Chapter 39: Shisui’s Report, a Special Mission, and KotoamatsukamiHokage Building — Rooftop

"You’ve worked hard, Shisui. Being able to drive back Kirigakure with such minimal losses—you deserve the greatest credit for this operation."

Hiruzen Sarutobi spoke with a warm smile.

And this time, his praise was genuinely sincere.

There had been many occasions when the Kirigakure shinobi discovered that the person blocking their path was Shisui of the Body Flicker, and simply abandoned their missions.

What kind of treatment was that?

In Konoha’s history, there had previously only been two people who could make an enemy give up on a mission simply by appearing in front of them:

The White Fang of Konoha and the Yellow Flash!

Times had changed.

Now that both of them were gone, there was another person who had earned the same reputation.

Shisui of the Body Flicker!

"Lord Hokage, you’re flattering me. The credit belongs to all my comrades on the battlefield."

Shisui humbly declined the praise.

After chatting for a little while longer, Hiruzen brought up the special mission he had previously assigned Shisui.

It was the mission of getting close to Reiji and assessing his level of acceptance of the Will of Fire.

Shisui carefully considered his words before speaking:

"...In most situations, Reiji gets along well with his teammates, and he also has a very good reputation within the Uchiha clan."

"When it comes to his views on war, he tends to favor eliminating more enemies in exchange for peace. I don’t think it’s my place to judge whether that’s right or wrong."

"When it comes to comrades he recognizes, Reiji will do his best to protect them."

"Overall, I believe Reiji recognizes the village and his comrades, and is a shinobi who accepts the Will of Fire."

Hiruzen nodded repeatedly.

Yet inwardly, he couldn’t help but harbor some doubts.

According to Shisui, Uchiha Reiji was indeed more like the majority of the Uchiha than people like Shisui and Itachi, who were more strongly devoted to the village.

For a moment, he found himself agreeing with Danzo.

Even without Danzo’s attack, perhaps Uchiha Reiji would never have joined the ANBU and worked for him.

Fortunately, although Shisui wasn’t in the ANBU, he was still one of Hiruzen’s people.

And among the new generation of the Uchiha, there was also Uchiha Itachi, whom he could make use of.

Thinking of this, Hiruzen spoke warmly:

"I believe that, just like you and Itachi, Reiji is also an excellent shinobi who loves the village."

"Since Reiji now intends to join the Military Police Force, why not place him under the same squad as you?"

"When the time comes, I’ll need you to guide him a little more regarding the Will of Fire."

Shisui nodded repeatedly.

He hesitated inwardly, wondering whether he should advise the Hokage to place some restrictions on the members of the Sarutobi clan.

While he was still debating whether to speak, Hiruzen suddenly said:

"Shisui, the Uchiha clan’s hostility toward the village is growing deeper and deeper."

"Ah... I suppose that’s because I’m an incompetent Hokage."

As he spoke, Hiruzen removed his Hokage hat, revealing his head of white hair.

He turned around and looked up toward the Hokage Rock, as though he were afraid tears might fall from his eyes.

Seeing this, Shisui’s heart ached.

Lord Hokage is already a man in his sixties, yet he still has to worry about the future of the village.

His heart grew heavy.

The thought of advising Hiruzen about the Sarutobi clan was completely forgotten.

Without thinking, he blurted out:

"Lord Hokage, I want to do everything I can to try to change my clan members’ distrust of the village."

Hiruzen, who had his back turned to Shisui, frowned.

This child, Shisui...

Everything else about him is excellent. He’s just a little too naïve.

The resentment accumulated by an entire clan over years, even decades, was not something that could be easily changed.

The Uchiha’s resentment toward the village had deep roots.

Looking further back, it stemmed from their long-term exclusion from the village’s true center of power.

More recently, there had been the village’s suspicion of the Uchiha after the Nine-Tails incident, the forced relocation of the Uchiha compound, and the surveillance of the Uchiha district by the ANBU.

All of that resentment had accumulated over time.

How could a young man like Shisui possibly resolve it alone?

Yet outwardly, Hiruzen maintained an expression of approval.

"Since that’s what you want, I’ll assign you a special mission."

"The duration will be indefinite."

"Your mission is to restore the Uchiha clan’s trust in the village."

"However, Shisui, if your efforts fail and the Uchiha ultimately decide to launch a coup, what will you do then?"

Shisui’s body trembled.

It seemed he had thought of something he desperately didn’t want to remember.

He struggled internally for a long time.

Then he raised his head.

The three-tomoe pattern in his Sharingan began to change.

"This is..."

Hiruzen’s heart jolted.

He stared at the Sharingan whose tomoe had transformed into a four-pointed pinwheel pattern.

The Mangekyo Sharingan?!

Shisui’s Sharingan had already evolved to the Mangekyo?!

"If the Uchiha ever launch a coup in the future, I will use my ocular technique, Kotoamatsukami, to control Clan Leader Fugaku and eliminate his intention to lead the clan into a coup."

Shisui then revealed the secret of his Mangekyo ability, Kotoamatsukami.

Hiruzen’s body practically froze.

His gaze toward Shisui was completely unable to move away.

Kotoamatsukami.

A genjutsu capable of silently altering another person’s will.

A power that could quietly change, and even control, another person’s very thoughts and intentions.

It was simply terrifying.

However...

When Hiruzen realized that Shisui had even revealed this secret to him, he couldn’t help but relax.

He asked a few more questions, confirming that Shisui had never told anyone else about Kotoamatsukami.

Only then did Hiruzen truly put his mind at ease.

Inwardly, he couldn’t help but feel pleased with himself.

It was all thanks to years of teaching the Will of Fire, day after day, year after year.

That’s why Shisui is now completely willing to work for him.

And more importantly...

With Shisui’s Kotoamatsukami, he could control Uchiha Fugaku.

Once that happened, the entire Uchiha clan would fall under his control.

His position as Hokage would become even more secure.

Thinking about that beautiful future, Hiruzen spoke with a gentle smile:

"Then go ahead and do it boldly."

"Do your best to change the hearts of your fellow Uchiha."

Shisui accepted the mission and left.

Hiruzen, however, had no real hope that Shisui could accomplish it.

His mind had already drifted toward the future.

A future in which the entire Uchiha clan was completely under his control.

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