Facing the Hokage, Uchiha Shisui did not wish to lie.
"I… do feel some confusion in my heart."
Sarutobi Hiruzen's expression darkened for an instant, then quickly returned to normal.
"Oh? What exactly did that fellow Qianyu say to you?"
Shisui shook his head.
"Nothing too specific. Just… some discussions."
"Still, some of his views may not be entirely without merit."
Hiruzen calmly exhaled a ring of smoke.
The haze drifted through the stale, decaying air of the Hokage's office.
"For example?"
"For example—what is war, what is justice, what is good and evil…"
"Hokage-sama, Uchiha Qianyu seems to believe that Konoha has not always stood on the side of justice."
"He even claims that we have committed acts of aggression against other nations."
Hiruzen frowned.
"When?"
"Rain Country."
Hiruzen sneered inwardly.
Yet outwardly, his face remained gentle, his voice growing softer and more earnest.
"Shisui… I understand your confusion."
"This shinobi world is a never-ending spiral of hatred. Ninjas are merely tools struggling to survive within it."
"But even so—some things stand above all others."
"And what would that be, Hokage-sama?"
"The Will of Fire."
Shisui hesitated.
He had once believed in the Will of Fire without doubt.
But Qianyu's words had dropped like a bomb into his once-calm heart.
Hiruzen saw his hesitation clearly.
"Shisui… have you reached the point where you can no longer believe even in the Will of Fire?"
"No. Hokage-sama, I would never betray Konoha."
"For the village's peace, I would sacrifice myself without hesitation."
"It's just…"
"You are no longer as certain as before."
Hiruzen sighed.
"Where leaves dance, the fire lives on."
"I've said this many times. Most people think it's empty rhetoric—a beautiful but meaningless slogan."
"But in truth, it comes from the deepest convictions of the First Hokage, the Second Hokage… and myself."
"On the surface, it speaks of protecting the next generation, of sacrificing oneself for the future."
"But in a broader sense—it means much more."
Shisui lifted his head, eyes filled with longing for clarity.
"The Will of Fire, in one sentence, is this—"
"Everything exists for the sake of the greater good."
"The old sacrificing themselves for the young. Shinobi sacrificing themselves for the village."
"That is the Will of Fire."
"The First Hokage founded the village to erase divisions—to dissolve individuals and clans into a greater whole."
"His ideal Konoha was a family without clans, without separation—only villagers and loved ones."
"In the Warring States Era, I was Senju, you were Uchiha."
"Endless slaughter. Endless hatred."
"Children who never lived long enough to grow up."
"After Konoha was founded, the First Hokage voluntarily abandoned the Senju name, allowing his clan to fade into the village."
"And his vision succeeded."
"Of course, not everyone possesses such breadth of heart."
"That is why Konoha still harbors dangers—serious ones."
Shisui's heart trembled.
The Senju had vanished into history.
The Uchiha, however, had become a ticking bomb.
The Will of Fire…
The greater good…
His heart wavered once more.
Hiruzen continued softly.
"If all clans could abandon their narrow perspectives and view matters from the village's standpoint…"
"Konoha—and the shinobi world—would not be as they are now."
"I am no saint. I cannot demand sainthood from others."
"Even the First Hokage could only lead by example."
"But I hope… truly hope…"
Shisui felt his heart settle.
"Hokage-sama, I understand now."
"People first love themselves, then their families, then their clans—only after that, the village."
"But with sufficient capacity, one can rise above clan boundaries and see the greater picture."
"I, Uchiha Shisui, am first a shinobi of Konoha."
"Only after that, an Uchiha."
Hiruzen smiled warmly.
"Good… very good."
"With you and Itachi, I believe the Uchiha's issues—no matter how severe—can be resolved peacefully."
"Speaking of which…"
"There are two key individuals."
"One is you."
"The other is Uchiha Itachi."
Shisui smiled faintly.
"Itachi… yes."
"He truly is special."
Hiruzen nodded.
"He thinks like a Hokage."
"With your presence, peace remains possible."
Shisui nodded earnestly.
"I believe so as well."
Hiruzen continued:
"As for Qianyu's talk of nations, justice, and war…"
"These are vast issues—so vast that they become intangible."
"Perhaps one day, when all abandon villages and see the world as one…"
"But not in our lifetime."
"We must take one step at a time."
"You, me, and Itachi—standing above clan interests—is already extraordinary."
"Each era has its limits."
"Qianyu's ideals sound grand, but they are castles in the sky."
"Listen—but do not dwell on them."
Shisui finally smiled.
"Yes. I understand, Hokage-sama."
Then hesitated.
"But… Qianyu's extreme methods have gained some public support."
"What do you think of that?"