Chapter 11: Shisui's Plan
In the dark, damp cave, the stench of blood mingled with the rotting smell of moss in the stagnant air. Water droplets slowly traced down the rock walls, creating rhythmic "drip-drop" sounds in the silence.
"So you're telling me that you and Itachi wanted to use ocular jutsu to control clan members, make them express loyalty to ROOT and Konoha, all to achieve peace?" Yu's voice carried undisguised mockery.
After listening to Shisui's explanation, Yu felt the man was truly naive beyond belief. Knowing full well that Konoha's leadership harbored massive hostility toward the Uchiha, he still wanted to cast genjutsu on clan members to make them completely submit to Konoha.
Wasn't this just delivering sheep to wolves? Those missing clan members hadn't disappeared simply due to conflicts with the village leadership—Konoha's people had never considered the Uchiha true allies.
"It was the best way to avoid bloodshed..." Shisui sat slumped against the cave wall, blood-stained bandages wrapped around his empty eye sockets, his entire demeanor defeated. "But Danzo took my right eye, so this plan..."
"What a shame," Yu interrupted with a cold laugh, "that you two idiots didn't succeed."
"Idiots... what does that mean?" Shisui frowned slightly, the unfamiliar word making him instinctively uncomfortable.
"It's a compliment on your intelligence, of course," Yu casually set down several cans of food and water he'd left in the cave from before. "The greatest prodigy the Uchiha have seen in a century."
"...Thank you?" Shisui said uncertainly.
"Don't mention it." Yu stood up. "I've set up a barrier here—it's safe. Your left hand should still work, and this should last you a few days."
Glancing at Shisui's bandaged eyes, he added, "I'll find a way to restore your sight. Focus on healing—the Uchiha still need you."
With that, his form began to turn transparent as his chakra gradually dispersed.
"Wait, this is... a shadow clone?" Shisui realized with shock that the "Yu" who had been with him all this time was merely a clone. Despite his sensory abilities, he hadn't noticed at all—and to think a mere shadow clone could cast such an intricate barrier technique. How had someone so young accomplished this?
---
Within the Uchiha compound, the real Yu opened his eyes.
"Interesting..." His knuckles unconsciously tapped against the tatami. After seven days of surveillance with multiple shadow clones, finally one had returned crucial intelligence—the others had only witnessed repetitive patrol routes and guard posts.
Though he still hadn't found any trace of Danzo, at least he'd removed one potentially powerful enemy—Uchiha Shisui—and gained clearer insight into both Danzo and Konoha.
That old schemer Danzo had to be eliminated. Even if Itachi and Shisui managed to convince the Uchiha hardliners, it wouldn't matter. Years of persecution had built up like pressure in a volcano—without an outlet, it would eventually erupt.
Besides, certain people in Konoha might prefer if the Uchiha simply disappeared from the world entirely.
"What's Yu smiling about?" Sasuko appeared like a kitten who'd caught scent of a secret, running over barefoot with a "patter-patter" of steps, her bright black eyes sparkling.
Yu suddenly reached out, his fingertip gently touching her cool nose. "Nothing." His gaze shifted to Sasuko's small, pale feet. "Why aren't you wearing socks? You'll catch cold."
Sasuko instinctively curled her pink-white toes but stubbornly protested, "The house is plenty warm! Even if I didn't wear any clothes, I wouldn't—"
"Yu, Sasuko, come eat!" Mikoto's voice called from the living room.
Sasuko immediately froze, her face falling. "Yu, you go first. I'll just put on some socks." She turned and ran toward the bedroom. Sasuko was quite afraid of her mother's nagging—seeing her running around the house barefoot would surely earn another lecture.
"I thought you said you weren't cold," Yu teased. "Miss Sasuko."
"You're awful!" Sasuko turned back, her ears bright red and the little cowlick on her head bristling with indignation. "Don't you dare tell on me!" With that, she ran off with a "thump-thump-thump," her kimono hem fluttering with her movements.
Watching her flustered retreat, the smile gradually faded from Yu's lips. In the empty courtyard, only the sound of bamboo striking stone echoed rhythmically.
Father... didn't come home again today.
---
"Clan Leader Fugaku, please don't make this difficult for us."
Before the Hokage's office building, the guards bowed respectfully, their voices carrying deliberate distance. "The Hokage has been extremely busy with official duties lately and simply cannot spare time to see you."
Fugaku silently observed the brightly lit office building before finally turning to leave. The night wind caught his dark blue clan leader's haori, making it flutter behind him.
Deep down, Fugaku had always harbored hope that the conflicts could be gradually resolved through persuading Konoha's leadership. Only Hiruzen Sarutobi's attitude had remained frustratingly unclear.
In the end... this was the inevitable result.
He walked slowly through Konoha's streets and alleys. Over the years, he had witnessed firsthand how this village had grown prosperous under the construction efforts of all the clans.
Even with reservations about certain policies, he had to admit—under the leadership of successive Hokages, Konoha had indeed become the strongest ninja village among the five great nations, unmatched in both the quantity and quality of its shinobi.
But the Nine-Tails incident six years ago had changed everything.
When the Sharingan pattern appeared in the demon fox's pupils, the already unwelcome Uchiha were branded with the mark of "disaster."
The Fourth Hokage and his wife died in battle, the village was severely weakened, and the surviving Uchiha were thereafter shunned by all of Konoha like venomous snakes. Some people even wanted them eliminated entirely.
The night grew deeper.
Fugaku quietly pushed open his front door, careful not to disturb the sleeping children. In the shadows of the corridor, Mikoto was dozing at the tea table but immediately opened her eyes at the sound.
"You're back? I'll warm up dinner," she said, starting to rise.
"No need, I ate outside," Fugaku sat down beside the tea table and took his wife's cool hand. "Just sit with me for a while."
Mikoto obediently leaned against his shoulder as they both gazed at the peaceful pond in the courtyard. "What's wrong?" she asked softly.
"Nothing, just a bit tired." Fugaku forced a smile. "Official duties have increased lately."
Under the moonlight, Mikoto's brow furrowed slightly before smoothing again. She looked up at him with a gentle smile. "No matter what happens, I'll stay with you until the end."
"Mikoto..." Fugaku looked at his considerate wife with some guilt, his throat working.
Over these years, he had been neither a competent husband nor a qualified clan leader. Despite constant efforts, results were minimal, and the Uchiha's situation continued to worsen—he'd even dragged his family down with him.
Perhaps the clan members choosing him as leader had been a mistake from the start. He was the one leading the Uchiha toward destruction. If only he could have stepped forward to quell the Nine-Tails incident, if only he could have prevented Itachi from joining ANBU, if only...
In the end, all regrets dissolved into a soft sigh that faded into the silent night.
A sleepless night...