The Hyūga brothers' ruse—swapping one for the other—had not been communicated to Sarutobi Hiruzen in advance.
Naturally, he wouldn't remain indifferent to that.
Moreover…
Chiyu had just killed the Kumogakure emissaries, and the Hyūga brothers had publicly expressed their gratitude…
How could Hiruzen not be stirred up by such a turn of events?!
Of course, Hyūga Hiashi was also a clever man.
He understood that, at this moment, Uchiha Fugaku's warning had an underlying motive of drawing the Hyūga in.
If the Hokage was dissatisfied with the Hyūga clan, then why not collaborate with us, the Uchiha?
But Hiashi dared not stake his clan on such a colossal gamble!
No matter how you looked at it, Sarutobi Hiruzen represented the entire Konoha leadership as Hokage.
As for the Uchiha Clan…
They still couldn't compete with all of Konoha.
Hence, Hiashi nodded with a sigh. "Thank you for the warning, Fugaku-sama. We'll be very cautious.
"Chiyu, if you ever find a use for us, do just say the word. We would follow unto death!"
Fugaku understood what this stance meant:
We won't be joining hands with the Uchiha Clan easily, but we owe a debt of gratitude to Chiyu alone.
Fugaku felt no rush. This situation was good enough for now.
Chiyu inclined his head calmly, and the two Hyūga brothers exchanged glances, hesitated, then simply patted his shoulder and left.
That left only Chiyu and Fugaku.
Fugaku finally let out a relieved breath: "Chiyu, your method has indeed been thunderous!"
His remark carried a double meaning.
On the one hand, praising how Chiyu's methods were swift and decisive—ruthless and resolute.
On the other, hinting at his Lightning Release Chakra Mode plus the Lightning Release: False Darkness Blade, like a heavenly thunderbolt delivering judgment on sin.
"Still, I have to say you did brilliantly this time!
"Hmph, Sarutobi Hiruzen was planning to sacrifice the Hyūga Clan in exchange for a brief peace with Kumogakure, then use that window to crush our Uchiha Clan.
"And yet your maneuvers utterly disrupted all his schemes!
"In some ways, you've even partially earned the Hyūga's favor…"
Chiyu shook his head: "The Hyūga Clan won't take that gamble so readily."
"I know, but at least they're inclined somewhat toward us for the time being—and that's enough…" Fugaku mused with a sigh.
"You know, in the village, the Uchiha have always been isolated and resented. It's not as though we've ever had any real allies…
"That talk you had with Yamakaze, he relayed it exactly to me and other clansmen…
"You're correct that—even if the Uchiha staged a coup and succeeded, without support from other shinobi and families, it'd be meaningless.
"What's more, our clan's power compared to the whole of Konoha is still a drop in the bucket…
"What's more detestable is… Shisui, that bastard!
"If only… he were loyal to the Uchiha. Add in your power now, Chiyu, and if the two of you worked together—who knows what might happen… But alas…"
Fugaku trailed off, giving Chiyu a glance.
"Chiyu, Sarutobi Hiruzen intends to kill you. Without doubt, the one who'll act is Shisui.
"Have you any confidence?"
Chiyu answered dismissively, "He's just someone with hollow pretenses.
"Without genuine conviction, one cannot survive in this harsh ninja world.
"He chose to be a puppet for Konoha and their so-called Will of Fire. From that moment on, he was nothing but a walking corpse.
"I'll grant him an end like he wants."
Fugaku, seeing the assuredness in Chiyu, felt relief. But he couldn't help a bitter sigh at the notion of kinsmen slaying one another, cursing Sarutobi Hiruzen all the more bitterly in his heart.
…
Hokage's Office
"Koharu, Homura—why did you stop me?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen's raging anger lay hidden beneath a calm exterior.
Utatane Koharu spoke gravely: "Hiruzen, you were too impulsive.
"Even if Uchiha Chiyu is deserving of death, do you really plan to kill him outright in front of everyone?"
"Hmph, what would be wrong with that?"
Mitokado Homura sighed. "Hiruzen, the reason you manage to stand so firmly in this village isn't just your power. You rely on the image you've established in front of everyone…
"Already, because of the Kumogakure matter, many shinobi and families are unhappy about your soft policies.
"If you also openly strike down Uchiha Chiyu, causing Uchiha to slaughter each other, how do you think people will perceive you?"
Shimura Danzō let out a sneering chuckle.
"Soft to outsiders, harsh on insiders. That's all there is to it…"
Hiruzen shot him a glacial look.
"Silence, Danzō!"
Then he turned to Shisui: "Shisui, I can see that you, too, hesitate to fight him. You're not harboring any illusions about that man, are you?"
Uchiha Shisui hesitated deeply.
"Hokage-sama, in truth…
"Rather than kill him, I have a better way to deal with him. It's just…"
Hiruzen's eyes glinted. "Oh? And what might that be?
"Are you saying you can actually make him loyal to the village?
"That man has totally disregarded peace here…"
Shisui declared, "I can."
"What?"
Shisui met Hiruzen's gaze with resolution, then glanced at Danzō and the two elder advisors.
Understanding, Hiruzen said, "It's fine; they're all our own people here."
Still somewhat hesitant, Shisui mustered courage:
"Actually, my Mangekyō Sharingan…
"…possesses the ultimate power to completely change another person's will!"
At that, a hush fell over the Hokage's office.
Sarutobi Hiruzen, Shimura Danzō, Koharu, and Homura all paled.
"You…you said what?!
"Is that truly possible?"
Hiruzen's voice even trembled slightly.
Shisui's meaning was nothing short of complete brainwashing.
If that really were feasible, then why would they have spent so much effort feeding Shisui and Uchiha Itachi the Will of Fire propaganda?
Shisui nodded firmly.
"It's possible.
"My Mangekyō Sharingan's dojutsu is called…
'Kotoamatsukami!'"
Sarutobi Hiruzen repeated in a daze:
"Kotoamatsukami?
"What kind of power is that?"
Shisui explained, "Put simply, once this dojutsu is cast, it can, without the target's awareness, directly invade their brain and forcibly alter their will—yet the victim won't ever notice. They'll simply believe they always felt this way.
"You can manipulate the enemy entirely, without them realizing—claiming total victory without shedding a drop of blood.
"Kotoamatsukami… is the ultimate genjutsu!"
For a moment, Hiruzen, Danzō, Koharu, and Homura all stared in astonishment.
What was this?
Wasn't it the holy grail every politician or ruler yearned for…
The power of total mind control?
And yet, for these four "pillars" of Konoha, the first feeling wasn't excitement but…
Fear.
An immediate wave of dread!
Simultaneously, the four broke out in cold sweat, their clothes soaking through.
So…
All along, this man had hidden such a terrifying ability!
Had he lost control once and unleashed this "ultimate genjutsu" on them, the outcome would be dire—ruin beyond imagining.
For those who thrived on politicking and clung to authority…
Kotoamatsukami was more frightening, even surpassing the Wood Release secrets of the First Hokage, the "God of Shinobi."
It was the power they most longed for—and simultaneously the power that most terrified them…
Hiruzen's heart pounded, his eyelids twitching.
"Shisui—why have you kept this power hidden from me all this time?"
Shisui faltered: "Because…
"I myself am uncertain whether it should ever be used…
"Frankly, to modify a person's will unconsciously is outright brainwashing. Even though this power is mine, sometimes it feels too evil…"
Hiruzen, of course, grasped what he meant.
So naive.
"Shisui, power itself bears no good or evil. It depends on how it's used.
"If you can use Kotoamatsukami to fully resolve the conflict between the Uchiha and the village, so that they can coexist peacefully…wouldn't that be a marvelous deed?"
Shisui nodded: "I understand, Hokage-sama."
Right then—
Danzō suddenly spoke, his voice chilling:
"I do not agree!"
~~~
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