Shisui fell silent.
Just as Uchiha Kai had expected—although Shisui had been heavily indoctrinated by Sarutobi Hiruzen, that didn't mean he was stupid.
He still had his own sense of judgment.
Especially when Kai gave that example—Shisui couldn't help but empathize.
Has Senju Hashirama done wrong?
From Konoha's perspective—absolutely not!
Even if the Nine-Tails hadn't committed any crimes, its overwhelming power was an uncontrollable factor in the shinobi world.
Consider this: hadn't Uchiha Madara once seized the Nine-Tails and used it to battle Hashirama?
From that standpoint, whether or not the beast had ever caused trouble was irrelevant. What mattered was that it could. And if left free, it could always be used by someone else.
In such circumstances, imprisoning it was perfectly reasonable.
Shisui fully understood Hashirama's decision, and he didn't believe the First Hokage was wrong.
But—on the Nine-Tails' side, was this remotely justifiable?
I've done nothing wrong, never even harmed a human… yet because I'm strong, you lock me up?
Any thinking being would reject that completely.
Even Shisui himself would not accept it.
So—there was no absolute right or wrong here.
It was all a matter of perspective.
That was just a story.
But applied to the Uchiha clan?
It fit perfectly.
Like the Nine-Tails under Hashirama's control, the Uchiha's intentions didn't matter.
What mattered was that they could rebel—
and they refused to obey.
So that's it…!
Shisui's eyes widened slightly.
He had worked for years, hoping to change Konoha's treatment of the Uchiha—yet nothing had improved.
Now, after hearing Kai's words, he finally understood the root of the problem.
But at the same time…
He realized all his efforts up until now had been nothing but wasted energy.
A flicker of despair passed through his gaze.
"Is it really… impossible to change?"
"No… no, that's not true!"
"I can still seek advice from the Hokage. Lord Hiruzen must have a solution.
Once this mission ends, I'll report everything to him—he'll definitely think of a way.
He's the Hokage—how could there be something he cannot resolve?"
Shisui muttered softly to himself.
Yes.
No matter how convincing Kai sounded, his trust in Hiruzen was instinctive, ingrained.
Kai frowned slightly.
He hadn't even slandered Sarutobi by name—he had only criticized "the higher-ups."
Yet Shisui still clung to this blind faith?
No. This wouldn't do.
If any of this talk reached Hiruzen, the Hokage would surely try to eliminate him.
He had been reckless. He shouldn't have said so much to Shisui!
What now?
His mind spun rapidly. Then, suddenly, he asked:
"By the way, Shisui—what do you think about Hatake Sakumo's suicide?
I want to hear your honest view."
Shisui blinked, dumbfounded.
He was still tangled up with thoughts about the clan—why bring up Hatake Sakumo now?
But after this conversation, he had to admit—this "younger brother" he had always tried to protect clearly saw the world far more clearly than he did.
So instead of dismissing it, Shisui thought carefully.
At last, he took a deep breath and spoke his mind:
"Hatake Sakumo… was a great shinobi.
The villagers may have slandered him, but I will always recognize his worth.
It's just… such a pity.
He had such a bright future, and yet it ended with suicide."
Kai nodded.
That answer didn't surprise him.
Even in death, Hatake Sakumo still had many supporters in Konoha.
Consider this:
After Hatake Sakumo died, Hiruzen still had Namikaze Minato—his chosen successor, a member of the Hokage faction—become Kakashi's teacher.
Why?
On one hand, to soothe public opinion. It sent a message to Hatake Sakumo's supporters: I won't persecute Kakashi—in fact, I'll fold him into the Hokage faction.
But more importantly, it was to gather Hatake Sakumo's remaining supporters under his own banner.
Kai's thoughts turned over quickly, and then he spoke again:
"I have a question.
Hatake Sakumo's mission back then—it was an S-rank mission, wasn't it?
Normally, even B-rank missions carry confidentiality levels. A-rank missions are restricted to the higher-ups.
So how could an S-rank mission—the highest secrecy level—become public knowledge throughout Konoha overnight?
What happened to confidentiality? Was it eaten by dogs?
Who leaked it? Why has there never been an investigation?
Or rather—was there ever one at all?
Did the matter end the moment Hatake Sakumo died?"
Shisui froze, stunned.
He had never thought about it like that.
An S-rank mission—how could its details spread across the entire village so fast? Even if leaked by accident, it couldn't have spread that widely in just one day.
And as Kai said—
for something so serious, why hadn't the village even conducted an inquiry?
A chill pricked at Shisui's spine.
This was too abnormal.
The only explanation was that the higher-ups already knew the truth.
And their silence—was proof enough.
For the first time, a tiny crack appeared in Shisui's unwavering trust—in the leadership, in the so-called "Will of Fire."
When he thought back to how Kai had suddenly mentioned Hatake Sakumo the moment he brought up reporting to the Hokage, he began to understand the implication.
He wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, exhaled slowly, and shook his head.
"Kai-kun… just tell me directly.
I trust Hokage-sama, yes—but I also have my own ability to think.
What exactly are you trying to say? Just lay it out."
Hearing that—
Kai finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Good.
Despite having aligned himself with the Hokage's faction, Shisui's true intent was still for the sake of the clan.
It was only that no one within the clan supported his ideals—and just then, Hiruzen had offered him a hand.
In truth, he had no choice.
That was where he differed from Itachi.
Itachi, the dutiful son, had been led astray by Fugaku from the start. Once Hiruzen's "Will of Fire" got into his head, it was inevitable—he chose the village over his family, committing "righteous" patricide.
His foundation had always been weak.
If he had grown step by step, learning the true nature of the world and of power, perhaps he could have become a revolutionary.
But unfortunately, he only ever grasped the surface. And with Hiruzen's manipulation, he was utterly deceived.
With that thought clear in his mind, Kai spoke softly, his eyes sharp:
"What I wanted to say… is still the same.
The Nine-Tails—was simply too strong."
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