Naruto: I, who fooled the ninja world, was hailed as a savior.

Chapter 153 The mantis stalks the cicada, but the oriole follows behind
"The problem of the Uchiha clan lies in their hearts, in the mutual suspicion between the two sides."

Hiruzen Sarutobi's voice continued, though weary, it was perfectly clear: "I promised you I would do my best to find a way to communicate and a solution that both sides can accept."

"You should understand that your joining and Itachi's side is my choice to compromise with them, but..."

He paused here and didn't continue.

However, Shisui understood the following meaning and added in his mind: 'But the Uchiha clan's dissatisfaction and resentment have not subsided in the slightest.'

Those short-sighted individuals even viewed the two of them as tools for gathering intelligence on higher levels.

"I can assure you now that I will not give up as long as there is even a glimmer of hope, but forcibly pressing down the lid of a boiling pot with illusion magic will only lead to an even bigger explosion..."

Hiruzen Sarutobi was still talking, but Shisui felt a moment of dizziness, and all he could hear was a buzzing in his ears.

Those words, every single one, pierced his heart like a needle, leaving him no room for rebuttal.

Shisui certainly didn't really want Hyuga Kumokawa to use genjutsu to help the Uchiha clan.

He simply wanted to use this opportunity to test the Third Hokage's opinion on his plan to "use Kotoamatsukami to control Fugaku Uchiha to resolve the conflict and stop the coup."

However, it is clear that even the Third Hokage did not approve of this plan, let alone the other three Hokage advisors who were even more wary of the Uchiha clan.

Yes, resentment, suspicion, and discontent had long filled the eyes of the clansmen, and Lord Fugaku was merely a flag pushed to the forefront by this torrent.

As the clan head, Lord Fugaku's thoughts are important, but even more important is the will of the clan members.

Simply forcibly changing Lord Fugaku's will would only make him a traitor in the eyes of his clan. Even if it alleviates the threat of a coup, the discontent and antagonism will not disappear.

Kotoamatsukami could change Fugaku's will, but it could not change the deeply ingrained resentment of his clansmen, nor extinguish the burning flames of resentment in their hearts.

They will seek new breakthroughs, making things more intense and dangerous!

At that point, the conflict will only erupt in a more devastating way!

"Yes."

"Itachi, you're wrong."

Uchiha Shisui's gaze was unfocused as he thought to himself, "The reason I awakened these eyes that reflect the soul, the reason I awakened Kotoamatsukami, is not because I wish to end all conflict."

"It's because I'm running away..."

"Escaping the choice between the village and the clan."

"Avoiding the most fundamental contradictions and problems between the two."

So, what exactly should we do?
No, that's not right. Stop running away, we can't run away anymore.

"I already knew the answer, didn't I?"

Thinking of this, Uchiha Shisui closed his eyes in anguish.

Yes, now he has to make a choice.

Without bloodshed and sacrifice, that's no longer possible.

How to sacrifice a tiny minority to save the majority is what he needs to consider.

"Shisui, do you understand what I'm saying?" Hiruzen Sarutobi asked softly.

"Yes, I understand." Uchiha Shisui's voice was so low and hoarse that it was almost inaudible.

He slowly and deeply lowered his head, his black hair falling down and obscuring his once bright eyes, which were now only cold and resolute.

The kaleidoscope that was originally meant to be displayed in those eyes silently dimmed and disappeared until it vanished completely, as if it had never existed.

He chose to conceal his eyes and pupil technique.

Since the village leadership did not approve of his plan, rather than speaking it out and arousing possible suspicion, he decided to carry out the new plan in secret.

"If we cannot save everyone," Shisui calmly thought, "then let's sacrifice a few hopeless radicals, using the least cost to achieve the greatest peace..."

This was his choice.

However, to complete this plan, it is still necessary to control Lord Fugaku to carry it out. After all, those radical clansmen do not believe in him and Itachi, and it is impossible to lure them out and kill them.

Hiruzen Sarutobi saw Uchiha Shisui lower his head and mistakenly thought that he had come to his senses because of his admonition and that he felt depressed and disappointed because of the disillusionment.

"Zhishui, I understand your feelings."

A pang of pity welled up in his heart, and he softened his tone to comfort her, saying, "Having a child like you who cares so much about the village and the clan is a blessing for Konoha and the Uchiha clan."

"Cheer up, work hard, find opportunities for communication, become a bridge between the village and the clan, and at the same time..."

He paused for a moment, then said softly, "Protecting the internal stability of the village is also the most important responsibility of a Konoha ninja."

Hiruzen Sarutobi truly doesn't want the Uchiha clan to cause any more trouble, especially since he still feels heartbroken about the group of people who died in the Land of Rain recently.

However, he clearly did not expect that his words would actually make Shisui, who had been running away, determined to make up his mind.

However, this was also because he was unaware of the Uchiha clan's planned coup. If he knew that the Uchiha clan was preparing a coup, he would be in a dilemma again.

"Yes, Lord Third Generation, I will continue to work hard."

Uchiha Shisui raised his head, a smile appearing on his face, as if he had regained his spirits.

"Well, let's go."

Hiruzen Sarutobi smiled with satisfaction, while Shisui stood up, bowed, and then disappeared before his eyes.

------

In a training ground far from the clan's territory, Itachi Uchiha leaned against a tree, his figure almost blending into the darkness.

Only his scarlet eyes in the darkness testified to the turmoil in his heart at that moment.

Just then, a series of footsteps approached from afar, light and swift.

Uchiha Shisui appeared before him.

Their eyes met, and without a word, a profound understanding and resolute determination filled the air.

“Itachi.” Shisui’s voice was low and hoarse, with a cold, desperate tone. “The Third Hokage did not approve of my plan, but I also did not reveal my eye technique.”

"I have a new plan."

Upon hearing that Shisui hadn't explained his eye technique, Itachi Uchiha frowned subconsciously, but then quickly asked after hearing what followed, "What plan?"

Uchiha Shisui looked into the distance, his gaze seemingly piercing through the darkness and landing on the Uchiha clan's territory.

“I plan to use ‘Kotoamatsukami’ to control Lord Fugaku, so that he will draw out those radical clansmen who are already blinded by hatred and beyond redemption, and even… kill those clansmen with his own hands.”

"To achieve peace for the vast majority of the Uchiha clan with minimal sacrifice, and to ensure peace for Konoha!"

Upon hearing this, Itachi Uchiha's pupils contracted, and he subconsciously lowered his head to consider the feasibility of this method, his eyes gradually brightening.

but……

“Shisui.” He looked at Shisui and reminded him, “Can your eye technique completely cover my father’s own consciousness? If he has a self, and his eyes open due to emotional stimulation…”

Seemingly surprised by Itachi's calmness, Uchiha Shisui paused for a moment, but quickly nodded and smiled, "Don't worry, those controlled by Kotoamatsukami do not possess self-awareness."

Upon hearing this, Itachi Uchiha breathed a sigh of relief, only to realize the coldness and cruelty inherent in the plan itself, and was surprised by Shisui's determination.

But immediately afterward, he felt a deep sense of recognition and admiration for Shisui's courage and responsibility in bearing the darkness and infamy, staining his hands with blood, to secure a glimmer of hope for his people. Without hesitation! Without retreat!
Uchiha Itachi suddenly raised his head, and his crimson Sharingan eyes flashed with unprecedented determination!
"Shisui!" He stepped forward, looked into Shisui's eyes, and said decisively, "I will help you lure Father out!"

Upon hearing this, Uchiha Shisui's body trembled almost imperceptibly.

Seeing the unwavering trust and resolve in Itachi's eyes, he slowly reached out and placed his hand heavily on Itachi's shoulder, his voice trembling almost imperceptibly as he said, "Alright! Itachi, let's do it together!"

Two pairs of scarlet Sharingan eyes shone brightly.

Meanwhile, in the darkness in the distance, listening to White Zetsu's broadcast beside them, Obito Uchiha and Zetsu fell into a long silence.

"...Wow, are all the Uchiha clan members crazy?"

Finally, the White Zetsu, possessed by Black Zetsu, couldn't help but exclaim, "How do they manage to make something like this sound so righteous?"

Noticing that Obito Uchiha glared at it, White Zetsu raised its arm and made a zipping motion near its mouth.

“At least, we don’t need to worry about it anymore,” Black Zetsu said in a hoarse voice. “We just need to fill in the gaps and let things take their course.”

“No,” Obito Uchiha corrected, “Don’t forget, Itachi Uchiha also needs to kill his father or mother with his own hands to awaken the Mangekyou Sharingan.”

"However, it seems that the only one who can keep Fugaku is Uchiha Mikoto."

Upon hearing this, Black Zetsu instantly understood his meaning and gave a sinister smile.

Yes, we can't let the other clansmen discover Shisui and the other person's actions, but we need to make Itachi's mother notice something unusual.

Only in this way could Itachi kill his own mother for the sake of "righteousness" and to keep the plan from being exposed.

"Uchiha Itachi and Uchiha Sasuke, one with talent and potential close to Uchiha Madara, and the other whose birth time coincides with Uchiha Madara's death time."

Black Zetsu coldly thought to himself, "No matter which of you is the reincarnation of Indra, you will not escape my grasp."

Having collected the specific birth dates of the Uchiha clan, it has realized the possibility that Uchiha Sasuke is the reincarnation of Indra.

However, it ultimately kept a secret from Obito, not telling him its guess, but keeping it to itself.

However, at this moment, neither Uchiha Shisui and his companion, who were acting as "cicadas," nor Zetsu and Obito, who considered themselves "mantises," noticed the pair of eyes secretly watching them.

Those were the eyes of a "yellow bird".

The "oriole" in the proverb "The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind."

Dressed in a shadow robe, Hinata Kumokawa blended into the shadows, silently taking in everything that was happening.

"So it really was brought forward?" Hinata Kumokawa thought to himself, "And there have been new changes..."

But it doesn't matter.

He never hesitated to act out of concern about changes to the original plot.

If he were truly worried about these things, he wouldn't have started the Fourth Shinobi World War.

He didn't care about the changes in the entire ninja world, let alone the changes brought about by the night of the Uchiha clan massacre.

Black Zetsu and Obito were focused on the game of Go, unaware that they had become players in it.

Sitting in front of them, Hinata Kumokawa had already set up the chess pieces, looking up at the two of them, waiting for them to fall into his trap.

------

In the dead of night, the darkness was as black as ink, so thick it seemed impossible to dissolve.

Fugaku Uchiha's study was brightly lit, yet it couldn't dispel the heavy sense of oppression.

Fugaku Uchiha sat behind his desk, his brows furrowed, reviewing several documents concerning the procurement of supplies for the clan. The candlelight cast flickering shadows on his face, adding to his somber expression.

Undoubtedly, the radicals planned to purchase a batch of supplies in preparation for a future coup.

But those guys' methods were too crude. Even if we really needed to prepare a batch of supplies, we had to take a more secretive route, otherwise, if we were discovered...

Tuk-tuk-tuk.

Just as he was pondering this, there was a knock on the door.

"Come in," Fugaku said without looking up.

The door was pushed open, and Itachi Uchiha appeared in the doorway.

"Father." His expression was somewhat unpleasant, and his voice was soft and hesitant.

Fugaku Uchiha looked up, his gaze sweeping over his son's expression. A sense of unease rose in his heart, and he quickly asked, "What happened?"

“Zhi Shui, he intercepted the secret message from the roots.”

Uchiha Itachi deliberately lowered his voice, tinged with tension and hesitation, and said, "Danzo seems to already know that we are preparing for a coup, and, and..."

"What?!" Fugaku Uchiha suddenly stood up, his face turning ashen as he sternly demanded, "And what? Speak!"

Danzo! It's Danzo again! That persistent old ghost!
"I... I can't explain it," Itachi Uchiha shook his head. "The secret letter is with Shisui; he told me to inform you immediately..."

Fugaku braced his hands on the table, his knuckles turning white from the force, feeling a surge of fear and panic.

If, if the village leadership really intends to target their rivals...

"go!"

With that in mind, he put on his clothes without hesitation and walked quickly in front of Uchiha Itachi.

Itachi followed behind and walked out of the study, gently closing the door behind him.

The moment the door closed, all the anxiety in his eyes vanished, leaving only a cold calm.

Click.

The moment Fugaku Uchiha pushed open the door and stepped out, a pair of scarlet Mangekyou Sharingan suddenly lit up in the darkness outside!

The eerie and profound patterns slowly rotated, emanating a chilling power.

Eye Technique: Other Gods!
"Varied……"

Fugaku Uchiha opened his mouth, but his body stiffened the next moment.

There was no earth-shattering fanfare, no dazzling brilliance.

The terrifying eye power that altered will was invisible and intangible, instantly piercing through Uchiha Fugaku's eyes and silently invading his consciousness!

Fugaku was already preoccupied with the affairs of the radical faction, and was filled with fear and dread by the sudden "bad news," which reduced his defenses against illusions to the lowest point.

This power from the Mangekyou Sharingan, like a flood bursting its banks, instantly overwhelmed the dam of his mental world!
Fugaku felt a sudden darkness before his eyes and instantly lost consciousness.

An indescribable message instantly filled his mind.

That was not a sound, not an image, but an absolutely unquestionable truth.

But at this moment, an invisible wave suddenly arose, just like ripples spreading on the surface of still water after being lightly touched. Someone in the distance was also lightly touching the surface of the water, and the two waves collided and intertwined.

In the deepest part of Fugaku Uchiha's consciousness, in that mental space that was about to be covered.

A crack was opened.

(End of this chapter)