"If you want to gain something, you have to pay something. There has never been such a thing as getting something for nothing in this world."
Jokichi looked at Itachi and said indifferently, "This crystal ball can help others fulfill wishes beyond their own capabilities, but as a price, the wisher will lose things that are even more important to them. The greater and more unrealistic the wish made, the more and more important things will be lost."
"Is that so..." Itachi fell into deep thought. After a moment, he asked, "What if the wisher does not have anything of equal value to the wish?"
"Then the wish will not be fulfilled."
Yes, the Wishing Crystal Ball has limits.
During these two months, Jokichi consecutively conducted several death-courting experiments, and finally figured out the characteristics of the Wishing Crystal Ball.
First, the way the wishing ball fulfills a wish is based on the foundation of possible success. If there is no such possibility, then it is impossible to fulfill.
For example, if you wish for a gold brick.
Then the wishing ball will use various methods for you to obtain a gold brick, rather than conjuring a gold brick out of thin air.
Or for example, if you wish to gain the power to destroy the universe with one punch, that would be impossible to fulfill no matter what.
Because there is no such powerful force in this world.
Secondly, making a wish requires paying a price.
The price is not limited to physical items; it could also be conceptual things like lifespan, soul, or luck.
The grander the wish made, the more one pays, and it is always what is most important to the wisher.
Jokichi once wished for three minutes of good luck, but in the end, after three minutes, his blessing turned into a disaster, and he suffered eight lifetimes of terrible luck.
At that time, he even rejoiced that he only wished for three minutes of good luck instead of a lifetime of good luck. If he had wished for a lifetime of good luck, he probably wouldn't even exist right now.
Based on the rules derived from several experiments, combined with the situation between the Uchiha and the village, as well as Uchiha Itachi's character, Jokichi could roughly deduce what would happen after Itachi made a wish.
—War.
And it would be a war that forces Konoha to face a massive crisis.
Only when facing immense external pressure would Konoha not dare to have internal strife, and only a war that brings a crisis to Konoha could make Danzo stop at this time.
And only when facing foreign enemies would both sides of the village set aside their immediate interests and share a bitter hatred of the enemy.
Furthermore, Itachi himself is someone who yearns for peace.
In his eyes, peace is even more important than the village, an existence second only to Sasuke.
The arrival of war itself would be the greatest price he pays for making the wish.
However, Jokichi felt this was the most cost-effective choice.
By using the crystal ball to make a wish, although Itachi would suffer the condemnation of his conscience, he would not lose anything else.
Although bringing about war is very unkind and would cause many people to die.
But every man for himself, or heaven and earth will destroy him.
Exchanging the life and death of strangers for the peace of those around him is very cost-effective.
Jokichi told Itachi what he knew, hoping he would choose to use the Wishing Crystal Ball.
But after a period of silence, Uchiha Itachi still chose Shisui's Sage Crystal.
"Why?" Jokichi was very puzzled.
Clearly, as long as he made a wish to the Wishing Crystal Ball, he could end this internal strife without losing anything, only suffering the condemnation of his conscience.
But why did he still choose Shisui's Sage Crystal?
"War is not something so casual." Uchiha Itachi gently shook his head and said, "Moreover, according to what you said, if I really made a wish, then perhaps many people from the clan and the village would die in this war. If that is really the case, wouldn't everything be meaningless?"
Jokichi was stunned, then thought about it slightly, and realized there really was such a possibility.
No, the possibility was very high.
After all, to Itachi, although he yearned for peace, there was an even more important Sasuke.
If he really made a wish, the possibility of Sasuke dying was extremely high.
"It is not just this problem." Itachi continued, "Even if there is a temporary reconciliation due to external pressure, if the root of the contradiction is not resolved, an even greater conflict will erupt once the external pressure is gone."
"It is indeed true that I did not consider it thoroughly." Jokichi nodded slightly and said, "However, even if you possess Shisui's Mangekyo, it will be very difficult for you to perfectly resolve this matter."
Kotoamatsukami seems to be a very broken, invincible skill, but it is very difficult to actually operate.
Because Danzo has already obtained one of Shisui's eyes, and the Konoha higher-ups also know of the existence of Kotoamatsukami, knowing that one of Shisui's eyes is unaccounted for.
They must have taken precautions against Kotoamatsukami falling into the hands of someone with ulterior motives.
Especially during the sensitive period between the Uchiha and the village, when the higher-ups meet, there will definitely be people from the Hyuga clan accompanying them, to prevent someone from brainwashing them with Kotoamatsukami.
Furthermore, visual genjutsu will weaken in effect, or even become completely ineffective, when encountering higher-level visual genjutsu.
Danzo has also obtained one of Shisui's eyes, so whether using Kotoamatsukami on him will have an effect is hard to say.
And if it cannot be used collectively on the Konoha higher-ups, then it can only be used collectively on the clan members.
If this is done, the Uchiha will inevitably have to make huge concessions in their interests to achieve a true reconciliation.
Moreover...
Even if the Uchiha makes concessions and the village higher-ups are willing to reconcile.
What about Danzo?
This deeply suspicious guy would eradicate any possible roots of disaster.
Would he believe that the Uchiha sincerely wants to reconcile?
Would he again commit various acts detrimental to the Uchiha after they make concessions?
Jokichi could think of these things, and Uchiha Itachi naturally could as well.
But he did not care.
"Someone always has to make concessions." Itachi shook his head gently and said, "Over the years, the village's suspicion toward the clan has made everyone gradually lose patience with the village, but why did it turn out like this?"
"It should be an issue left over from history. After all, the Uchiha and the Senju were once mortal enemies. Who knows how many battles they went through; they both hold deep grudges against each other, so it is normal for them to distrust one another!"
"Perhaps there are reasons in this aspect, but it is more so the Uchiha's own problems."
Itachi stood up, slowly walked to the door, and pushed the front door open.
The wind and snow instantly blew in, making people immediately feel uncomfortable.
"The Police Force is a very important institution in the village with high authority. The clan being entrusted with the duties of the Police Force by the village is an act of the village attempting to trust the clan."
"Because all the forces of the Police Force are placed out in the open, every action is easily monitored, but at the same time, it also granted the clan great power."
"If it had developed according to a normal situation, the gap between the clan and the village would have grown smaller and smaller, and then they would truly trust each other."
"However, even though the clan did its utmost to fulfill its duties, it did not earn the village's trust in exchange. Instead, they increasingly encountered the village's suspicion."
"The reason it is like this is because most of the ninja and villagers in the village are hostile to or, one could say, ostracizing the Uchiha."
"Many people in the clan believe it is because the duties of the Police Force are too easy to offend people. But... the Police Force that maintains law and order and protects the safety of the villagers is also the profession most easily respected and loved by people."
"Why did the clan only receive hostility and ostracization, but not the corresponding respect and love?"
"...Because they are too arrogant."