Chapter 115: Imprisoning the Elders, Preparing to Strike

Boom boom boom~

Smack smack smack~

Thump thump thump~

The genjutsu had no effect; the Third Elder was about to cry out at once, but the black-clad figure closed in instantly, seized him by the throat, and casually dislocated his jaw.

Then came a Black Tiger Piercing the Heart, followed by Mantis Fist, followed by Flying Crane Catching Shrimp, followed by Melon-Shattering Fist. The Third Elder only felt the opponent's strikes pouring onto his body like a furious storm; he could no longer tell exactly where it hurt—it seemed his entire body hurt.

Boom boom boom~ Smack smack smack~ The black-clad figure kept striking relentlessly, yet the force used was never great enough to threaten his life. Aside from the pain, his whole body had only a few broken bones and a bruised, swollen face—nothing seriously harmful.

He remained conscious the entire time and knew his own condition. This was sheer humiliation. He struggled to resist, but with a crack, both arms were dislocated, and the black-clad figure actually pinned him to the ground and pounded him.

Utter humiliation, sheer utter humiliation! This wasn't just humiliating him—this was humiliating the Uchiha! "Who's there?"

Suddenly, a voice came from afar; someone seemed to have discovered them. The black-clad figure paused, then without hesitation delivered a knife-hand strike that knocked the Third Elder unconscious, and vanished with a Body Flicker.

Meanwhile, from several other directions, the Second Elder, the Fourth Elder... none of the elders escaped the black-clad figure's vicious hands. With their accompanying jonin all left at the training ground, the guards were defeated in an instant, then beaten black and blue, and after being left bruised and swollen, finished off with a knife-hand strike that left them unconscious.

Only the First Elder watched the black-clad figure before him with a calm expression, his four guards firmly blocking the figure behind themselves.

The black-clad figure stood at a distance, did not approach, hesitated for a moment, then turned and left.

"First Elder, should we pursue?"

The First Elder's eyes shifted slightly, then he shook his head and instructed, "Go back to the training ground and see whether the clan head is there. If he is, tell him what happened here; if not, never mind. Also, go check the situation in the clan—see how the other elders are doing."

"Yes!"

Two of them acknowledged the order and immediately left in separate directions, soon arriving before Shisui to report.

Shisui's expression changed. He rose at once and instructed the ninja beside him, "Someone dared to trespass into the clan grounds. Send the ninja whose matches have ended over immediately. Lock down the clan grounds at once—we must catch the intruder! Remember, keep your movements light. Do not disturb anyone outside the clan."

"Yes!"

After speaking, he turned to the people sent by the First Elder and said, "Take a few people back and protect the First Elder well. Also, tell the First Elder to stay home with peace of mind. I will handle this matter."

"Yes!"

Shisui then had someone recall those working overtime at the Police Department to search the clan grounds.

The miserable state of the elders was soon known to everyone.

"Find some medical ninja and treat them at once." After seeing the bruised and swollen faces of the several men, Shisui immediately kept a stern face and gave the order with a grave expression.

"Yes."

Subsequently, a large number of clan ninja carefully searched within the clan grounds, but even until dawn, there were still no results.

To prevent the elders from being harmed again, Shisui had no choice but to send them to his own home, then arranged personnel to guard them, forbidding anyone else from approaching without his order.

After dawn, the several elders barely regained consciousness. Their injuries had not yet healed, yet they clamored to expand the search and absolutely catch the black-clad figure to defend the Uchiha's dignity.

Shisui responded with a troubled look, "Although I also want to catch the culprit, the commotion from last night's search of the clan grounds was already large enough. Lord Third summoned me for questioning this morning. This matter can only end here."

"What?"

The several men flushed red with anger. They had been beaten within the clan grounds, yet they didn't even know who the opponent was.

"After all, no lives were lost. Lord Third doesn't want the matter to escalate, so as to avoid casting a shadow over the villagers."

Reminded by Shisui, the several men then realized something was off. The Third Elder was even more puzzled and said, "That's right—given that person's strength, why not just kill us outright instead of humiliating us like this?"

As he spoke, he looked at the other several men, and was startled to see that their injuries were strikingly identical.

His eyes immediately changed, and he looked at Shisui with ill intent, his suspicion rising greatly.

The others also realized it and one after another turned to look at Shisui.

Shisui seemed not to notice, furrowing his brow with a look of deep thought. After a moment, he said, "It must be fear of the Uchiha's strength, afraid of our retaliation."

"This..."

The several men looked at each other. Shisui didn't seem like that kind of person either. They then nodded repeatedly, and the Second Elder further explained, "It must be that the ANBU quota granted by Lord Third drew the resentment of outsiders, yet they feared completely enraging us, so they committed this act to vent their anger."

"Hmph, count him lucky!"

As the several men discussed, Shisui spoke again, "Although we cannot expand the search, the clan grounds have already been locked down by me. As long as he is still in the clan grounds, he will definitely be caught."

"Several elders, please rest here for now, lest the intruder, driven to desperation, come after you again. I will arrange people to stay here and protect you."

The Second Elder nodded at once and said approvingly, "Then we'll leave it to you, Clan Head."

The Third Elder very much wanted to act tough, but he had too many wounds on his body; even sitting up was strenuous, so he had to give up.

Seeing this, Shisui quietly departed. After all, he wasn't the one who did this—he had a clear conscience... well... maybe just a tiny bit not.

On the other side, Itachi came to the ancestral shrine as usual, carrying a large lunchbox containing food for two for breakfast and lunch.

As soon as he entered the door, Itachi saw Fugaku sweeping the floor. Whether it was an illusion or not, Itachi felt that his father seemed especially happy today.

"Dad, I brought you food."

Hearing Itachi's voice, Fugaku immediately composed his expression and took the lunchbox with a serious face.

Itachi found it a bit strange but didn't ask further. He simply told Fugaku the news he had heard that morning.

"Mm, it seems the clan hasn't been very safe lately. Remember to go home early tonight and protect your mother and little brother."

"Okay, Dad."

Fugaku nodded and gave a few quiet instructions. After breakfast, he trained with Itachi here until evening, when Itachi finally returned carrying the lunchbox.

At the same time, the ANBU selection that had lasted for two days and one night finally came to an end.

Three ninja who did not endorse Shisui's ideals successfully advanced to the top eight. Shisui immediately notified the several elders who were still recovering, then seized the opportunity to gather all the other jonin together.

Nearly a hundred jonin stood together. Especially some who had just finished fighting and whose auras had not yet settled—gathered together at this moment, their momentum was like a rainbow.

Shisui looked at everyone with satisfaction. This was the Uchiha's most elite force outside of the Police Department.

"You've all heard about what happened yesterday, I trust."

After Shisui finished speaking, everyone nodded in unison.

"Our Uchiha clan has endured for a thousand years. Aside from that initial battle with the Senju where we were ambushed by the Uzumaki, no one has ever infiltrated our clan grounds. This isn't just slapping the elders' faces—this is slapping the Uchiha's face. It is sheer utter humiliation!"

Shisui's aura suddenly shifted, and everyone nodded one after another, deeply agreeing.

"Today it was an elder; tomorrow it may be you; the day after, it will be our cherished loved ones!"

Everyone paused, feeling this made sense—if they beat an elder today, wouldn't they beat them tomorrow? "When did our Uchiha fall to such a state, that an unknown person can humiliate us at will, beating a clan elder while we don't even know who they are—can you endure such a great insult?"

"No!"

"Can you endure the clan's decline, the Uchiha name dragged through the mud, and be mocked by others?"

"No!"

"Can you let your family and friends, our beloved clansmen, live in a clan like this?"

"No!"

Everyone shouted in unison, blood surging, their momentum astonishing.

"That's right, we absolutely cannot tolerate such humiliation. Now, I order you in the clan head's name!"

Whoosh~ Everyone bowed their heads and half-knelt, awaiting orders. "The selection squad is temporarily renamed the clan guard squad, organized into teams of twelve. Act immediately and search within the clan. I have already sealed off the clan grounds; the culprit must still be inside. Search house by house, be thorough, and never let the culprit escape unharmed!"

"Yes!"

Everyone responded, briefly divided into teams, and swiftly deployed in all directions across the clan. During the day, without Shisui's orders, they could only search the alleys; now they would investigate house by house.

Shisui then called over another person and instructed, "Take some men to set up defenses outside the Grand Elder's residence. The clan grounds are unsafe now. Without my orders, no one is permitted to enter or leave."

"Yes!"

After everyone left, Shisui returned home. By now, several clan elders could no longer hold back their desire to leave.

"The clan head has instructed that the clan grounds are unsafe now. For your safety, without the clan head's orders, none of the elders may leave this place."

However, just as the few stepped out the door, they were stopped by several guards outside.

The Third Elder's expression changed, and he barked, "Presumptuous! The selection is already over, and we have our own guards. We don't need his protection. Tell him to come here—this old man is going home!"

"These are the clan head's orders. Please rest assured and stay here, elders."

The guards' expressions remained calm, completely ignoring them. Over a dozen guards in the courtyard also gathered, staring at them with icy eyes.

Behind the Third Elder, the other elders' hearts skipped a beat. How could they not know that Shisui intended to place them under Soft Confinement?

"Outrageous, simply outrageous! What is Shisui playing at? He has no respect for his elders at all. How did we become so blind as to choose this fellow as clan head!"

The Third Elder cursed as usual, but then saw everyone outside change their expressions, one after another activating their Copy Wheel Eyes and drawing their blades in response.

Someone even shouted sternly, "Presumptuous! How dare you show disrespect to the clan head!"

The Third Elder paused, looking at the crowd in surprise. He hadn't expected that a mere complaint would provoke such an intense reaction from them.

What followed was anger—he knew that even if he said this to Shisui's face, Shisui rarely refuted him. He was about to speak when he saw Shisui slowly walking over from the courtyard.

The guards bowed one after another, and Shisui nodded in acknowledgment.

"I've already had the selection squad continue the search. Barring any surprises, there will be results within these two days. The clan is unsafe now, so it's best the elders stay here."

Shisui had been worried that these guards, out of deference to the elders' status, would fail to carry out his orders and end up causing a tragedy, so he came specifically to check. Seeing their performance now, he felt quite gratified.

Hearing that their people had all been reassigned elsewhere, the elders' hearts sank.

The Second Elder stepped forward and asked softly, "Clan head, what exactly are you trying to do?"

Hearing this question, Shisui felt quite emotional.

"The last person to ask me this was the Grand Elder. My reply was, 'I will save Konoha, and even more so, save the Uchiha. I will set everything right. I will bring all clansmen in the clan grounds under my control. I will become clan head!'

As for now, my reply is, 'I will bring all ninja in the clan grounds under my control. I will sweep away every obstacle to the clan's revival. I will revive the clan and let our clansmen live peaceful, worry-free lives!'"

Sweep away obstacles to the clan's revival? Was he calling them obstacles?

The elders' expressions grew ever uglier, but Shisui, as if oblivious, continued on his own: "I believe the elders all have the clan in their hearts, but I also believe your resolve and strength are insufficient to revive the clan.

Under your control, the clan is like a dilapidated windmill—even if a slight breeze blows, it cannot turn.

You cling to your own views, obstruct the clan's development, fight amongst yourselves and drag the clan down, even dragging down Uncle Fugaku. Now a new storm will be raised by me. This time, anyone who obstructs the windmill from turning, no matter who, I will not spare."

Shisui's expression was solemn, his gaze resolute, his voice low—startling everyone.

"Let it be. As long as you stay here peacefully, you are still my elders."

With that, Shisui turned and left, leaving the guards watching his back, their blood surging.

The image of a tragic hero who had sacrificed everything for the clan immediately rose in their minds. Then their eyes changed, and they stared even more coldly at the several obstacles.

The elders were speechless, especially the Second Elder. He was certain that when Shisui said those words, he had truly felt killing intent—only it seemed he held back out of some concern, and thus restrained it.

"What do we do now?"

What to do? Make a scene so the clansmen find out? The few looked at each other, thought of Shisui's gaze just now, and glanced at the guards in the courtyard, ultimately giving up.

On the other side, after leaving home, Shisui went to the Police Department. With Sima Yi stationed at his house and countless Barriers set up inside and out, he wasn't worried at all that those people could get word out. He went there only because he feared they might break through the guards' blockade and end up dying in the courtyard.

Meanwhile, at the Police Department, it was already late, and most people were preparing to leave work. Yatsuo, having finished organizing today's trial results in the back, felt somewhat uneasy.

Thinking of what had happened in the clan grounds last night, he immediately quickened his pace, packed up, and prepared to leave together with Yan Zhe and the others.

Just then, Hui suddenly blocked everyone and said, "The clan head has ordered that the culprit may still be in the clan grounds. He has already had the clan grounds sealed for continued search. To prevent the culprit from slipping away during this time, we are to temporarily stay outside the clan grounds."

Most people didn't have much reaction to this order. After all, that culprit was too brazen—trespassing into the Uchiha clan grounds and beating an elder was simply humiliating. They couldn't wait to catch the person.

Yatsuo, however, changed expression. This familiar feeling made him instantly realize something, and he was about to lead Yan Zhe and the others away.

"Hmm? Where are Yatsuo and Senior Yan Zhe going?"

Hui and Inahi were about to stop them, but saw a figure slowly walking in through the main entrance of the Police Department.

Shisui's expression was gentle as he looked at Yatsuo and asked softly. His eyes held both admiration and regret.

Yatsuo opened his mouth, and Shisui's appearance made everything click into place for him.

Shisui walked past him and said softly, "Let's talk inside. There are some things I hope to gain your understanding of."

Yan Zhe looked at Yatsuo, still somewhat confused, but Yatsuo sighed and turned to follow.

The three came to an empty room, and Shisui said without any concealment, "The Grand Elder and you two seniors have helped me a lot, but for the clan, it's still far from enough.

To revive the clan, power must be consolidated and strength integrated. The elders have all become obstacles to the clan's revival."

Yatsuo's expression instantly froze, and the anger in Yan Zhe's heart flared up—the Grand Elder was her elder.

But from Shisui's meaning, does this mean we have to act against the Grand Elder? "I believe the Grand Elder will support me; it's just that your return will complicate matters."

Just as Sima Yi warned originally, each elder represents a large group of people; Shisui trusts the Grand Elder, but cannot allow the Grand Elder to have the ability to make a choice.

"After Lord Fugaku, it's another elder; such an excuse—do you think we would believe it?"

Yang Zhe let out a cold snort and drew her sword directly; she does not believe a thirteen‑year‑old boy could truly be that powerful.

Shisui's expression remained gentle, simply watching Yang Zhe calmly.

However, with just that look, Yang Zhe felt a mountain‑like pressure; she had only felt such pressure that day, on Fugaku.

Even her ocular power was faintly suppressed.

"How could that be!"

Yang Zhe, unwilling to concede, flashed the Three Hook Jade, let out a roar, and swung at Shisui; Ba Dai did not intervene, because he knew the outcome—the Grand Elder had already hinted at Shisui's strength.

Sure enough, as soon as Yang Zhe's blade rose, Shisui displayed the Three Hook Jade; the two locked eyes for an instant, and Yang Zhe stopped dead in place.

"It's just a common illusion; it will recover quickly."

Shisui walked past the two, and upon reaching the doorway reminded again: "When she wakes up, please have senior Ba Dai soothe her for me; also, trust me, I will not harm the Grand Elder. By tomorrow noon at the latest, everything will be over, and I will set the family back in motion."

Ba Dai sighed; at this point he was powerless to resist, and could only say: "Fine."

(End of chapter)