Hokage Building.
Inside the conference room.
Tension hung thick in the air. Sitting across from the long table were the village's oldest and most powerful: Hiruzen Sarutobi, Danzo Shimura, Homura Mitokado, and Utatane Koharu.
Facing them was none other than Uchiha Shisui—calm on the surface, but under heavy scrutiny.
Danzo's voice cut through the silence like a kunai. "Shisui, we've given you time. But surely you don't need us to spell out what's happening anymore, do you? Your clan has been mobilizing, arming themselves. That much is obvious."
He leaned forward, eyes sharp. "You need to make a choice. Now."
Shisui didn't speak.
He couldn't deny it. Over the past two years, after the Uchiha elders pressured Fugaku into agreeing to their movement, the clan had quietly spread its influence, testing the waters with carefully placed actions—surveillance placements, hidden supply chains, troop coordination.
Subtle... but not invisible.
And the people across from him? They were anything but blind.
The excuse Danzo used was perfect—under the guise of "security" and "loyalty," he was simply laying groundwork for Uchiha elimination. After all, what better opportunity to grab more Sharingan?
Danzo's words weren't lies. But the intent behind them? That was poison.
And Shisui knew it.
Two years ago, Hiruzen had personally reached out to him—the "benevolent" Hokage playing his role. He appealed to Shisui's ideals, dangled memories of his grandfather Uchiha Kagami, praised his "Will of Fire," and convinced him to act as a bridge between the Uchiha and the village.
In truth? They'd made Shisui a double agent.
He reported everything the clan did, even the smallest movements, directly to the Hokage. And to the clan, he claimed he was still searching for an opening.
Delaying.
Hoping for peace.
But peace never came. The Uchiha's suspicion only grew with every day of silence. And what Shisui didn't realize was that Danzo was actively fanning the flames behind the scenes, ensuring this bridge he was trying to be would eventually collapse.
"I just need more time!" Shisui said suddenly, voice louder than intended. "I can still turn this around—I know I can!"
The elders exchanged glances.
Homura sighed. "It's not about belief, Shisui. The situation is worsening. We don't have the luxury to keep waiting."
Koharu nodded. "If the Uchiha act first, the village could fall into civil war. You understand that don't you?"
"I do! That's why I'm begging you! One last chance!"
His voice cracked slightly. His composure was breaking. He was desperate—not for himself, but to avoid bloodshed.
The elders glanced toward Hiruzen.
Of course they did. He was the one who had raised this pawn.
Hiruzen sighed dramatically. "Shisui, I fought beside your grandfather. Kagami was one of the noblest shinobi I've ever known. He believed in the village—and in peace. We all hoped you would inherit his spirit. Don't let us down now."
Another tug on the emotional chain.
That name—Kagami—always struck Shisui where he was most vulnerable.
His grip on his sleeves tightened.
"...I won't," Shisui whispered. Then, suddenly—his eyes flared red. The black tomoe swirled and twisted into a new shape.
Mangekyō Sharingan.
He didn't hide it.
The room froze.
The elders' backs straightened, and for a second—even Danzo's fingers twitched near his robe. A flicker of killing intent surged through the air.
"...Mangekyō," Hiruzen said slowly.
They all knew what it meant. The Mangekyō wasn't just powerful—it was dangerous. It had ties to the Nine Tails. It was an unknown factor in the hands of an already paranoid clan.
But Shisui spoke quickly.
"The ability I awakened lets me influence minds," he said. "I can rewrite memories, change thoughts. If persuasion doesn't work, I'll use this... just this once. I can stop the coup without anyone dying." he started explaining his power's name and ability's
He didn't expect applause.
But he didn't expect fear.
The air grew colder.
The elders didn't see a peacekeeper—they saw a loaded weapon.
Danzo's eyes narrowed. Kotoamatsukami. A genjutsu powerful enough to rewrite a person's very will? If Shisui turned against them—even for a second—the consequences would be devastating.
The others realized the same thing.
Their unease deepened.
Their silence spoke volumes.
Then, as expected, Hiruzen put on his warmest mask and nodded. "That's remarkable, Shisui. I always knew you would surpass even Kagami. I won't stop you. Go prepare for the future."
Shisui exhaled, relieved. "Thank you... I won't fail."
He turned and left the room, his back straight, unaware of the daggers in the eyes behind him.
The moment the door closed, the temperature in the room dropped even lower.
The elders didn't speak for a while.
Finally, Danzo broke the silence.
"You all understand, right?" he said flatly. "Shisui can no longer be trusted. That kind of power? No shinobi should possess it—not without oversight."
No one replied.
But no one objected.
Because Danzo was right.
The threat Shisui now posed was even greater than the Uchiha's plans for rebellion.
A genjutsu so subtle, so undetectable, that it could enter the mind of any individual within their field of view, and manipulate them by giving them phantom experiences, making it seem as if they were doing things of their own free will. rewriting someone's entire sense of loyalty?
It didn't matter what Shisui said.
It didn't matter what his intentions were.
No one could risk being the next target of that power.
They had no proof he wouldn't use it on them.
And that uncertainty was more dangerous than any coup.
Seeing no one raise a counterargument, Danzo scoffed internally.
Hmph. They want to appear righteous, but they'll let me do their dirty work. As always.
Without another word, Danzo turned and walked out of the Hokage Building—already preparing for what would come next.
tap tap tap
the fading of his cane was heard
Shisui had revealed too much.
And soon…
He wouldn't be a problem anymore.