Chapter 11: The Mantis Stalks the Cicada, Unaware of the Oriole Behind
Although Hiruzen Sarutobi was confident in his brainwashing—oh no, his charisma—and believed Shisui would never betray him.
It's better to be safe than sorry.
What if Shisui's actions all these years were just a deliberate disguise?
If things went wrong, he, the Most Powerful Hokage of All Time, could have his will rewritten by Kotoamatsukami and become a puppet of the Uchiha Clan.
This was something he could not tolerate.
But he was the Hokage, and he must always remain in the light. Even if he couldn't tolerate it, he absolutely could not choose to directly attack a subordinate.
Such dark deeds had to be done by Danzo.
Thinking of this, he called an Anbu member. "Go, inform Danzo for me. Tell him to come see me at this time tomorrow. Say I want to discuss the matter of dealing with the Uchiha Clan. Also, go call Itachi for me."
Danzo coveted the Uchiha Clan's Sharingan, and the Third Hokage was not unaware of this. If Danzo learned of Uchiha Shisui's Mangekyo ability, he would definitely try to seize it without any prompting.
But this still wasn't safe enough; it might not be enough to eliminate Shisui.
He planned to use Itachi as the final layer of insurance.
If Shisui was sensible, even if he escaped from Danzo's grasp, he would surely commit suicide to atone to Konoha, thereby temporarily extinguishing the Uchiha Clan's sharp edge and power.
Ending the coup.
Doing so would kill two birds with one stone.
Uchiha Izumi's home.
Qianye slowly opened his eyes and withdrew his perception. As he had expected, Uchiha Shisui foolishly went and told the Third Hokage about his Mangekyo ability, thus facing a deadly peril.
Tomorrow was the Uchiha Clan's festival.
Qianye vaguely remembered that the Uchiha Clan, increasingly dissatisfied with Konoha, planned to use this occasion to discuss coup matters.
Little did they know, they had already been betrayed by two traitors within the clan.
The final outcome would be Shisui's suicide, leading to nothing.
Thinking of this, Qianye couldn't help but sigh, "What a truly tragic clan."
Internally, they had the Filial Son Uchiha Itachi and the naive Uchiha Shisui. Externally, they had the chuunibyo Obito. Even their clan leader was a weak and indecisive person. It was truly difficult for them not to perish.
Just then, Izumi's voice interrupted Qianye's thoughts: "Qianye, dinner's ready."
"Oh, coming." Saying this, Qianye got up and walked to the dining table.
The next day, Qianye activated his cultivation technique to enter Sage Mode, constantly monitoring the Chakra of Uchiha Shisui and Danzo.
In the evening, after taking Uchiha Izumi home, Qianye sensed that the Chakra of the two finally converged.
He immediately changed into a disguise and tracked them to a remote corner of Konoha, the ruins of the Senju Clan.
The process was just as in the original story. After Hiruzen Sarutobi learned of Uchiha Shisui's Mangekyo ability, he called Danzo.
In front of Shisui, he revealed the power of Kotoamatsukami to Danzo, as well as Uchiha Shisui's plan to control Uchiha Fugaku using Kotoamatsukami, and stated that the Uchiha Clan's treatment would be improved afterward.
The consequences were self-evident: Danzo set his sights on Shisui's Sharingan.
Before Shisui went to the Uchiha festival, Danzo called him here.
He set up an ambush, preparing to carry out his eye-snatching plan.
Honestly, Qianye didn't dislike good-natured people like Shisui.
At least he was much easier to get along with than hypocrites like Hiruzen Sarutobi and venomous snakes like Danzo.
If Qianye was willing to act, saving Shisui would not be difficult.
However, their worldviews were completely opposite.
Anyone who has watched Naruto knows that Uchiha Shisui was a thorough supporter and worshipper of the fire will.
Even to his death, he still trusted Konoha's higher-ups.
Although Qianye possessed the zanpakuto kyoka suigetsu.
He could ensure that when facing a Mangekyo Sharingan user, he could avoid genjutsu like Tsukuyomi by controlling the five senses, or even directly break them with the powerful mental and physical energy granted by his zanpakuto and cultivation technique.
But Kotoamatsukami, this eye that dominates will, was dangerous. It could turn anyone the user saw into their puppet.
If Qianye were to stand against Konoha in the future, Shisui would definitely be the first to stand against him.
It's better to be safe than sorry. Such a bug-level ability should either disappear or be in his own hands. This was the best option.
He didn't want to constantly release Mirror Flower Water Moon to guard against Uchiha Shisui and live a life of constant anxiety.
"If Shisui doesn't die, I won't be able to rest easy,"
Thinking this, Qianye's eyes, hidden beneath his black robe, coldly stared at Danzo and Uchiha Shisui, who were conversing in front of him.
"What do you want with me, Danzo-sama? The gathering is about to begin," Uchiha Shisui asked Danzo, puzzled.
"If we act against Uchiha Fugaku and reorganize the Uchiha Clan, but the Village doesn't change its treatment of the Uchiha Clan, what would you do?" Danzo, his right eye bandaged and his left eye narrowed, didn't directly attack but instead asked Uchiha Shisui for his thoughts.
The result was, without a doubt, a great disappointment to him, further solidifying his desire to seize Kotoamatsukami.
"Hokage-sama promised me that he would make changes," Uchiha Shisui said firmly.
"Even if the Third Hokage is convinced, the Village's suspicion of the Uchiha will not disappear." When he mentioned the Third Hokage, a hint of disdain flashed in Danzo's eyes. He suddenly opened his eyes, looking at Shisui again, his gaze filled with greed and desire.
Out of trust for Konoha, Shisui didn't sense the approaching danger and still held onto his naive thoughts.
"I understand. In time, I will—" He wanted to say something more, but he was interrupted by Danzo.
"That's the point. A suspicious person like me won't easily change his mind. What will you do then?"
Danzo lowered his head slightly, his old face covered by shadow. The Sharingan hidden beneath the bandage on his right eye was ready, entering the Izanagi state.
"But… Danzo-sama—" Shisui wanted to say something else, but Danzo interrupted him again, "Will you then use Kotoamatsukami on me?"
As he spoke, Danzo slowly raised his head, his eyes revealing a fierce look. He dropped his usual cane and raised his left hand, grabbing fiercely at Uchiha Shisui's eyes.
"Your Sharingan, give it to me."
Uchiha Shisui was startled, but he was an Uchiha Clan genius after all. He wasn't so naive as to let himself be slaughtered. He clamped down on Danzo's left hand and cast a genjutsu, freezing him in place.
"This is just a simple genjutsu; it will be dispelled soon." Shisui slowly lowered Danzo's left hand, a deep disappointment flashing in his eyes, and turned to leave.
But before he had taken a few steps, Danzo, who had just been controlled by genjutsu, suddenly appeared in front of him. He punched Shisui hard in the abdomen and reached his left hand towards his right eye, drawing a long, narrow line of blood in the air. His movements were clean and swift, all in one go.
Shisui cried out in pain, covering his empty right eye, and leaped back, quickly creating distance from Danzo.
P.S.: First update, seeking recommendation tickets, seeking monthly tickets.
Thanks to [Rongyanhuo] for a reward of 533 Qidian coins;
Thanks to [Pipi Xiaoyoushang] [Jujuxie] for a reward of 100 Qidian coins;
Thanks to [Lanyanwuwei] [Yu Xiaogang] for a reward of 1500 Qidian coins.