Shisui’s strength was beyond doubt.
Although the war had only just begun and his record was not yet extensive enough to earn his signature title, he was already a bright rising star in the southern theater.
He had been the one to finish off the Kaguya Jonin with Sharingan Genjutsu moments ago.
Yet, despite his formidable strength, his character flaw was glaringly obvious.
An audacious idea formed in Inaba Hyuga’s mind—could he trick Shisui into joining their mission?
Other Uchiha were uncontrollable, but Shisui was a different story.
He quietly whispered the idea to his team leader.
Tomoe was surprised, but he did not object immediately, asking only, “Are you confident?” Inaba Hyuga nodded.
Tomoe gave him a look to go ahead.
With internal consensus reached, Inaba Hyuga turned back to call out to the Uchiha party, who had already given up on the conversation and were preparing to leave.
“Wait, you can’t leave yet.” The Uchiha with the foul temper immediately turned around, glaring at him with widened eyes and asking in a heavy tone, “What are you trying to do?” His Three-Tomoe Sharingan had remained active the entire time.
It was clear that Inaba’s squad was not the only one on guard; the Uchiha squad was equally vigilant.
The rift between the village and the Uchiha Clan was plain to see.
However, Inaba Hyuga did not look at him at all.
His eyes were fixed solely on Shisui.
“You can’t leave yet.
The trouble you caused this time will severely impact the village’s overall deployment in this theater!
To eliminate that impact, you need to cooperate with our mission.
This is all for the village—for Konoha!” Inaba Hyuga deliberately spoke with righteous, inspiring fervor.
His target was Shisui’s psychological weakness!
Such words might be useless against anyone else, but against Shisui, the effect was extraordinary!
Because Shisui was an anomaly who put the village above everything else, often making him an odd fit within the Uchiha Clan.
Standing nearby, little Anko could not help but cover her face.
*Little Brother Hyuga, who in the Uchiha Clan actually buys that kind of talk?* Sure enough, the bad-tempered Uchiha sneered and immediately snapped back, “Heh!
Do you take us for fools?
That’s your mission—what does it have to do with us?
Even if we help, won’t you just toss us aside once we get back?” This brief exchange revealed the Uchiha Clan’s predicament.
Their current situation was partly due to their own volatile tempers and partly the result of the village’s deliberate actions.
Often, even when the Uchiha Clan helped out, the village would not be grateful.
Instead, they would erase the clan’s contributions and push them aside.
Over time, fewer and fewer Uchiha were willing to cooperate with outsiders.
They became cold, isolated, and focused solely on their own tasks, as if a deep chasm separated them from the village.
Unfortunately for him, Shisui was not that kind of Uchiha.
As soon as the bad-tempered Uchiha finished speaking, Shisui pulled at his sleeve.
The man turned around and glared at Shisui.
“Don’t be stupid, Shisui!
These guys are just using us!
Have you forgotten what happened to our kinsmen in the past?
Even if we help, we’ll be kicked to the curb afterward.
If it’s not our assigned task, the village won’t credit us at all!” They were not speaking quietly.
Perhaps the man intended for Inaba Hyuga to hear every word so he would abandon any bad ideas.
Inaba Hyuga rubbed his nose, thinking to himself that although this Uchiha had a temper like a rock in a latrine, his mind was surprisingly sharp.
*You’re almost too smart to be an Uchiha.* *What a pity,* Inaba chuckled internally.
*Nobody understands Shisui better than me.* Inaba was already pulling the strings in his mind.
He did not even need to speak another word of persuasion before Shisui began defending the idea on his own.
“But Senior, this is all for the village.” *Everything you said is right, but he said it’s for the village.* “…” The hot-tempered Uchiha senior felt like he was about to lose his mind.
Why was this kid completely impervious to reason?
If Shisui were not one of the premier geniuses of their generation in the clan, he would have smacked him across the face!
*Wake up, you’re an Uchiha!* Yet Shisui’s gaze remained firm, his posture unchanged.
“Senior, set aside the old grudges.
We are still members of Konoha.” Inaba Hyuga chimed in with a timely nod.
“That’s right.
We are all members of Konoha.
Regardless of whose mission it is, everything we do is for the village!” “…Shut up!” The hot-tempered Uchiha whirled around and glared viciously at Inaba Hyuga, looking as though he wanted to curse him to death on the spot with Genjutsu.
Inaba Hyuga remained entirely unfazed.
Over on the side, Shisui was tugging at his senior’s sleeve again.
“…” The hot-tempered Uchiha senior let out an exhausted sigh.
The best prodigy of their clan had been played like a fiddle by an outsider…
After a brief discussion, the Uchiha squad decided to send their two injured members back first.
They needed urgent medical treatment and would be no help if they stayed.
Shisui and his short-tempered senior, Kou Uchiha, stayed behind to assist Inaba Hyuga’s team.
When the decision was finally settled, Anko’s mouth dropped open in shock, staring at Inaba Hyuga as if she had seen a ghost.
“You…
actually persuaded them?” Just a moment ago, she had been thinking no Uchiha would listen to Inaba’s high-minded speech, only for reality to smack her in the face so quickly.
In the blink of an eye, the two Uchiha had genuinely been convinced.
Even to an outsider like her, it felt absurd!
Tomoe and Rinfu Gekko also looked surprised.
Nobody had expected Inaba Hyuga to succeed.
Was this still the Uchiha Clan they knew?
“The Hyuga aren’t normal, and now the Uchiha are acting weird too…
Did something happen to the village recently?” Anko muttered to herself.
Tomoe and Rinfu Gekko shared her sentiments.
Why did the Ninja World suddenly feel so unfamiliar?
Inaba Hyuga smiled bitterly, unable to offer a real explanation.
He could hardly admit he was a reincarnated soul who could read people’s minds and exploit their psychological flaws.
He simply shifted the topic.
“Captain, when we return, make sure to report this fully to Lord Orochimaru.
The credit that belongs to the Uchiha Clan must be given.
We can’t be like those other people!” Captain Tomoe nodded.
He was a direct subordinate of Orochimaru, not tied to the Third Hokage or Danzo’s faction.
He harbored no special ill will toward the Uchiha, so what Inaba suggested was only fair and proper.
Hearing those words, Kou Uchiha’s scowl finally relaxed slightly, no longer maintaining his dark expression.
At that point, Shisui stepped forward eagerly.
“So, Seniors, what are we doing next?
Is your mission really that critical?
If we encounter any key operations ahead, please feel free to command us!” Seeing Shisui’s enthusiasm, Kou Uchiha wanted to cover his face once more.
It was all that damn Hyuga brat’s fault!