The meeting lasted all morning and finally concluded at noon.
The Wood Release Kekkei Genkai ninja, with their formidable strength and mastery of space-time ninjutsu, had become a dire threat to Konoha. They could appear and disappear at will, leaving the village leaders scrambling for a solution.
After much deliberation, Konoha arrived at a bold decision: to form a Kage-level team specifically tasked with hunting down the Wood Release Kekkei Genkai ninja.
This would be the most prestigious team in Konoha's history, composed entirely of Kage-level ninjas. Tentatively, the proposed members were Uchiha Shisui, Jiraiya, and Tsunade.
Jiraiya and Tsunade, as two of the legendary Sannin, naturally possessed the strength of Kage-level ninjas. Meanwhile, Uchiha Shisui, whose Mangekyō Sharingan had recently been officially acknowledged by the Third Hokage, was also confirmed to possess Kage-level power.
However, a significant challenge remained: Jiraiya and Tsunade were not currently in Konoha, and their whereabouts were unknown. Finding and persuading them to join the team would be no small feat, especially given their estranged relationship with the village.
As a result, while the Kage-level team sounded ideal on paper, its formation was uncertain at best.
Walking out of the meeting room, Uchiha Fugaku was surrounded by clan heads offering their congratulations.
"Uchiha Shisui has awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan and has become a Kage-level ninja. Congratulations, Chief Fugaku!"
"Congratulations to the Uchiha family for producing such a genius, Chief Fugaku!"
"Truly remarkable! Congratulations, Chief Fugaku!"
The voices of praise came from all directions, with smiles plastered on the faces of various clan heads.
Some of them represented clans that had recently begun fostering closer ties with the Uchiha family, while others were from clans that had previously remained neutral.
The rise of Uchiha Shisui as a Kage-level ninja undeniably elevated the Uchiha clan's standing in the village. With such a powerful figure representing them, many saw the Uchiha family as a valuable ally.
Fugaku responded to the praise with a gracious smile.
"Thank you, everyone. Please visit the Uchiha compound sometime..."
Though he basked in the recognition, Fugaku couldn't help but feel a tinge of bitterness. He knew better than anyone that Shisui had been co-opted by the Third Hokage and held no true loyalty to the Uchiha clan.
Still, Fugaku saw no reason to let this truth interfere with his goals. Shisui's name could be used to elevate the clan's influence, and Fugaku had no qualms about leveraging it.
As Fugaku accepted the congratulations, Shimura Danzo walked by with his ever-present cane, flanked by Shimura Naoya.
Hearing the glowing words directed at Fugaku, Danzo's expression darkened. His exposed left eye glinted with cold fury.
"Let him enjoy this fleeting moment of pride," Danzo thought, his lips curling into a sneer.
Danzo had long anticipated the day when Fugaku would realize the truth: that Shisui was nothing more than a pawn for the Third Hokage, wholly detached from the Uchiha clan's ambitions.
"Before he dies, I'll make sure he knows the truth," Danzo decided, relishing the thought of Fugaku's despair upon learning of Shisui's betrayal.
Fugaku, however, noticed Danzo's sour demeanor and couldn't help but smirk inwardly. His deliberate provocations—both during the confrontation at the Guard Department and the meeting earlier—had clearly struck a nerve.
Everything was proceeding as planned.
…
The Third Hokage remained in the now-empty meeting room, seated in quiet contemplation as he puffed on his pipe.
Lost in thought, he finally looked toward the door and called out.
"Send for the Crow."
One of the Anbu guards immediately departed, and shortly after, a masked figure entered. The newcomer was Uchiha Shisui, codenamed Crow.
"Hokage-sama," Shisui greeted, bowing respectfully.
The Third Hokage smiled warmly. "Ah, Shisui, thank you for coming so quickly."
"Of course, Hokage-sama," Shisui replied, his voice filled with sincerity.
The Third Hokage regarded him fondly. Shisui's unwavering loyalty to Konoha and his dedication to peace made him one of the Hokage's most trusted allies.
"Last night, a Wood Release Kekkei Genkai ninja assassinated the heads of three families. This is one of the most serious incidents Konoha has faced in years," the Hokage began.
"As a result, we've decided to form a Kage-level team to eliminate this threat. You, along with Jiraiya and Tsunade, have been chosen for this mission."
Shisui nodded. "Wood Release is indeed a grave danger. I'm honored to serve and will do everything in my power to protect Konoha."
The Hokage smiled, satisfied with Shisui's response. "Your dedication never fails to impress me, Shisui. If only others in the village shared your commitment."
After a brief pause, the Hokage's expression grew serious.
"There is something about last night's attack I need your opinion on," he said.
Shisui straightened, his attention fully focused. "What is it, Hokage-sama?"
The Hokage explained, "During the attack on the Iwasaki family, the Wood Release Kekkei Genkai ninja caused a commotion. The Iwasaki clan members rushed to the scene and reportedly witnessed the ninja using Earth Release techniques to escape.
"You've fought a Wood Release Kekkei Genkai ninja before. Why do you think someone with space-time ninjutsu would resort to Earth Release?"
Shisui frowned, deep in thought. After a moment, he spoke.
"I can think of two possibilities," he began.
The Hokage leaned forward. "Go on."
"First," Shisui said, "it could be that the Wood Release ninja's eyes have suffered significant damage. If they possess Mangekyō Sharingan, the strain of using space-time techniques could be hastening blindness. To preserve their vision, they might avoid using those abilities unless absolutely necessary."
The Hokage nodded, considering the possibility. "And the second theory?"
Shisui hesitated, then answered carefully. "The second possibility is… this individual may not be a Wood Release Kekkei Genkai ninja at all. It's possible someone is imitating them."
The Hokage's eyes narrowed, the implications of Shisui's words sinking in.
(End of Chapter)
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