(1) 18: Chapter 18: Sharp Tongue, Strong Hands!
(1) “What are you trying to say?” “I’m saying I know more than you do,” Kazuki said with a beaming smile.
“Your information comes from the Hokage.
Mine, I saw with my own eyes.” Shisui’s expression flickered slightly.
He was no fool—a fool couldn’t even unlock a three-tomoe Sharingan, let alone a Mangekyo—so he instantly caught the implication behind Kazuki’s words.
Having dropped the hint, Kazuki didn’t press further.
He just gave Shisui a nudge; next time, Shisui would naturally start thinking in that direction.
Shisui was naive, not stupid!
Kazuki continued, “The clan is preparing an armed coup to take back the position of Hokage—a position they believe is rightfully theirs.” “That…” “Don’t speak!” Kazuki cut Shisui off.
“Either let me finish in one breath, or we can have a friendly spar.
Trust me, you’ll enjoy every second of it—you’ll be floating on cloud nine, foaming at the mouth, and twitching like you’ve been blasted by Lightning Style ninjutsu!” Shisui: “…Please, go ahead.” He mentally slapped himself in the face.
It was rare for Kazuki to be serious, and he had actually interrupted him.
Had his days been getting too comfortable?
“The tension between the village and the clan is escalating.
You should’ve realized this by now.
Before I gouged out your eyes, you even came looking for me, wanting me to join your side.” “However!” Kazuki said with a smile, “The two of you—you and Itachi—have worked so hard for so long.
Has it done any good?” Shisui remained silent.
“You and Itachi stand zero chance of succeeding.
All your efforts are futile.
I think you realize that now.
That’s why, if I had to guess, you were even contemplating using your Mangekyo, weren’t you?” “I’ve checked the clan’s records on the Mangekyo.
After awakening it, various unique abilities manifest, a large portion of which are related to genjutsu.
I bet yours is too, right, Shisui?” “Who were you planning to use it on?
Patriarch Fugaku and Elder Setsuna?” Shisui shuddered.
Kazuki had actually guessed even this?
His heavy breathing betrayed his inner turmoil.
Kazuki’s smile took on a deeper, knowing look.
*Obviously!* *I’ve read the original story.
I know you planned to use Kotoamatsukami to stop the Uchiha coup.* *I even know you were supposed to die in just a few days.
Otherwise, why would I be crazy enough to launch my plan right now?* *You disappointing brat!* *Making me worry myself sick!* Shisui couldn’t help but question, “Is that your excuse for gouging out my eyes?” Kazuki said earnestly, “And what was the result of me taking your eyes?
Look for yourself—didn’t it stop the clan’s armed coup?” “How could that be?” Dumbfounded, Shisui asked, “How does plucking out both our eyes stop a coup?” “You really are stupid,” Kazuki sighed.
“Think about it.
Because your eyes and mine were gouged out…” “The Uchiha!” “The Konoha Police Force!” “The Anbu!” “The Foundation!” “Aren’t all eyes drawn to these four factions right now?
Who the hell would dare cause trouble at a time like this?
Heaven only knows how many eyes are watching them.” “Every single one of them wishes they could wrap themselves up like mummies like the Second Tsuchikage.” Dumbstruck, Shisui stuttered, “Th-this…
this is your solution?” “That’s right!
This is my way of stopping the clan’s coup!” Kazuki chuckled merrily.
“Two renowned geniuses of the Uchiha attacked in the very heart of the clan’s territory, two pairs of Mangekyo missing without a trace…
Tsk tsk.
I reckon these four factions will be on their absolute best behavior.
For the next year or two, Konoha might have minor squabbles, but no major upheavals!” This wasn’t just Kazuki acting on a whim.
In the original timeline, it was precisely Shisui’s death that drove Itachi Uchiha over the edge.
At the same time!
Shisui’s death had delayed the Uchiha coup.
A coup couldn’t be staged with fanfare, after all!
It had to be done in complete secrecy.
With so many eyes on them now, how could anyone do anything secretly?
The Mangekyo incident created by Kazuki was meant to mimic Shisui’s death in the original timeline to buy time.
As for after this period…
*Heh, now that I’ve taken the stage, you four village-protecting divine beasts of Konoha, do you really think you’ll get any peace?
Keep dreaming!* “A year or two of peace…
What about after that?” Shisui asked again.
Kazuki cast a glance at him.
“I have my own plan.
You don’t need to worry about it.
Just go back and rest properly for now, and don’t cause me any trouble.” “I definitely won’t let Konoha be plunged into the flames of war.” “Kazuki…” “Be a good boy and listen.” Shisui: “…” “Kazuki, I’m your older brother!” “You certainly look like an older brother,” Kazuki curled his lips.
“Too bad you’re…
Sigh, I can’t even be bothered to lecture you.
Alright, go on back.
When we have time, we’ll have a good talk.” Shisui: “…” Why was he so impatient?
Have I really failed that miserably?
“What’s wrong?
Onii-chan, don’t you trust me?” Shisui let out a long sigh.
*Dare I trust you?* *I trusted you once, and my eyes were gone.* *If I trust you again, how many of my internal organs will I even have left?* *Stopping the clan’s armed coup temporarily by plucking eyes…
next time, will you just kill me outright?* *All I can say is, for the sake of us being blood brothers, could you show some mercy?* *You’re scaring me!* Shisui hesitated for a moment, then asked in a low voice, “What do you plan to do with my Mangekyo?” Other things didn’t matter as much, but his Mangekyo ability…
Kotoamatsukami!
When it was attached to his own body, he didn’t feel much anxiety about it.
But now that it was in Kazuki’s hands, Shisui felt deeply restless.
Many strange thoughts surfaced in his heart one after another, making him even more uneasy.
“The eyes?
None of your business!” Shisui: “…” So blunt!
But still!
Is that something a human would say?
Those are my eyes!
Plucked out by you, my own younger brother.
You’re the one who wronged me, and I haven’t even settled scores with you, yet you sound so righteous and confident?
Kazuki was already too bothered to pay him any mind.
He waved a hand and said, “Hurry up and leave, I won’t see you off!” “Sigh!” Shisui let out a helpless sigh.
“Kazuki, after we both get new Sharingan transplanted, let’s sit down and have a proper talk.” Shisui left.
Silence fell over the hospital room.
It was unnervingly quiet.
Kazuki chuckled softly, murmuring, “A proper talk?
After today, will there even be a chance?
My plans will unfold one after another.
Onii-chan, our chances to chat in the future will be few and far between.” His fingers tapped against the bedboard a few times before he slowly stood up.
Humming a tune, he stretched his body back and forth.
“Alright, everyone.
Shisui Uchiha has left.
How much longer are you planning to hide?” As Kazuki’s words fell, figures appeared inside the hospital room one after another.
They were lifeless and cold, wearing masks on their faces, staring at Kazuki with expressions as if looking at a dead man.
With more than a dozen people suddenly filling the space, the hospital room instantly felt crowded.
“Kazuki Uchiha!” The leader spoke in a voice dead as stone.
“Please come with us!” Kazuki tilted his head, staring at them as he murmured, “Danzo, what are you trying to do?
Sending Foundation members to a hospital room to arrest me?” “The Darkness of Shinobi acting this brazenly out in the open?” “Whatever, I don’t care to overthink it anymore.” “All I need to do right now is…
tear you all to shreds!” A gentle, friendly smile spread across Kazuki’s face.
Once a plan is laid out, one needs the strength to execute it.
And so, Kazuki Uchiha began to flex his muscles!