Suppression
After Minato Namikaze, Hiruzen Sarutobi, and Orochimaru departed, only Chi Yu and Uchiha Shisui remained in the office.
Neither spoke. The air was heavy, the silence sharp enough to cut.
Chi Yu leaned back in his chair, crossing one leg over the other as he studied Shisui.
"It must be exhausting for the Fourth Hokage. To keep tabs on me, he's planted you in the Konoha Defense Force—and even arranged for Anbu to back you up."
Shisui's expression remained composed but firm.
"The Fourth didn't bring me in to 'monitor' you. And those Anbu aren't here as my backup. He trusts me—that's why he assigned me here, to manage the Defense Force with you."
A faint, mocking smile tugged at Chi Yu's lips.
"Heh… believe what you like, Shisui. But take my advice—don't get in my way. You know my methods."
Shisui's gaze hardened.
"Showing your true colors already, Chi Yu? I won't stand by and let you act recklessly."
"True colors?" Chi Yu's tone was cold amusement. "Everyone knows the purpose of this Defense Force. And as for acting recklessly… I'm the most law-abiding man you'll meet. If I violate anything, go ahead—report me to the Fourth Hokage himself. He's backing you, and by extension, your clan. Let him be the one to punish me."
Shisui's jaw tightened.
"Why? Why do you target the Uchiha so much? Yes, what happened before was our clan's fault. But during the war, didn't enough Uchiha already die because of you? Can't that hatred end?"
The smile vanished from Chi Yu's face. His expression stayed neutral, but the pressure rolling off him made Shisui's muscles tense.
"Died because of me?" Chi Yu's voice was low, cutting. "They died because they were weak—killed by the enemy. You want to put that on me?"
Shisui opened his mouth to respond, but Chi Yu cut him off.
"No… go ahead. Blame me. I did make choices that led to their deaths. And you know who authorized those choices? The Third Hokage and Danzō. So why don't you take your outrage to them? Repeat those words to their faces."
Chi Yu's eyes narrowed.
"As for my 'hatred'—you think it can fade with just a few deaths? No. I'll be satisfied only when the Uchiha Clan is trampled into the ground, never to rise again."
Shisui's Mangekyō Sharingan flared to life without him realizing it.
Chi Yu's own Mangekyō answered in kind, locking onto Shisui's gaze.
"What now?" Chi Yu said, voice dripping with provocation. "Planning to use Kotoamatsukami? Rewriting my will might be the only way to stop me. But if you fail, your eyes will be mine."
Shisui froze, his breath catching. No one was supposed to know about Kotoamatsukami—not even within the clan. The technique's existence was a dangerous secret; if word spread, it would bring nothing but suspicion and enemies. And yet, Chi Yu had named it outright.
Worse still… Shisui had briefly considered using it.
Chi Yu smirked at his silence.
"Scared? Then don't point those eyes at me. To me, that's a provocation."
Shisui deactivated his Mangekyō, pale-faced.
Chi Yu rose and stepped in close, towering over him.
"You can try Kotoamatsukami anytime you like. But know this—using it on me is an act of war. You, Fugaku, even the Fourth Hokage… none of you can stop me."
With that, Chi Yu turned and left.
Shisui sat motionless, head lowered. He had thought that, with the Fourth Hokage's support, he could counterbalance Chi Yu's influence here. But reality was different—crushing. From the very start, Chi Yu had seized the upper hand, leaving Shisui unable to so much as lift his head.
The truth was now painfully clear: Chi Yu saw through him completely, and there was no obvious way to fight back.
---
Outside, Chi Yu summoned thirty Root operatives.
"Post recruitment notices on every bulletin board in Konoha. State that any shinobi who wishes to join the Defense Force can apply here directly. List Root-level benefits for those who pass—first batch limited to twenty slots."
The Root shinobi vanished in unison, Body Flicker Techniques whisking them away.
Shisui was beneath his notice now; Chi Yu didn't even spare him another thought.
Three hours later, the Root operatives returned.
"All notices posted, Lord Chi Yu!"
"Good," Chi Yu replied. "Wait here."
He strode back into the office. Shisui was still at his desk, deep in thought, trying to plan his next move.
"Deputy Captain," Chi Yu said evenly, "bring your Anbu. It's time to assign them their tasks."
Shisui straightened, nodded without a word, and followed Chi Yu out—where his Anbu stood in formation opposite Chi Yu's Root shinobi, awaiting orders.
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