"Shisui, did Itachi really say that?"
In the Hokage Office, Hiruzen stared gloomily at Shisui who was half-kneeling in front of him.
"Yes, Hokage-sama."
There was a hint of bitterness in Shisui's tone.
He knew that if he truthfully reported Itachi's attitude to Hiruzen, Itachi would undoubtedly be wary of and suppressed by Konoha's top brass.
But he couldn't just watch as his best friend went further and further down the wrong path.
After receiving Shisui's confirmation, Hiruzen's fingers holding the tobacco pipe were trembling slightly.
Although his expression did not change much, anyone could see at a glance that he was very frustrated at this moment.
'Even Itachi...'
Did Itachi, the one he had always favored, the one who inherited the Will of Fire, also betray him?
'Mirai, what brainwashing method did you use to make Itachi switch to your side?'
A series of negative emotions such as shock, anger, and unwillingness emnated from Hiruzen's eyes, making his face at this moment seem to be covered with a layer of gloom.
"Hiruzen, we can't go on like this."
Koharu, who was sitting on the left side of Hiruzen, said with a trembling voice after being silent for a long time.
"I heard that he is training the Uchiha people en-masse. What exactly does he want to do?"
The look in her eyes at this moment was not anger or disgust for Mirai, but a look of fear.
Fear of the unknown.
Since Mirai returned to the village, all the actions he had taken have been wighing down on them.
In the battle in the southern part of Konoha a few days ago, Mirai showed a nightmarish display of strength.
With such strength, Mirai had truly become Koharu's nightmare.
The name "Namikaze Mirai" were like the Sword of Damocles suspended above her head.
It could fall at any time.
Facing Koharu's fear.
Hiruzen wanted to speak, but he didn't know what to say.
Even though he was unwilling to give up, at this moment, he couldn't think of any good coping strategy.
The only option was silence.
All of this was taken in by Danzo, who was sitting on his right, and his left eye glowed with a cold light.
'Hiruzen, you are still so weak.'
'Namikaze Mirai is already on our heads, but you are still thinking about how to give in!'
'The Nine-Tails has fallen into the hands of Uchiha. If they want, they can have another Nine-Tails Riot Night!'
'What if it really comes to that point? What can Konoha do to stop it?'
'Now, it's time to make a choice.'
'Your weakness will only cause harm. At such critical moments, it is still me who has to take action.'
After a short period of entanglement, Danzo stood up and left with his crutches.
Hiruzen looked at his back, and suddenly felt that there was something odd from the back of his old friend.
It seemed that something was brewing vaguely.
"Hokage-sama, I will take my leave."
Sensing the heavy atmosphere in the air, Shisui knew that there was no point in staying any longer, so he spoke up to ask permission to leave.
"Yes."
Hiruzen nodded heavily.
…
Walking out of the Hokage Building, Shisui looked at the huge building behind him, the haze in his heart had still not dissipated.
Village, and the clan, what should I do?
'Why can't the clan members understand the Will of Fire? Why can't everyone solve the problem through peaceful means?'
Before, at least Itachi could identify with him.
But now, even Itachi walked across from him.
'Could it be that in the end, conflicts can only be resolved with blood?'
With a heavy heart, he began to return to his clan, jumping from the roof of the building one after another, and soon passed through the bustling area and came to a woods.
Through this forest, one could reach the Uchiha clan residence.
As soon as he arrived there, Shisui noticed a man standing on the road he must pass, with his right arm and face covered with bandages.
Shisui instantly determined the identity of the other party.
The leader of Root, Shimura Danzo.
"Danzo-sama, are you waiting here specifically for me?"
Shisui asked, taking a deep breath.
Danzo was the first to leave the meeting just now.
'Could it be that he left early just to wait for me here?'
A sense of vigilance arose in his heart.
Shisui knew very well that the man who took the name of the Root of Konoha was by no means as kind as the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen.
Sure enough, when Danzo finished his first sentence, his heart suddenly shuddered.
"Shisui, there is a task that I need you to complete."
Danzo's left eye flashed with a cold light, and he looked at Shisui opposite him with a scrutinizing gaze.
"What mission?"
"Bring me the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki."
'What?!'
His pupils suddenly shrank, and his mouth opened slightly in surprise. Shisui could hardly believe his ears, and looked at Danzo in disbelief.
The Nine-Tails Jinchūriki is Uzumaki Naruto, the surviving son of the Fourth Hokage.
If he remembered correctly, he was currently in the Uchiha clan residence, living in the mansion of clan leader Fugaku.
Worst of all, Mirai lives there too.
It would be extremely difficult to take Naruto away from that man.
"Danzo-sama, with all due respect, why do want me to bring Uzumaki Naruto?"
Shisui asked in a heavy tone.
He didn't understand why Danzo wanted to do this?
Once Naruto is taken away, the man is bound to be angered.
It's hard to predict how things would progress by then.
"Shisui, you don't want Uchiha to perish, right?"
Danzo's remaining single eye narrowed and examined Shisui, as if he wanted to see through him along with the deepest thoughts in his heart.
"Why do you say that, Danzo-sama?"
Danzo said expressionlessly, "The current Uchiha is like walking on a tightrope, and may fall off a cliff at any time. And the trigger of everything is because of that man."
"He brought the Nine-Tailed Jinchūriki to Uchiha, Shisui, as an Anbu, you should know what this means, right?"
Shisui clenched his fingers unwillingly. Why wouldn't he understand what this meant?
As Konoha's war weapon, the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki is of great significance.
This move undoubtedly placed a sharp blade over the heads of Konoha's top brass.
"As long as you bring the Jinchūriki to me, I will make the decision favorable on the Uchiha side, think about it carefully."
Danzo narrowed his eyes slightly and waited for his reply.
Shisui closed his eyes, seeming to be hesitating and struggling.
Finally, he opened his eyes and sighed.
"Danzo-sama, I am sorry but I cannot complete your mission."
Danzo's face stiffened.
There was a trace of anger in his eyes.
"Shisui! Do you know what you are talking about?! How dare you refuse me?!"
"Danzo-sama, I am indeed worried about that man's arrival, and I am also puzzled by Itachi's choice, but..."
Shisui looked straight at Danzo.
"One thing I know very well, kidnapping Naruto is like detonating a barrel of explosives full of uncertainty. The consequences of such an action is completely unpredictable."
"Danzo-sama, if there is nothing else, I will take my leave."
*Whoosh*
Shisui disappeared.
Danzo was left alone.
Danzo's face turned ferocious.
He gritted his teeth.
"Shisui! Now, even you dare to refuse me!"
"Do you think I can't get the Jinchūriki without you?"
*****
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