Chapter 99: The Power of Worry

"No!"

Sima Yi remained silent, while the three of them voiced their opposition together.

"Now is a critical moment; you must not meet him alone," the eighth representative's expression was solemn, and he urged loudly.

"His decisions may be wrong, but his strength is undeniable," said Yang Zhe and Dao Huo in turn.

The term "fierce eyes" does not stem solely from Fugaku's grim appearance; his battlefield prowess has earned worldwide recognition, and no one considers him weak.

Shisui paused, instantly realizing he had misspoken; such behavior was not rational.

One could send a messenger, citing the affairs of the western wasteland to summon him; after he leaves his home, a messenger could report the clan meeting to the clan head to prevent suspicion.

Sima Yi added softly, and the three immediately looked at him, surprise evident in their eyes.

They knew that, because the house had been blown down by a great wind, there was such a person living in Shisui's home, but they had never considered what help this person could offer Shisui; after all, he was merely a fifty‑year‑old, never‑awakened Copy Wheel Eye, a millennium‑old genin.

"Since my original self cannot go, how about sending a clone or a ninja crow to invite Shisui?"

Shisui turned his head; since Sima Yi spoke openly in public, it meant it would not affect the overall situation, so he took the opportunity to ask, also seeing a chance to bolster his own authority.

"No, sending a clone or a ninja crow might be seen as disrespectful; today the alley is blocked, he will surely notice, so we must not act rashly."

"I cannot go; then who should be sent to notify him?"

Sima Yi's expression remained calm as he stared at the ground, offering no specifics, but suggesting, "You could send a trusted confidant, though if you go to Fugaku's clan head's house and cannot bring Itachi out, there may be a risk to one's life."

Shisui's eyes flickered slightly, glancing at Sima Yi, his suspicion rising as he fell into a brief contemplation.

"I'll go!"

At that moment, Dao Huo suddenly knelt half‑way before Shisui, speaking resolutely.

Shisui frowned, about to refuse, but Dao Huo cut him off, opening his mouth: "I have followed clan head Fugaku for over ten years; he has saved me several times on the battlefield."

"If today he doubts and acts against me, I will return this life to him. If he does not doubt, I will take Itachi away and let him grow up safely."

The others were moved, their hearts sorrowful; no one wanted to see such a great clan torn by internal conflict.

Shisui's expression grew even heavier; he stepped forward slowly, helped Dao Huo to his feet, then met his gaze earnestly.

"Itachi is very important to me, and you are equally important; I can sacrifice myself for Itachi, and I can sacrifice myself for you, but I will never sacrifice you for Itachi. There is still time; I will find a way regarding Itachi."

"No! I understand your intention, but these eyes tell me that this time I will not misjudge again. My actions are not merely to prove myself; they are to face the past, correct the mistakes. Forgive my reckless courage once more!"

Dao Huo bowed, presenting an argument Shisui could not refuse.

Shisui opened his mouth, then slowly nodded, "I will have someone meet you outside; the clan's future needs your support. Please cherish your life."

Dao Huo nodded, then vanished in an instant.

After he left, Shisui took a deep breath; his eyes were no longer clouded. The action had begun, and from this moment any sacrifice was possible.

They notified the elder to prepare the clan meeting, re‑checked the alleys—especially near the clan head's house—and dispatched people to meet Dao Huo, while informing Uchiha Hui to ready the Barrier. Orders were issued one after another; the two responded swiftly and then led others to carry them out.

Then Shisui selected suitable candidates in the main hall to go to the clan lands, bring the three absent clan members and their affiliated followers to the Police Department, and cooperate with Uchiha Tie Huo to monitor.

As for the other scattered ninja in the clan who were loyal to Fugaku, neither Sima Yi nor Shisui cared.

They were not strong, few in number, low in prestige, and would have no impact on this operation.

After the internal orders were set, Sima Yi finally gestured for Shisui to step aside, whispering, "Night is falling, the timing is right. I used your ANBU identity to write a letter to the Third for you; you may read it first." Shisui, puzzled, took the letter, opened it casually, and his expression grew even more confused after reading.

The letter was penned by Sima Yi, imitating Shisui's handwriting and code; its content was simple—aside from pledging loyalty, it divided the clan's factions, decided upon using the ANBU identity.

"What use is this letter? Also, I've already entered the Police Department; logically I should quit the ANBU. Why does grandfather refuse my leaving the ANBU and still require me to act under its identity?"

After reading through, Shisui found nothing unusual; had Sima Yi not mentioned the ANBU first, he would not have recalled the matter.

Sima Yi gave no further explanation, simply saying, "The letter was just scribbled casually; the ANBU identity is merely for convenience. If you have no objections, I'll have it delivered to the Third."

Shisui's brows furrowed slightly; he knew there was definitely something fishy, but since Sima Yi wouldn't speak, he couldn't press, so he let it go.

After a moment's hesitation, he still asked, "Was senior Dao Huo's matter deliberately arranged by grandfather?"

Sima Yi did not deny it, and readily nodded, "He is the most suitable candidate, and this also allows a final test of Fugaku."

Shisui opened his mouth, but remained speechless; he had already suspected, but the crowd prevented him from speaking.

"At present the advantage is on my side, and we are far from a point of no return; we must remember that a gentleman does not stand beneath a perilous wall."

Moreover, Dao Huo's ties with Fugaku are close; first, it can allay suspicion, and second, if he returns safely, it can remove any lingering resentment, allowing us to entrust him with important duties in the future.

Third, if he truly encounters trouble, it would indicate that Fugaku has sensed the crisis and would not be content to be trapped at home.

Yet he has, up to this moment, made no personnel shifts or attempts at alliance or balance; either he is genuinely slow to react, only noticing now, in which case we can resolve it easily.

Or he has the confidence to quell disorder and does not care about our minor moves.

Not relying on the clan's strength yet possessing the confidence to quell disorder, Shisui's gaze grew heavy, and he immediately understood Sima Yi's worry—this was the most concerning possibility in his mind.

As clan head, Fugaku should be aware of all the clan's secrets; how could he not know about the Mangekyou Copy Wheel Eye.

If this conjecture is correct, given his experiences, his use of this eye would far surpass his.

Moreover, after reading the clan's inheritance, Shisui knows that each eye's associated jutsu may differ; for a ninja, the unknown signifies danger.

"If he truly has also awakened this eye,"

Shisui imagined the two of them wielding the Mangekyou in a clan‑land battle, shook his head; the consequences would be too severe.

Concealing the Mangekyou would cause the Third's trust in him to collapse instantly; the Uchiha's astonishing power would make the Konoha leadership even more wary, and suppression would continue unabated.

"If Dao Huo encounters trouble during tonight's operation, do not hesitate; you must act first, directly employ the Other Heavenly God to alter his mind, then commence the clan meeting, have the elder and the Clan Elite vote through the procedure, and after he steps down, you will be the rightful clan head."

"But remember, you must never let a third person know about your eye technique's ability—remember, no one!"

Sima Yi's expression was solemn as he reiterated that seizing Fugaku first would secure a Mangekyou; he clearly recalled the book's explicit warning that overusing the Mangekyou leads to blindness, and this eye could be kept for Shisui.

As for Fugaku, everyone aware of tonight's operation might think they will kill him, but Sima Yi does not actually wish to do so.

Not to mention Shisui's own wishes, killing Fugaku outright, his superior, is a last‑resort measure; it should not be done unless absolutely necessary.

Subjugating a superior is something all higher‑ups find intolerable.

Especially while the Third, the direct superior, is still present; such conduct, even if the other party says nothing in the short term, will breed resentment over time.

If even the clan head can be killed publicly, who will dare trust him thereafter? Shisui nodded, understanding in his heart.

(End of chapter)