Chapter 28: Shisui: Am I Under a Genjutsu?
The moment Shisui stepped into Konoha, his Sharingan contracted sharply—
In the distance, the Hokage Monument had been cleanly sliced, a large section missing. The cut surface was smooth as a mirror, reflecting blinding light in the sunlight.
Even more shocking, red banners hung along both sides of the street: "Welcome the Uchiha Home."
He recognized those clan emblems on the shops all too well: Hyuga, Nara, Akimichi... all families that had previously avoided the Uchiha like the plague.
"Please have some refreshments~"
A crisp female voice called out. A group of Hyuga main house young women approached gracefully, carrying exquisite food boxes, their white clothes and black skirts fluttering in the wind.
The lead girl even took a bite of a rice dumpling herself: "It's very sweet."
Several Uchiha youths immediately blushed—when had they ever received such treatment?
Shisui stared at the gold-embossed Hyuga clan emblem on the food box, his fingers cold. These proud "Byakugan" girls were now smiling sweeter than three-colored dumplings.
Shisui's hand trembled slightly as he accepted the refreshments, his Sharingan unconsciously spinning faster—this absurd scene made him suspect he was under some genjutsu beyond even Kotoamatsukami.
"Ah~"
The lead Hyuga girl suddenly picked up a piece of sakura mochi, her pale fingers holding it to his lips: "Are you feeling unwell, my lord?"
Shisui's ears instantly turned red as he quickly stepped back: "No, no need! I can do it myself..."
Laughter came from behind him. Several Uchiha youths had already fallen: "The Hyuga young ladies are so gentle!"
"Exactly! How did we never notice before..."
Even the most rigid elders were stroking their beards and nodding with smiles.
Shisui forced himself to stay calm, quietly asking the girl: "Why has Clan Leader Hiashi suddenly..."
"The clan leader said~" The girl tilted her head, her Byakugan curved into crescents, "we should have more interactions with the Uchiha from now on."
This answer made Shisui even more horrified—that Hyuga Hiashi who always had "Byakugan supremacy" on his lips?
"Feed me!" some Uchiha boy suddenly interjected.
The girl covered her mouth and giggled, actually delivering the pastry over.
Shisui took the opportunity to retreat to the back of the group, his palms covered in cold sweat.
Yu... you didn't brainwash all of Konoha, did you?
Shisui's back was gradually soaked with cold sweat.
He suddenly remembered that night in the cave—he had revealed to Yu his plan to "use Kotoamatsukami to change Uchiha leadership's thinking."
Could it be...
This kid did the reverse and brainwashed all of Konoha's leadership?!
Once this terrifying thought surfaced, it could no longer be suppressed.
The deeper into Konoha they went, the more bizarre the scenes became.
Another welcoming delegation approached, this time a joint mission from the Ino-Shika-Cho trio. Even the usually gloomy Nara clan leader squeezed out a stiff smile.
"These are special discount coupons for the Uchiha..."
"Our family hot springs offer permanent discounts to all of you..."
Shisui numbly accepted the gold-embossed vouchers, the Konoha emblems on them making his eyes ache. Even when the First Hokage was alive, such treatment was unheard of!
"Lord Shisui!"
An Uchiha youth suddenly tugged his sleeve, pointing into the distance in shock.
Following his direction—
A massive banner hung on the outer wall of the Hokage building:
"Welcome the Uchiha's Glorious Return Home"
Shisui's expression grew somewhat dazed.
.....
"Lord Shisui!"
An ANBU suddenly appeared via Body Flicker, kneeling on one knee: "Lord Yu is waiting for you in the Hokage's office."
The usually proud ANBU was now performing full respects to an Uchiha, even calling Yu "Lord"!
Shisui's pupils dilated in shock, his Body Flicker technique nearly activating uncontrollably.
He had to see that kid immediately.
The familiar silhouette of the Hokage building came into view, yet Shisui felt unprecedented strangeness.
The glaring banner on the rooftop flapped in the wind, its gold characters gleaming in the sunlight.
Once upon a time, this had been the place he least wanted to set foot as an ANBU member—every briefing meant enduring subtle discrimination from bureaucrats.
"Please enter."
The guard at the entrance actually opened the door for him, bowing to an almost servile degree.
Shisui quickly returned the courtesy.
This feeling of being treated as an equal was surprisingly foreign to the Uchiha.
Walking through the corridor, clerks carrying documents stepped aside to make way.
A kunoichi with round glasses even blushed as she offered tea: "The... the weather's hot..."
If he remembered correctly, it should be autumn now.
Shisui nodded his thanks with difficulty, his steps quickening.
Something was wrong...
Everything was wrong...
When he finally rushed to the Hokage office door, he heard Yu's lazy voice from inside:
"Come in."
As if he'd been waiting for some time.
Creak—
In the soft sound of hinges turning, Shisui's pupils dilated in shock.
The black-clothed youth lounged casually in the Hokage's chair, while the legendary Sannin Tsunade stood beside him like a secretary, her proud curves visible beneath her plain dress.
"Lady Tsunade!"
Shisui reflexively bowed, but saw Tsunade's face stiffen as she awkwardly looked away.
"Let's talk business." Yu waved dismissively.
Shisui's head snapped up, his Mangekyou spinning wildly: "Did you use genjutsu on them?"
From the moment he'd entered Konoha, every scene was absurdly dreamlike—the Hyuga's flattery, the leadership's subservience, even Lady Tsunade...
"Heh..."
Yu suddenly laughed, his finger lightly tapping the desk. Tsunade involuntarily flinched.
"All of this was their own initiative." He tilted his head toward the fluttering banners outside the window. "I merely..."
"Helped certain people recognize reality."
Shisui's gaze turned to Tsunade, his Sharingan full of seeking confirmation.
"Lady Tsunade, is this really..."
"Voluntary." Tsunade bit her red lips before continuing "Konoha... owes the Uchiha too much."
"The Sarutobi and Shimura clans have been expelled," she recited mechanically. "What happened with Danzo and the Third... is all in the past."
Her eyes flashed with humiliation, but her voice remained unusually steady: "We... recognize our mistakes."
When these words came from Tsunade's mouth, Shisui clearly saw tiny goosebumps rise on her snow-white neck.
He actually did it...
Actually made all of Konoha submit.
Shisui looked out the window—those fluttering banners, those flattering smiles, suddenly transformed in his eyes into countless trembling spider webs.
And sitting at the center of the web...
Was this smiling youth before him.
Yu smiled with satisfaction, magnetic lines loosening around Tsunade's waist: "As the Fifth says, let bygones be bygones."
"Fifth?!" Shisui was puzzled.
"Ah, forgot to notify you." Yu casually opened the appointment document on the desk. "Decision passed just yesterday."
"Temporary!" Tsunade squeezed out the word through gritted teeth.
In just a few days—
The Uchiha massacre.
Danzo's gruesome death.
Two major families expelled.
Now even the Hokage...
"Yu," Shisui suddenly pressed his eyes, "are you sure you didn't use genjutsu on me?"
"I'm busy." Yu flicked the reports on the Hokage's desk. "The Shimura and Sarutobi assets all belong to me now."
He casually tossed over a set of keys: "Whether you want to rebuild the Uchiha compound or just take over the Shimura estate is up to you."
As the keys traced an arc through the air, Yu's next words froze Shisui completely:
"By the way—"
"You're the new clan leader."
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