Chapter 73: It's Time to Show Your Resolve
After Uchiha Shisui finished speaking to Namikaze Minato and the others, Hiruzen Sarutobi began probing his stance.
He didn't beat around the bush—he directly told Shisui that he had already passed the title of Fourth Hokage to Namikaze Minato.
This wasn't just a clear indication that he did not support the Uchiha clan's rise to power—it also dragged Minato into the fray, putting him on the hot seat.
In doing so, even Minato himself would have no choice but to step up under the name of the Fourth Hokage and take part in resolving the situation.
Uchiha Shisui, being exceptionally perceptive, instantly understood the unspoken implications.
His gaze drifted from Sarutobi to Minato.
"Lord Third, in fact... I already tried to stop Dali-senpai," he said, lowering his head in regret and with a hint of shame. His tone carried a sense of helplessness.
Both men were taken aback by his words and instinctively looked at him.
Minato immediately understood what Shisui meant and couldn't help but comfort him. "Dali is extremely powerful—I've seen it with my own eyes. This isn't your fault alone, Shisui."
"He's the strongest ninja I've ever encountered. Honestly, even if I faced him myself, I wouldn't be confident of winning…"
But Shisui only gave a slight shake of his head in response.
He lifted his eyes to meet Minato's gaze seriously, then turned to Sarutobi and spoke solemnly. "My Kotoamatsukami is the Uchiha clan's most powerful genjutsu."
"But when I tried to use it to alter Dali-senpai's will, what I felt… was a deep, visceral fear."
"He was like an unfathomable abyss—his true strength couldn't be gauged at all."
Shisui's additional explanation made both Minato and Sarutobi's expressions shift subtly once more.
They had, of course, heard of Kotoamatsukami.
But they never expected that even such a powerful genjutsu would fail to work on Uchiha Dali.
At that moment, even Hiruzen Sarutobi—the so-called "Professor of the Ninja World"—began to grasp the gravity of the situation.
"Minato, what's your take?" Sarutobi turned the question over to Minato.
"Lord Third, I plan to meet Dali alone and talk to him," Minato answered without hesitation.
Sarutobi nodded solemnly at his words.
To him, this situation was no longer just a wager between two young men.
The Uchiha clan was attempting to seize power, and as the Third Hokage, he could not allow such a thing to happen lightly.
"Go ahead and talk to him. Meanwhile, I'll summon all the village's shinobi under the authority of the Third Hokage."
"If the Uchiha clan does anything overreaching, everyone will act."
"Shisui, deliver my message to Uchiha Fugaku. We begin separate operations now."
It was in this moment that Sarutobi Hiruzen, the man who had served as Hokage for decades, revealed his ruthless decisiveness.
His plan was far harsher than Minato's more conciliatory approach.
Shisui's heart tightened at once, and he dared not delay.
"I'll go meet with Lord Fugaku right away," he replied before disappearing in a flash.
Sarutobi, meanwhile, walked forward at a steady pace, looking calm and composed.
"Minato, this is your first lesson as Hokage. A Hokage needs more than compassion and a sense of responsibility—now's the time for you to show your resolve," Sarutobi reminded him.
——
Uchiha Clan District.
After hearing Shisui's report, Clan Head Uchiha Fugaku's expression changed drastically.
He knew that Uchiha Dali intended to help their clan escape its predicament and rise to the pinnacle of power in Konoha.
But what he hadn't expected was that so many developments had occurred in just the few short days since Dali's return to the village.
More importantly, he had been unaware of the vast majority of these events.
Had Shisui not returned to warn him, the Uchiha clan might have already been dragged into the quagmire of war.
And for a clan that had just come out of the last ninja world war, that would be nothing short of a disaster.
"At present, the Uchiha clan is not yet prepared to go up against the village... Dali acted too recklessly," Fugaku muttered, his face clouded with uncertainty.
Shisui's return and candid report suggested that his loyalties might not be so straightforward anymore.
Realizing this, Fugaku gave Shisui a long, searching look.
That look immediately revealed his thoughts to Shisui, who spoke up first to preempt any suspicion: "Lord Fugaku, neither the Uchiha clan nor the village can withstand the devastation of another war. Internal conflict within the village will only delight our enemies."
"I hope you'll issue an order to all Uchiha clan members: do not participate in any fighting."
To Fugaku, this sounded like betrayal.
But Shisui's words were undeniably reasonable—there was simply no refuting them.
From the perspective of the bigger picture, he was absolutely right.
But what if... Uchiha Dali succeeded?
"If Dali succeeds, the Uchiha clan will become the rulers of Konoha, free from unreasonable suppression and discrimination."
"The great goal of the clan's full revival would finally come true…"
Fugaku began to waver.
At that moment, he recalled one of the abilities granted by his Mangekyō Sharingan and turned to look at Shisui again.
"Dali once said he would handle this properly, that he'd elevate the Uchiha to the top of Konoha without shedding a drop of blood."
"If he truly can do that, then I want to know—what is your stance, Shisui?"
Faced with this question, Shisui fell silent.
He took a moment to think carefully.
But instead of answering directly, he said, "Just before returning, I met with Lord Minato and the Third Hokage."
"Lord Third has already passed the Hokage title to Minato-senpai. And this time, they even brought back an official letter of appointment from the Feudal Lord... It's already set in stone, Lord Fugaku."
"But knowing Minato as I do, he's a man of his word. He lost the bet with Dali and promised to give up the Hokage position. What do you make of that?"
"I don't know."
Shisui felt a pounding headache.
This was the greatest dilemma he had ever faced—more daunting than even being surrounded by thousands of enemies on the battlefield.
"Then take a look at this, Shisui."
As Fugaku spoke, he activated the power of his Mangekyō Sharingan, preparing to show Shisui the future he had foreseen.
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