Naka River Basin, on the other side from where Shisui and Root clashed.
In the turbulent river, a head burst out of the water and quickly swam towards the shore.
"Hoo—hoo—!"
Shisui, covering his right eye, gasped for breath, taking a while to recover.
Looking at his disheveled reflection in the water, he suddenly felt an inexpressible sadness.
Whether it was his clan or any faction within Konoha, what he had always pursued was the reconciliation of conflicts without sacrificing either side.
Did he not love his clan?
No, it was precisely because he deeply loved it that he knew clearly in his heart that once the clan rebelled, they would fall into a situation of being outnumbered by enemies. By then, it wouldn't be the Uchiha clan against the Hokage. It would be the ninja clans of the entire Konoha uniting to suppress the Uchiha clan.
No matter who won or lost, neither side would end up well.
And at that time, other ninja villages that were eager to make a move would take advantage of this opportunity to encircle and annihilate the already weakened Konoha.
"The Uchiha coup is unstoppable now, what should I do?" Shisui held his head in his hands, gripping his hair tightly.
For a moment, he didn't know where his path lay.
"Shisui."
Shinji walked out from the dense forest and called out to Shisui, who was looking lost on the riverbank.
"Who!"
Shisui's heart skipped a beat, and he instantly leaped to the left, turning to look at the newcomer.
"It's... you?!"
Seeing Shinji, Shisui was stunned.
He knew that even if Danzo appeared here now, he wouldn't be so surprised. But Shinji, a Konoha ninja he had only met once, was now wearing Anbu attire.
Shinji stood still and said to Shisui, "By order of the Third Hokage, I am monitoring the movements of the Uchiha clan's meeting."
Hearing Third Hokage, Shisui's mind relaxed. With his remaining left eye, he looked at Shinji and asked, "So, the one who used the Bringer-of-Darkness Technique was you?"
At that time, when he was using the Great Fireball Technique, he had already taken the opportunity to use the Body Flicker Technique to leave. Although he wasn't affected by the Bringer-of-Darkness Technique, he clearly saw that black domain.
Shinji nodded and admitted, "That's right. After all, killing fellow villagers is a great taboo, no matter who that person is."
"Thank you."
Although Shisui could have escaped even if Shinji hadn't intervened, the necessary thanks still needed to be said.
Shinji shook his head and stated his purpose, "No need. I'm here mainly to ask you if you will come with me to see the Third Hokage."
No one had seen him make a move just now. However, his mission to investigate the Uchiha clan's meeting was assigned by the Third Hokage. Furthermore, Kakashi, who led the team, was aware that he was not at Naka Shrine.
As long as Hiruzen realized this, he would eventually come looking for him. Therefore, Shinji decided to take the initiative and be completely honest. Moreover, he no longer intended to let Danzo off.
Having lost his entire right arm and Shisui's eye, Danzo was now like a tiger without teeth.
If he wasn't removed now, was he to be left to continue causing trouble?
Shisui shook his head somewhat dejectedly and said, "Even if we meet the Third Hokage now, it won't change anything."
Allthough he was unwilling to admit it, Danzo was right. If the advisors didn't agree, then Hiruzen couldn't sit down and talk with the Uchiha clan, even if he wanted to. On the contrary, at this moment, he was more like a fuse. Either side would erupt into conflict because of him.
"I say, do all you Uchiha think like this?" Shinji looked at Shisui in front of him with a bit of exasperation.
Do people in this world have such little political foresight? Or do they just not read books?
"Ah?"
Shisui, spoken to in this way by Shinji, was a little dumbfounded.
"Think, facing a tumor in Konoha and a clan that could make Konoha stronger if they had a change of heart, how will the Third Hokage choose?"
Shinji glanced at Shisui, then turned to leave, muttering, "If you do nothing and only believe that your death can solve the current situation, then go ahead and do it. Otherwise, follow me."
Hearing this, Shisui suddenly looked up. His eyes were filled with shock, because Shinji had spoken his inner thoughts.
Just as Shinji's figure was about to enter the dense forest, he no longer hesitated, and quickly got up to follow.
Hearing the movement behind him, Shinji leaped up and headed towards the main urban area within the village. Next, it would be the back-and-forth between him and Hiruzen.
Inside the Hokage Building.
Hiruzen was quietly listening to Kakashi's report, without interrupting.
It wasn't until Kakashi stopped that Hiruzen spoke, "What do you think, Kakashi?"
Kakashi, kneeling on one knee, was about to speak, when Hiruzen waved his hand and said, "Don't refuse, I need advice now."
Since some matters regarding the Konoha Council were investigated by the Anbu assigned by Hiruzen, he increasingly felt that he was getting old and less capable. And now, among the younger generation in the entire Konoha, only Kakashi had the strength and background to communicate well with him.
Kakashi was silent for a long time after hearing this.
Knock knock—
Just as Hiruzen had given up on continuing to question Kakashi, the door to the Hokage Office was knocked.
Hiruzen looked up, and after a long time, responded, "Come in."
The door opened. Hiruzen was momentarily stunned upon seeing the figure that entered.
"Shisui?!"
"Third Hokage!"
Shisui knelt on one knee and bowed to Hiruzen.
"Call for the Medical Department."
Hiruzen stood up, looked at Shisui, who was bleeding from his right eye, and turned to instruct Kakashi.
Kakashi got up after hearing this, and at this moment, another person walked in from outside the door.
As soon as Shinji entered the Hokage Office, he felt the gazes of Hiruzen and Kakashi on him.
Shinji bowed to the Third Hokage and said, "Hokage-sama, Captain Kakashi."
"Hokage-sama, please allow me to report some matters regarding Danzo, his crimes of murdering fellow village ninjas, conducting human experiments in private, and attempting to incite internal strife in Konoha to usurp the position of Hokage."
The entire Hokage Office fell silent.
Even Shisui, who had come with Shinji, looked at Shinji with a shocked expression at this moment.
Brother, you didn't tell me we were going to go all out as soon as we met.