Chapter 242: Mirror Still Water and Itachi

"Shisui, saying it like that just now will make the clansmen harbor dissatisfaction toward you."

Uchiha Itachi was not yet an adult at this time, but his features were already quite mature; at the same time, his strength was progressing abnormally fast. Since he was young, he had a pair of eyes capable of seeing through fire, and he saw the dissatisfaction of his father and the other clansmen in the room just now with perfect clarity.

But Shisui, whom he regarded as an older brother, only smiled slightly. How could he not know? But there were some things that could not be left undone just because of other people's dissatisfaction.

"I know, Itachi, but I still must do it. Do you know the reason why?"

Uchiha Shisui was a descendant of Uchiha Kagami, born upholding the meaning of 【Mirror Still Water】. He held a kind heart toward Konoha and toward everyone, adhering to the ninja way that "violence cannot forge peace." Even when facing ninjas from enemy countries, he mostly used his powerful strength and Illusion Technique to intimidate his opponents.

Furthermore, Uchiha Shisui regarded Itachi as his own younger brother, having taught this clansman who also possessed a transcendent perspective since he was young. At this moment, he was still habitually offering guidance to Itachi.

Itachi knew the reason for this very well.

"Because you, Shisui, are the strongest of the Uchiha. Do you think they will change their attitude toward that matter because of your stance?"

Uchiha Shisui nodded. He was very clear about many things, but even after becoming accustomed to the various darknesses of the Ninja World, he still kept his heart toward the light; he wanted to achieve true peace.

His strength and his reputation had already become sharp weapons that deepened the arrogance and rebellion of his clansmen. Facing the pressure and suspicion from the village, the Uchiha Clan simply disdained to explain; they were determined to confront the village.

But Shisui knew very clearly that in the current world, it was impossible to return to the Zhan Guo era; relying solely on the power of one clan, survival was simply impossible.

Therefore, he continuously sent out the signal, "I am Konoha's Shisui," hoping to let his gradually fanatical clansmen calm down. As the strongest, he did not wish to launch a coup d'état; perhaps some people would be wary of this and slow their pace...

Uchiha Itachi stopped mid-sentence. Even though he was greatly influenced by Shisui, deep down, Itachi was actually an absolute "rationalist," or rather, he was an absolute "utilitarian moralist."

Just like a few years ago, after he witnessed the death of his teammates and awakened the Sharingan, he received his father's praise; he felt disappointed because his clansmen craved power more than they cared for human life.

And after getting to know Shisui, when facing the Root pursuing the Anbu, a Root member said, "That Anbu member is carrying information about a traitor that endangers the village, they must kill the Anbu for the sake of the village." At the time, the 8-year-old Uchiha Itachi thought in his heart:

On one side is the life of one Anbu, and on the other is the safety of the entire village; perhaps sacrificing one person is the better result.

He actually identified more with the decision the Root made at the time. If not for Shisui's influence, perhaps Itachi would have been more inclined to help the Root kill that Anbu member.

And the so-called having the thinking of a Hokage at age 7 was likewise based on this moral concept. An overly "broad" perspective and overly mature value considerations made Uchiha Itachi think about many things from a young age.

Itachi was faintly certain in his heart at this moment that his clansmen would not stop their actions just because Shisui expressed thoughts of closeness to Konoha, as Shisui had thought.

*Hoo~*

Uchiha Itachi sighed. In his heart, he suddenly felt disappointed in the "Capacity" of his own clansmen.

He knew that no matter what Shisui did, those clansmen could not see the current general trend. Everyone thought that by relying on these eyes, they could take whatever they wanted, just like 【Body Flicker Shisui】...

*Pat. *

Shisui patted the braid at the back of Itachi's head, interrupting the other's thoughts. He looked at the increasingly obvious tear troughs on Itachi and felt that this younger brother was perhaps a bit too heavy-hearted.

"Haha, Itachi, don't worry, we will stop everything."

Shisui actually had the resolve in his heart long ago. If necessary, he would use that technique; even if it meant forcibly distorting the minds of his clansmen, he would prevent the coup d'état from happening.

Uchiha Itachi smiled, but his heart did not relax; his craving for power also became increasingly urgent.

The two emerged from the Uchiha compound and happened to see that female Anbu member with golden hair. Itachi frowned; this woman's background was mysterious, but she was indeed exceptionally capable. In just a few weeks, she had gained the trust of the higher-ups.

"Shisui, Itachi, do you have time to chat?"

As Anbu, they shouldn't have been so casual in speaking with members of the Uchiha, but Uchiha Shisui and Itachi had actually secretly joined the Anbu as well. Because of this identity, they did not leave directly.

Instead, they followed the woman to the edge of the woods at the outskirts of the village.

The woman took off her mask here, a move that made Shisui frown even more.

As Anbu, one's true identity is the greatest secret, but this woman seemed to lack that awareness.

Beneath the mask, the woman had a lovely face, emerald-like pupils, and skin so white it glowed.

"Let me guess, are you leaving the village to hunt down a woman?"

Shisui and Itachi did not reveal their emotions; they also did not have much affection for this woman who was rumored to be able to "delude the masses with her words."

"State your purpose directly."

Shisui revealed his Sharingan, and his aura became completely different. Seeing this, Tianyi stopped playing word games and said:

"I am just very curious about the two genius ninjas of the Uchiha Clan, so I wanted to come and see you, and by the way, give you a little reminder."

"A reminder?"

Itachi naturally ignored the woman's flattery. He looked at this woman coldly. According to his father, this woman's existence had intensified the higher-ups' pressure on the Uchiha Clan.

This woman seemed to constantly and intentionally bring up the Uchiha ninja who appeared during the Nine-Tails Incident back then.

Tianyi nodded. She turned around and paced, confidently and boldly displaying her back completely undefended to the two Uchiha powerhouses.

Tianyi knew very clearly that although these two were powerful, at this moment, they might be the safest Uchiha. These two were too accustomed to thinking about problems from the perspective of the so-called village, thereby ignoring the interests of their own clan.

To a certain extent, the tragedy of the Uchiha had no small connection to these two top-tier powerhouses of the contemporary Uchiha.

"Yes, a well-intentioned reminder."

"You should also know by now that the one protecting that woman is someone like me. Those people indeed come from the same place as I do, but for us, usually, the later someone appears in this world, the more powerful they are."

She tactfully reminded the two that the Reincarnator beside Ping Zhonghua was stronger than herself.

If Tianyi wanted to dominate the Uchiha Clan, she had to weaken this clan, but at the same time, she was unwilling to see powerful combatants like Shisui and Itachi suffer losses, as this was not conducive to her subsequent plans. Therefore, at this moment, it was like placing bets on both sides.

She knew very well that if the Shisui and Itachi of the current timeline joined forces, even an ordinary Shadow Level ninja might not be their match. But Uchiha Shisui's 【No-Kill】 ninja way was absolutely a hidden danger when facing Reincarnators, especially if they encountered those Reincarnators who were very skilled at slaughter.

She certainly did not want something like 【Kotoamatsukami】 to be plotted for by others.

Seeing that the two Uchiha ninjas had no change in expression at her reminder, she decided to instill some more information into Danzō later.

*Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh... *

A series of several figures returned from outside Konoha Village at this time and quickly flashed toward the Hokage Building.

Shisui and Itachi, who had just left, looked back and left the village in the opposite direction, but Tianyi realized that something major must have happened.

She was soon summoned by the Hokage and entered the Hokage Building, seeing that all the higher-ups had ashen faces.

The Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen hadn't even lit his pipe, and at this moment, he could not hide his anger.

"How wide is the spread of this news now?"

The Konoha Anbu roughly estimated based on the time and scope provided by the Intelligence and said:

"At this time, it should be spreading on a large scale within the town, reaching about several thousand people. But as time passes, merchants might quickly bring the news to nearby regions. If there are scouts from enemy countries nearby, then this information will soon spread to other countries..."

Bang!

Sarutobi Hiruzen rarely lost his composure like this in his old age, and Danzō was also furious.

"Hiruzen, I told you long ago that we must resolve that clan with thunderous means. Now that it is known to everyone, I fear Konoha will soon be targeted by other Ninja Villages, and it is even possible that the Fourth Shinobi World War will break out immediately..."

"We must summon the Anbu immediately. Intelligence just came in that Uchiha Shisui and Uchiha Itachi have already left the village. If we strike now, we will certainly be able to end all of this before the other villages can react!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen only thought for a brief moment before rejecting Danzō's proposal; how could such an operation be carried out without any preparation?

"No, it is too hasty."

Danzō looked at the weak Hiruzen, feeling extremely disappointed.

"You will regret this, Hiruzen."

Sarutobi Hiruzen merely glanced at his old friend and said in a low voice.

"Danzō, I am the Hokage."

Danzō's expression turned gloomy to the extreme, but he did not lash out; he only let out a cold snort and left the office.

Sarutobi Hiruzen then said to the Anbu beside him:

"Quickly summon Uchiha Fugaku to see me!"

Afterward, the Third Hokage looked toward Heaven and spoke:

"The matter of the Uchiha plotting a rebellion has already been spread. Now, what proposal do you have?"

(End of chapter)