Chapter 356 – Shisui's Resolve
"Third Hokage-sama…"
Uchiha Shisui knelt on one knee, but his gaze could not help drifting to the side.
In his memory, there should have been a massive Buddha statue standing there.
Although its expression had been fierce and unsettling, a structure of that sheer size was impossible to overlook.
Yet today, it had vanished—completely and utterly.
Gone without a trace.
Such an eerie sight was impossible to ignore.
The Third Hokage had noticed it as well, and his heart churned with unease.
Today was the day he had arranged to meet Uchiha Shisui, and naturally, he had chosen their usual meeting place.
However, before he even arrived, Root operatives sent ahead to secure the area had rushed back with their report.
What they discovered left him deeply shaken.
He had never imagined that the very site where he planned to meet Shisui would undergo such a bizarre and incomprehensible change.
Had someone discovered this place?
Was this done deliberately?
And if so—
Who did it?
The Uchiha?
The Third Hokage felt that was… possible.
After all, the person he was meeting today was Uchiha Shisui himself.
If it had been anyone else who noticed, they likely would not have acted so brazenly.
But if it were the Uchiha—those extremists he so often distrusted—then such a provocation was not out of the question.
And yet…
If it truly had been the Uchiha clan, the Hokage felt their response was too restrained.
Destroying a Buddha statue rather than directly striking at people was, paradoxically, an act of remarkable political restraint.
Within the rules of the game, using force was an extremely sensitive matter.
Acting first did not necessarily mean gaining the advantage.
Every move required careful calculation:
What would be gained?
What would be lost?
What reaction would the other side have?
What ripple would this cause throughout Konoha?
Using the destruction of a colossal statue to display power and issue a warning—nothing more—
The Third Hokage found it hard to believe that this level of cold restraint came from the Uchiha clan.
But if not them… then who?
And for what purpose?
Was this a warning to him—to tell him not to cross certain boundaries, not to extend his hand too deeply into the affairs of the ninja clans?
If so, who possessed such power?
The Hyūga?
He dismissed the thought almost immediately.
The Hyūga were not that strong—not to this degree, and certainly not with their current generation.
At last, his gaze returned to the kneeling Shisui.
"Stand up," the Third Hokage said slowly.
"Since you chose to come, that means you've already made up your mind, haven't you?"
"Yes, Third Hokage-sama."
Shisui raised his head and nodded calmly, his expression unreadable.
"I am a shinobi of Konoha. I will not forget that."
"Good."
The Third Hokage nodded in satisfaction.
"That awareness is enough."
"Everything we do is for Konoha. Any suspicious sign, any disturbance—no matter how small—we cannot afford to overlook it."
He paused, his voice turning solemn.
"Always remember this:
we are the roots hidden beneath Konoha—
the roots that nourish the great tree, allowing it to grow strong."
Shisui nodded silently.
His face remained expressionless, seemingly calm and undisturbed, yet no one could tell what was truly going through his mind.
The Third Hokage appeared to sense that something about this boy was different, and a trace of hesitation surfaced in his heart.
Still, he was certain of one thing:
this boy could never reveal anything about him.
Not verbally—
nor through any indirect means.
Although Danzō was already dead, he had spared no effort during his lifetime refining that technique.
He had exhausted every possible method to seal its loopholes completely, ensuring absolute secrecy.
As a result, even if someone suspected the Third Hokage—
even if the Uchiha clan themselves harbored such thoughts—
as long as Uchiha Shisui could not speak, could not leak information in any form, there would be no problem at all.
After pondering for a long while, the Third Hokage reached a decision.
He needed to dispel the boy's doubts, calm his heart, and prevent him from overthinking.
Besides, now that Shisui had entered Root, and as long as the curse seal on his tongue could not be removed, he remained under absolute control.
What the Hokage needed to do next was simple—
something that could be seen as a gesture of goodwill,
yet also function as an effective way to draw this boy closer—
provided he performed well.
With that thought, the Third Hokage's previously impassive face softened into a smile.
He stepped beside Shisui and gently patted his shoulder.
"Do you know, Shisui," he said warmly,
"why I chose you?"
"I…"
Shisui opened his mouth, but found he didn't know how to answer.
"Because you are Kagami's descendant."
The Third Hokage smiled as he spoke.
"Uchiha Kagami was my teammate—my close friend.
Although he has long since passed, I have never forgotten him."
As he spoke, the Hokage sighed, withdrew his hand, and took a step forward.
His gaze drifted into the distance, as if sinking into memories.
Whether it was the weight of his own words or the emotions they stirred, memories surged forth unbidden—
Uchiha Kagami,
Shimura Danzō,
and even his teacher, the Second Hokage.
He recalled their youth, their camaraderie, the days when they had stood shoulder to shoulder.
Suddenly, the Third Hokage snapped back to reality.
He realized—
he truly had grown old.
Time was merciless.
It stole one's youth, one's strength, and eventually, even one's ambition.
With a bitter chuckle, he shook his head, then straightened.
Though old, he still believed he could lead Konoha forward.
Fearlessness belonged to the young, yes—but it was often indistinguishable from recklessness.
And now, Konoha needed someone to restrain that recklessness.
"Forgive me," the Third Hokage said with a light laugh.
"I let my memories carry me away."
"I would never dare, Hokage-sama,"
Shisui immediately lowered his head, his voice steady and emotionless.
"There's no need to be so rigid," the Hokage replied gently.
"You are Kagami's descendant. Given my relationship with him, I should have looked after you more closely.
But as you know, my position is… complicated.
That is why I arranged for Jōnin Fukuhiko to act as your mentor.
However—now I feel that is not enough."
"Hokage-sama—"
Shisui froze, but before he could finish, the Third Hokage interrupted him.
"I have decided," he said with a smile,
"that I will personally teach you from now on.
I will pass on everything I can, to the best of my ability."
Shisui was stunned.
Personal instruction from the Third Hokage?
In all of Konoha, only three shinobi had ever received such treatment—
and every one of them was a living legend.
One had defected.
One had gone to hunt the defector.
And the last had temporarily left the village.
Yet no one could deny their power, nor their place in history.
Shisui knew this better than anyone.
And now—
that honor had fallen upon him.
It felt unreal, almost dreamlike.
His heart surged violently.
"Work hard, descendant of Kagami—Uchiha Shisui,"
the Third Hokage said solemnly.
"You are the root of Konoha, and you are its future.
You will be the guardian of peace within the village."
"The next time we meet, it won't be here.
And when we do, I will begin teaching you properly.
Do not disappoint me, Shisui."
"Yes… Third Hokage-sama."
---
Shisui walked home alone, his heart unable to settle.
Today's events had shaken him deeply.
The Third Hokage—personally teaching him?
In the past, such news would have sent him into uncontrollable excitement.
After all, the Hokage's three students were all legends—
and the Hokage himself was a legend among legends.
But Shisui was no longer the naïve boy he once was.
After meeting Fukuhiko Kōhei, Uchiha Kei, and Uchiha Jin, he had learned too much.
He now understood how terrifyingly complex the situation truly was.
Jin had not said much, yet he had clearly explained both the present and past relationship between Konoha and the Uchiha clan.
That alone had made Shisui's thoughts far more complicated.
He could no longer view the Hokage's offer in simple terms.
Perhaps, as the Hokage claimed, it was genuine faith in him.
Perhaps it was respect for Uchiha Kagami.
Yet for some reason, Shisui found himself believing that there was more hidden beneath the surface.
He realized how foolish he had been before—
seeing nothing, understanding nothing, yet insisting on worrying about everything.
And now, he had been drawn into a vast game of power and calculation.
Walking quietly toward the Uchiha district, he lifted his head.
The sun had already set.
The sky was beautiful.
But his heart was not.
He was thinking—
thinking about what he should do next.
Yet perhaps some questions did not need such deep contemplation.
Shisui took a slow breath and looked toward the distant silhouette of the Hokage Rock.
Yes.
He was a shinobi of Konoha.
He would safeguard peace within the village.
And if necessary, he would personally eliminate those hidden threats that endangered that peace—
Though who those threats truly were…
remained uncertain.