After hearing the Third Hokage's urgent message, the ANBU operative nodded sharply before darting into the shadows, moving with the grace of a specter through the familiar halls of the Hokage Tower.
The air was thick with unease as he made his way to inform all the advisors of Konoha.
There was an underlying current of dread, as if the very walls whispered secrets of impending turmoil that hung heavily in the atmosphere.
The reverberating echo of his footsteps filled the empty corridors, a haunting reminder of the weight of the message he bore.
An unspoken urgency propelled him onward; something significant was happening, and they needed to react quickly.
He swept through the doors of the advisory chamber like a gust of wind, drawing the attention of the gathered officials.
The advisors, each clad in garments reflective of their esteemed status, glanced at him with a mix of confusion and concern.
"What news do you bring?" asked Homura, anxiety flickering in his eyes.
Without wasting a moment, the ANBU relayed the Third Hokage's instructions, urgency threading through his voice.
"Hiruzen-sama requests your immediate presence. You must come at once; it's crucial!"
The advisors exchanged wary glances, their minds racing as they grasped the severity of the situation.
The implications struck them like a bolt of lightning crashing through a quiet night.
They stormed outside, urgency propelling them forward as they rushed toward the Hokage's office, concern etched into their features.
Upon their arrival, they were startled to find Shisui already there, standing tense and resolute, but visibly shaken.
His presence was a surprise, an unanticipated twist in a narrative already fraught with tension.
"Uchiha Shisui?" Danzo murmured, surprise coursing through him.
With cunning eyes, he studied Shisui, skepticism rising in his heart.
What is he doing here?
But he quickly dismissed his curiosity.
After all, he thought, there would always be time to dispose of Shisui later—even now, the wheels of his calculations were turning with cold precision.
The moment called for practicality, not answers.
As they stepped inside the Hokage's office, Hiruzen gestured for Shisui to explain the gravity of his message to all the advisors gathered there.
The tension in the room was palpable, as if the very walls strained to listen.
Shisui nodded, steeling himself for the moment.
He took a deep breath, the words still heavy on his tongue, and began to elaborate on the urgent matter at hand.
"The Uchiha Clan is planning a coup," he stated, the gravity of his words settling like an early morning fog, creeping into their hearts and minds.
As he recounted the events, a cold sweat broke out on the backs of the advisors and along their foreheads, dread pooling in the depths of their stomachs.
The weight of Shisui's revelation pressed down like an impending storm, shadowing each advisor's thoughts.
They exchanged anxious glances, minds racing as they contemplated the power buried within Shisui's words.
What a powerful ability, they thought collectively, the realization striking them like thunder in the distance.
If they believe they can control the Uchiha…
Danzo's mind clicked into gear, excitement mingling with interest as Shisui spoke.
His eyes gleamed with an unsettling predatory light as he envisioned the potential for his own designs.
If I can eliminate him… if I attain that power, he thought, then I will be invincible.
The thrill of manipulation coursed through him, igniting a twisted sense of anticipation.
He felt the stirring of ambition rise like the tide, urging him to be quick.
Soon, he planned to usher in a new era—not merely as a player in Konoha but as its ruler.
Far away, watching through the eyes of fate, Gojo sighed again, feeling the familiar weight of exasperation wash over him.
What a fool.
It's clearly like a sheep getting dressed and ready to enter a den filled with wolves.
A sneer curled at the corners of his mouth as he thought about Shisui's naiveté, ignorant of the perilous path he was walking.
"How naive, Shisui. You will die tonight anyway," he mused silently, relishing the dramatic twist that was unfolding.
Inside the Hokage's office, Hiruzen remained composed, though the weight of Shisui's words stirred a tempest within him.
"This plan… it is very feasible," he concluded after a moment of deliberation, his voice steady, yet laced with an edge of caution.
"If we can prevent the coup, we can maintain peace."
He turned to Danzo, who was already processing the implications with a calculating mind.
"You will monitor the Uchiha's actions and assist Shisui in his task to change the will of the Uchiha clan leader, Fugaku," Hiruzen commanded, an unyielding authority threading his words.
Danzo's eyes narrowed ever so slightly, as he saw through the Hokage's intentions.
What a great Hokage, he thought, a sneer beginning to tug at his lips.
He plans to handle Shisui's matters to completely dispose of him.
But I will wait for that moment.
With the gravity of decisions swirling in the air, Shisui felt a swell of hope, grateful for the Hokage's support.
"Thank you, Hokage-sama," he said, relief filling his voice.
"This matter has been well taken care of, and I will do everything I can to protect the village."
But the caution that hung in the air was palpable, as if mist carried with it the weight of uncertainty.
Yet he couldn't shake the looming shadow of his previous encounter with Gojo, an obstacle he had to navigate carefully.
"I must also inform you about Gojo's arrival and the warning he gave me to keep this information confidential," Shisui added, his expression shifting to one of seriousness.
His eyes flitted around the room, gauging the reactions of the advisors.
The moment the name "Gojo" left his lips, a frown creased the brows of the Third Hokage and the other advisors.
The brewing tension intensified, creating an electric atmosphere thick with unvoiced concerns.
"What did he warn you about?" Hiruzen asked, his voice steady yet edged with curiosity.
Shisui straightened, the hint of embarrassment creeping upon him.
"He mentioned that his mental power proved ineffective against my technique," he admitted, each word slipping out like a reluctant confession, laden with underlying implications.
Gasps echoed softly from the advisors as shock rippled through the room like an electric current.
Their eyes widened, visions of Gojo's abilities evoking a tidal wave of discomfort.
"How is it possible?" one advisor murmured incredulously.
"How could a child be so powerful? What is he?"
Shisui nodded, feeling the weight of their disbelief resonate with him as he continued.
"He crushed me completely in our fight. I had… no chance to resist."
A pained note tainted his confession, his pride now a shattered glass underfoot.
The silent tension that enveloped the room grew, and as the implications sunk in further, their collective disbelief morphed into a muted panic.
Shisui's words unfurled a grim reality before them—whoever Gojo was, he posed a significant threat.
Everyone, including Hiruzen, was left dumbfounded.
When did this kid, Gojo, become so strong?
Their thoughts mirrored each other, circling like vultures around a shadowy carcass devoid of life.
Danzo, however, soaked in the revelations with a twisted sense of excitement.
No one can attain such power without a price, he thought, calculations racing through his mind like an avalanche threatening to consume him.
I need to deal with this Gojo matter.
No matter what happens, I must be prepared.
As the silence stretched thin, Hiruzen straightened his shoulders, redirecting his attention to the pressing matters at hand.
"I'll look into this matter about Gojo. We cannot afford to take such threats lightly," he said resolutely, though the weariness in his voice hinted at the burden he felt.
Seizing the moment, Shisui looked directly at Hiruzen, conviction shadowing his normally vibrant demeanor.
"Hokage-sama, Gojo is a significant threat to the Will of Fire and, by extension, Konoha. He needs to be eliminated to save our village from destruction."
His righteous declaration hung in the air like a thick fog, each word draping over the advisors like a cloak of impending doom, and they exchanged uncertain glances.
Doubt nestled in their hearts, blooming like weeds among the flowers.
The fog of tension grew thicker as Gojo, far away and unseen, felt a surge of bloodlust rise within him at Shisui's words.
His expression sharpened, a predator sensing prey.
How dare you call me a threat to Konoha?
The words ignited a fire within him, a fierce rage bubbling to the surface, melding with his yearning for retribution.
This village was founded by my great-grandfather.
My family has given everything for this place, Gojo mused, shadows framing his visage as the setting sun cast dark silhouettes across the landscape.
My great-grandfathers were both Hokage, and I am tied to this land by blood—and now they say I am a threat that needs to be dealt with?
The flames of indignation licked greedily at his core, driving him forward.
I will never leave anyone alive, he vowed inwardly, his resolve strengthening like tempered steel forging in a blacksmith's fire.
He could feel the power within him stabilize, easing into an assured pulse, ready to be unleashed upon those who dared to challenge him.
He needed time.
Just a little more.
Time to stabilize his power and prepare to unleash havoc upon the old guard weighing against him.
The time for reckoning grew near, and when it came, it would be a storm that no one in Konoha could weather.
Shisui, believing he was on a noble path, was unwittingly following a narrow road shrouded in darkness, his loyalty blinding him like a veil over his eyes.
How naive, Shisui, Gojo thought, bitterness tainting his perspective.
You will die tonight anyway, and all of this will be your final play.
As the clouds shifted overhead, casting long shadows across the Hokage Tower, the stage was set, and unseen forces began to converge, building toward an inevitable confrontation.
The clock was ticking, and the leaves were poised to stain crimson once more beneath the weight of ambition and blood.
Chapter End.
To be continued... (ʵ •̀ ᴗ - ʵ ) ✧