Chapter 31

Uchiha Jin’s face was filled with mockery; he had no interest in hiding anything from him.

As he said, he excelled at using open strategies to break through impasses—even if he plainly told Shisui, the latter would most likely follow the same path.

Because nature is hard to change; many things simply cannot be altered.

Of course.

If Shisui truly came to understand, it would be good for him too—either way, he wouldn’t lose.

“Impossible!”

“The Hokage is just a kind old man—he would never do something like this.”

“Uchiha Jin, Itachi won’t succeed!”

Shisui shook his head, his gaze resolute.

He would not be swayed by Uchiha Jin’s manipulation—even as memories of past meetings with the Hokage kept flashing in his mind, he chose to strengthen his resolve, believing only the Hokage could help the Uchiha integrate into Konoha.

Others sighed.

Though their minds were stubborn, they could still tell right from wrong.

The other Uchiha had no power, so naturally no one bothered listening to their rambling—but now that Uchiha Jin had sufficient strength, they were willing to listen carefully.

But, unfortunately.

Shisui, who could awaken the Mangekyo Sharingan, proved he was more extreme than anyone else—such a person could not be easily persuaded.

Otherwise,

he could never have been extreme enough to awaken the Mangekyo Sharingan!

Precisely because they understood this, they did not try to dissuade him—only sighed bitterly, their eyes filled with pity as they looked at Shisui.

And on the other side,

Uchiha Jin’s expression remained unchanged at Shisui’s outburst.

“Shisui, do Itachi know what an open strategy is?”

“It means no matter what choice Itachi make, it won’t affect my actual plan.”

“If Itachi suspect Hiruzen Sarutobi, it’s good for me and the Uchiha—after all, the Uchiha gain another powerful figure to stand guard.”

“Even if Itachi still choose to trust Hiruzen Sarutobi, it has no impact on my plan.”

“An open strategy is different from a covert one—it cannot be broken!”

Shisui froze.

Others looked at Uchiha Jin as if gazing upon a mountain stream, their hearts filled with awe—Uchiha Jin’s strategic ability was simply absurd.

Even if Itachi’re told outright, Itachi still can’t change a thing—Itachi’re forced to follow his plan!

Ultimately,

Shisui let out a helpless sigh and walked straight out of the courtyard.

As for this,

Uchiha Jin made no move to stop him—only watched Shisui leave with indifference, then spoke to those present: “Fugaku’s decision to relinquish power is also a good thing. Let’s proceed with the plan.”

Upon hearing this, everyone was confused.

Their minds took a moment to catch up; finally, Uchiha Shasa spoke: “Execute the original plan? Or the one Itachi told Shisui?”

“Jin, were Itachi lying to Shisui?” Uchiha Hachiya asked, equally puzzled.

Uchiha Jin was momentarily stunned.

He instinctively glanced around and, seeing everyone’s confusion, couldn’t help but sigh helplessly.

Good grief!

The Uchiha’s minds really are that simple.

He rubbed his temples in resignation, then explained:

“Both plans must be carried out!”

“I didn’t deceive Shisui. Though I deduced it all myself and have no evidence, I truly believe the Konoha high command intends to kill him.”

“I do plan to use Shisui’s death to scheme against the Konoha high command.”

“But that doesn’t affect our original plan—I never promised to reveal everything to him, only that I wouldn’t lie to him.”

Uh.

Hearing Uchiha Jin’s explanation, everyone’s faces darkened.

Even though he put it that way, wasn’t that still misleading Shisui?

But…

If one thought carefully, Uchiha Jin’s words weren’t wrong—after all, they weren’t allies, and the plan he told them was indeed true, just incomplete.

So, sigh.

As they looked at Uchiha Jin now, their expressions turned complex—but also deeply reassuring.

Having such a leader was good for the Uchiha.

At the very least,

Konoha would find it extraordinarily difficult to trap Uchiha Jin!

…

And on the other side,

After leaving Jin’s courtyard, Shisui’s eyes were filled with confusion.

At this moment, his heart was truly in turmoil.

He knew he shouldn’t believe Uchiha Jin’s manipulation, yet he, though foolishly loyal, was not stupid—sometimes lies don’t hurt, but the truth cuts like a blade.

As the man who earned the nickname “Instantaneous Shisui” on the battlefield, though his strategic cunning couldn’t match others’, his ability to read people was still sharp.

So,

He recalled how, after revealing his Mangekyo Sharingan to the Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi had never met him privately again—each time they met, at least two Anbu flanked him.

Especially Hiruzen Sarutobi’s eyes—since then, they had never met his gaze again.

He had never questioned it before, but now that Uchiha Jin had pointed it out, to say he felt no unease was a lie.

Even if he understood Hiruzen Sarutobi’s reasoning, the feeling of betrayal was unbearable—especially since he had trusted Hiruzen Sarutobi so deeply.

“Did Itachi hear about Jin’s elder’s speech?”

“It’s all over the village—no one expected Hiruzen Sarutobi to be this ruthless!”

“The Hokage looked so kind—how could he do something like this?”

“Do Itachi think Jin’s elder is overthinking this?”

“Jin’s elder has no proof, but when coincidences pile up, they’re no longer coincidences.”

“That’s true—we should be more careful from now on.”

“…”

Hearing the dense chatter around him, Shisui felt a creeping dread.

What’s going on?

What are they all talking about?

It seems—it’s about the Hokage?

Shisui’s gaze instantly hardened. Though he harbored doubts about Hiruzen Sarutobi, he still trusted the village and the Hokage more.

He didn’t approach directly; instead, he hid in an alley, used a Transformation Technique, then stepped out again.

Then,

He joined the group chatting and learned of Uchiha Jin’s earlier words.

His scalp prickled.

From the suspicious deaths of Senju Shojū and Katō Dan, to the annihilation of the Uzumaki and Senju clans, to the defections of the Legendary Sannin, then to the “suicide” of Kabuto Shikamaru, and finally to Minato Namikaze’s death…

One after another,

His heart churned—many of these events were inexplicable. A single leak of Kabuto Shikamaru’s mission couldn’t possibly explain it from any angle.

A top-secret S-rank mission leaked—and spread across Konoha within a day, yet the Anbu didn’t investigate?

That made no sense!

Though he didn’t fully understand the other events, he knew a few were coincidences—but could so many still be explained away as coincidence?

Hokage…

Should I still trust Itachi?