The moon was bright and the stars were sparse. Under the shroud of night, the Naka River reflected a cold, circular moon, while two figures stood solitary by the riverbank.
"Have you really decided, Shisui?"
Itachi looked at his close friend beside him, his face filled with worry.
"If Lord Hokage truly intends to move against the Uchiha, doing this is no different from walking straight into a trap..."
Hearing Itachi's words, Shisui gave a faint smile. His expression radiated an endless, sun-like gentleness that seemed capable of dispelling any gloom.
"Itachi, I believe in Lord Hokage."
Shisui's gaze followed the Naka River upward until it reached the shrine standing by the water. It was the Naka Shrine, a place of immense significance to the Uchiha.
He spoke softly, "Itachi, if we cannot obtain Lord Hokage's support, what kind of decision would you make as the son of the Uchiha Clan Head?"
Unlike Shisui, Itachi's identity and position were quite delicate. As Itachi, he did not want the Uchiha to launch a coup, as it would bury the glory of the Uchiha Clan while severely harming the village he loved so dearly. However, as the son of the Uchiha Clan Head, Itachi also did not want to watch his own clansmen die...
He was caught in a painful dilemma.
Seeing Itachi standing there struggling internally, Shisui showed no disappointment. He simply smiled, reached out to pat Itachi's shoulder, and comforted him, "It's okay."
"I'm sorry, Shisui, I..."
Itachi looked up, his expression clouded with guilt. He had always told Shisui that they needed to break free from narrow clan-oriented thinking, yet when the moment of choice arrived, he was still hesitant.
"It doesn't matter. You don't need to apologize."
Shisui was not dissatisfied by Itachi's hesitation. Breaking away from so-called clan interests was never easy, especially for someone like Itachi.
"Itachi, listen closely. I am going to tell you the secret of the Mangekyo Sharingan," Shisui said suddenly.
Itachi froze for a moment.
Before he could speak, Shisui continued, "The Mangekyo Sharingan is the result of a qualitative change in the Sharingan triggered by intense emotional stimulus after losing those closest to you..."
"Once the Mangekyo Sharingan is awakened, your visual prowess will increase several times over. An ordinary Sharingan faces terrifying suppression in front of a Mangekyo Sharingan."
"In addition to the enhanced visual prowess, each Mangekyo Sharingan will gradually evolve a unique visual jutsu based on your heart after it opens."
As he spoke, Shisui's eyes transformed into the Fuma Shuriken pattern of the Mangekyo Sharingan. A fearsome pressure descended upon Itachi.
Shisui's expression became solemn.
"The visual jutsu I awakened is called... Kotoamatsukami."
"Kotoamatsukami?"
Itachi had never heard of this genjutsu.
Shisui nodded slightly. "This visual jutsu can be activated without the opponent's knowledge, invading their brain and rewriting their will."
"Rewriting someone's will?"
The brief introduction caused Itachi's expression to change drastically. He asked in disbelief.
Shisui nodded, confirming Itachi's suspicion.
"For example, I could use this genjutsu on you and change your self-perception to that of Shisui Uchiha. From then on, as long as the technique isn't broken, you would live your life as Shisui Uchiha."
Shisui personally admitted the terrifying nature of this technique—the ability to silently modify another's will.
Such an ability was not only useful on the battlefield; it held immense value for dealing with other Great Ninja Villages! For instance, if the Third Hokage took Shisui to meet the Kage of other villages, he could use Kotoamatsukami to unknowingly influence the outcome of many events.
Instantly, Itachi thought of something.
"In that case, Shisui, can you use this technique to change the will of the clansmen and the higher-ups?"
Unfortunately, Shisui shook his head and explained, "While this technique is powerful, the consumption of visual prowess is staggering."
"How staggering?"
"It would likely take over a decade to recover."
Shisui's subsequent sentence made Itachi fall silent. Over a decade? Given the average lifespan in the shinobi world, one might only be able to use this technique five or six times in a lifetime.
Of course, even with only five or six uses, it was still a god-tier skill. If he had obtained this technique earlier, or if the conflict between the Uchiha and the village could be delayed for another decade, they might truly have been able to use it to change their fate.
But there are no "ifs."
The current situation was one where a distant pool of water could not extinguish a nearby fire. Even if Shisui pushed himself to the limit now, he could only influence two people at most with Kotoamatsukami.
Should he use it on the Third Hokage? On Danzo? Or on his own father, Fugaku Uchiha?
One must not forget that although they were the leaders of the village and the Uchiha, they could not control everything. Even if they wanted to ease relations, would the interest groups behind them also choose to stop?
Itachi was unsure, so he could only turn his gaze back to Shisui.
"So, do you intend to stand completely on the side of the village?"
Shisui nodded solemnly without any evasion. "That's right. If the clan truly chooses to stand in opposition to the village, I will use Kotoamatsukami to control your father and do my best to stop the clansmen."
Itachi went quiet. He remained silent for a long time before speaking weakly, "I understand."
As Itachi turned to leave, Shisui spoke up, "Itachi, I believe in you."
Itachi said nothing, his figure gradually disappearing into the dark night.
Shisui watched Itachi vanish, then quickly left the clan grounds. Using his superior Body Flicker Jutsu, he bypassed all surveillance and appeared in the Hokage Building at top speed.
Although it was the middle of the night, the Hokage's office was still brightly lit. The elderly Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, the leader of Root, Danzo Shimura, and the two village elders, Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado, were all gathered together.
At the Third Hokage's signal, Shisui Uchiha encountered no obstacles and successfully arrived before them.
"Thank you for your hard work, Shisui."
Looking at the exhausted Shisui, Hiruzen's gaze flickered slightly.
Shisui knelt on one knee in a shinobi stance and lowered his head. "Everything is for the safety of the village."
The Third Hokage and the two advisors nodded slightly in approval. Meanwhile, Danzo spoke in a raspy voice, "Are you certain you can stop the Uchiha Clan's coup?"
Shisui's heart tightened. The reason he appeared here tonight was to persuade these high-level officials to give him more time and refrain from acting against the Uchiha for now...
Therefore, he said almost without hesitation, "Please rest assured, Elder Danzo. I will use Kotoamatsukami on Clan Head Fugaku during the upcoming Uchiha assembly to stop the coup!"