Imperial Guard camp.
The sound of metal clashing rang out, intense and short.
"This is a camp independent of the five battalions of the Ministry of War. Unless the five battalions charge together, it is difficult to shake." Shisui introduced.
"This... is this all the Uchiha clan?"
Both Kazuto and Shizuka were shocked.
The current Uchiha... is too strong.
Shisui did not mention the night that caused a large number of clan members to advance, nor did he mention the clan members' current reverence for the Kekkei Genkai, in addition to their reverence for Hiromi's techniques.
He just smiled, shook his head slightly, and walked in.
As soon as he walked in, dozens of Kunai came flying towards him, aiming straight for his heart, throat, temples, and even his lower regions.
Shisui's coordination of Body Flicker and Genjutsu was astonishing, and coupled with the ocular power of his Mangekyo, only a small number of clan members could see the clues. Most others only saw Shisui standing there foolishly, while the Kunai passed right through him without touching him at all, only detecting the residual Chakra around him.
"As expected, the gap is huge."
"It's fine, he doesn't have time to train now."
"Right, we will surpass him sooner or later."
"Isn't it just because he is Hiromi's older brother?"
"Exactly."
"..."
Kazuto and Shizuka both felt a bit awkward for Shisui.
"This..."
It seems Shisui's reputation in the Uchiha clan is very low.
Is it because he was discovered being close to the village?
But at least they were still willing to talk to Shisui, so they breathed a sigh of relief.
But their expressions were somewhat complicated. They didn't expect that the renowned Shisui of the Body Flicker would have such a low reputation within the clan now.
They also didn't know how Hiromi had spent these past few years. The more they thought about it, the more guilty they felt towards Hiromi.
Shisui did not intend to explain to this pair of overthinking young couple, Kazuto and Shizuka.
Seeing is believing, hearing is doubting.
Letting them see for themselves and think for themselves was the best explanation.
And as for these clan members, Shisui was used to it. And it wasn't just him, even Itachi, the Commander of the Imperial Guard, had a low status.
As for why the clan members didn't say anything to Itachi, it was just because everyone minded his previous defection to Hiruzen. It was only out of regard for Hiromi that they didn't say anything.
But as long as he did something bad to Hiromi, or even just showed a slight tendency to do so, this group of red-eyed people would draw their swords and charge.
As for Fugaku, his long-standing authority as the clan head was there, but the current clan members didn't care.
You can scold us if you want, but we won't change anyway. At most, we just won't talk back.
Although these clan members always gave Shisui no face, it could be said that apart from Hiromi, the person they trusted most was Shisui.
The Uchiha Imperial Guards stopped training the moment they saw Shisui arrive and crowded around him.
"Where is Hiromi?"
"He hasn't come to see us for days."
"Exactly."
"As his brother, how are you doing your job?"
Shisui asked, "What? Do you want to depose me and become Hiromi's brother instead? Do you want me to help you notify Hiromi?"
"Um... we didn't exactly mean that."
"Exactly, how can you just go around snitching like that?"
"You're an emperor, how can your character be like this? Are you worthy of Hiromi's trust?"
The corners of Kazuto and Shizuka's lips twitched slightly. Watching the clan members chattering away, denouncing Shisui while simultaneously being afraid of Hiromi, all the while telling Shisui not to tell Hiromi...
Are the clan members these days this wild?
"Stop!"
Shisui didn't have time to mess around with them. He glanced at Kazuto and Shizuka, signaling them to pay attention, and then said to the Uchiha Imperial Guards in front of him, "The new nation is about to be established. What are your thoughts?"
As soon as he said this, the clan members were startled. Kazuto and Shizuka thought the clan members understood the gravity of the situation. But to their surprise, the clan members were pleasantly surprised and excited.
"You should have asked us long ago."
"Exactly. What do those people in the Six Ministries know?"
"In my opinion, we should build a statue of Hiromi killing the four thieves of Konoha at the city gate. I've even finished the drawing."
"That works. We can carve my 'Uchiha Empire Prequel: The Scoundrel Third' on parts of the clothes so the people can admire it."
"We can pile up countless 'thief' characters on those scoundrels like Hiruzen."
"That's good! Creative!"
"Besides the statue, I want to publish a book."
"We must release 'The Conflict of the Hokage: The Righteous Uchiha and the Evil Sarutobi Party'."
Shisui glanced secretly at the pained expressions on Kazuto and Shizuka's faces, then asked with feigned confusion, showing neither sorrow nor joy, "Why don't you go to the Ministry of Rites?"
"Those damn idiots said it wouldn't make money."
"A book with Hiromi as the protagonist, how could it not be a hit?"
"Exactly. We must replace all those idiots in the Ministry of Rites."
"If not, let me do it. I'll just work harder, I can be an Imperial Guard and the Minister of Rites at the same time."
"Exactly. It's easy for us Uchiha to run the Ministry of Rites. We'll definitely make it the head of the Six Ministries."
"Heh."
Hearing this, Shisui turned and left.
The clan members were dissatisfied.
"Why are you leaving?"
"Shisui! Give us an imperial decree!"
"Such a good idea, and you won't agree to it?"
"Do you want to test if I'll assassinate you?"
Shisui didn't stop walking. Kazuto and Shizuka followed him, completely bewildered. After walking a hundred meters, they could still vaguely hear the clan members at the entrance of the Imperial Guard camp criticizing Shisui for not living up to their expectations.
A clan member who wasn't qualified to join the Imperial Guard passed by.
Shisui stopped him and said, "Go tell Clan Head Fugaku that the Imperial Guards are going to assassinate me."
The clan member was stunned. The next second, his eyes lit up, and he agreed, beaming with a smile and patting his chest in assurance.
"I've long been annoyed with them. Don't worry, Shisui. I'll definitely pass the message on."
While speaking, he went to round up other clan members. Excited, hushed voices drifted over.
"Quick, get the peanuts, and small stools."
"Clan Head is going to go scold the Imperial Guards again."
"Heh, these guys have been acting like tyrants ever since they joined the Imperial Guard. Let's see how smug they are today."
"Hahahaha! Hurry up, hurry up!"
"No, we have to exaggerate a bit. It's best to say they were disrespectful to Hiromi."
"That won't do. If Hiromi is involved, they'll beat us to death."
"Then how about we say they pulled down Shisui's pants?"
"Good idea."
This small group of clan members ran off excitedly.
Kazuto and Shizuka: "..."
"Now you know why I don't let them know?" Shisui said calmly.
Kazuto and Shizuka nodded. They looked at Shisui with complex expressions, filled with pity.
"Shisui, you've worked hard."
...
Afterward, Shisui took Kazuto and Shizuka out of the imperial palace.
Although the Uchiha had not yet established the nation and proclaimed an emperor, anyone could see Shisui's position. Therefore, along the way, regardless of whether they held an official position, everyone was extremely respectful to Shisui. Everyone would stop what they were doing to greet him. However, there was more awe than respect.
Kazuto and Shizuka had witnessed how low Shisui's status was within the palace and thought that was the truth. But they didn't expect that in the inner city, Shisui was like an emperor on an outing, with the villagers and ninjas almost kneeling.
Kazuto and Shizuka felt that it shouldn't be like this. Everyone should be like Konoha, a big family.
But they could see that before Shisui was noticed, the villagers all had smiles on their faces, far brighter and more satisfied than in Konoha. This made their words stick in their throats, unable to be spoken.
Shisui also took the opportunity to introduce the roles of the Six Ministries: Personnel, Revenue, Rites, War, Justice, and Works.
The Uchiha clan had always been extreme, but those who could stand on the side of being close to the village were naturally not stupid and could see the current prosperity.
The only drawback was that destroying the village, killing the daimyo, and seizing the country would cause great chaos and trigger the Fifth Great Ninja War.
"But there are also advantages." Shisui said.
"What advantages?" They couldn't understand what the advantages of war could be.
"After this battle, there will be no more war."
"Is this Hiromi's goal?" Kazuto and Shizuka's pupils constricted, shocked in their hearts. They didn't expect Shisui and Hiromi's ideas to be so grand.
"That's definitely not it." Shisui shook his head and said.
Kazuto and Shizuka: "?"
They said so much, and it turns out that wasn't it?
Shisui said, "Anyone who has heard of the 'Tyrant' knows that Hiromi doesn't like it when others provoke him."
Kazuto and Shizuka: "???"
He's already a tyrant, who else would dare to provoke him?
Shisui smiled bitterly.
Not to mention others, even he had angered Hiromi before. That was the time when Hiruzen proposed moving back to the clan grounds.
He understood Hiromi's anger, so was he wrong? Yes, because he was foolish.
But could he avoid making the same mistake again? That was uncertain, because he didn't know if he would be tricked again.
Therefore, he could only shake his head bitterly.
Subsequently, Shisui finished showing them around the Imperial City before taking them to learn what exactly had happened after their deaths.
The relocation of the clan grounds, the village's surveillance, Danzo gouging out eyes, Hiromi destroying the Root base and losing his sight, the death of the Kumogakure envoy captain, the village forcing the Uchiha to sell their eyes, Danzo kidnapping Naruto...
Hearing about so many events, Kazuto and Shizuka looked very conflicted.