There was no helping it.
Just like the White Fang of Konoha back then—
no matter how "tolerant" or "great" he, the so-called strongest Hokage in history, appeared—
he absolutely could not allow the existence of someone beyond the Hokage's control.
That was a matter of principle.
He bore the weight of the entire village.
If Uchiha Shisui harbored ill intent—
and turned him, the Hokage, into a puppet—
then the danger to Konoha would surpass even that of the Nine-Tails.
Just as Hiruzen was deep in thought, an ANBU hurriedly knocked on the door.
"Something terrible has happened, Third Hokage-sama!"
A faint smile tugged at Hiruzen's lips.
Even through the door, he could sense the urgency.
It seemed Danzō had succeeded.
"Enter."
Though inwardly pleased, Hiruzen remained outwardly calm.
The office door creaked open.
The ANBU stepped inside, knelt on one knee, fist to the ground, head lowered. Only after being addressed did he raise his head.
"What happened?" Hiruzen asked, feigning ignorance.
The ANBU took a breath and reported:
"Hokage-sama… Uchiha Shisui… is dead."
At those words, a trace of hidden delight flickered deep within Hiruzen's eyes.
But he immediately put on a shocked expression, rising abruptly.
"What?! Is Shisui dead? How did this happen?!"
"Confirmed, Hokage-sama. ANBU assigned to surveillance witnessed his body."
"It appears to be suicide. A note was left behind, but the exact cause is still under investigation."
The ANBU paused, then added:
"However… Shisui's eyes seem to have been removed. And earlier today, he was seen being summoned by Root operatives under Danzō-sama."
"…Danzō."
At the name, Hiruzen's gaze deepened.
So his old companion had gained quite a harvest.
Still—
he would need to rein him in a bit.
Lest Danzō set his sights on him next.
…
Meanwhile—
Land of Water, Kirigakure.
Uchiha Obito was controlling the Fourth Mizukage, steadily advancing the Bloody Mist policy—persecuting those with kekkei genkai.
All for the sake of Rin.
As he considered his next move, a figure emerged from the ground—
the combined form of Black Zetsu and White Zetsu.
"Obito, something major has happened in Konoha," Black Zetsu said in a hoarse voice.
"I've told you before—call me Madara."
Obito's tone turned cold beneath his mask.
"Of course, Madara-sama."
Black Zetsu complied outwardly, though inwardly he scoffed.
Whether you or the real Madara… you're both just pawns for Mother's revival.
Obito's tone softened slightly. "Speak."
White Zetsu jumped in eagerly:
"Uchiha Shisui—the strongest genjutsu user of the Uchiha—has died!"
"Shisui… is dead?"
Obito was visibly startled.
"When?"
After Minato's death, who did Obito fear most in Konoha?
Hiruzen? Danzō? Fugaku?
None of them.
Against Kamui, they were nothing.
But Shisui—
was different.
He possessed the Mangekyō Sharingan, and his ability was terrifyingly elusive.
Even Obito avoided direct confrontation with him.
"So how did someone like that die?"
"Yesterday. The Uchiha are holding his funeral now," Black Zetsu replied.
"Apparently suicide," White Zetsu added.
"You actually believe that?" Obito scoffed.
Black Zetsu continued:
"He did commit suicide. The Uchiha were preparing a coup. To prevent civil war, Shisui chose death to weaken their morale."
"Before that, he intended to use his Mangekyō ability to control Fugaku and stop the rebellion."
"But he failed."
"Danzō ambushed him and took his right eye."
"Hmph. Pathetic."
Obito's voice was full of disdain.
"A man with such power… brought down by Danzō."
"Do you have his eye?"
"No," Black Zetsu replied.
"According to intelligence from our spore clones within Root, Danzō didn't get it."
"At the moment he took Shisui's right eye, a mysterious figure appeared—cut off his arm—and stole it."
White Zetsu snickered. "Danzō thinks it was you."
"A mysterious figure… interesting."
Obito murmured.
"Konoha isn't as simple as it looks."
"And the left eye?"
"Unknown. But…" Black Zetsu paused.
"The first to find Shisui's body was Uchiha Itachi."
"They were close. After Shisui's death, Itachi awakened his own Mangekyō."
"I'd say the left eye is in his possession."
"Itachi…"
Obito frowned.
"Another troublesome one."
"What will you do, Madara?" Black Zetsu asked.
"The coup may be halted for now, but it's only a matter of time before it resurfaces."
"Once I'm done here, I'll head to Konoha and recruit Itachi into the Akatsuki."
"An Uchiha with the Mangekyō is worth having. He'll be useful in capturing the tailed beasts."
"Also—find the one who took Shisui's eye."
"Anyone who could snatch it from Danzō in Konoha… is either a space-time user—or someone within the village."
"Understood."
Black Zetsu sank back into the ground and disappeared.
…
The next day—
news spread rapidly across Konoha.
Uchiha Shisui—
the clan's greatest genjutsu master, known as Shisui of the Body Flicker—
was dead.
With the loss of their strongest Mangekyō user—
the Uchiha suffered a massive blow.
Morale plummeted.
Even the hardliners fell silent, abandoning talk of rebellion.
Konoha returned, once again, to a fragile peace.
But—
this was nothing more than the calm before the storm.