In truth, Shisui did not want to activate the Mangekyō Sharingan; doing so risked exposing the fact that he had awakened it to his clansmen.
If that happened, his clansmen might become overly excited upon seeing he possessed such power, and he feared they would become even more radical.
However, Ryōsuke's shockwaves were simply too fast and terrifying. There were five consecutive shockwaves; even if he used the Body Flicker Technique, there would likely be no way to dodge them. He had been forced to use that move.
Ryōsuke saw that his opponent had dispelled Susanoo and reverted to the ordinary three-tomoe Sharingan. He was momentarily stunned, and his own intention to activate the Mangekyō Sharingan was temporarily put on hold.
Immediately, he closed the five gates of the Eight Inner Gates, and the terrifying aura around him instantly dissipated.
Seeing Ryōsuke deactivate the Eight Inner Gates, Shisui slowly approached and spoke.
"Ryōsuke, that you possess such strength is a fortune for the Uchiha, and a fortune for the Leaf Village."
"Shisui, your eyesight is quite good."
Ryōsuke naturally agreed with his words; it was indeed the fact.
With him present, the Uchiha Clan would certainly not experience the night of the massacre again.
He had ways to deal with the future attacks on the Leaf Village by Orochimaru and Pain.
The current him was just like Senju Hashirama of the past—he could become the stabilizing pillar of the Leaf. Perhaps slightly weaker, but in the current ninja world, he was still in a league of his own.
Seeing that Ryōsuke did not oppose his opinion, Shisui spoke slowly.
"Ryōsuke, as long as our Uchiha Clan obeys the commands of the higher-ups, then our Leaf Village can rest easy."
Hearing this, Ryōsuke frowned.
What did he mean? Was this guy trying to persuade him to serve the Leaf higher-ups?
The Third Hokage was just a paper tiger.
But as long as the Leaf Village still harbored someone like Danzō, who held deep malice toward the Uchiha Clan, his Uchiha Clan would never find peace.
In fact, the Leaf Village itself would not find peace either.
One had to know that in the future, after Danzō became Hokage, he would even use Genjutsu to control Mifune during the Five Kage Summit to recommend himself as the alliance leader.
That man was simply too insidious.
Moreover, when Orochimaru and Pain attacked the village, Danzō showed absolutely no presence.
It wasn't them protecting the village.
The most laughable thing was that he claimed everything was for the Leaf, yet when the Leaf was in dire straits, his figure was nowhere to be found.
Ryōsuke truly found it a bit ironic.
He couldn't help but say, "Shisui, I beg to differ with that statement."
Shisui's expression froze. "Ryōsuke, what do you mean?"
"The Leaf Village is naturally dominated by the strong, and only the strong can protect the Leaf."
"Shisui, you are an Uchiha who has awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan. You should ascend to the position of Hokage."
"Based on merit, based on clan power, our Uchiha Clan should have produced a Hokage by now, and you, Shisui, are the suitable candidate."
Ryōsuke offered his suggestion at this moment.
In his eyes, he only needed to improve his own strength, stabilize the big picture, and slay incoming enemies.
Matters like managing the village should be left to clansmen, and Shisui was undoubtedly a good candidate.
Hearing Ryōsuke's words, Shisui's heart sank. He had never thought about becoming Hokage; after all, he was only sixteen or seventeen years old.
There had likely never been such a young Hokage in history.
However, this allowed him to witness Ryōsuke's ambition.
He attempted to persuade the other party to change his views.
"Ryōsuke, speak cautiously. If these words reach the ears of the higher-ups, I fear it will trigger internal strife within the village. At that time, the Leaf Village might fall into a massive disaster."
Ryōsuke spoke speechlessly.
"Shisui, do you not feel that the power of our Uchiha Clan is very strong? Can we not lead the Leaf Village on a path to prosperity? What the Third Hokage can do, we Uchiha can do better than him."
"For the development of the village, our Uchiha Clan should step forward."
"Just like in this Cloud Village incident. Without our Uchiha Clan stepping up, the Leaf would have likely sacrificed a Hyūga clansman this time. It would have been a massive loss of face."
Hearing the other party's words, Shisui felt a bit suppressed.
He naturally knew the inside details of the cause of the war between the Cloud Village and the Leaf Village this time.
He felt Ryōsuke was right.
But Ryōsuke was indeed too radical and hadn't considered the consequences of the Uchiha Clan taking power.
He spoke slowly.
"Ryōsuke, I really like your saying that for the development of the village, the Uchiha Clan should step forward."
"The Uchiha Clan is indeed capable of bearing the position of Hokage, but the higher-ups will not easily yield power. A struggle is bound to happen, so let's forget about such thoughts."
"For the peace of the village, the Uchiha Clan is currently the number one wealthy clan in the village; there is no need to fight for these vain titles."
Hearing the other party's words, Ryōsuke felt that Shisui was a person who was selfless and dedicated to peace. Such a person was certainly worthy of admiration, but such concessions could not solve the problem.
He couldn't help but say, "Even if we Uchiha are willing to endure, will the Leaf higher-ups be able to tolerate us?"
"Shisui, you are too naive."
In the original plot, after the Leaf higher-up Danzō learned of Shisui's ability, he made a move to gouge out his eye.
Shisui actually thought suicide could avoid conflict between the Uchiha Clan and the higher-ups. Unexpectedly, his suicide had the opposite effect.
It aroused the dissatisfaction of the Uchiha Clan, and they prepared to revolt.
Who else in the village could make a move against a genius like Shisui? Other than Danzō and the Third Hokage, there was no one else.
In that case, the Uchiha Clan would have no choice but to rebel, and since the Leaf higher-ups had already done such things, the Uchiha Clan had to be destroyed.
In a struggle, there is no such thing as an abrupt end.
Shisui naturally understood the other party's words; he was indeed very naive.
It was just that he really didn't want to see slaughter between his clansmen and the higher-ups. That wouldn't be a good thing for the village or for the Uchiha Clan.
Was there really no good solution?
Seeing Shisui's troubled expression, Ryōsuke felt that this person was much better than a traitor like Itachi, and he couldn't help but continue speaking.
"Shisui, join us."
"If you and I join forces, not only can we bring peace to the Leaf, but even bringing peace to the ninja world would be no problem."
"If any village wants to start a war, then we will come out to uphold justice."
"Isn't this the wish you have always held?"
"Let the Leaf Village be at peace. You and I join forces. Who in the entire ninja world could stop us?"
With the other party's Kotoamatsukami brainwashing technique, combined with his own martial prowess, they would indeed be unstoppable.
Hearing such words, Shisui's heart wavered slightly.
From his previous exchange with Ryōsuke, he had seen Ryōsuke's toughness.
He had activated the Mangekyō Sharingan and was undoubtedly already a Kage-level powerhouse, yet the pressure Ryōsuke gave him remained undiminished, which was enough to prove the other party's toughness.
"Then how do you plan to handle the village higher-ups?"