Shisui praised, "You're truly impressive. Shuriken skills, chakra control, and three nature transformations—among your Uchiha peers, you're the most outstanding I've seen so far."
Kagaya listened to Shisui's praise but didn't respond this time. From the moment Shisui called him out, Kagaya had sensed that Shisui's actions were less about "teaching" and more about "testing." So, what was he testing?
Kagaya soon got his answer.
Shisui glanced around, a faint, enigmatic smile on his face. "Kagaya, you must know that there are many places around the Uchiha compound that can be used as training grounds. That's why I could easily bring you to a spot where it's just the two of us. But do you know why there are so many training grounds near the Uchiha compound?"
Kagaya's eyes narrowed. He knew what Shisui was getting at. Before transmigrating, Kagaya wouldn't have known the answer, but after arriving in this world, he had deliberately researched the Uchiha and Konoha's history. So, he was well aware of the reason behind Shisui's question.
However, Kagaya didn't want to discuss this topic—it was beyond his current strength to address. But seeing Shisui's gaze, he realized he couldn't dodge the question. After a moment's thought, since he couldn't avoid it, he decided to showcase his insight as much as possible.
"I know, Senior. From what I've learned, six years ago—the year I was born—the village suffered the Nine-Tails incident. After that, the village leadership relocated the Uchiha Clan's compound to the outskirts of Konoha. Being on the village's edge, we're surrounded by a vast forest that hasn't been developed, so there are plenty of places that can be turned into training grounds."
This level of historical knowledge clearly wasn't taught at the academy—it could only come from intentional research. For a six-year-old like Kagaya to deliberately look into this would make others pause and think twice. But Shisui's eyes showed no surprise. He had already learned of Kagaya's "precocity" yesterday.
"You're correct," Shisui said. "Since you know this history, you must also understand the village's intentions behind this move. What do you think of their approach?"
Kagaya knew exactly what Konoha's leadership intended: to keep the Uchiha at a distance while isolating them further.
It was like a group of kids playing a game together. One day, they all agreed to exclude a kid named Uchiha from their discussions and make him stay far away when they played. They wouldn't inform him of important matters but would dump all the menial tasks on him, treating him like a servant.
What an "interesting" approach. Kagaya wondered if Danzo, who made this decision, was deliberately pushing the Uchiha to rebel or if he thought they wouldn't dare.
Of course, while Kagaya understood the reasons, answering Shisui's question about his perspective was tricky. Was Shisui testing his stance?
"I think the village handled this poorly—extremely poorly, even," Kagaya said.
His stance was firmly with the Uchiha. Betraying his own clan was not an option, and speaking honestly, the village leadership was undeniably in the wrong here.
Shisui sighed. "As expected, even someone with your clear perspective thinks this way. If even you feel like this, how much angrier must the clan members who can't see the bigger picture be?"
Kagaya knew Shisui desperately wanted to ease the tension between Konoha and the Uchiha. He admired people like Itachi and Shisui, who fought for Konoha's peace from the Hokage's perspective. But on this matter, Kagaya had to defend the Uchiha—not out of sophistry, but based on facts.
"Senior Shisui, I believe the Uchiha Clan shouldn't be in such a tense situation with the village in the first place. But when one person raises a blade against another, how can you expect the other not to resist?"
Kagaya's words were blunt, essentially accusing Konoha of being unfair. Looking at the Uchiha massacre in its entirety, both the Uchiha and Konoha's leadership bore responsibility. But if asked who was more at fault, it was undoubtedly the village leadership.
You can't expect everyone to be like Uchiha Itachi or Shisui, capable of viewing things from the Hokage's perspective and enduring Konoha's mistreatment for the sake of peace.
But Itachi and Shisui were geniuses, not ordinary people—exceptions, not the norm. Everyone has emotions. If someone constantly spits in your face and shows clear disdain, then tells you to endure it for world peace, a few might tolerate it, but most wouldn't.
The coup the Uchiha planned wasn't so much initiated by Fugaku as it was forced upon him by the majority of the clan.
Shisui fell silent for a moment before letting out a sorrowful sigh. "You're not wrong. But the Uchiha and Konoha must not go to war. Do you know Konoha's situation? During the Third Great Ninja War, Konoha was at its peak. But now? White Fang is gone. The Fourth Hokage and his wife are gone. The Sannin have left one by one. The Third Hokage has gone from his prime to old age. The Nine-Tails is sealed in a child who's unlikely to become a combat asset and even requires protection. Let me put it this way: Konoha is at its weakest point in history. It's never been this diminished. If the Uchiha clashes with the village leadership now, do you know what will happen? If another nation attacks Konoha at this moment, what then? Kagaya, this isn't just a simple internal village conflict anymore—it's a crisis that could determine Konoha's survival! We need to focus on the entire ninja world, not the petty grudges most of our clan holds onto!"
Kagaya gave a faint smile. "Then why, at a time like this, does Danzo make moves like pushing the Uchiha to the village's outskirts? Is it the Uchiha who want to rebel? No, it's Danzo forcing them to!"
In his agitation, Kagaya called Danzo by name without a shred of respect. Yes, Konoha was in a precarious state, internally weakened while facing the Uchiha's potential rebellion—a crisis that could determine the village's survival. But here's the question: couldn't Danzo see how weak Konoha was? Of course he could! And what did he do? He relocated the Uchiha to the outskirts, making his intent to isolate them painfully clear. The village was already frail, and he added this?
Shisui looked at Kagaya, his eyes narrowing. "You've already sensed the clan's intent to stage a coup?"
Kagaya shook his head. "That's not important."
Shisui fell silent again. After a while, he sighed. "You're really like Itachi was back then. At such a young age, you see through things most people can't and have a keen sense for the situation, even picking up on the clan's coup plans just from the atmosphere. The only difference is that Itachi shares my ideals, while yours… don't align with ours. Let's end here for today."
With that, Shisui turned and left, slowly disappearing from Kagaya's view. This time, he didn't use his Body Flicker Technique but walked away slowly. What was he thinking? Kagaya didn't know.
What Kagaya did know was that he would never become Danzo's blade! He was well aware of Danzo's resolute stance against the Uchiha. If Kagaya acted as though he shared Shisui's ideals, Shisui might pull him into the Anbu early. Then, during the future massacre of the Uchiha, would he have a role in it? Would he raise a blade against his own parents?
Kagaya couldn't do it. His upbringing from his previous life made it impossible to harm the parents who raised him or the neighbors and friends he saw every day.
Initially, Kagaya had planned to get close to Itachi and find a way into the Anbu to gain early warning of the massacre, ensuring his and his family's safety. But today's conversation with Shisui woke him up. Joining the Anbu would make him a tool of Konoha's leadership. Who could guarantee he wouldn't be ordered to slaughter his clan? Even if he agreed but refused to act, the mere thought of serving those who might command him to kill his parents made him sick.
He realized something. Yes, he had been working hard to survive, but he could never raise a blade against his parents or serve those who sought to exterminate his clan. He was Uchiha Kagaya! Not Sarutobi Kagaya or Shimura Kagaya. The Uchiha were his roots.
Six years had already forged a deep bond between Kagaya and this clan. He knew that in just about a year, it would be nearly impossible to change the Uchiha's fate. But in his vision, he would escape the massacre with his family. Then, he would become an avenger, biding his time to make Danzo pay for the Uchiha Clan's destruction!
The grudge of the clan's annihilation was irreconcilable!
Why were Itachi and Shisui so determined to ease the tension between Konoha and the Uchiha? Because they believed, with the help of Konoha's leadership, they could succeed.
Because they hadn't seen through Danzo—that man who claimed to act for Konoha's good but whose actions often brought it no benefit.
This crisis in Konoha—who was truly responsible? Everyone bore some blame, but the primary culprit was undoubtedly the one-eyed man with a bandage over his eye!