There was no helping it.
Just like in the case of Sakumo Hatake, the “White Fang of the Leaf,” no matter how tolerant or great he, the “strongest Hokage in history,” might appear to be, he absolutely could not tolerate the existence of anyone in Konoha who exceeded his control.
It was a matter of principle.
He carried the burden of all Konoha on his shoulders.
If Uchiha Shisui ever harbored malicious intent—if he were to turn the Hokage into a puppet—the resulting damage to Konoha would be far greater than the Nine-Tails incident itself.
Just as the Third Hokage was lost in thought, an Anbu operative knocked hurriedly on the office door.
“Trouble, Third Hokage-sama.” The corners of Hiruzen Sarutobi’s mouth lifted slightly.
Even through the door, he could sense the urgency in the agent’s tone.
It seemed Danzo had succeeded.
“Come in…” Although he felt a slight wave of relief, Hiruzen maintained a stoic expression, commanding the Anbu to enter.
Creak.
The office door opened.
The Anbu operative walked quickly to the center of the room, knelt on one knee before Hiruzen, and pressed his right fist against the ground.
He kept his head lowered, waiting for the Hokage to speak before looking up.
“What has happened?” Hiruzen asked, feigning ignorance in a gentle voice.
The Anbu took a deep breath and reported the intelligence gathered from the Uchiha compound.
“Hokage-sama, Uchiha Shisui…
is dead.” Hearing this, a subtle flash of joy crossed the depths of Hiruzen’s eyes.
However, he acted shocked, abruptly standing up with wide, incredulous eyes.
“What?!
Shisui is dead?
How on earth did this happen?” “Reporting to Hokage-sama, Uchiha Shisui is indeed dead.
The Anbu tasked with surveillance personally witnessed the body.” “It is said to be suicide; he even left a note.
But the cause of death is still under investigation.” Seeing the Hokage’s display of concern for his subordinates, the Anbu agent inwardly sighed at Hiruzen’s kindness before organizing his thoughts to relay everything he knew.
“However…” The agent’s tone shifted.
“Uchiha Shisui’s eyes appear to have been gouged out.
Furthermore, there were reports that he was summoned by Root ninjas under Danzo-sama earlier today.” “Danzo…” Upon hearing that name, the Third Hokage’s cloudy old eyes immediately grew profound.
It seemed his old friend had harvested quite a prize.
Still, he would have to knock Danzo down a peg or two to keep him from turning those bad intentions back toward himself.
…
Meanwhile.
In the Land of Water, Kirigakure.
Uchiha Obito was in the midst of controlling the Fourth Mizukage, methodically implementing the “Bloody Mist” policy to persecute ninja with Kekkei Genkai, all to soothe the spirit of Rin Nohara.
As Obito pondered his next move, a merged entity of Black Zetsu and White Zetsu emerged from the ground.
Black Zetsu spoke in a hoarse voice: “Obito, something major has happened in Konoha.” “I’ve told you many times, address me as Madara-sama,” Obito frowned beneath his mask, his voice cold.
“Understood, Madara-sama,” Black Zetsu replied respectfully on the surface, while inwardly harboring nothing but contempt.
Whether it’s you or Uchiha Madara, you are nothing but pawns for Mother’s resurrection.
Hearing the affirmation, Obito’s tone softened slightly.
“Speak.
What happened?” White Zetsu cut in first: “Uchiha Shisui, the ninja known as the Uchiha clan’s strongest genjutsu user, is dead.” “Shisui is dead?” Obito was stunned.
“When?” If there was one person in Konoha Obito feared most since the death of the Fourth Hokage, who was it?
Hiruzen?
Danzo?
Fugaku?
No, none of them.
Before his Kamui, they were nothing but rabble.
It was Shisui.
There was no other reason than the fact that Shisui had awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan, and his abilities were bizarre and incredibly powerful.
Even Obito, who also possessed the Mangekyō, didn’t dare to engage him head-on.
How could a powerhouse like that just die?
“Yesterday.
The Uchiha clan is holding the funeral now,” Black Zetsu answered.
His voice was raspy, like dry leaves skittering in the wind, sounding deeply grating to the ear.
White Zetsu added, “They say it was suicide.” “You believe such nonsense?” Obito scoffed.
Black Zetsu continued: “It was indeed suicide.
The Uchiha clan was on the verge of a coup, and Shisui committed suicide to prevent a civil war in Konoha, hoping to crush the clan’s morale and combat readiness.
But it seems that before he died, he intended to use the power of his Mangekyō to control Uchiha Fugaku to reorganize the clan and stop the coup.
He failed.
Danzo ambushed him and stole his right eye.” “Hmph.
What a naive fool,” Obito sneered, his words dripping with disdain.
“Someone with eyes of that caliber and such power, only to fall at the hands of Danzo?
Ridiculous.
Is the eye in Danzo’s possession now?” “No.
It seems Danzo didn’t obtain the Sharingan.” “According to intelligence gathered by my Spore clones from Root, Danzo didn’t just fail to get the eye; the moment he tried to seize it, a mysterious figure appeared, severed Danzo’s left arm, and snatched it away.” Black Zetsu recounted the intelligence gathered by his White Zetsu clones piece by piece.
White Zetsu gloated, “Danzo is currently suspecting that you were the one who did it.” “A mysterious person?
Interesting.
It seems Konoha isn’t as simple as it appears on the surface,” Obito mused, then continued, “And the left eye?” “Unknown.
However…” Black Zetsu paused for a moment before adding, “The first person to find Uchiha Shisui’s body was Uchiha Itachi.” “Itachi was Shisui’s closest friend.
He also awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan after Shisui’s death.
I suspect Shisui’s left eye is in his hands.” “Itachi, huh?” Obito’s brow furrowed.
“Another troublesome character added to the list.” “Madara, what do you intend to do?” Zetsu asked.
“Though this Uchiha coup was stopped, another one is only a matter of time.
Once I finish up here, I’ll head to Konoha and find an opportunity to recruit Itachi into the Akatsuki,” Obito said.
“An Uchiha who has awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan is qualified; in the future, he will be an asset in capturing the Tailed Beasts.” “And while you’re at it, find a way to track down the person who stole Shisui’s right eye.
To be able to snatch prey from Danzo’s jaws in the heart of Konoha—they are either a master of Space-Time Ninjutsu or someone on the inside.” “Understood,” Black Zetsu responded respectfully, slowly melting into the ground until he disappeared.
…
The following day, the news of the death of Uchiha Shisui—the strongest genjutsu user of the clan, known as “Shisui of the Body Flicker”—spread like wildfire.
The Uchiha clan, having lost the support of their strongest Mangekyō user, was devastated.
Their morale plummeted, and even the hawks among the elders quieted down, no longer daring to mention the coup.
Konoha returned to a period of fragile peace.
Of course, it was merely the calm before the storm.