At this moment, Uchiha Itachi pushed open the door to the Hokage's office and walked in.
For the normal development of the village, the Third Hokage must be made to persuade Shisui to control Uchiha Ryōsuke to serve the village.
This way, the Leaf Village would remain the Leaf Village, and not become the village of a certain clan.
However, Shisui couldn't see this point at all.
Only he, within the family, saw it.
The Third Hokage looked at Uchiha Itachi listlessly.
He had originally intended to control the Uchiha clan by controlling the clan's genius. He wanted to achieve a great feat that even the Second Hokage could not accomplish—unifying the village completely.
But now, that had all gone up in smoke. Although Itachi was very talented, and even the other Anbu member, Shisui, was very powerful and had made a great name for himself in the ninja world, the situation was grim.
What was more terrifying was that according to Uchiha Ryōsuke, as long as he trained every day, he would become stronger every day. Another month had passed, and who knew how strong the other party had become now?
The chances were becoming fewer and fewer.
But he still asked, "Itachi, you've come. Is there something the matter?"
Uchiha Itachi looked at the Third Hokage, the symbol of the village, and felt a pang of heartache.
Feeling that the other party had aged a lot, he spoke slowly.
"Third Hokage, I have an important matter to report."
"Speak."
The Third Hokage felt a bit uneasy in his heart. Was the Uchiha clan about to make a move?
He had originally had Itachi infiltrate the Uchiha clan to transmit information from within. He felt a bit desolate; he hadn't expected this day to actually come.
Itachi, however, spoke slowly.
"Lately, Uchiha Ryōsuke has completely placed the clan above the village. I apologize to the Third Hokage on behalf of the Uchiha clan."
The Third Hokage was stunned.
He was scared to death; so it wasn't that the Uchiha clan was going to drive him out of power.
That Itachi could still behave like this at such a time showed that he was worthy of the Will of Fire brainwashing he had undergone; his ideological awareness was indeed very high.
But a look of helplessness still appeared on his face.
"There is no way around this. We can no longer stop this person from acting tyrannically in the village."
Itachi, however, said, "Actually, it is not impossible. Shisui has already awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan and awakened his exclusive eye technique, Kotoamatsukami, known as the strongest genjutsu."
"It can modify a target's will and thoughts without them noticing. If used on Uchiha Ryōsuke, it can certainly control him to serve the village."
Hearing these words, the Third Hokage's eyes opened wide, and his heart seemed to come alive again.
He hadn't expected that Shisui had actually awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan. And to have awakened such an eye technique? It was simply incredible.
It was as if the heavens had given him a way out. If this succeeded, couldn't he regain his power and prestige in the village?
"Itachi, is what you say true?"
Itachi nodded.
"It is true, Third Hokage."
The Third Hokage was a bit urgent.
"Then call Shisui over quickly. You two will have performed a great service this time."
He hadn't expected such a turnaround when he was at the end of his rope; his mood became extremely comfortable.
But at this moment, Itachi was a bit helpless.
"Third Hokage, Shisui's thinking hasn't been very correct lately. He has increasingly stood on the side of the family when considering problems."
"He can no longer clearly see the obvious error of placing the family above the village."
"I hope the Third Hokage can persuade him to abandon the lesser justice of the family for the greater justice of the village."
The Third Hokage felt fear in his heart. Shisui was actually favoring the family now? Was his Will of Fire brainwashing insufficient?
"Call him here. I will persuade him properly to make the correct decision."
"Yes, Third Hokage."
Itachi immediately walked out of the Hokage's office door, preparing to call Shisui over. He hoped Shisui could return to being the kind of ninja who sought welfare for the village like before.
Remaining in his seat, the Third Hokage considered how to persuade Shisui to be of use to him. But when he thought about how the mindset of the Uchiha clan members wouldn't change easily, he hesitated.
He had finally encountered a glimmer of hope; how could he easily let it go?
If it really came down to it, he had to be prepared for the most extreme measure. Perhaps he really would have to make a move on Shisui, just like Danzō, to acquire the other party's Sharingan and then activate the eye technique to control Uchiha Ryōsuke.
Once this thought arose in his heart, he felt it was increasingly necessary.
Although he treated Shisui like his own child, after experiencing such dark days, the Third Hokage was mentally exhausted and depressed. He didn't want to live like this anymore.
If he succeeded this time, he would control Konoha once again. Just thinking about it made him a little excited.
Meanwhile, Shisui, who was in the clan, received Itachi's report that the Third Hokage was summoning him.
He set off immediately, without a shred of suspicion in his heart.
The Third Hokage was very kind to him.
Now, the general trend in the village was irreversible. The Uchiha clan would inevitably rise under Ryōsuke's leadership, and the village would become even better because of it.
It wouldn't turn into a Uchiha dictatorship village as Itachi feared.
Perhaps he should persuade the Third Hokage to step down.
This was all for the village.
Moreover, Ryōsuke had promised him that he would absolutely not make things difficult for the Third Hokage.
Before long, he arrived at the Hokage's office and pushed the door open to enter.
"Lord Hokage, is there something you need me for?"
The Third Hokage restored his smile from the past and said, "Shisui, you've come."
"Actually, you should know that Uchiha Ryōsuke actually snatched away the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki, who should have been managed by the village, from me. Such behavior is already placing himself above the village. This really shouldn't be."
Shisui said helplessly, "This is also for the good of the village. The Nine-Tails can definitely live well within the Uchiha clan, and can even become a hero who protects the village."
The Third Hokage was speechless in his heart. It was indeed just as Itachi had said; the other party was completely failing to consider the problem from his angle.
If such a powerful combat force as the Nine-Tails was managed by the Uchiha clan, then he, the Third Hokage, would exist in name only.
"Shisui, although doing so can also protect the Nine-Tails, I am the head of the village after all. Shouldn't a power like the Nine-Tails be controlled within the village?"
"If it is controlled within the Uchiha clan, isn't that the Uchiha wanting to take the Nine-Tails for their own?"
Shisui was also a bit surprised.
The Third Hokage actually suspected the Uchiha clan.
Still, he explained, "The Uchiha clan absolutely does not have such thoughts. Ryōsuke placed the Jinchūriki in the Uchiha clan grounds only because he saw him suffering in the village. The son of the Fourth Hokage shouldn't have to endure such suffering."