After subconsciously asking for a cup of tea, Shisui felt a wave of slight embarrassment. Usually, when a superior asks if you want a drink, it's a polite formality; the standard, restrained response is something like, "I'm not thirsty, thank you."
Yet here he was, actually accepting the offer.
Shinnosuke, however, didn't seem to find anything amiss. Instead, he nodded and said, "It just so happens I have some high-quality tea here. My younger brother stole it from the old man's stash and gave it to me, don't you go telling anyone."
As he spoke, Shinnosuke gave Shisui a conspiratorial wink. This eased the tension in Shisui's heart, and he replied with a smile, "Rest assured, Commander. If the Lord Third asks, I will certainly..."
"I knew I could count on you to keep a secret," Shinnosuke laughed.
"...I will certainly report the truth," Shisui finished.
Shinnosuke: ???
Are you really trying to get kicked out of the Anbu?
After staring at each other for a moment, both men broke into laughter.
"Hahaha! That's a good mindset to have, Shisui," Shinnosuke said.
The Anbu belongs to the Hokage; it is a direct department responsible only to the Hokage. Therefore, an Anbu member must be absolutely loyal to the Hokage, it is an ironclad rule. Shisui's response was a subtle way of declaring his will.
"Thank you, Commander," Shisui said with a smile.
Soon, Shinnosuke poured a cup for Shisui and, like a friend, motioned for him to sit. The two sat across from each other on the sofas, teacups in hand, engaging in casual conversation. After a few exchanges, Shinnosuke asked, "Shisui, how long has it been since you joined the Anbu?"
"Two years and seventy-four days," Shisui answered without hesitation, providing an exact figure.
Shinnosuke's eyebrows twitched slightly. He admired Shisui's professional discipline. He roughly knew when Shisui had joined, but not with such precision. It wasn't that Shinnosuke was unprofessional; it was a matter of perspective. Shisui only had to remember his own history, whereas Shinnosuke had to keep track of every member in the Anbu.
"Two years and seventy-four days... not exactly short, but not long either," Shinnosuke murmured softly.
"Yes," Shisui nodded, offering nothing more.
When he first joined, it was the Lord Third himself who had chosen him. At that time, Kagami had not long since passed. As Kagami's descendant, Shisui was highly valued by the Third Hokage and brought into the Anbu. Later, when the war ended and the Third stepped down, it didn't affect Shisui much. That was the advantage of the master-disciple succession of the Hokage, it avoided internal strife and prevented purges when the "Big Boss" changed, ensuring the village's stable development.
Even after the Fourth Hokage took office, Shisui maintained full trust. Not long ago, he had been on a secret mission personally arranged by Minato. Now that he had returned, the Fourth had already sacrificed himself. The situation was changing so rapidly that Shisui found it hard to keep up.
Originally, Shinnosuke intended to test Shisui's attitude through indirect questioning. However, during the "tea incident," Shisui had already signaled his stance: he was a member of the Hokage's Anbu, absolutely loyal to the Hokage. That was his intent and his meaning. Of course, whether to believe him was a matter for Shinnosuke's own judgment.
Shinnosuke watched Shisui in silence. In the young man, he saw a shadow of his uncle, Kagami. Kagami and Hiruzen were brothers-in-arms and close friends, so Shinnosuke was very familiar with him. He had often heard Kagami praise Shisui, his younger brother's child, for inheriting the Will of Fire. This was the primary reason Shisui had been allowed into the Anbu.
The question now was: should he trust him?
"You've just returned," Shinnosuke began, "but I assume you know something of what has happened in the village?"
The main topic at last. Shisui straightened his posture and nodded. "Yes, I know a little. I was just discussing it with Kakashi. I heard a Sharingan controlled the Nine-Tails and caused the disaster."
"It is true that a Sharingan controlled the Nine-Tails. However, we are well aware that your Uchiha clan did not do this. It was a mysterious individual, perhaps Madara, or perhaps an Uchiha remnant who never joined the village. We cannot confirm that yet," Shinnosuke said.
Shisui simply nodded silently, unsure of how to respond.
Shinnosuke continued, "The Lord Third has already made public statements explaining this to the village, but the effect has been minimal. The Sharingan is the pride and the symbol of the Uchiha. Regardless of whether the perpetrator was a village Uchiha or not, most villagers blame your clan."
Shisui's expression turned pained. "I know. I heard such comments on my way back. Sigh..."
Who could he blame? No one. The Third Hokage had been as fair as possible, speaking up for the Uchiha. But as Shinnosuke said, the Sharingan was synonymous with the Uchiha. If the Sharingan caused trouble, the Uchiha had to take the fall. There was no logic to argue against.
"The Lord Third is very worried about this. Furthermore, we have discovered something: someone is intentionally guiding public opinion against the Uchiha to undermine village stability," Shinnosuke revealed.
"Who!?" Shisui asked, his anger flaring.
"Shimura Danzo," Shinnosuke replied without concealment.
Many in Konoha had no idea who Shimura Danzo was. Most had never even heard his name, especially the younger generations. The older generation might vaguely remember him as a disciple of the Second Hokage, but he had effectively vanished after the Second Shinobi World War. In the world of shinobi, where people die in obscurity every day, this was common. Over time, he became a ghost, known only to high-ranking officials and special departments.
Shisui wasn't a high-ranking official, but as an Anbu member, he was aware of the intricate links between the Anbu and Root. He knew exactly who Danzo was.
"That man!!!" Shisui growled inwardly, though he didn't let his anger cloud his composure.
"Since we know he is doing these foul things, how does the Lord Third intend to respond?" Shisui asked, realization dawning on him.
Shinnosuke's appreciation for Shisui grew. Powerful, quick-witted, and meticulous, he truly was the "Shinobi Without Weaknesses." This was a high evaluation shared by many, though Shinnosuke didn't realize the last person to hold that title was Izuna, Madara's younger brother, who died at the hands of the Second Hokage.
Setting aside his personal admiration, Shinnosuke said, "The Lord Third has already begun to restrict Danzo's authority. It is the Third's intent to completely disband Root and strip Danzo of all power, leaving him only a seat on the council where he can be watched closely."
Shisui was surprised. He had thought the Third might just reprimand or warn Danzo. He hadn't expected the Hokage to be this furious. Root had been entrenched in Konoha for years; disbanding it was no small feat.
Seeing Shisui's surprise, Shinnosuke asked, "Shisui, do you know the nature of the relationship between the Lord Third and Danzo?"
Shisui hesitated. "I've heard rumors... that they were both disciples of the Second Hokage?"
"Yes." Shinnosuke nodded. He said nothing more. To say too much would be counterproductive; it was enough to let Shisui know exactly what the Third Hokage was willing to do.
Shisui understood. He knew Hiruzen and Danzo shared a deep bond. Yet, for the sake of the Uchiha... no, for the sake of the village, the Third was determined to sever Danzo's black hand. And now, the Anbu Commander was explaining this in detail.
The message was clear: for the future of the village, the Hokage would sacrifice anything. As the Hokage's arm, the Anbu must do the same.
"Commander," Shisui said firmly, "if there is a classified mission, please assign it to me. Uchiha Shisui is absolutely loyal to Konoha and the Lord Hokage."
A smile touched Shinnosuke's face. "Shisui, since you understand my meaning, I will be direct. The rift between the village and the Uchiha is widening. I haven't asked the Lord Third's opinion yet, but as the Commander of the Anbu, I must seize control of any crisis before it erupts. I believe the Uchiha clan possesses the potential for rebellion. From this day forward, you are to accept a top-secret mission, reporting only to me: monitor the Uchiha clan. If you discover any inclination toward rebellion, you must report to me immediately."
"Yes!" Shisui accepted the order instantly and without hesitation. Then, he added with a trace of doubt, "But Commander, Fugaku-sama shouldn't have any ill intent toward the village. He..."
"Fugaku-sama is indeed an upright and kind man, however..." Shinnosuke paused. "I believe he may lose control over the Uchiha clan."
Shinnosuke was not the Commander simply because his father was the Hokage. He had genuine insight. He predicted correctly: Fugaku would eventually lose control. Despite having no desire for a coup himself, he would be swept along by the collective will of the clan.
Shisui's eyes were wide with shock. It took him a long time to process Shinnosuke's words before he finally replied seriously, "Understood, Commander."