At the secondary defensive camp, after everyone had returned, Shisui immediately wrote a letter in full view of the assembled shinobi and dispatched it with urgency to Uchiha compound".
Then he gathered everyone to tally the casualties.
"Lord Shisui, fifteen squads and three medical teams came as reinforcements this time. In this attack, seventeen shinobi have been confirmed dead. Among them…"
The one reporting was Koizumi Satsuki—a Special Jōnin of civilian origin, about thirty years old. His expression was heavy as he spoke.
Shisui frowned slightly, signaling him to continue.
"…Among them, the squad leader, Chūnin Utatane Rikito, has fallen."
"What?!"
Shisui's pupils contracted as if he could not believe it. He instinctively turned toward Uchiha Hui to confirm.
"It's true. We brought Utatane's body back."
Hui sighed softly, shaking his head.
At the side, Sima Yi lowered his head slightly, his expression appropriately sorrowful.
Shisui caught the cue instantly.
He slammed his palm onto the table and shot to his feet, fury blazing in his eyes.
"Those damn Mist shinobi! Hui—assemble the men at once! We march out and avenge Chūnin Utatane—"
Three tomoe spun into existence in his Sharingan, violent chakra surging outward. The pressure alone made everyone's hearts pound.
"Yes!"
"Wait! Lord Shisui, please calm down!"
"Lord Shisui, you mustn't!"
The squad leaders who had remained silent until now could no longer hold back.
"The Mist's full strength is still unclear. We've just survived an attack and lost many comrades. We truly have no heart for another battle right now."
"Yes, Lord Shisui… it's not worth it—for someone like that."
The words slipped out before the speaker could stop himself. The tent fell silent.
Shisui's eyes sharpened.
"For someone like that? What do you mean by that?"
Hui stepped forward, displeasure plain on his face.
"He risked himself to come here as reinforcement. How can you speak of a comrade of the village like that?"
Pressed so directly, the shinobi flushed red.
"If he hadn't deliberately delayed us, we would've reached camp before nightfall! The Mist wouldn't have ambushed us!"
"That's right! If not for that bastard, we would've arrived before dark! My teammate wouldn't have died!"
With someone taking the lead, the others' suppressed resentment burst forth.
"He got us killed!"
"It's his fault!"
"What?!"
Shisui's eyes widened, disbelief written across his face. His body trembled, though he forced himself to speak.
"Nonsense! Chūnin Utatane was chosen by Jōnin Nara. He was your comrade—our comrade!"
"How could he possibly have delayed on purpose?!"
His face had gone pale, chakra trembling violently around him.
Standing closest, Koizumi Satsuki felt the suffocating weight of Uchiha power for the first time.
Compared to this young man, even the Mist shinobi who had unleashed that massive Water Release seemed insignificant.
"Lord Shisui," Satsuki said carefully, "you needn't be angry over someone like him. His death was the result of his own actions. But… why was your camp here instead of at the front?"
That question echoed in everyone's mind. Something about the situation felt off.
Hui snorted.
"Because you lot never arrived! The Mist's harassment was relentless—we couldn't guarantee holding the entire line."
"So we withdrew and contracted the defense. That order came from Commander Nara yesterday. Didn't you know?"
The group froze.
They exchanged uneasy glances.
The only person among them who could have confirmed that—was now dead.
"It's Utatane's fault!"
"It's all Utatane's fault!"
Resentment unified them, their gaze shifting unconsciously toward the mutilated corpse outside the tent.
Only then did some of their anger ease.
"No matter what," Shisui said solemnly, "you chose to come support us at this time. The Uchiha will not forget that."
He bowed deeply.
When he straightened, his eyes were earnest as they met each person's gaze. One by one, they looked away, embarrassed.
"No, no…"
"We should be the ones thanking you, Lord Shisui. If you hadn't come to rescue us…"
"We were supposed to be the reinforcements. And yet… how shameful."
They all knew the truth.
Had they not been forcibly selected, who would have willingly returned to the front at such a time?
Shisui laughed lightly.
"Don't say that. Your coming helped more than you know. We'll take over patrols tonight. Please, rest."
"…As expected of Shunshin no Shisui. Truly reliable."
After a few polite refusals, they accepted.
Some even felt a flicker of longing.
Perhaps under a leader like this, there might be a better future.
Once the tent was empty, Sima Yi smiled faintly.
"It seems you're beginning to adapt."
"No, no… that felt far too strange. I can hardly believe those words came from me."
Shisui rubbed his face hard, recalling his own expressions and tone. It left him unsettled.
"For winning hearts, such things are necessary. You must grow accustomed to it. Once we reach Konoha, this will become routine."
"Routine?!"
Shisui recoiled slightly at the thought.
But when he remembered the Uchiha's situation, he could only nod helplessly.
"For the sake of restoring the clan's reputation… it has to be done."
Sima Yi nodded in satisfaction.
The boy was finally growing.
"Have all matters been arranged?"
"Yes."
Shisui's eyes shone faintly with anticipation.
"The Mist have no manpower left. Tomorrow we'll send scouts to confirm. After their report, we'll simply wait for the rotation force."
"In less than half a month, we should be able to return to Konoha."
"Good."
Sima Yi sat down.
"Then today's lesson: Duke Zhuang Defeats Duan at Yan."
Shisui obediently took his seat.
This was his favorite part of each day—story time.
"King Wen spat out his food to welcome the virtuous… The Tian clan replaced the Qi… Each tale stirred something within him."
Sima Yi, however, felt a quiet helplessness.
With limited conditions, this was the only way he could instill principles into Shisui—through stories.
"Once, there was a state called Zheng. Its ruler…"
He spoke steadily.
"Thus it is said: 'He who commits many unrighteous acts will destroy himself. Just wait.'"
"It means that those who persist in wrongdoing will find themselves abandoned. Even if their territory expands, they will ultimately fall."
"Many unrighteous acts bring self-destruction…"
Shisui murmured the words softly.
Sima Yi slowed his pacing deliberately.
He recounted Gongshu Duan's end—
But intentionally omitted the later reconciliation between Duke Zhuang and his mother.
Shisui sat in silence.
For some reason, his mind drifted to the Third Hokage's evaluation of Itachi—
"A child who possesses the mind of a Hokage."
Then—
That night.
The vision of Itachi standing amid the corpses of their clan.
"Duke Zhuang defeats Duan at Yan…"
His fingers tightened slowly.
"…Vengeance."