Shisui's visit was doomed to end in disappointment.
The village had fallen into a severe financial crisis—
compensation for civilian ninja casualties, the daily operation of the village, and the medical budget for the hospital were all drowning in massive deficits. Even teachers' salaries were struggling to be paid on time.
Although a portion of funds had been seized from the four clans, money was something you could never have too much of.
Thus, Wen Lan took Zhiyan with him and headed straight for the Daimyō's court.
If the Daimyō insisted on dragging things out, then Wen Lan would not hesitate to use harsh measures.
Night fell.
Under the moonlight, Shisui arrived alone by a river. The water shimmered faintly, reflecting his solitary silhouette.
Earlier today, he had gone to look for Wen Lan but found nothing. Now, he had no choice but to come here alone.
He crouched down, fingertips brushing the water's surface. Ripples spread outward, shattering his reflection.
Suddenly, he spun around.
There was no one behind him—only the rustle of wind through the reeds.
But in the next instant, figures emerged one after another, forming a tight encirclement around him.
They were members of the four great clans.
Sarutobi Hiruzen stood at the forefront, with Utane Koharu, Mito Homura, and Shimura Yukizō flanking him, their gazes cold and severe.
"Third Hokage-sama," Shisui said quietly, his hands hanging at his sides, though his entire body was coiled like a drawn bow, ready to strike at the slightest movement.
"What is the meaning of this?"
"Shisui," Hiruzen said softly, holding his pipe.
"You saw Wen Lan's actions today. He openly attacked comrades of the village!
I will never allow Konoha to descend into internal slaughter.
That's why I want your help—to control Wen Lan, so the village can maintain peace."
Shisui frowned deeply. His mind was in turmoil.
He already knew some of Hiruzen's past actions from Wen Lan.
And today, Hiruzen and the others had deliberately arrived late—clearly trying to undermine Wen Lan and the Fourth Hokage.
Shisui was not foolish. He understood now that this was nothing more than a continuation of a power struggle.
"Third Hokage-sama…" Shisui said slowly.
"You want me to use Kotoamatsukami on the Third Elder?"
"Exactly," Hiruzen nodded.
"As long as he falls under your Kotoamatsukami, Konoha will return to being the Konoha it once was."
Shisui stared at Hiruzen, pain flashing through his eyes.
And in that moment of hesitation—
The ground beneath his feet suddenly trembled.
Shisui's expression changed as he tried to retreat, but the earth collapsed beneath him. A monkey burst forth from the ground!
The monkey wore a tiger-skin loincloth. In an instant, its body transformed into countless iron rods, forming a cage that trapped Shisui inside.
His arms were clamped tightly between the bars, immobilized.
The cage formed by the Adamantine Staff constricted violently. Shisui felt his bones creak under the unbearable pressure.
Hiruzen walked closer, the glow of his pipe flickering.
"For the peace of Konoha, your power must be used by the right person."
"Third Hokage—how dare you!"
Shisui roared, his eyes blazing.
The three-tomoe Sharingan spun rapidly, beginning to transform!
He was about to activate Kotoamatsukami directly on Hiruzen.
But Hiruzen was no ordinary shinobi.
The Sharingan's genjutsu was not invincible, and as a Kage-level fighter, Hiruzen had many ways to counter it.
Hiruzen raised his hand and plunged his fingers into Shisui's eye socket—
"AAAAAAAHHHHH—!"
A piercing scream tore through the night. Blood streamed between Hiruzen's fingers as Shisui's Sharingan was ripped out alive.
Hiruzen's expression remained calm as he placed the blood-soaked eye into his palm, sighing softly.
"I'm sorry, Shisui. This is for Konoha."
He repeated the act, tearing out Shisui's other eye as well.
Shisui's empty eye sockets streamed blood like tears as he roared,
"Sarutobi Hiruzen! For the sake of power, you dare betray the village!"
"Power?" Hiruzen replied quietly.
"No. Everything I do is to protect Konoha's order."
"You can rest now. The peace you desire—I will achieve it for you."
He raised his hand. A Sarutobi clan member stepped forward and handed him a kunai.
The blade thrust toward Shisui's throat—
At that instant, a black shadow flashed like a specter. The kunai was knocked away midair, sparks flying.
The figure landed between them.
It was Uchiha Fugaku.
All night, Fugaku had felt restless. He had gone out for a walk without purpose—and by chance, arrived just in time to witness this scene.
His gaze was sharp as a blade as it swept across the group.
"Third Hokage… this is how you 'protect' Konoha? Mutilating the loyal, gouging out eyes and stealing souls?"
Hiruzen's expression did not change, though his pipe trembled slightly.
"Fugaku, you came at just the right time. Since you're here, that means there are no longer any Kage-level fighters left at the Uchiha compound."
Fugaku's face changed instantly. His heart sank.
Something was terribly wrong.
BOOOOM—!
A deafening explosion erupted from the Uchiha clan district.
Flames shot into the sky, painting half the night in crimson.
The entire village was awakened in an instant.
Namikaze Minato, who had finally managed to rest for a night and was holding Kushina in his sleep, snapped his eyes open at the sound.
Kushina looked out the window in shock.
"That's the Uchiha compound!"
Minato leapt up, pulling on his clothes.
"Kakashi—protect Kushina!"
A flash of golden light—Minato vanished.
Kakashi, who had been stationed on the rooftop, instantly appeared by the window, guarding the surroundings.
Using Flying Thunder God, Minato arrived at the gates of the Uchiha compound. Thick smoke billowed as he sensed multiple powerful chakra signatures locked in battle.
He flashed forward, appearing at the center of the battlefield.
Seeing Sarutobi, Utane, Mito, and Shimura jointly attacking the Uchiha, Minato's pupils shrank.
"Stop this!" he shouted.
But they were already drunk on bloodlust. Minato's command thundered through the battlefield—yet failed to halt them.
At that moment, an Uchiha ninja spotted Minato and shouted desperately,
"Hokage-sama! Go west of the compound—their target is Nagato!"
"Nagato… the Rinnegan!"
Minato's heart jolted. In a flash of golden light, he vanished again, racing westward.
The night wind carried smoke and the stench of battle.
"Water Release: WaterWave!"
Yahiko formed seals and unleashed a torrent of water to strike at the pursuing ninja behind him.
On his back, Nagato lay unconscious, his body twitching—still trapped in genjutsu.
More than a dozen ninja from the Sarutobi and Mito clans pursued them relentlessly.
The water blast scattered the pursuers. Yahiko leapt onto broken walls, gasping for breath but refusing to stop.
"Konan—catch him!" Yahiko shouted while running.
With all his strength, he hurled Nagato upward.
Using Paper Dance, Konan unfurled wings of paper and swooped down from above, hooking her arms under Nagato's shoulders and lifting him skyward.
But for a young girl, Nagato's weight was overwhelming.
"Watch out!" Yahiko suddenly screamed.
Konan jerked her head to the left—
Countless kunai tore through the air toward her in a deadly storm.
—------------------------------
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