I, Naruto Uzumaki, don't need your approval.

Chapter 55 The Awakening of Still Water

After leaving the Forest of Death, Shisui returned to Konoha Village.

Standing on the cliff of Hokage Rock, looking down at the peaceful and tranquil city below, Shisui felt a sense of emotion.

He used to believe that the village was everything, and that he would be unable to move an inch without leaving it.

But after being betrayed by the village and 'dying' once, he felt that Konoha Village beneath his feet was somewhat insignificant. He had been confining his thinking to the small village and was unwilling to step out.

No matter how powerful Kotoamatsukami was, it was ultimately his own eye technique, limited by his perspective at the time.

After letting out a soft sigh, Shisui changed into a robe to conceal his figure and put on a crow mask. He didn't want to reveal his true identity before seeing Itachi Uchiha.

After losing his Mangekyou Sharingan, his strength, while surpassing that of an average Jonin, was still limited.

The power of his three-tomoe Sharingan was not enough to support him in casting genjutsu. Activating Susanoo was wishful thinking, and the price to pay for activating Izanagi was too high. He was unwilling to ruin his predecessor's eyes.

After entering the clan's territory, Shisui used a transformation technique to disguise himself as an ordinary Chunin within the clan and headed towards the security building.

Before meeting Itachi, he had other things to do: find the traitor hiding in the clan's territory. If it weren't for the existence of the traitor, Danzo wouldn't have been able to know so much about what was happening within the Uchiha clan.

After all, he had only told the Hokage about the coup.

Judging from Danzo's expression at the time, he seemed not to be worried about the coup at all and took action against him directly.

If he wanted to escape with his people, he had to eliminate the traitor first, and he already knew who the traitor was.

As he entered the security building, Shisui greeted his clansmen with a smile. He was currently playing the role of a Chunin and was very popular within the clan, but for someone who wasn't good at socializing, this was a completely new experience.

Then, Zhishui was pulled by the squad leader to work on the street as a guard for most of the day.

His colleague on duty gave Zhishui a demonstration of violent law enforcement. After dealing with the conflict between the villagers, he complained to Zhishui, "It's so tiring to have such a stern face all the time. Can't these villagers just behave themselves?"

Zhi Shui asked, puzzled, "Weren't we strictly enforcing the law against the villagers to vent our anger?"

The Uchiha next to him glanced at him and then said, "That's part of the reason, but who has the energy to strictly enforce the law every day? Isn't it because this is the most effective way to significantly reduce the crime rate? Otherwise, who would be willing to risk the winds of rising vegetable prices to forcibly oppose them?"

Zhi Shui remained silent for a while; he seemed to have always misunderstood his clansmen.

At this moment, Uchiha added, "However, compared to those civilian ninjas who risk their lives to carry out missions, the work in the security force is actually not bad, except that some people are jealous of them."

"Since you're living a pretty good life now, why are you still thinking about a coup?"

Upon hearing this, Uchiha's expression changed slightly, and he said, "Of course it's because it's unfair. Why should the Sarutobi and Ino-Shika-Cho clans be able to occupy better departments, while the Uchiha are assigned to a security force?"

"During the last Shinobi World War, we and the Hyuga clan held off the Hidden Mist Village's attack."

"We've been targeted ever since the Fourth Hokage died. Is it all because of the Nine-Tails' escape? The Sharingan can control the Nine-Tails, but who in the clan can do that? The security forces being confined to the clan's territory was an order from the higher-ups. Why should the Uchiha be held responsible?"

As he spoke, the Chunin Uchiha became so excited that he activated his Sharingan. He only calmed down after Shisui patted him on the shoulder.

After resting for a while, Shisui said seriously, "In that case, have you considered leaving the village? The village has wronged the Uchiha, so there is no need for the Uchiha to stay."

The Uchiha Chunin glanced at Shisui and shook his head: "Where can we go after leaving the village? Putting aside whether the village will allow it, the higher-ups in the clan will not allow us to leave. They want to stage a coup and become Hokage."

Zhishui said righteously, "It is precisely because they want to launch a coup that we must leave. We have no need to perish with the ambitious people in the clan. Besides you, there are many others in the clan who are unwilling to participate in the coup, aren't there?"

Hearing this, the Chunin Uchiha suddenly felt that his companion was somewhat unfamiliar, but he quickly saw Shisui's Sharingan and breathed a sigh of relief, saying, "Rika, when did you awaken the three-tomoe Sharingan?"

"It was probably not long ago when I suddenly realized that there was no need for the Uchiha to stay in Konoha. The past glory was of little meaning to us. We should think about how to survive the power struggles at the top."

The Uchiha Chunin hesitated, as there were many others in his clan whose wills had been manipulated in the same way.

However, the Uchiha clan has an increasingly extreme bloodline as the Sharingan is awakened, and few people listen to the thoughts of ordinary people at the bottom of the clan.

After hesitating for a moment, the Uchiha Chunin stammered, "I don't want to participate in the coup, but can we really keep it from the village and our clan?"

"That's why we need more people's help to prepare for leaving in advance."

Shisui tried to persuade him patiently, but the Uchiha Chunin was still somewhat hesitant. Seeing this, Shisui said softly, "Don't worry, there are quite a few Jonin in the clan who think the same way as me, and you can also trust my power."

With that, Shisui activated his Sharingan genjutsu, silently taking control of the Chunin in front of him.

After dispelling the genjutsu, the Uchiha Chunin finally raised his head, panting, and looked at Shisui with hopeful eyes. With this eye power, he could have a significant voice at the clan meeting, and perhaps he really could change the future of the clan.

Shisui was also deeply moved. The Chunin in front of him was a hardliner at the clan meeting, but secretly he had thoughts of escaping. Compared with the Jonin in the clan, the majority of the clan members were Chunin and Genin.

Perhaps most of the clan members didn't actually want to stage a coup; they simply used the clan meeting as an outlet for their frustrations.

Over the next few weeks, Zhishui carried out his duties as an ordinary security guard, using his spare time to understand what his people were thinking and what they wanted.

Soon, Zhishui subtly discerned the thoughts of most of his tribesmen, and a plan gradually took shape in his mind.

The mole hidden within the clan was identified by Shisui long ago. He was a Chunin who managed logistics within the clan. It is worth mentioning that this Chunin was disguised by two ninjas in turns, and he was not always present when reporting to Danzo.

If we hadn't used illusion magic to control them immediately after capturing them, they might have escaped.

As for how Danzo would react after the traitor disappeared, Shisui didn't think too much about it. His clan and the higher-ups were already at odds, so he wouldn't question them at all.

In this way, Shisui gradually gathered a group of Uchiha who had fled, forming a sizable hidden faction within the clan.

As for meeting Itachi, Shisui indefinitely postponed it.

On one hand, Shisui hadn't figured out how to explain the disappearance, and on the other hand, it was also a test for Itachi.

If Itachi were perceptive enough, he should have been able to notice the changes in his clansmen, but Itachi seemed to never focus on the ordinary clansmen, only on the extreme higher-ups.

He was just as arrogant as he used to be, and made the same mistake.

In addition, Shisui also discovered that while Itachi was active, a mysterious masked man was also active in the clan's territory.

Judging from the space-time abilities displayed by the other party, they should not be the marginal person who saved him, but someone else. I wonder what their purpose was in approaching Itachi.

A combination of factors led Shisui to abandon his plan to contact Itachi.

He no longer has the kaleidoscope, nor the strength he once possessed, and must now proceed with extreme caution at every step.

Chapter 56 Familiar Gaze

While Shisui was carrying out his operation, Itachi was accompanying Sasuke in ninja training at the training ground.

Watching his younger brother launch an attack, Itachi offered only half-hearted resistance and sighed softly to himself.

Since Shisui's death, he has taken over as the bridge connecting the family and the village. He seems to be sought after by both sides, but in reality, he is feared by both sides and can never become one of them.

Back in the village, he couldn't trust Danzo, the Hokage, or his former superior, Kakashi.

Within his family, he couldn't trust his clansmen or his father, or even his mother. The only person he could trust was Sasuke, who always idolized him, but Sasuke couldn't offer him any help.

The only consolation is that Sasuke will still excitedly call him "brother" as usual.

Another attack. Itachi dodged the kunai Sasuke threw, picked up a stone and threw it at Sasuke, but it only hit Sasuke's Shadow Clone Technique.

Has he already mastered the Shadow Clone Technique at such a young age?

Itachi was slightly surprised, but he still managed to dodge the sneak attack from behind and pinned Sasuke to the ground with a backhand.

This isn't because Sasuke is too weak, but because Itachi is too strong.

At Sasuke's age, Itachi had already become a full-fledged ninja and had many lives on his hands, while Sasuke had never even killed anyone with his own hands and always carried a sense of caution when attacking.

However, it was precisely this concern that strengthened Itachi's desire and determination to protect his younger brother.

Just last night, the leader of the Root organization found him and asked him to make a choice between his clan and the village: whether to watch the Uchiha clan and the village suffer mutual destruction, or to take action against the Uchiha clan in advance to preserve their face and honor.

If Danzo were to personally take action against the Uchiha clan, he promised to ensure Sasuke's safe and sound growth.

The choice that Shisui faced was still before him six months later. Not knowing how to choose, he did not give Danzo a definite answer.

He didn't know how to make a choice; every option would be a betrayal of others.

Sasuke seized upon Itachi's distraction and was preparing to unleash the Fireball Jutsu when he noticed his brother's absent-mindedness. He abandoned the hand seals and said with displeasure:

"Is my brother thinking about his mission again? Didn't you promise to spend a whole day with me?"

Itachi, regaining his senses, smiled and then continued training with Sasuke until Sasuke was a little out of breath, at which point the two sat down to rest by a big tree.

Sasuke took out some ice water from the wooden box, handed it to Itachi, and asked:

"Brother, you said last time that my strength has reached the standard for early graduation. Am I close to becoming a Chunin now...? I really want to graduate soon and then take the Chunin Exams to become a Chunin."

Itachi asked with some curiosity, "Why do you want to become a Chunin?"

Sasuke answered without hesitation, "Because I need to surpass Naruto. He can easily defeat me, so his strength must have reached Chunin level. Only by becoming a Chunin can I surpass him!"

"Becoming a Chunin is easy, but to win the Chunin Exams, you'll probably need the strength of a Jonin..."

Itachi recalled the scene from the Chunin Exams, where he defeated several strong Chunin to win first place.

"Why?" Sasuke asked, puzzled.

Itachi didn't explain, and changed the subject: "That's not important, but I always hear you mention Naruto, so it seems you two have a very good relationship."

Sasuke looked dejected: "It's not that great. He only came to visit us once, and then he refused to come again."

Itachi chuckled and said, "It's not your fault. It's because the relationship between the clan and the village is too tense, and Naruto's identity is somewhat sensitive, so he can't come to the clan's territory."

"What exactly is his identity? An incarnation of a demon fox? With so many Jonin in the clan, why would they be afraid of a demon fox?"

"I'm sorry, this is a village secret. I can't tell you without permission from the higher-ups. Besides, even Naruto himself probably doesn't know his own identity."

"Why? Why do you even have to keep my identity a secret?"

The more Itachi kept it a secret, the more curious Sasuke became about Naruto's secrets, and he began to pester him relentlessly.

But Itachi wasn't having any of it. However, he got a little annoyed by the nagging and said helplessly, "Let's change your wish. This really needs to be kept a secret, so I can't tell you."

Sasuke released his grip and said, "Alright, come home for dinner today. It's been a long time since we've eaten together at home."

Upon hearing this, Itachi paused for a moment, then nodded; he had indeed not been back for a long time.

When we got back to dinner, I took the opportunity to make one last request to my father, asking him to abandon his idea of ​​a coup. The chances of the Uchiha coup succeeding were extremely slim, and even if he were lucky enough to become Hokage, he wouldn't be able to withstand the invasion of an enemy country.

As night fell, Sasuke and Itachi walked hand in hand through the streets of their clan's territory.

Although Itachi has said more than once that this is childish, Sasuke has insisted on holding hands, as if he were still a four-year-old child, even though Sasuke is already eight years old.

During wartime, a nine-year-old could graduate and become a genin, then be sent to the front lines.

However, Itachi also enjoyed this warm feeling, simply holding Sasuke's little hand. He was willing to give up anything to protect Sasuke's future.

They chatted and laughed all the way, but Itachi suddenly felt a chill down his spine, as if someone was watching him from the shadows.

Looking around, the feeling of being watched vanished without a trace, causing Itachi to frown.

The one secretly watching him couldn't be Izumi, because Izumi would always foolishly run over to him. Danzo's Root couldn't extend its reach into the clan's territory either. That left only the mysterious masked man.