi. His craving for Sharingan now is like that of a shark that has caught the scent of blood."
"There's no need to drive it along. It'll follow the scent and charge over on its own."
After hearing these secrets from his close friend, Shisui's disgust for Danzo was almost overflowing.
"Then, knowing all this, are we still going to hand the Sharingan over to Danzo?"
Killing intent flickered wildly in Shisui's eyes. "Why don't we set an ambush at the exchange site before the Sharingan are traded away? We could finish Danzo off tonight."
"Then we can tell the Third Hokage everything Danzo has done. We might even ease the tension between our clan and the village."
After receiving no answer for quite some time, Shisui turned toward his close friend and found him looking him up and down with a very strange gaze.
"Wh-what's wrong?"
Shisui asked blankly.
"Ambush Danzo?"
"Tell the Third?"
"Ease tensions with the village?"
Haruma looked Shisui over as though he were looking at an "idiot" and said, "You don't actually think you're being funny, do you?"
"If that sneaky bastard Danzo were so easy to deal with, he wouldn't have lived this long. You wouldn't even get a turn to ambush him."
"Believe it or not, the moment that old schemer finished reading the letter, he'd already arranged for men to lie in ambush near the exchange site."
It had to be said that, at that moment, Haruma really did seem to be thinking in sync with Danzo.
He had even anticipated the step of arranging men ahead of time.
Shisui stood there in a daze, unsure how to react, because he had heard the mockery in his close friend's voice.
"You think Danzo could accomplish so much in Konoha! Right under the Hokage's nose!"
"If you really think that old bastard Hiruzen Sarutobi knows absolutely nothing, I suggest you go find that old woman Tsunade and have your head examined!"
"You mean... the Third Hokage knows about all these things Danzo has done!?" Even a trace of trembling entered Shisui's voice.
"No shit!"
Haruma looked at Shisui, his tone filled with exasperation at his failure to understand. "Human experimentation, research into Hashirama cells—which of those doesn't require enormous funding, loads of equipment, and support and assistance from elite ninja!"
"If the leader of Konoha could be completely unaware of something this big, then I'd really have to wonder whether Konoha's Hokage is that old bastard Sarutobi or that sneaky bastard Danzo!"
"Stop dreaming about peaceful coexistence! We can rely only on ourselves to save the Uchiha Clan!"
Seeing Shisui's head droop lower and lower, Haruma softened his tone and comforted him. "Just follow my orders, and that's that. The Uchiha Clan won't fall so easily."
That's right!
The Hokage isn't reliable, but my best friend is!
What am I getting so dejected about!?
If I can't figure it out, then I should stop thinking about it.
Wouldn't it be fine to just put my head down and follow my best friend's lead!?
At that thought,
Shisui looked at Haruma with a burning gaze and said confidently, "I understand!"
Seeing Shisui regain his confidence, Haruma said in satisfaction, "Exactly! Why think so much? Just follow my arrangements."
He had been teaching this kid for over a year, and this time, he had finally gotten through to him completely.
At that moment, a game panel seemed to appear above Shisui's head.
It read: Puppet loyalty +1!