Chapter 97: The Power of Lodging

Heavy snow swirled, the world a white blur; snowflakes fell onto the eaves, one after another, piling up day and night, until at some moment the layers slipped down, rustling.

Dad, are you unhappy?

In the Uchiha clan's lands, an eastern courtyard, Uchiha Shiliuye, who left the Police Department years ago, stared at the sliding snow in the courtyard, sitting on the long corridor, lost in thought.

At some point, a crisp shout from his little son reached his ears.

Hmm? Dad isn't unhappy, why do you ask?

Uchiha Shiliuye lowered his head, lifted his two‑and‑a‑half‑year‑old son, forced a smile, and the scar from his eye to his mouth looks especially fierce.

So why are your eyebrows like that, like that.

The child's innocent frown made Uchiha Shiliuye burst into laughter, prompting him to nuzzle his chin against the child's cheek, causing the child to grimace and push him away with both hands.

Dad, don't, don't do that, sting, dad~

Hahaha, alright, alright, Dad won't sting. He laughed heartily, tossing his son high, as if to fling his worries away too.

But the child had to catch himself again, and the worries would return.

He set the child down on the ground, then looked at the snow piled on the other rooms; the snow formed a thick layer, and after the child only giggled a few times, a sheet of pine snow fell down.

Just like the current clan, as fragile as a stack of eggs, ready to collapse in an instant.

He possessed the three‑tomoe Copy Wheel Eye envied by clan members and the world, yet faced with this situation he was still at a loss.

In the next two days, will the clan chief really launch a Coup?

Can Shisui stop the clan chief?

Can I protect the remaining family? These three questions swirled in his mind, plunging him into confusion and silence.

Dad, are you unhappy again?

The child's doubt awakened him once more; Uchiha Shiliuye gently lifted him, stroked the back of his head, his gaze shifting from bewildered to resolute.

It's fine, don't worry; no matter what, Dad will protect you and your sister.

The child knew nothing, just tilting his head.

Hm?

Suddenly, Uchiha Shiliuye's gaze changed; he patted his son's shoulder and softly said, "First go back inside to find your sister; Dad has something to attend to outside."

Hm~ okay~

After the son left, Uchiha Shiliuye looked outside the courtyard, his figure shifting as he swiftly moved onto the courtyard wall, looking down from above.

Shiliuye, why are you standing so high?

Outside the courtyard was Dao Huo, who had come to deliver a letter; he looked up at Shiliuye on the wall with a rather odd expression.

I'm even more curious why Captain Dao Huo would come to see me at this time.

Shiliuye leapt down from the wall, his tone a bit impatient; he had left the Police Department over two years ago and really didn't want any more ties to that place, especially during this special period.

Dao Huo sensed his impatience; knowing his past didn't matter to him, he lifted the letter in his hand and said, "This is a letter from Lord Shisui addressed to you; I selected it and came personally to deliver it."

Lord Shisui?

Shiliuye felt a stir; at this critical moment, all of Shisui's actions were influencing the Clan Elite's hearts, including his own. He immediately took the letter, held it but hesitated to open it, his mood extremely complicated.

Shiliuye, as one of the few who opposed the Coup during the vote, found this period undeniably the hardest.

Look, this is a moment that concerns the family's fate; you must also have something you wish to protect, something you cherish most.

Hearing Dao Huo's counsel, Shiliuye sighed and opened the letter.

Senior Shiliuye began: "At the time of the New Year, when the western front celebrated a great victory and the family shared peace and happiness, Clan Chief Fugaku disregarded the clan's safety, the fate of Konoha, acted contrary to order, took up arms, and rashly discussed a Coup."

"Shisui knows his life is but three feet of frailty, a mere youngster, yet he knows that Konoha, both within and beyond, is surrounded by enemies of the Fire Country, with wolves everywhere."

"The clan chief's action pulls one hair and moves the whole body, expressing a petty intention while endangering the larger picture, fearing that Konoha's destruction could occur within a single dawn or dusk."

"I still recall (crossed out) the time fighting the mist ninja; the clan despised me, thinking I abandoned the clan to favor Konoha, yet I always remember that before the Uchiha, there was Shisui."

"My heart is toward the clan, my thoughts bound to the clan members; this heart is clear, the sun and moon as mirrors, the yellow earth as witness."

"Despite my countless efforts, now only a month has passed, yet rumors quietly spread within the clan hoping I will become clan chief; this is the shift of people's hearts."

"Although I am not present here, I am even less willing for the clan to suffer this blood disaster, for Konoha to face such great calamity; therefore this letter seeks like‑minded people to gather at home to discuss this matter, jointly protect the clan, and seek peace."

Shiliuye read it in one breath, his brows tightly furrowed; the letter contained words he could understand, some parts he could only vaguely grasp, and the style varied greatly, not seeming to be written by the same person.

But that mattered not; despite some roughness, he could still read the whole and comprehend what Shisui intended to convey.

His mood grew somewhat downcast; the letter seemed to indicate that Shisui's Ten‑Day Pact had failed, and to stop the Coup, he now prepared to take another path.

Having read the letter, how do you feel?

The content of the letter was roughly the same; Dao Huo naturally knew, and seeing Shiliuye's solemn expression, couldn't help but ask.

Shiliuye was a bit surprised, only then realizing that Dao Huo was Fugaku's confidant, so why was the letter delivered by him.

Do you know what's in the letter?

Of course I know, so I came personally to deliver it.

You

Shiliuye's pupils contracted, his five fingers instinctively clenched the letter tightly; after a long while, he looked at Dao Huo and said, "I see, I didn't expect you to make such a choice."

"I did it only for the clan, also for him!"

Dao Huo remained very calm, staring directly at him without any evasion, nor any remorse.

"Hehe, actually regardless of whether Lord Shisui has confidence, whether you come or not, I will go; but since you're already standing here, I believe he has already secured victory."

Shiliuye let out a light laugh, his expression somewhat fierce, and added, "And to wage war against Konoha, I see no chance of victory. You know, I only have those two left; regardless of who the enemy is, I will protect them with these eyes!"

"I know, you and I, and them, we all have people we want to protect. Those we have lost, their strength now resides within these eyes."

"Let them watch closely; I will take their share as well, following Lord Shisui to change everything! This is the Uchiha, me who possesses the power of companions and family, never lacking the courage to fight."

These eyes house the power of the departed; through them they will see all that lives. This is the philosophy of Uchiha Dao Huo and also of Uchiha Shiliuye.

The two stared at each other, and the Copy Wheel Eyes involuntarily activated.

(End of chapter)