Chapter 77: An Unexpected Turn
Nara Shikaku walked forward a few steps, then suddenly stopped as if remembering something. He turned back to face the clan leaders, who were all wearing grave expressions.
"If I haven't returned or sent any message within the next two hours, just disperse."
"That would mean the Uchiha clan has taken complete control of Konoha. Engaging them at that point would be meaningless—doing so would only plunge our war-weary village into even deeper chaos."
With those words, Nara Shikaku turned around without looking back and disappeared from view.
The remaining clan leaders exchanged glances in silence.
At the same time, within the Uchiha clan.
After hearing Uchiha Shisui's report, Uchiha Fugaku decided to use the power of his Mangekyō Sharingan to peer into the future once more.
He also invited Uchiha Shisui to witness it with him.
When Shisui saw the clan leader reveal his Mangekyō Sharingan in front of him, his expression turned to one of astonishment.
"Lord Fugaku, you…"
"No need to be surprised, Shisui. Like you, I awakened this most powerful of Uchiha dojutsu on the battlefield, after witnessing the death of a comrade dear to me."
"But to avoid unnecessary complications, I've told no one aside from you and Dali."
As Fugaku spoke, he activated his Mangekyō Sharingan and shared with Shisui the vision of the future he had foreseen.
After watching the future unfold through Fugaku's Mangekyō Sharingan, Shisui was stunned into silence.
Then, an uneasy quiet fell over him.
Fugaku himself looked startled, even somewhat incredulous.
"It seems… he succeeded."
A long moment passed before Fugaku finally spoke in a low voice.
Shisui remained silent.
Through the power of Fugaku's Mangekyō Sharingan, they had both seen a future where the Uchiha clan successfully became the de facto rulers of Konoha.
And Uchiha Dali had become the Fourth Hokage.
The village was peaceful and stable—there had been no bloody conflict as they had feared.
On the contrary.
Under the leadership of the Uchiha clan and the tireless efforts of Uchiha Dali, Konoha had rapidly recovered from the devastation of war.
Moreover, the village flourished.
The various clans within the village stood united, showing no resentment toward the Uchiha clan's rise to power.
Such a future completely overturned Shisui's prior expectations.
He had even considered sacrificing himself to prevent a war between the clan and the village.
"Lord Fugaku… is this future real?"
Though he had seen it with his own eyes, Shisui still harbored doubts.
In truth, Fugaku himself found the vision both surprising and hard to believe.
At Shisui's question, he came back to his senses and met the younger man's gaze.
"The last time I used this ability to look into the future was when Dali told me he intended to compete for the Hokage seat and rewrite the Uchiha clan's fate."
"What we saw then was a heavy price paid by the Uchiha—Konoha falling into a long period of weakened military strength."
"I never imagined that now… the outcome would be so completely different!"
Fugaku shook his head lightly as he spoke.
He still had trouble believing everything his Mangekyō Sharingan had shown him.
Seeing this, Shisui seemed to recall something.
"Lord Fugaku, please restrain everyone for now."
"Until I return, don't let anyone act—please, I'm counting on you."
After speaking, Shisui gave Fugaku a deep ninety-degree bow.
Then, in a flash, he disappeared.
A shiver ran through Uchiha Fugaku's body like an electric current.
Goosebumps rose all over his skin.
"Could it be… that the fate of our Uchiha clan is truly about to change?"
He couldn't help but mutter to himself.
But then, as if a thought struck him, he suddenly turned and hastily issued an order to summon all combat-capable personnel at the rank of Chūnin and above.
…
The news of Hiruzen Sarutobi and Minato Namikaze returning to Konoha had already reached the ears of Shimura Danzo.
At that very moment, he was hoping Minato and Hiruzen's loyal forces, along with the other ninja clans of Konoha, would launch an offensive against the Uchiha.
The ideal outcome would be both sides suffering heavy losses.
Then, he could bring out the Root division and put an end to this so-called Uchiha rebellion once and for all.
After that, he would have a legitimate path to inherit the title of Hokage.
To that end, he secretly sent his most trusted Anbu operatives to investigate the current situation.
At the same time, two others were heading toward the Hokage Tower—Nara Shikaku and Uchiha Shisui.
Soon, they arrived.
Shikaku encountered Shisui at the base of the tower, but neither spoke; they merely exchanged a glance. Then Shisui leapt straight up to the rooftop of the building.
Shikaku, his mind heavy with thoughts, entered the building through the front.
There was no resistance along the way.
When he reached the door of the Hokage's office upstairs, he found it open—and Shisui was already there, standing inside.
Besides Shisui, Uchiha Dali was seated on the Hokage's official throne.
On the nearby sofas sat the two advisors, Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado, as well as the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi.
What shocked Shikaku even more was that Minato Namikaze, long considered the most likely candidate to become the Fourth Hokage, was now standing beside Uchiha Dali.
Just that arrangement alone was enough for the sharp-minded Shikaku to understand everything he needed to know.
"The war you feared didn't come, Shisui. You can rest easy now."
Uchiha Dali glanced at the speechless Shikaku standing in the doorway, then turned to Shisui and said calmly.
Only then did he wave Shikaku in. "You too—come in."
At that, Shikaku quickly stepped forward.
He greeted Hiruzen, Koharu, and Homura, then walked slowly up to Uchiha Dali.
Just as he was wondering how to begin, Hiruzen spoke first.
"Shikaku, Dali has received official appointment from the Daimyō of the Land of Fire. He is about to become the Fourth Hokage of the Hidden Leaf Village."
"This news—you may now pass it on to every clan leader and every shinobi."
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