Chapter Twenty-Five: Take Care of Yourself

Not long after Shisui left Higashino's Odd Jobs Agency, the conversation he had with Haru Higashino had already found its way onto the Third Hokage's desk.

After reading the report, the Third Hokage set it aside, his hands folded in front of him on the desk. His gaze drifted into the empty space before him, deep in thought, though none could guess what occupied his mind.

"Sarutobi!"

The doors to the Hokage’s office burst open. Danzo Shimura strode in.

"Do you still place your trust in Shisui Uchiha at this point?"

There was a long silence before the Third Hokage finally spoke, his tone slow and measured. "Shisui is the grandson of Kagami. He is a good child."

"Yesterday he approached the Nine-Tails’ Jinchuriki—whether intentionally or not. Today, he speaks of someone targeting the Uchiha. What is he trying to do? Is he planning a revolt as well?"

"I went to see Naruto yesterday. There was nothing unusual. Shisui was merely seeking ways to ease tensions between the Uchiha and the village."

"And this is the method he’s found? Claiming there's a plot against the Uchiha? Is he referring to you or to me?"

Once more, the Third Hokage fell silent. Only after a long pause did he reply, "I trust him."

"Sarutobi, one day you’ll pay for your soft-heartedness!" With that, Danzo stormed out of the office, leaving only his anger behind.

Staring at the closed door, the Third Hokage remained lost in thought. He knew that Danzo would keep a vigilant eye on Shisui for him.

As for Haru Higashino, neither the Third Hokage nor Danzo had ever brought him up—a mere civilian, not even a ninja, was of no consequence in their eyes and posed no threat.

...

After returning home from Haru Higashino’s, Shisui did not venture outside again. He sat with Haru’s investigation notebook, poring over its contents again and again.

Page after page, the notebook was filled with scribbled complaints about the Uchiha. Shisui studied the words for a long time, reading between the lines, and found that the entire notebook seemed to spell out one thing: the extermination of the clan.

Many policies that appeared beneficial to the Uchiha, that indeed granted them some advantages, were in truth driving the entire clan toward ruin.

Suddenly, it all became clear. It was not the arrogance of the Uchiha that was leading them to rebellion; someone was pushing them toward revolt, likely seeking an excuse to wipe them out completely.

Even if the Uchiha could restrain themselves from open rebellion, their fate would be no different from a frog boiled alive: gradual decline, eventual erasure.

To Shisui, the Will of Fire meant protection and sacrifice—but not the kind of sacrifice where one’s own allies forced you to your death. Was the Uchiha not an integral part of the Leaf Village? Must the extermination of the Uchiha be the only way to protect the village?

Shisui was torn. It felt as if all the illusions he’d held had been shattered.

What should he do?

Shisui could not bear the thought of his clan’s destruction, nor did he wish for rebellion to occur. Was there truly no path that could save both sides?

Haru Higashino’s figure flashed repeatedly through Shisui’s mind. Might he have a solution?

A ninja’s instincts told Shisui that Haru was someone exceptional. He needed to speak with him again.

But before that, there was someone else Shisui had to meet.

Grabbing the notebook, Shisui stepped out the door.

"Itachi!" In a flash, Shisui appeared before Itachi Uchiha, called to him, then immediately used his Body Flicker Technique to move farther away.

Itachi followed. He knew Shisui wouldn’t seek him out unless it was important.

They stopped deep within a grove of trees.

"Shisui," Itachi greeted.

"Take a look at this." Shisui handed Haru Higashino’s investigation notebook to Itachi.

Itachi accepted it, puzzled, and began to read.

After a long while, Itachi’s expression grew heavy as he looked up from the notebook.

"I never imagined our clansmen had gone this far," he said.

Hearing this, Shisui couldn’t help but frown.

"Itachi, didn’t you notice anything else?"

"Anything else?" Itachi pondered for a moment. "Are you referring to the growing tensions between the village and the Uchiha, that our clan might soon lose control?"

"No," Shisui's frown deepened. "Didn’t you sense there’s someone behind the scenes targeting us?"

"Hmm?" Itachi was confused.

"During the Nine-Tails’ attack, it made sense for the village to order us away from the beast, but afterward, nobody ever spoke a word in our defense. Our clan lands were relegated to the village’s farthest corner, severing us from the rest of the Leaf."

Itachi’s brow furrowed as well. He replied, "The Nine-Tails was controlled by the Sharingan—everyone saw it. From the village’s perspective, it’s understandable they’d be wary of us."

"As for our clan lands, they’re even larger than before. The disconnect you mention is simply because some of our clansmen, with their pride and narrow focus on the clan, refuse to interact with others in the village."

"We’ve been given authority over the Police Force. Isn’t that enough?"

Shisui couldn’t help but say, "The Police Force, as an enforcement agency, is the most likely to offend others, but—"

"That’s enough, Shisui. Please don’t say any more." Itachi suddenly cut him off.

Shisui looked at him, puzzled.

"You’re no different from those others in the clan—thinking only of the Uchiha, complaining about the village’s unfairness. Shisui, what happened to your broadmindedness?"

Shisui’s lips parted in disbelief. He had never expected these words from Itachi. It was as if he was meeting him for the first time.

"Did someone say something to you?" Itachi’s gaze shifted to the notebook. "Who conducted this investigation? Are they trying to incite discord between the Uchiha and the village?"

"It doesn’t matter who it was," Shisui replied. "Just think carefully—isn’t the relationship between us and the village deteriorating? Would it be like this if someone weren’t deliberately stirring things up?"

"The ones who harp on about the clan day and night are just narrow-minded; this decline is their own doing, isn’t it?" Itachi retorted.

Suddenly, Shisui understood. In his heart, there was both the clan and the village—he saw the Uchiha as part of the village, both worth protecting. But for Itachi, it seemed the village was all that mattered.

For a moment, Shisui was silent.

Seeing his silence, Itachi asked, "If the conflict between the village and the Uchiha truly becomes irreconcilable, whose side will you choose?"

"I... I don’t know," Shisui replied, bewildered.

Once, he would have chosen the village without hesitation, even willing to use Kotoamatsukami to change the clan leader’s mind. But now he realized, even if he stopped it once, there would be a next time. With someone driving events from the shadows, an Uchiha rebellion seemed inevitable.

Is a rebellion still wrong if you’re forced into it?

Shisui was truly lost.

"I see," Itachi’s voice was cold. He turned away and began to walk.

"Shisui, take care of yourself." With those words, Itachi vanished.

Shisui stood there in a daze. The wind rustled the leaves, a sound as chaotic as his thoughts.