"Danzo, why did you call us here? I was busy preparing military logistics."
Koharu Utatane spoke first. She had been swamped with work when a Root operative summoned her. By the time she arrived, Homura Mitokado and Hiruzen Sarutobi were already waiting.
The operation against the Land of Rain was practically confirmed. Aside from the minor conflict with the young Hyuga elder during the clan meeting, there shouldn't be any need for the four of them to gather and discuss further.
"Root has recently uncovered evidence of the Uchiha clan's planned rebellion. I called you here to discuss it."
Danzo's tone was calm as he placed two kunai and two shuriken on the table.
Hiruzen frowned slightly. "Danzo, what's the meaning of this?"
How could two kunai and shuriken prove anything?
"One of these kunai and shuriken was obtained from an Uchiha clan member. The other is the standard-issue Konoha equipment."
As he spoke, Danzo picked up the two kunai and clashed them together. The Uchiha kunai shattered the standard-issue one with only a barely visible nick on its edge.
Homura couldn't help but remark, "Incredibly durable kunai. Danzo, are all the Uchiha's kunai like this?"
Kunai were a ninja's primary close-combat weapons, second only to short swords. A sturdier kunai provided a significant advantage in melee combat. If two opponents clashed and one's kunai suddenly broke, the wielder would be in grave danger.
With their weapon destroyed and no time to perform ninjutsu, fighting barehanded against an armed opponent would be suicidal.
Homura guessed aloud, "Danzo, are you trying to secure this kunai supply from the Uchiha clan? It might be too late now."
What an idiot!
"Let me finish."
Danzo inwardly cursed before continuing coldly, "The Uchiha clan has almost entirely replaced their weapons with this higher-quality batch. Root traced the source—these weapons were supplied by the Mochigawa Trading Company."
As he spoke, Danzo revealed the hidden merchant emblem on the kunai's handle strap: the mark of the Mochigawa Trading Company.
Koharu narrowed her eyes in recollection. "The Mochigawa Trading Company... I recall they primarily operate near the border between the Land of Rivers and the Land of Fire..."
"Exactly. But the Mochigawa Trading Company is effectively a puppet of the Kaikou Trading Association. Its steel, transportation, and other operations all fly under the Kaikou banner."
Danzo laid out all the intelligence Root had gathered. Hearing this, Hiruzen and the others frowned deeply.
The Kaikou Trading Association was a prominent name in the shinobi world. As a family-run merchant group, it had merged with Sunagakure to establish a federal nation unifying military and political power.
For the Uchiha clan to suddenly switch to weapons produced by the Kaikou Trading Association was deeply concerning.
After taking a slow drag from his pipe, Hiruzen asked, "Danzo, when did this happen?"
"That's what I should be asking you, Hiruzen," Danzo replied tersely. "The ANBU has two Uchiha members, yet they failed to notice something this significant?"
Hiruzen had no rebuttal, silently chastising Shisui and Itachi for their oversight.
To Shisui and Itachi, replacing weapons might not have seemed like a major issue. Since their gear was supplied by ANBU and they hadn't sparred with their clansmen, they likely never noticed.
Ultimately, Shisui and Itachi were too detached from the Uchiha clan. Finding no kindred spirits among their kin, they rarely interacted with them.
"We must investigate this immediately. If the Uchiha clan is colluding with the Kaikou Trading Association while our forces are deployed on the frontlines, Konoha could face an internal crisis..."
Danzo's voice was ominous, but his concerns mirrored Hiruzen's own.
"Recall the troops? That would be difficult. What about Iwagakure's response?"
Koharu shook her head. Both sides had mobilized against the Land of Rain. If Konoha suddenly backed out now, Iwagakure might very well turn its forces against them.
"Keep ANBU and Root stationed in the village. For the frontline vacancies, I'll negotiate with other clans to reassign additional squads."
Hiruzen made the decision, his own worries about the Uchiha growing.
"Strengthen protection around Kushina and her son. Even at the academy, any interaction between Naruto Uzumaki and the Uchiha must be recorded by ANBU."
He then summoned Shisui and Itachi to question them about the matter while ordering Root to intensify surveillance on the Uchiha clan.
Hiruzen assigned Root the toughest task, approving an expansion of thirty operatives. However, Danzo had already exceeded that limit in secret, with Root's numbers now estimated at nearly 150.
This was an overwhelming force, surpassing even ANBU. Under normal circumstances, Hiruzen would never have allowed Danzo to wield such power.
Power inevitably breeds ambition. Without checks, Danzo would eventually slip beyond his control.
Soon after, Shisui and Itachi arrived at the Hokage's office. Seeing all the higher-ups gathered, they sensed something amiss.
"Shisui, Itachi, there's a matter we must entrust to you. No one in ANBU is better suited for this task."
Hiruzen sighed before slowly recounting the intelligence Root had uncovered.
"So it's come to this..."
Shisui's heart sank. The village had indeed caught wind of the situation. Had the clan really replaced all their kunai and shuriken?
Glancing at Itachi's equally surprised expression, Shisui realized even the clan head's son was unaware. Yet ANBU had uncovered everything.
Were they the only ones excluded—or simply overlooked?
As Shisui pondered, his expression shifted slightly—enough for Danzo to notice.
"Uchiha Shisui, what are you thinking? Do you have crucial information?"
"No, nothing related to intelligence, Lord Danzo." Shisui bowed slightly and replied swiftly, "I was merely reflecting that, no matter what, I will prevent the Uchiha clan's rebellion."
"Oh? How can you be so certain? According to Root's intel, nearly 70% of the Uchiha advocated armed revolt during their last clan meeting. Even the clan head's stance was ambiguous. How will you stop that?"
Danzo's aggressive questioning forced Shisui and Itachi to lower their heads. Itachi, in particular, felt a pang of frustration toward his indecisive father.
'If Father, as clan head, had been more resolute in suppressing the radicals, Shisui wouldn't be facing this pressure now...'
But Shisui lifted his head again—his eyes transformed. The three tomoe of his Sharingan had shifted into a four-pointed pinwheel, slowly rotating.
"This is..."
Hiruzen, Danzo, and the others were stunned. Even Itachi was seeing this form of the Sharingan for the first time.
Shisui's eyes radiated a power and eeriness far beyond the three-tomoe Sharingan.
"This is the Mangekyo Sharingan, an evolved form of the Sharingan. My Mangekyo possesses a unique ocular jutsu—Kotoamatsukami. It can forcibly alter a person's thoughts, undetectable and nearly unblockable."
Shisui stared directly at the Konoha elders, his voice steady as he revealed his ultimate power. "If the Uchiha insist on rebellion, I will use this jutsu to change the clan head's will—to make him protect Konoha."
Kotoamatsukami!
A technique that could forcibly rewrite a person's will, with no defense against it.
Hiruzen's gaze deepened with wariness. Danzo narrowed his eyes, now regarding Shisui with heightened caution. Koharu and Homura could only gape in shock.
The Uchiha possessed such a terrifying jutsu?
"In that case, we can rest assured. Shisui, we leave the investigation of the Uchiha clan to you."
Hiruzen nodded with a smile, though Danzo knew his old friend's guard was now at its peak.
A jutsu that could manipulate minds without detection—nothing was more terrifying.
No seal or curse mark could compare. If Shisui sided with the Uchiha radicals, Konoha would be doomed.
"Understood, Lord Hokage. I will do everything in my power to resolve the Uchiha matter."
Shisui accepted without hesitation. By exposing his trump card, he had secured the elders' trust to handle the Uchiha himself.
With Kotoamatsukami, he was confident he could sway the clan head and prevent rebellion.
After Shisui and Itachi left, Danzo broke the silence.
"Hiruzen, what do you make of Shisui's words?"
Hiruzen took a slow drag from his pipe and exhaled before answering.
"Shisui, your Sharingan just now..."
Itachi wanted to ask more about the Mangekyo, but Shisui cut him off.
"Itachi, I'll explain this eye to you later. But I hope you never awaken it—the price is too great."
Shisui's tone was grave. Among the many Uchiha, few ever awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan.
The cost of obtaining these eyes was always greater than the power they granted.
(End of Chapter)
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