A faint smile touched Sima Yi's lips as he nodded in satisfaction.
From the very beginning, he had sensed it—
Shisui harbored unrealistic illusions toward his greatest enemy.
That was fatal.
Not merely a flaw, but a path to disaster.
A path to annihilation.
"Teacher, you're right. I placed too much importance on being a shinobi. I trusted them too much."
After absorbing Sima Yi's line of thinking, Shisui felt an unfamiliar clarity settle over him.
"If we are all shinobi, then even when serving as rearguard, it shouldn't always be the Uchiha. The villagers' praise shouldn't always exclude us. They are suppressing us. They are isolating us."
With part of the haze surrounding the Third Hokage stripped away, past doubts suddenly aligned into a coherent understanding.
"That realization brings us much closer to accomplishing something."
"Thank you for your guidance, Teacher!"
Encouraged, Shisui stepped forward to help Sima Yi sit properly.
"But Teacher, the commander has already issued the order. I must lead the clan to remain as rearguard. Is there any way to avoid it?"
He barely let Sima Yi sit before asking anxiously.
"No rush," Sima Yi replied calmly. "Your conduct today already differs from your usual self. Though Hikaru served as cover, it may still draw attention. Do not stir up further complications. For now, wait quietly a few days."
"…Understood, Teacher."
Though reluctant, Shisui nodded.
He stood quietly to one side, deep in thought.
Suddenly, his eyes flicked toward the entrance.
Sima Yi followed his gaze.
The tent flap showed no one—yet from afar came a familiar shout.
"Shisui! Are you still in there?"
Uchiha Hikaru approached at a brisk pace, lifting the flap and stepping inside.
"Huh? And you are…?"
Seeing an unfamiliar elder seated within, Hikaru blinked in surprise.
Shisui had anticipated this.
He had deliberately not hidden Sima Yi.
If he wished to bring him back to Konoha, there had to be a reasonable identity. A man appearing out of thin air would only invite suspicion.
And for that—
He needed Hikaru.
"This is—" Shisui began to introduce.
But before he could finish, Hikaru's confusion shifted into sudden realization.
"Ah! Isn't this Uncle Yi? What are you doing here?"
He clapped his hands, stepping forward with familiarity, half-complaining.
"This isn't a place for retirement! If something happens to you, my old man will scold me to death!"
"…Eh?"
Shisui's pupils trembled violently.
He looked at Sima Yi.
Both of them were momentarily stunned.
But after accepting death and rebirth in another world—
What was one more impossibility?
Sima Yi adjusted smoothly, his expression warm.
"I am still in my prime. How could I retire to the rear?"
"Hahaha! You're already over fifty, aren't you? Honestly, you never make things easy."
"Fifty is but the midpoint of vigor. A seasoned steed may be old, yet still aspires to gallop a thousand li. Even in twilight years, ambition does not fade."
Hikaru's straightforward temperament amused Sima Yi greatly.
He stroked his beard as he laughed.
"Uh… old what, what ambition…"
Hikaru scratched his head awkwardly. He hadn't understood a single word—but he guessed it was something grand and heroic.
He nodded firmly.
"As expected of an Uchiha! Don't worry, Uncle Yi. I'll protect you!"
Once Sima Yi had smoothly handled Hikaru, Shisui cautiously asked,
"Brother Hikaru, is your father close with… Mister Yi?"
"Of course! My dad used to say Uncle Yi saved his life on the battlefield."
"I see…"
Shisui nodded, though inwardly he was shaken.
Instinctively, he focused on the translucent panel.
Points: None
Strategist: Sima Yi (Enhancements: 0)
The panel…
It could alter perception.
Even reality.
Once again, that plain interface demonstrated an almost terrifying power.
Yet it also solved his problem.
There was no need to fabricate an identity.
They could return to Konoha openly.
When Shisui looked up again, Sima Yi was still chatting casually with Hikaru.
With just a few measured questions, he had already extracted every detail Hikaru knew about "him."
An inconspicuous Uchiha elder.
No awakened Sharingan.
Little presence within the clan.
Few acquaintances.
Low profile.
After grasping his own fabricated identity, Sima Yi smoothly shifted the topic.
"It's rather late. Did you come to discuss something with Shisui?"
"Oh! Right—almost forgot!"
Hikaru slapped his forehead.
"Shisui, Jōnin Suzaku and the others have already begun moving out. The clan is waiting for your instructions."
His expression darkened slightly.
"After I relayed today's assignments, quite a few clan members were unhappy. Some even…"
Shisui's heart sank.
"Even what?"
"Some said the village never treated the Uchiha as comrades. That we're just tools to them."
"We've been fighting nonstop. So many of our people have fallen. Yet once again, we're left behind at the end."
"We're part of Konoha too."
Hikaru lowered his head, his voice heavy.
He didn't usually speak such thoughts—but that didn't mean he hadn't noticed.
The village's attitude was too obvious.
"…I'm sorry."
Shisui stepped forward.
He had always known of the clan's grievances.
But he had clung to hope.
If they endured just a little longer—
If he endured just a little longer—
The Third Hokage would see his efforts.
Would see the Uchiha's devotion to Konoha.
Yet today, more than once, those beliefs had wavered.
Did the Hokage truly fail to see?
"Why are you apologizing? None of this is your fault."
Hikaru laughed at his guilty expression.
"Though some did say you've abandoned the clan. But what do they know about how much you've sacrificed?"
"I can't tolerate that kind of misunderstanding!"
He clenched his fists, flashing a wild, cold grin.
"…What did you do?"
Shisui stiffened.
"Don't cause trouble."
"What are you talking about? I just taught them reason—the Uchiha way. They quieted down afterward."
"You—"
Shisui's mouth twitched.
A headache bloomed instantly.
"It is not entirely a bad thing that they were quieted," Sima Yi commented calmly.
He rather approved.
In an army, negativity spreads quickly. Such sentiments must either be corrected—or cut off.
He had spent a lifetime commanding troops.
He understood this well.
"See? Even Uncle Yi supports me!"
Hikaru puffed up proudly.
Shisui, meanwhile, fell into thought again.
"…Alright, stop worrying about that," Hikaru continued. "You need to arrange the patrol rotations. It's nearly dark. The other units have already begun transferring duties to us."
"…What?"
Shisui blinked and glanced outside.
Only then did he realize dusk had already fallen.
Time had slipped by unnoticed.
He couldn't help but smile faintly.
"Time passes so quickly when I'm with Teacher…"