The moment the words left his mouth, Sasuke regretted them.
Only after he calmed down did he realize what he'd actually said. He opened his mouth, trying to take it back, stammering—
But what's said is said.
"Sasuke-kun…" Sakura looked at him worriedly. She felt like he'd gone too far, but she didn't really have the right to scold him.
"You bastard—!"
Naruto lunged forward and swung a punch straight at Sasuke's face.
Guilty over his own mistake, Sasuke didn't even try to dodge.
…But the pain never came.
Naruto had already pulled his fist back. He turned around and dropped down onto the grass with his back to Sasuke.
"If…" Naruto spoke without looking at him. "If my old man ever tried to make me do something I didn't want to do, I'd punch him as hard as I could!!"
If I even had a dad…
And just like that, the two of them fell into a cold war.
Temari leaned toward Sakura. "They'll be fine, right? The two of them." They argue like little kids.
"They're always like this. It's f-fine. They'll make up in a bit."
Inner Sakura screamed: What is wrong with you guys?! Fighting over every little thing is so annoying!
[In the next scene, the Uchiha clan's private meetings grow more frequent. Everything remains under the watch of Konoha's higher-ups.]
[Danzo proposes striking first, but the Third Hokage still hopes to ease the stalemate between the Uchiha and the village through gentler means.]
[He calls Uchiha Shisui in from outside and reveals his plan to Danzo.]
The Third Hokage said, "Shisui will attend the next Uchiha gathering. And if Uchiha Fugaku truly intends to stage a coup…"
Shisui answered calmly, "I'll use 'Kotoamatsukami.' It's the ability of my Mangekyo Sharingan. It allows me to manipulate a target without them realizing it, fundamentally altering their thoughts and will."
"If I use 'Kotoamatsukami' to change Uchiha Fugaku's thinking, I can guide him to change the Uchiha. And by changing the Uchiha, we can change Konoha—and resolve the conflict between them."
Tobirama crossed his arms, then reached out and patted Shisui's shoulder. "As expected of Kagami's grandson. To have awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan at your age… You've done well."
Outnumbered and surrounded by suspicion—trying to mend the rift between a clan and a village under those conditions was no easy task.
Other villages—
The moment they heard that the Sharingan wasn't limited to just three tomoe, they immediately treated it as high-priority intelligence.
"There is such a thing as a Mangekyo Sharingan?!"
"Unbelievable…"
"If I'm not mistaken, every Uchiha who awakens the Mangekyo seems to have a different ocular ability!"
"Like drawing lots?"
"I can't believe such a power exists in the shinobi world…"
"And that Uchiha Shisui's ability—'Kotoamatsukami'—rewriting someone's will from the root. That sounds a lot like…"
"The masked man!!"
Land of Water · Kirigakure
"Could it be? Could this be the power that controlled the Mizukage-sama?!"
Mei Terumi narrowed her eyes. "'Kotoamatsukami'… it really is a terrifying ability."
Ao frowned. "Or perhaps the intelligence was wrong. What if Uchiha Shisui never died?"
"Then what's his goal?" someone demanded. "Does he intend to unify the entire shinobi world?"
"Hmph! Unifying the world through genjutsu—only the Uchiha would think of something like that!" a Mist ninja who had dealt with the Uchiha before scoffed.
"We still have no contact with the Mizukage-sama," Mei Terumi said at last. She made a firm decision. "After watching this footage, I will attend Konoha's Five Kage Summit as acting Mizukage."
In truth, the elders of Kirigakure had already prepared her for this possibility days ago.
"Mei-sama…"
"We leave it to you."
[In the footage, the Third Hokage and Danzo continue arguing over their differing philosophies regarding the Uchiha.]
Danzo said, "Changing one Uchiha Fugaku won't be enough to quell the dissatisfaction of the entire clan."
The Third replied, "No. If the Uchiha are willing to change, then we must change as well. After that, we'll improve their treatment within the village."
Konoha
"Kotoamatsukami… an impressive and unique ocular power," Tobirama commented.
Unaware that he had become a scapegoat for someone else, Shisui lowered his gaze. "The Third Hokage's words reflected my wish at the time. Unfortunately…"
"Hm?" Tobirama and Hiruzen both frowned.
They noticed Shisui's Sharingan fix on the image of Danzo in the footage—and understood.
Training Ground 44 · Near the Central Tower
Sasuke and Naruto were still in a cold war, sitting far apart. Sasuke occasionally snuck glances at Naruto, while Naruto refused to acknowledge him entirely.
Sasuke was starting to panic.
He knew he'd said the wrong thing—but he couldn't bring himself to apologize.
Sakura tried to smooth things over. "Let's just watch the footage for now. After that, we'll head back and rest until sensei notifies us about the third exam."
Iruka made an exaggerated slurping motion. "Yeah, yeah! We'll grab some ramen after. Sensei's treating—you can eat as much as you want!"
Naruto let out a loud, deliberate "Hmph!" in Sasuke's direction.
Sasuke: "…"
[In the footage, as the sun sets, Danzo summons Uchiha Shisui alone to a shrine.]
Danzo went straight to the point. "If you use your ocular power on Fugaku and persuade the Uchiha—but the village itself does not change—what will you do?"
Shisui trusted Konoha. Trusted the Hokage. "The Hokage-sama promised me the village would change. I have no reason to doubt him."
Danzo, who was deeply rooted in the darkness of 'Root' and understood human nature, spoke coldly. "Even if the Third persuades them, the villagers' suspicion and fear of your clan will not disappear so easily."
Naruto, still sulking on the grass, shouted, "How would you know if you don't try, you old geezer?!"
If it were him, once he found a solution, he'd give it everything he had. He'd follow through!
[Shisui understood Danzo's reasoning. But someone had to make the first move. The rest would take time.]
[Before he could finish speaking, Danzo seized control of the conversation again.]
"That's only one problem! Someone as suspicious as me would never change so easily!!"
"When that time comes… what will you do?" Shimura Danzo pressed, his tone dark and relentless.
A Konoha civilian muttered, "What a stubborn old man."
"Careful," someone warned.
"He wouldn't harm civilians, right? He's one of Konoha's elders."
The person beside them just shook their head.
Sometimes, when it's your own village, you can't see clearly. But watching from the outside… it's obvious.
The rigid views of elders and advisors could be deadly.
Even if they believed they were acting for the village's sake, it still left people cold.
Shisui began, "But Danzo-sama—"
Danzo, far more experienced in interrogation and psychological pressure, gave him no time to think.
"When that time comes, you would use Kotoamatsukami on me as well—wouldn't you?!"
"I…"
The Fire Daimyo snapped his folding fan shut in frustration. "That Danzo fellow! Completely unreasonable! Next time I see him, I will absolutely—"
His attendant remained silent.
Didn't His Lordship just say last time that when he met the Hokage, he hoped that scary-looking Danzo wouldn't be there?
Tobirama: "…"
Better not ask. The urge to beat one's own student was real.
[But Danzo's actions would soon exceed everyone's expectations.]
Standing beside the two Hokage, the resurrected Shisui clenched his fists.
[In the footage, Danzo suddenly throws aside his cane and lunges at Uchiha Shisui—]
"Your Sharingan… I'll be taking it!"
"!!!"
"!"
"Caw—caw!!" (Shisui!!)