Shisui was dumbfounded.
Seeing Kai's furious expression and the sudden eruption of Susanoo, his brain momentarily stalled.
But he wasn't a fool.
He quickly realized—his earlier tone had been far too soft. Right now, they were supposed to be enemies!
So his expression hardened. After taking a deep breath, he snapped coldly:
"Kai, you've gone too far.
Uchiha's downfall comes from its arrogance and recklessness—that's why we've failed to integrate with the village.
We've already bowed our heads, chosen to follow the Hokage's guidance. That's the only way we can truly be accepted into Konoha and live peacefully with everyone else.
I've already gained the Hokage's promise. He will help us integrate into the village.
Kai, give up.
Your actions are sheer madness. Hasn't Madara's folly already brought enough suffering to the clan?
As heir to the Will of Fire, I will never allow you to drag the Uchiha to ruin again!"
Shisui's voice was filled with righteous grief.
Yes—without even thinking, he slipped back into his old mindset, forgetting Kai's coaching, and suddenly the words just poured out.
And they were effective.
Yashiro, Setsuna, and the others instantly seized on the excuse.
"Shisui's right—Uchiha Kai, you're insane!"
"We had a chance to integrate with Konoha, but you've ruined everything."
"Even I, a militant, can no longer stomach your madness."
"Wake up, you sinner!"
"Shisui, kill him!"
The courtyard echoed with condemnations.
The moderates shouted as expected—but even the militants began denouncing Kai as too extreme.
Even Setsuna himself adopted a righteous tone: you're so radical even I, the militant leader, can't stand you anymore.
Of course, they all knew the truth—this wasn't about principles. It was just a struggle for power.
The accusations were meant to sway the Uchiha elites outside the courtyard, to weaken Kai's support.
But on the other side, Kai's men couldn't take it anymore.
These traitors—so shameless!
"Bastards! You deserve death!"
"Under Kai's leadership, even the village leaders don't dare trample us anymore!"
"Before, Uchiha had no allies—but now the Aburame, Inuzuka, and even the Moonlight clan are with us. That's all Kai's doing!"
"Kill these traitors!"
Their fury exploded.
They weren't blind.
Maybe at first they'd followed Kai only because of his Mangekyo, the clan's strongest power.
But over time, Kai had truly changed Uchiha's fate—thwarting the high command, securing allies, restoring the clan's dignity.
They had tasted genuine revival.
How could they tolerate anyone challenging his authority now?
Even Fugaku and Tekka were a little stunned.
If they didn't know Shisui was acting, they might have been swayed by his fiery speech.
Looks like Shisui's growing into the role after all…
"Shisui, you've been deceived." Kai's tone was calm now.
"The village leadership and the village itself are not the same thing.
But enough talk. Words won't convince you. Let's settle this in combat!"
Shisui gave a bitter smile.
Sighing helplessly, he too unleashed his Susanoo.
"Let's take this to the Forest of Death."
"Good!"
With just a few words, the two colossal avatars marched away, vanishing into the dark trees.
Once they were alone, Shisui muttered, "I'm no match for you. Go easy, Kai."
"Relax," Kai chuckled. "I won't damage your foundation. But—some bruises are inevitable."
Shisui could only sigh again.
Then their Susanoo clashed—roaring shockwaves, earth cracking, trees toppling, the forest torn into scorched wasteland.
To outsiders, it looked like a cataclysmic duel.
In truth? Just an elaborate performance.
Meanwhile, back at Setsuna's estate—
The real battle had begun.
And unlike the staged duel in the forest, this was brutally one-sided.
Shisui's faction was too small. In today's Uchiha, Kai's prestige was overwhelming. The dissenters were only a handful.
Fugaku engaged Yashiro, while Tekka confronted Setsuna.
Flames roared skyward, scarlet Sharingan gleamed everywhere.
The courtyard became a killing ground—blood spraying, bodies collapsing.
Fugaku, though, held back.
Yashiro might be short-sighted and power-hungry, but he wasn't truly evil like Setsuna. Fugaku spared him for now.
One dead elder and one alive—that was the perfect "tribute" Shisui could present to Hiruzen. Enough to silence suspicion, without destroying the faction completely.
But Tekka…
He unleashed his full fury.
Within moments, Setsuna was faltering.
The elder was too old, long absent from the battlefield. Even with three tomoe, how could he match Tekka's youthful ferocity?
At first, Setsuna managed a few counters. But soon, he was forced entirely onto the defensive.
"Tekka, you…" Setsuna's face twisted.
"You were a militant—you were my subordinate once.
Now, to please your new master, you'd cut down your old leader so ruthlessly?
Are you even human anymore?
And think! If you kill me today, won't Kai worry that someday you'll betray him as well?
For your own sake, I advise you—spare me!"
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