Chapter 121
To put it nicely, it's being soft-hearted; to put it not so nicely, it's cowardice!
Just like Hiruzen Sarutobi's decision at the end of the Third Great Ninja War, which disregarded the interests of allied nations and didn't demand compensation from Iwagakure.
"Utatane Koharu and Homura still don't know about this..."
Danzo implied, if I tell them, do you think they'll agree with your view?
Chapter 64. Izumi... so beautiful... Sako moved.
The date of the Uchiha coup d'état was approaching... it was set for the festival next month.
Itachi was pondering these questions in his mind, and Shisui caught up from behind him.
A full moon hung in the sky.
After the meeting, everyone started to head back.
"Itachi... let's talk somewhere familiar..."
Shisui also realized the seriousness of the situation and decided to have a good talk with Itachi.
The 'familiar place' naturally referred to a secret cliff beside the Naka River.
It was a location only he and Shisui knew about.
"Mm, okay."
Itachi nodded, and in an unintentional glance, he saw Izumi, who had also attended the meeting, leaving.
Under the night sky.
Izumi, with long black hair reaching her waist, was like a night elf.
She walked with light steps, exuding astonishing charm in every gesture.
That intoxicating aura... Itachi didn't know how to describe it.
He only felt that Izumi's changes had become increasingly significant these past few days.
Originally just an ordinary beautiful girl, now... she had an added touch of mystery, even indifference.
She also became more... womanly.
Exuding youthful vitality, filled with feminine fragrance... Noticing Itachi's gaze, Izumi slowly turned her head.
She was still walking.
But it was this sideways glance that made Itachi's heart pound, his heartbeat quickening.
What kind of expression was that?
Itachi swore he had never seen Izumi show such an expression.
That oval face had become unusually cold.
Her black eyes had a somewhat inorganic quality.
Completely expressionless, Izumi was dark and cold.
Just that one glance made Itachi unable to tear his eyes away.
He even vaguely felt a dryness in his throat, and his body began to feel hot.
What's going on?
Itachi didn't understand.
He didn't know what was happening to him.
Why was even his body out of control?
"Itachi, Itachi?"
Shisui, who was talking to Itachi, noticed his friend's distraction.
"Sorry, Shisui..." Itachi immediately retracted his gaze.
His mind was still buzzing.
Shisui naturally noticed Itachi's momentary distraction.
He turned his head to glance at Izumi, who was now only a retreating back, so Shisui didn't see her face.
"Hehe..."
He let out a good-natured tease.
Shisui reached out and patted Itachi's shoulder.
"You kid... you've grown up too."
"What do you mean?" Itachi mumbled.
"It means you finally understand the charm of girls." Shisui's gaze was quite teasing.
"What about you, Shisui?" Itachi retorted.
Didn't Shisui have a girl he liked?
"Well..."
Shisui stroked his chin, continuing to walk with Itachi, the two gradually moving away from the Uchiha Clan Compound and heading towards the Naka River.
Many faces of women he had known and encountered in his life flashed through his mind.
But, how to put it... "Before the major issues are resolved, I'm not in the mood to consider dating..."
His friend's sudden low spirits made Itachi feel a bit at a loss.
That's right.
Shisui had always worked hard for the clan's reputation and future.
Therefore, he bore immense pressure.
But his father and the others couldn't understand Shisui, or even the results of his own efforts.
The Uchiha Clan... did it really have a future?
Itachi couldn't help but recall his conversation with the masked man... Uchiha Madara.
Next month, when his father and the others planned to make their move at the festival, it would be their death day.
So he absolutely had to stop his father and the others, prevent them from carrying out such a foolish plan.
A dozen minutes later... the two stood on the cliff.
The turbulent waters of the Naka River were very violent.
Even for a Ninja, jumping down would surely mean no survival, perhaps not even finding a body.
"Actually, I also joined the Anbu..."
Shisui's sudden re-opening of the conversation startled Itachi.
Evidently, none of the clan members knew about this.
"Secretly... I joined Hokage-sama's command. I no longer perform general missions, but instead work for the peace of the clan..."
Shisui lowered his head, looking at the river water before him.
"I've gained authorization to investigate the clan, Hokage-sama trusts me deeply..."
Why?
Itachi thought it was no problem that Hokage-sama would trust Shisui.
After all, Shisui was the most popular Uchiha in the Village.
The reason he hadn't joined the Police Force was also due to the strong demands of other Konoha Ninja.
Everyone liked to go on missions with Shisui.
But even so... to think Shisui alone could save the Uchiha was too... "Because of my ocular jutsu..."
Shisui's eyes changed, forming the pattern of the Mangekyo.
"Uncle Fugaku already asked me before... actually, your father also has the Mangekyo Sharingan..."
Itachi: "!!!!"
Itachi, who had originally thought his father would be easy to deal with, suddenly realized that if he faced his father, it would undoubtedly be a fierce battle!
Although he currently only had a two-tomoe Sharingan.
But matching his father, who had three-tomoe, should be no problem... Itachi thought this, yet from Shisui's mouth, he learned a shocking and powerful truth.
If that were the case, he simply couldn't defeat his father.
"Gulp..." Itachi swallowed, opened his mouth, but didn't know what to say.
"Uncle Fugaku hopes I can help the Uchihacomplete the reform at that time..."
Shisui's tone became forlorn and low.
After all, his title as the 'Number One Genjutsu Ninja' was still very intimidating.
Even forcing back the Two-Tails Jinchuriki, controlling Elder Utatane Koharu would be very easy, wouldn't it?
"So... I'm an insurance policy."
If the coup failed, he would directly use the Mangekyo to control her and force Utatane Koharuto step down.
"But I haven't told your father my true ocular jutsu..."
Shisui pointed to his own eyes, smiling.
"Kotoamatsukami..."
He uttered a term full of mysterious meaning.
"It can modify the will of others..."
Through Shisui's explanation, Itachi understood the power of this ocular jutsu.
"Kotoamatsukami: Radiance" was a smokescreen, its purpose to destroy the spirit of others, that's what Shisui told his father.
However, Shisui's true trump card was the "Genjutsu: Kotoamatsukami," which could change others' thoughts.
"So, before the festival next month... during the last meeting, I will use 'Kotoamatsukami' to modify your father's thoughts..."
As Shisui said this, he suddenly remembered something.
"Oh, and Itachi, you should change your attitude towards Uzumaki Naruto."
"Huh?" Why mention Uzumaki Naruto?
"I misjudged before, that child... is actually the son of the Fourth Hokage!"
"!" Itachi was utterly shocked by this information.
"So..."
Shisui smiled and patted Itachi's shoulder.
"You can rest assured and let your sister Sakoassociate with him..."
Chapter 65. Izumi: I must save Naruto!!