Had Shisui's fate changed?!
Taking a sip of tea, Bai Ye pondered for a moment, then roughly understood that Shisui had already leaned towards him.
Since he chose to lean towards him, it meant that Shisui would no longer tell Hiruzen Sarutobi and the others about his ocular Ninjutsu. And even if they did find out, he would definitely not go alone if Danzo summoned him.
Therefore, this time he received a chance for a lottery.
"Use."
Bai Ye silently chanted in his mind, and then countless options began to appear on the spinning wheel before his eyes.
"Ding! Lottery completed. Congratulations on obtaining: Uzumaki Clan Bloodline Limit."
Uzumaki Clan?!
Bai Ye suddenly stood up. He felt his Chakra begin to surge, and he no longer knew how much Chakra he had.
The Sage Body naturally possessed a large amount of Chakra and the ability to quickly restore it. And the Uzumaki Clan, also inheriting the Sage Body, naturally, when the two merged, Bai Ye felt that he was basically equivalent to Uchiha Itachi in his Edo Tensei state. He could use any Ninjutsu he wanted without worrying about running out of Chakra.
Moreover, with the Uzumaki Clan's Bloodline Limit, he would be able to learn the Uzumaki Clan's Sealing Ninjutsu later, though it was likely currently in the Scroll of Seals.
Speaking of which, Mito Uzumaki might not have written it in the Scroll of Seals, but Kushina Uzumaki probably would have, because by that time the Uzumaki Clan had already been annihilated, and with her husband being the Fourth Hokage, it was highly probable she would record the Sealing Ninjutsu.
Now, Bai Ye was more confident about the current situation. The Uzumaki Clan Bloodline Limit and Sage Body provided him with sustainability. His Mangekyo could activate Susanoo indefinitely. It was a bit of a pity, though; if he had the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan, he could activate the Perfect Susanoo. Similarly, if he had Wood Release, he wouldn't worry about being ganged up on.
Susanoo was indeed strong, but if it wasn't in its Perfect Susanoo form, there were still weaknesses.
This guy Shisui not only gave him an additional fighting force but also gave him the Uzumaki Clan's Kekkei Genkai. If he got Wood Release later, he would start greening the Village!
However, the secret Ninjutsu of Wood Release was likely also in the Scroll of Seals. It was a pity that if he could get his hands on the Scroll of Seals now to look at the Ninjutsu inside, he would first learn the Uzumaki Clan's Sealing Ninjutsu.
In fact, when it came to the strongest ability in the Ninja World, it was undoubtedly Sealing Ninjutsu. Even Kaguya could be sealed, Amaterasu could be sealed in the early stages, the Nine-Tailed could be sealed, and even people could be exchanged life for life. It could be said that this thing was a BUG-like existence.
Given this, the annihilation of the Uzumaki Clan seemed to have an intricate connection with their Sealing Ninjutsu, right?
On the other end, after parting with Shisui, Itachi did not directly return to the Uchiha Clan, but instead went to the Hokage's office.
"Itachi, is there something you need to discuss, coming here so late?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi looked up, gazing at Itachi with a gentle expression. Then, as if remembering something, he continued to ask, "Didn't Shisui come with you?"
Both of them were Anbu, and he knew very well that Shisui had no mission today. Logically, the two always acted together, so why was only Uchiha Itachi here today?
"No, Shisui has some matters to attend to, so he didn't come."
Itachi hesitated for a moment, then his lips moved, and he finally decided not to tell Hiruzen Sarutobi that Shisui had already sided with Bai Ye.
He still held a glimmer of hope in his heart, perhaps Shisui was only temporarily swayed, and he could still persuade him to return later. But if he were to tell the Third Hokage about this, then Shisui would definitely no longer be trusted.
"Is that so!" Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't think much of it and continued to ask in a gentle tone, "Then, Itachi, did something happen within the Uchiha Clan that brings you here so late?"
During this period, because of the relocation, the Uchiha Clan hadn't caused much trouble.
He was actually hesitating whether to just end things this way. It seemed that besides their few families suffering losses, at least the relationship between the Village and the Uchiha seemed to have eased somewhat.
However, within the Sarutobi clan, there was actually quite a bit of dissatisfaction with him.
Just because they originally occupied the central position, they suddenly moved out. Who wouldn't be upset by that?
Other families like the Shimura and Uzumaki were also the same.
They hadn't received such good treatment back then. At first, they were worried that the Uchiha would protest, but after such a long time, the Uchiha had no objections, so they accepted everything with peace of mind.
It is easy to go from frugality to luxury, but difficult to go from luxury to frugality.
Now, suddenly asking them to spit it out, it was impossible for them not to have any resentment in their hearts.
In addition, Danzo, Homura Mitokado, and Utatane Koharu had been urging him to act, making the Third Hokage, who was originally preparing to let things settle, suddenly feel conflicted again.
He did not want to completely destroy the Uchiha Clan under his watch, as this would plunge Konoha into a weakened state. Once other things happened and the Fourth Shinobi World War began, he would become a sinner of the Village.
However, Homura Mitokado and Utatane Koharu, who were originally neutral, seemed to have sided with Danzo because of this matter.
Now, all three of them were demanding he act, coupled with some voices within his own clan recently, and his own desire to weaken the Uchiha, Hiruzen Sarutobi's heart, which wanted to act against the Uchiha, also began to stir.
"Everything is as before, but I feel they should make their move very soon."
Itachi had also noticed during this time that within the clan, with Bai Ye's rise, more people seemed inclined to act. At the same time, due to Bai Ye's previous actions, the Uchiha gained benefits, which even swayed many neutral factions.
Because they had another idea, and that was to become Hokage!
The Uchiha Clan had never produced a Hokage. Did they, the Uchiha Clan, not deserve to become Hokage?
Holding such thoughts, the people within the clan began to stir.
If they could win once, then they could win a second time, right?
This was the thought held by many Uchiha Clan members now.
But in Itachi's view, with their narrow perspectives, how could they possibly become Hokage, and they couldn't become Hokage. They completely lacked a broad vision and only thought about their own clan!
"The Uchiha Clan is going to make a move?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi widened his eyes, looking at Itachi with some disbelief, clearly surprised by Itachi's statement.
He originally thought that after gaining benefits, the Uchiha Clan would settle down, but from Itachi's description, it was not the case at all. Was the Uchiha Clan going to push their luck?!
Thinking of this, a hint of killing intent couldn't help but rise in his heart.
If it was truly as Uchiha Itachi said, and the Uchiha Clan was preparing to act against Konoha, then with Konoha's capabilities, it was still possible to eliminate the Uchiha, although they would have to pay a considerable price.
"Actually, it's also because of the previous victory. The radical faction was originally with Bai Ye, and many of the middle faction have sided with Bai Ye. Even the conservative faction, after gaining benefits, didn't say much about Bai Ye's methods. Now, the three factions seem to implicitly intend to follow Bai Ye further."
Because Bai Ye genuinely brought them benefits, the various factions naturally chose to follow Bai Ye.
And this was also part of Itachi's basis for believing the Uchiha Clan might act. The biggest reason was that Bai Ye's ideology was too dangerous. He discovered this after his first contact with Bai Ye.
The fact that all factions had recently sided with Bai Ye indicated that Bai Ye was probably about to begin his own actions.
"So, according to your meaning, Itachi, is Bai Ye preparing to go to war with Konoha?"
What a dangerous fellow.
Hiruzen Sarutobi was a bit troubled. If it were Fugaku, he felt he wouldn't even need Itachi to report; he could guess his thoughts perfectly.
But ever since Bai Ye became the Uchiha Clan head, Hiruzen Sarutobi found those decisions somewhat incomprehensible.
Now he was preparing to lead the Uchiha to war with Konoha again.
Is this guy crazy?!
"Not yet, but if all clan members side with him, it's likely."
"Is that so? Well, Itachi, keep an eye on the Uchiha Clan's situation for now. I will temporarily stabilize the situation. The problems between the Village and the Uchiha will be resolved sooner or later."
Hiruzen Sarutobi rubbed his forehead in distress, then waved his hand, signaling Itachi to leave so he could think thoroughly.
Based on the information Itachi brought, Hiruzen Sarutobi was now well aware that if the entire clan sided with Bai Ye, their plan to act against the Uchiha Clan could result in very significant losses.
However, they had no choice but to act against the other party. After Itachi left, Danzo slowly emerged, then looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi and said indifferently, "I've said it before, the Uchiha Clan is a scourge. We should have acted earlier to eliminate them. It would have been easier when they were still hesitating. Now, if we continue to wait for them to all side with Bai Ye, we will only suffer greater losses!"
He had heard all of the conversation just now.
He believed that dealing with the Uchiha Clan was still achievable; Konoha wouldn't be unable to handle a single Ninja clan. But at first, they could have acted at a minimal cost, yet Hiruzen Sarutobi insisted on dragging it out.
If this continued, the price they would have to pay would only increase.
"Danzo, do you know what this means?! Once we act against the Uchiha, first, we need a reason. Second, eliminating the Uchiha Clan will deplete Konoha's strength. Furthermore, without the Uchiha Clan, Konoha will fall into its weakest state. At that time, if other Ninja Villages take advantage of the situation, it's something we won't be able to bear!"
In fact, Hiruzen Sarutobi's heart was already leaning towards eliminating the Uchiha Clan.
But the current situation was that he wanted to eliminate them, but he lacked a reason and did not want to bear the consequences of failing the Fourth Shinobi World War.
So Hiruzen Sarutobi decided not to act for now.
"I can find a reason, and I can even make them act against each other. There's no need to worry about the Fourth Shinobi World War either. Kumogakure and Iwagakure have had some friction recently and are engaged in small-scale skirmishes, so they have no mind to fight us.
Kirigakure is currently still under the Blood Mist policy. Although their internal situation is unknown, I can estimate it's a mess. Even if it's not, given that they haven't made a move for years, they won't act during this operation. They've lost far more Kekkei Genkai families than we have. Kirigakure's current strength is negligible, and the Seven Ninja Swordsmen are not united. Their Blood Mist policy has caused the Ninja in the Village to be unable to trust their comrades.
As for Sunagakure, there's a rift between the Kazekage and their hero Pakura. We can guide them to internal strife or other actions, so Sunagakure will also be preoccupied with us. Furthermore, they haven't recovered from the Third Shinobi World War until now.
So, if you want to act, now is the best time. Once the other Ninja Villages react, we will no longer have any opportunity!"
Danzo's eyes remained gloomy, but his expression was calm, as if he was speaking of a very ordinary matter.
The reason he dared to act at this moment was purely because he had already thought everything through.
Did Hiruzen Sarutobi truly believe that he was the kind of person who would harm Konoha's interests?
"Your Root is truly all-pervasive!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi gave Danzo a deep look. He knew even the internal situations of other Villages perfectly. He hadn't expected that after so many years, Danzo's Root had infiltrated to such an extent.
In these years, he had felt somewhat powerless in controlling Konoha, so he had delegated some authority to Danzo.
He hadn't expected that Danzo seemed to have quietly amassed some power of his own.
"You can know all this intelligence just by sending someone to inquire internally. Don't we also have spies from other Villages within our own Village? Ultimately, when merchants come to various Villages to trade, who can guarantee that these merchants aren't spies, or won't intentionally or unintentionally bring back this intelligence?"
Danzo naturally understood what Hiruzen Sarutobi was wary of, but he wasn't afraid at all. Who wouldn't cultivate a few spies?
Didn't Hiruzen Sarutobi have them too?
Ultimately, those Villages are all similar to Konoha now, either with internal problems or external reasons. In short, everyone has things to busy themselves with. At this time, even if you act, everyone will be able to maintain a tacit understanding and handle their own affairs.
On the contrary, once these matters are completely resolved, Kumogakure and Iwagakure temporarily cease fire and unite against Konoha, and Sunagakure's internal problems are resolved, then what awaits them is being unable to act against the Uchiha, and even having to compromise with Uchiha Bai Ye.
Thinking of the previous setback at Bai Ye's hands, Danzo felt extremely uncomfortable. He had struggled his whole life, only to be outmaneuvered by a junior.
But thankfully, he acted in time, making the villagers' dislike for the Uchiha even stronger.
This was the power of public opinion!
So, Hiruzen, what is your choice now?