Chapter 61: Konoha Is the Uchiha's Konoha

The New Year is almost here, why are things getting more and more expensive? Honestly, these people are truly heartless.

Our household's rice is running low, damn merchants have raised the rice price again; it'd be great if the Uchiha caught those merchants.

When will this snow stop? It's really cold~

After leaving the Hokage Building, Shisui walked along the street, listening carefully to the pedestrians' chatter; it was almost all mundane daily matters, and he heard little about medical ninja topics.

As expected, it seems the Third has already suppressed it; grandpa's guess was correct.

This time it is certain that the Hokage is on the Uchiha's side.

Shisui let out a sigh of relief, treading through the accumulated snow back to the clan grounds; the comings and goings of clan members were likewise discussing mundane life matters, full of worries, and Shisui listened quietly.

He walked all the way to the Elder's courtyard; the courtyard gate was open, and Uchiha Badai happened to emerge from inside, looking somewhat surprised at Shisui standing at the gate.

"Shisui? Why did you come?"

Badai looked a bit puzzled; Shisui rarely visits the Elder at such a time.

"Uncle Badai, I have some matters I'd like to discuss with the Elder."

"It's about the medical ninja, right?"

Shisui was a little surprised, nodded and said, "No wonder, Uncle Badai, you guessed it right away."

"The reason you were allowed to come must be this, but I still advise you: the Elder is still angry, so he probably won't listen to you."

Badai did not block him; instead he made way for Shisui to enter.

"Thank you, but even so, I still want to give it a try."

"Do as you wish, I'm going back to patrol, but I have to say, those people of Konoha don't deserve you being so kind to them."

Badai sighed, and after speaking, left.

This time it's not for those Konoha people, but for the Uchiha.

Shisui watched Badai's departing back, and silently replied in his heart.

Upon entering the courtyard, the attendant standing nearby quickly went to report.

The Elder, whose status is lofty and who is advanced in age, cannot do without caretakers; there are also many guards in the courtyard.

In the entire Uchiha clan lands, the place with the fewest Konoha eyes is only the Elder's area.

Fugaku and the others would, out of restraint, yield to those monitoring ninja, but the Elder would not; it's one thing if they're outside the clan lands, but anyone daring to get close here—whether from the ANBU or the Root—has vanished.

"Elder."

After the corridor, Shisui saw the Elder sitting quietly in the main hall; he stopped at the doorway to bow, and heard the Elder teasing, "It's rare for you to come find this old man at this time."

"The future of the Uchiha and Konoha both hinges on the Elder alone, so Shisui had to come."

The Elder let out a cold laugh, waved away the attendants, and asked directly, "You're also here because of the medical ninja matter, right?"

"Yes, I hope the Elder can persuade those clan members to continue supporting the Ninja Hospital."

"Shisui!"

The Elder's expression changed; he looked up, his voice fixed on Shisui, with a hint of disappointment in his eyes.

Does he not know that recalling those people will spark criticism? Does he not know this will give people a pretext? "Fugaku can't see clearly, Badai also doesn't understand, even you can't grasp why I'm doing this?"

"No, I understand!"

Shisui suddenly looked up, staring straight at the Elder; his gaze was firm, and three Sharingan appeared, though it's unclear when.

"I know, that is certainly not just your decision alone, but the collective voice of all clan members who went to support the Ninja Hospital!"

The Elder's expression paused; his anger faded, and he looked at Shisui in surprise—this youth could so plainly state the true reason.

"I never imagined that Fugaku and Badai's abilities differ so much from yours, not just in ninja talent," the Elder sighed, his tone gradually leveling out, then asked, "Since you know, why did you come to see me? At this point I won't force them to return, and Fugaku can't force them either."

"The Elder has managed the clan lands for years, accumulating authority; as long as you speak, the rest is easy to handle."

The Elder curiously asked, "Do you have a way to persuade them?"

Shisui, seeing this, let out a sigh of relief and said immediately, "As long as the Elder cooperates, I can get them to return."

But unexpectedly the Elder's tone suddenly changed; he crossed his arms, snorted coldly, "Then I won't go either!"

Huh? Indeed, it's not that easy!

"Why would I do this for those guys, and let the clan keep suffering grievances?"

"I see, no wonder the Third called the Elder narrow‑minded."

Seeing this, Shisui didn't even half‑kneel; instead he sat upright outside the door, facing the Elder eye to eye.

"What are you saying? Broad‑mindedness? Narrowness? So, you want to tell me something about the Sarutobi Clan's Will of Fire?"

The Elder's voice grew deeper; he watched Shisui's temper rising, his breathing becoming a bit rapid.

"I recall, you're the one in the clan who most often mentions the Will of Fire; if that's the case, you may return."

"And the Will of Fire, what of it? Did the Elder forget who founded Konoha, or why the name Konoha came to be?"

Shisui did not back down; instead he raised his voice and asked.

"Konoha was, of course, founded by the Senju and the Uchiha, and the name Konoha was also taken by our ancestors," the Elder squinted slightly, as if recalling the past.

"Elder, the Will of Fire has never been the Sarutobi Clan's Will of Fire, but the Uchiha's Will of Fire. The Uchiha are not Konoha's Uchiha, yet Konoha is the Uchiha's Konoha!"

"Now that the Senju are absent, if Konoha cannot rely on the Uchiha, will it have to depend on those insects?"

"We founded Konoha, yet the Elder wants to abandon the Uchiha's past glory? Abandon Konoha?"

"You!?"

A sharp shout startled the Elder; he looked at Shisui with a shocked face, unable to believe those were Shisui's words.

If he didn't know the other's strength, he would even doubt whether the other was being controlled by someone's genjutsu.

The disparity in personality is just too great!

"I truly can't believe such words came from you; I'm even a bit excited."

The Elder exhaled a breath of heat, then looked toward Shisui with a satisfied expression, "Having a junior like you in the Uchiha is a blessing."

Alright then, I'll help you this once. Go ahead—how do you plan to persuade those people to return to the Ninja Hospital?

Seeing the Great Elder loosen his mouth, Shisui also let out a sigh; Sima Yi was right—these clan elders care most about glory and face.

As long as we can press him on these points and add the clan's interests, the other side has no reason to refuse.

"The Third has already agreed that if they are willing to go back, he will discuss it with the Transfer Assistant; such incidents will not happen again."

"That's appropriate," the Great Elder said blandly, unmoved.

"The clan members will provide support in squad formations, and …"

Shisui paused mid‑sentence, drawing the Great Elder's attention.

"I will provide the funds to compensate for Konoha's previous actions."

"Hm?" the Great Elder squinted, a hint of doubt, "For Konoha?"

"For the Uchiha!"

(End of chapter)