Chapter 20: The Procedure Is Correct

"The great cause?"

Shisui's mind buzzed, repeatedly muttering the unfamiliar term.

"Understanding the great cause is still difficult for you, so treat it as a consensus."

As you just said, as a Konoha ninja it is your duty to obey the Hokage; if every Leaf ninja thinks so, the Hokage will truly possess the right to command all ninjas.

Even the powerful clans of ninjas dare not openly defy the Hokage's orders; this is the prestige and authority that the great cause brings.

Of course, such authority is not limitless, and the constraints of the great cause are not permanent; they fade as prestige and power wane.

Until one day the rites collapse and chaos reigns, everything overturns, and then another person will arise to reestablish order, gathering consensus into a great cause.

Sima Yi has personally witnessed the collapse and reconstruction of imperial authority, feeling it deeply; however, the Konoha's history is too brief, so he did not elaborate.

Shisui listened, mouth agape; the reasoning was too profound, he could not fully relate, so he recorded each point to contemplate later.

"Write these down first; you will have a chance to comprehend them later."

If there is no chance, it can only mean they have failed, and Shisui need not understand any more.

"Yes, teacher."

"Now I'll tell you why today you were made to establish prestige."

Shisui sat upright, and Sima Yi was about to explain when a sudden "snap" sounded as Hui clapped his hands and said, "Uncle Yi, I get it—it's definitely to make everyone trust Shisui. When we get back, we'll find a way to make Shisui the Hokage!"

Sima Yi fell silent. You might say he's wrong; actually, each part is correct when examined alone, but to claim he's right, following his plan would soon lead to the Uchiha's annihilation.

"No, is that wrong?"

Seeing Sima Yi remain silent, Hui's aura suddenly slipped, and he instantly became insecure.

"Yes, and also no."

After a long pause, Sima Yi replied thus, then, citing the need for early rest, sent Hui Uchiha ahead.

"Hui, over there, I'll spend more time on the road; you all don't seem ready to attend class together for now."

"Ahahaha, that's what the teacher said."

Sima Yi didn't think the other was foolish; rather, he found this teaching method somewhat unsuitable, and the next words weren't yet appropriate for Hui to hear.

"Most of what he said is correct; today's establishment of prestige was indeed to make them trust you.

However, the target is not outsiders, but those Uchiha clan members!"

At that single sentence, Shisui's eyes widened instantly, and he responded, "So, teacher, you mean the next target is not the Hokage but the clan head?"

A flash of surprise crossed Sima Yi's eyes, and he praised, "Well done, the youngster is teachable!"

"Today, on the high platform, did you notice the clan members' reactions?"

Shisui nodded, recalling the pairs of Copy Wheel Eyes that opened involuntarily, which were their acknowledgment of him.

"These people will be your backing, the foundation for your future bid for the Hokage seat."

You must never treat them as you would outsiders; you need sufficient prestige to earn their recognition, and then you can obtain the right to command the Uchiha.

As for outsiders, you must grant favors and cultivate goodwill to win hearts.

Shisui frowned, a bit troubled, "Isn't this discrimination?"

"That's exactly discrimination!" Sima Yi didn't deny, and said directly, "The Uchiha clan's interests align with yours; they don't need you to deliberately court them—so long as your prestige is enough to make rewards and punishments clear, they will naturally stand by you and support you."

"Unless you are like that ancestor."

The ancestor referred to is, of course, Madara Uchiha; he foresaw the Uchiha's future in the Konoha, but at that time leaving the Leaf conflicted with all Uchiha interests, so few were willing to stand by him.

"Same interests?" Shisui's eyes flickered, and he suddenly understood.

"Teacher, I understand. Courting other ninjas is merely a means; the ultimate goal remains to make the Uchiha better! That's what you said about weighing pros and cons, having long‑term vision, and a clear purpose!"

"Hahaha, well said. Establishing prestige is a method, granting favors is also a method; all methods serve the final goal!" Sima Yi nodded appreciatively, noting that remembering these things at least made him a diligent person.

Hearing the praise made Shisui delighted; after Sima Yi chatted briefly, he felt drowsy, didn't prolong the lesson, and immediately decided to take his leave.

After all, health is the capital for achievement.

The next day, the ninja army set out to return to the Konoha, over four hundred men traveling lightly and swiftly.

This proved difficult for Sima Yi; although he could already refine chakra, his cultivation time was too short—speed wasn't the issue, but endurance was. Shisui, citing his seniority, helped purchase a horse.

At fifty years old, the elders were fairly understanding and said little.

For several days straight, Sima Yi rode by day and studied sealing techniques by night.

Fortunately, having spent long in the army, such jolts weren't a big deal.

A few days later, Sima Yi finally found time after dinner to lecture Hui.

However, with nothing at hand and both unfamiliar with the local history, they could only recount Shisui's actions during this period point by point.

"That day I was curious how Shisui became so clever; turns out it was all Uncle Yi teaching you~"

Listening to Sima Yi recount the incident of Mizuto Mon Shōgo's betrayal, Hui instantly recalled that meeting where his rapid speech forced Commander Nara to dismiss Mizuto Mon Shōgo.

"Study more and think more; I have high hopes for you!"

"Oh~ Uncle Yi, you have a keen eye~"

Thus, five days later, the group passed Wu Town and approached the Konoha.

"Teacher, we'll reach the Konoha by tomorrow evening, but that day's matter still shows no sign of movement; I feel they probably won't settle peacefully."

That night, outside the camp, Sima Yi was explaining to Hui the detailed account of that day's rescue of the reinforcement, when Shisui came over, his tone worried.

"Zhuan Xin Lidu is the nephew of Zhuan Xin Xianghui; after so many days dead, that woman hasn't taken revenge, which is indeed odd."

Hui had also witnessed Zhuan Xin Xianghui's hostility toward them and fully agreed.

Sima Yi chuckled lightly; that day's tactics weren't sophisticated, but the minor flaws like Nara Suzaku taking the blame wouldn't matter.

"No need to worry; everything that day is documented. You merely followed orders; the reinforcement's ambush was fate, not our concern.

Moreover, given your two's strength and prestige, unless they are willing to tear off their masks, this matter would never surface publicly."

For Hui, that order was one he personally obtained from Nara Suzaku; after receiving the withdrawal order, the reinforcement was then trapped at the front line, a coincidence that easily aroused suspicion.

But it would only be suspicion; unless they tore away all pretense and probed his brain, they would find no evidence whatsoever.

Of course, the most important thing was that all their actions had no procedural problems whatsoever! (End of this chapter)