Chapter 7: The Terrifying Power of the Panel

The corner of Sima Yi's mouth lifted slightly, and he nodded in satisfaction; he had long sensed that Shisui still clung to an unwarranted fantasy about his greatest enemy.

That was fatal! It was a path that invited disaster — the disaster of an entire clan's annihilation! "Teacher, you're right. I placed too much weight on the profession of ninja, and I trusted them too much."

After Sima Yi's thoughts were poured into him, Shisui became much clearer-headed instead.

"We are all ninja — even when covering a retreat, it shouldn't always be the Uchiha. The villagers' support shouldn't keep excluding the Uchiha. They are suppressing us, they are pushing us out!"

Having lost part of his rose-tinted view of the Third, Shisui immediately came to his senses, and the doubts he had harbored in the past now gained a clear understanding.

"If you can think this way, then we are not far from succeeding."

"Thank you for your guidance, Teacher!"

Praised by Sima Yi, Shisui felt a surge of joy, stepped forward to support him, and led him to a seat.

"Teacher, but the Vermillion Bird elite ninja's mission has already been issued. I must lead the clan to cover the retreat now — is there any way to avoid it?"

The moment Sima Yi sat down, Shisui asked impatiently.

"Don't rush. Your way of acting today already differs quite a bit from before. Even with Hui as cover, it's bound to draw their attention. Don't create extra trouble now — wait quietly for a few days."

"Alright, Teacher." Seeing Sima Yi say so, Shisui could only give up, standing alone to one side in a slight daze, as if thinking about something.

Suddenly, his brow moved, and he looked toward the outside of the tent.

Sima Yi saw this and turned his head to look as well, only to see no one outside the tent. Just as he was wondering, a call came from afar.

"Shisui, are you still in there?"

Hui Uchiha called out loudly, striding quickly from afar and lifting open the tent flap.

"Eh? Who are you?"

The extra person inside the tent made Hui Uchiha's expression freeze.

Shisui had sensed him long ago, but he did not have Sima Yi hide, because to bring the man back to Konoha he needed a reasonable excuse — a person appearing out of nowhere would arouse Konoha's vigilance.

And that required Hui Uchiha's help.

"This is—" Shisui stepped forward, about to make introductions, when he saw Hui Uchiha, after a brief moment of confusion, suddenly break into a look of sudden realization.

"Eh? Isn't that Uncle Yi? How did you end up here?"

Hui Uchiha clapped his hands together, as if remembering something, and hurriedly stepped forward to Sima Yi's side with a face full of complaint.

"This isn't a place for retirement. If anything happens to you, my dad will scold me to death!"

Eh? Shisui was shocked, his pupils trembling uncontrollably. He looked at Sima Yi, and both were astonished.

But he had already accepted arriving in another world after death — what else was there that he couldn't accept?

So it was only for an instant; Sima Yi quickly shifted his expression, nodded with a mild look and said: "I am still in my prime years — how could I retreat to the rear?"

"Hahaha, Uncle Yi, you're already over fifty, honestly — you never let anyone rest easy."

"Fifty is nothing — I still have at least twenty good years left. As the saying goes, an old steed in the stable still aspires to gallop a thousand li; a hero in his twilight years, his bold heart never fades!"

Hui's personality greatly appealed to Sima Yi, who stroked his beard repeatedly and said with a smile.

"What old, what bold—"

Hui scratched his head, looking embarrassed — he hadn't understood a single word of those lines — but he could guess they were words declaring one's ambition.

So he nodded in praise: "Mm, mm, mm — worthy of being a man of our Uchiha. Uncle Yi, I'll protect you well!"

Seeing that Sima Yi had finished dealing with him, Shisui then opened his mouth to ask: "Is Brother Hui's father on very good terms with Mr. Yi?"

"Of course! My dad told me before that Uncle Yi once saved his life on the battlefield."

"I see, so that's how it is." Shisui nodded, horrified within, and instinctively focused his gaze on the panel.

Points: None. Strategist: Sima Yi (Enhancement count: 0)

This panel could actually alter consciousness — even existence. This crude panel once again struck him with immense shock, but it had also done him a great favor: he no longer needed to laboriously devise a way to arrange an identity for Sima Yi.

They could return to Konoha openly and legitimately.

After thinking for a moment, he looked up, only to see Sima Yi still chatting with Hui.

He remained composed, and with just a few words had drawn out of Hui everything Hui knew about him.

An unremarkable old Uchiha man — he hadn't even awakened his Sharingan, wasn't well known within the clan, and had a very low presence.

After learning his own identity, Sima Yi shifted the topic toward Shisui.

"Coming over so late — is there something you need to discuss with Shisui?"

"Oh, right — I almost forgot!"

Reminded by Sima Yi, Hui then recalled the purpose of his visit.

"Shisui, the Vermillion Bird elite ninja and the others have already set out one after another. The clan members are all waiting for your arrangements."

At this point, Hui's expression turned somewhat ugly.

"After I assigned today's missions, quite a few clan members were very dissatisfied — even..."

Shisui looked at Sima Yi, his mood somewhat low, and asked: "Even what?"

"Even quite a few people are saying the Village doesn't treat us Uchiha as comrades — they're just using us.

We've been fighting continuously for a long time. Too many clan members have left us, yet they've once again thrown us to the very end.

We are people of Konoha too!"

Hui lowered his head, his mood equally low. These words — he didn't say them normally didn't mean he didn't know. Konoha's attitude was all too obvious.

"Sorry..."

Shisui stepped forward. He had always known of his clan members' complaints, but he had always clung to his hope in the Third — if only the clan could endure a little longer, if only they could endure a little longer, the Third would surely see his efforts, would surely see the Uchiha's feelings for Konoha — but today he had wavered from his former thoughts more than once.

Could the Hokage truly not see the Uchiha's contributions to Konoha?

"Why are you apologizing? It's not your fault."

The boy's look of guilt drew a teasing laugh from Hui.

"But there really are clan members saying you abandoned the family. What do they know of how much you've sacrificed for the family? This great lord cannot tolerate such a misunderstanding!"

Hui clenched his fists, a cold and wild smile curling across his lips.

"What did you do? Don't do anything rash!"

"What are you talking about? I was just teaching them a lesson the Uchiha way — and look how quiet they got afterwards!"

"You—" Shisui's mouth twitched, his head swelling with exasperation.

"If it gets them to quiet down, it's not exactly a bad thing."

Sima Yi nodded in judgment — he actually rather approved of Hui's approach.

After all, this was an army; negative talk would drag down morale. People like that had to be dealt with or talked through on the spot. He'd spent a lifetime at war, so he knew this kind of thing inside out.

"See? Uncle Yi supports me too!"

With Sima Yi's backing, Hui immediately straightened his back. Seeing this, Shisui instinctively began pondering the reason behind it.

"Alright, Shisui, stop dwelling on it. You'd better hurry and arrange the patrols for tonight — it's almost dark, and the other squads have already started handing off their duties to us."

"Nani?"

Shisui froze, then turned his head toward the tent entrance, only now noticing that dusk was nearly upon them.

"Time really flies when I'm with Teacher~"

(End of Chapter)