Chapter 79: Konoha’s High-Level Meeting

Chapter 79: Chapter 79: Konoha’s High-Level Meeting

Shisui had never imagined that the situation could be this serious, and for a moment, he was completely flustered.

He had always believed that what he was doing was right, while those crazed clansmen of his were the ones in the wrong. But after hearing what Hyuga Kagami had to say, he finally began to realize that by confessing everything to the village higher-ups, he might have inadvertently given the Uchiha yet another hard shove toward the abyss.

Shisui bowed deeply to Hyuga Kagami and said sincerely, "Senpai, I would never use Kotoamatsukami on my comrades. Please, you have to believe me on that."

Hyuga Kagami shook his head. "This has nothing to do with whether I believe you or not. When faced with someone who can alter your will at any moment, anyone would instinctively feel fear and wariness. Even I’m no exception."

Shisui looked somewhat lost. "But I..."

"Whether you’re loyal to Konoha or not, whether you’re righteous and kind or not—none of that matters. As long as you possess the ability to control another person’s will, in everyone else’s eyes, you are an undeniable threat." After a brief pause, Hyuga Kagami sighed. "At the end of the day, Kotoamatsukami is simply too unsettling of a forbidden technique."

By now, Shisui finally understood where the real problem lay. He hurriedly asked, "Senpai, then... is there any way to fix this?"

Hyuga Kagami rested his chin on one hand and pondered for a while before answering, "For now, I can’t think of any good solution either. But you’d better not do anything unnecessary from this point on. The village still hasn’t finished its peace negotiations with Kumogakure, so they won’t make a move against the Uchiha anytime soon. As for what happens in the future... we’ll deal with it when the time comes."

Shisui’s problem lay with Kotoamatsukami. As long as his Mangekyo Sharingan remained in his eye sockets, there was no way the village higher-ups would ever completely accept him.

Shisui silently nodded.

Thinking of Obito, who was still lurking outside the village and constantly stirring up trouble, Hyuga Kagami added another warning. "Oh, right. Pay more attention to whether any suspicious individuals have been appearing around your clan compound."

"You mean...?"

"I wasn’t in the village during the Nine-Tails Incident a year ago, but according to the intelligence I’ve gathered, the Nine-Tails was indeed being controlled by the Sharingan at the time."

Shisui’s expression immediately turned ugly. "Senpai, you suspect that the Nine-Tails Incident was orchestrated by the Uchiha?"

"The facts are right there. It’s inevitable that the Uchiha would come under suspicion." Glancing at Shisui, Hyuga Kagami continued to subtly guide his thoughts. "Besides, even if an Uchiha really was responsible, that doesn’t necessarily mean it was an Uchiha from the village."

Shisui suddenly seemed to remember something and fell deep into thought.

Over the past several decades of Uchiha history, quite a few clansmen had left the village or disappeared without explanation. The most famous among them was none other than Uchiha Madara, who had founded Konoha alongside the First Hokage.

Therefore, it was entirely possible that members of the Uchiha bloodline still existed outside Konoha.

The two chatted for a while longer before Shisui said his goodbyes and left.

Watching Shisui’s departing figure, Hyuga Kagami shook his head.

As the most talented ninja of his generation in the Uchiha clan, Shisui was nearly flawless in every other respect. But when it came to understanding the human heart and discerning people’s true intentions, he was still far too na?ve.

In Hyuga Kagami’s memories from his previous life, the reason someone like Shisui—who was practically unbeatable in a one-on-one fight—had died such a pathetic death was inseparable from this aspect of his personality.

Inside a small conference room in the Hokage Building.

The Third Hokage was discussing the peace negotiations between the village and Kumogakure with the three elders of the advisory council. When the topic turned to Team 11’s secret mission, the Third Hokage clapped his hands.

Kakashi, who had been waiting outside the conference room to be questioned, heard the signal and walked in. He then gave the three elders a complete account of everything he knew about how Team 11 had carried out and completed the mission.

After Kakashi finished, the Third Hokage said calmly, "You may leave."

Kakashi nodded and exited the conference room.

Koharu Utatane said, "So it was Team 11 harassing Kumogakure’s supply lines from behind their front that forced them to slow their offensive. In that case, Team 11 has rendered a great service to the village this time."

Homura Mitokado, sitting beside her, nodded in agreement. "Mm. We should consider promotions and rewards for Team 11."

At that moment, Danzo suddenly spoke up.

"The intelligence received by my Root says otherwise."

Not only the two advisors, but even the Third Hokage turned toward Danzo, waiting for him to continue.

Danzo said coldly, "The reason Kumogakure suddenly slowed its offensive was because they suffered catastrophic losses in their rear. According to reports, more than three hundred Kumogakure shinobi, including several elite jonin, were killed in a single night. Even the Fourth Raikage left Kumogakure because of it."

"This..."

Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado exchanged glances.

The moment the Third Hokage heard this, he immediately thought of Shisui, who had voluntarily confessed to him yesterday that he had awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan. His expression darkened at once, and he silently puffed on his pipe for a long while without saying a word.

Danzo rose to his feet and demanded, "Why didn’t Team 11 report this? Why would they conceal an achievement of this magnitude?"

Koharu Utatane turned to the Third Hokage and asked gravely, "Does Team 11 truly possess that kind of combat strength?"

For the four members of Team 11 to annihilate more than three hundred Kumogakure shinobi in a single night meant that at least one of them possessed Kage-level strength.

The Third Hokage could only answer helplessly, "Uchiha Shisui has awakened the legendary Mangekyo Sharingan."

Koharu Utatane was startled. She immediately frowned. "That’s the legendary cursed power. Someone in the Uchiha clan has actually awakened it again?"

Homura Mitokado muttered under his breath, "Could he become another Uchiha Madara...?"

Danzo, however, wasn’t finished. He continued in an ominous tone, "Hiruzen, it seems you’ve left something out."

The Third Hokage stared at Danzo, his gaze sharpening.

Under the Third Hokage’s piercing stare, Danzo remained completely unfazed.

He said, "Uchiha Shisui’s Mangekyo Sharingan can cast a forbidden technique known as ’Kotoamatsukami.’ It can instantly alter the victim’s will and turn them into a puppet."

"What!?"

Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado were both horrified.

Sweeping his gaze across the shocked faces of his two colleagues, Danzo gave a cold smile and said, "I propose that we immediately take coercive measures against Uchiha Shisui!"

After recovering from their initial shock, Koharu and Homura both voiced their agreement.

"Agreed."

The Third Hokage firmly shook his head. "Shisui is the bridge of communication between us and the Uchiha. If we take coercive measures against him, we’ll only provoke the Uchiha clan. And right now, the village’s peace negotiations with Kumogakure are at a critical stage. If internal unrest breaks out in the village at a time like this, the consequences would be disastrous."

Danzo seemed to have anticipated that the Third Hokage would say this, so he settled for the next best thing.

"Then place Uchiha Shisui on the surveillance list and have Root monitor him!"

After pondering for a moment, the Third Hokage ultimately nodded.

The Third Hokage’s concession left Danzo quite satisfied. Then, recalling how Hyuga Kagami had rejected his invitation yesterday, he spoke again.

"Team 11 concealed important information. Their loyalty is questionable. I propose that every member of Team 11 be placed on the surveillance list as well..."