Shisui's expression was grim, his eyes filled with complex and unclear emotions.
Alas!
After a soft sigh, he left the Radical Faction's compound.
Regarding the matters of the Village and the Uchiha, Shisui felt he needed to think things through carefully. Since Uchiha Jin had no immediate plans, he could use this opportunity to conduct some investigations.
Outside the Radical Faction, the ground was desolate.
Although this area still belonged to the Uchiha, the surrounding houses were all abandoned, giving off a sense of profound stillness.
After all, almost everyone in the Uchiha had moved into the Radical Faction's compound.
However, regrettably.
Just as he was preparing to go home to rest and think, an Anbu appeared and stopped him.
"Shisui, Hokage-sama is looking for you!"
"Alright, I understand!"
Shisui frowned, but nodded nonetheless.
Honestly, he didn't want to see Hiruzen Sarutobi right now, but the habits he had developed over a long period made him react instantly.
Subsequently.
After taking a deep breath, he arrived at the Hokage Office.
"Hokage-sama!"
Shisui knelt on one knee, his face full of loyalty.
His gaze had changed slightly compared to before; he glanced at the Anbu hidden in the shadows.
He also noticed many details about Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Hokage, that he had previously overlooked.
For instance, Hiruzen Sarutobi subconsciously lowered his Hokage hat, and when the smoking man saw him, he instinctively lowered his eyes, showing no intention of looking at him... Even without activating his Sharingan, Shisui could keenly sense that Hiruzen Sarutobi was slightly guarded.
Although the movements were slight, they couldn't escape his notice.
After all, he had come straight from the battlefield; if he lacked this basic vigilance and ability to read people, he would have died on the battlefield long ago.
Therefore.
Before, he had simply trusted Hiruzen Sarutobi too much and subconsciously never considered these things.
Now, however, it was different!
Even if he still trusted Hiruzen Sarutobi, Uchiha Jin's words had taken effect. He subconsciously began observing these small details, perhaps wanting to prove Uchiha Jin wrong.
Unfortunately, though.
It seemed that all his discoveries instead further proved Uchiha Jin right.
Thinking of this, his heart was filled with complex and unclear emotions.
"Hmm, Shisui."
"Although today is your day off, the Uchiha matter is too important, so I had no choice but to call upon you."
"You and Fugaku went to the Radical Faction's compound today. Can you tell me what happened?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi had a smile on his lips.
He maintained his usual benevolent expression, and his tone of voice was gentle.
In response to this.
Shisui's heart trembled upon hearing the question. He quickly suppressed his thoughts and recounted everything truthfully.
Without any concealment!
This included Uchiha Jin's threat to Fugaku, Fugaku's choice to withdraw from worldly affairs in despair, and Uchiha Jin's warnings and threats toward himself.
He recounted everything, word for word!
Of course.
He concealed the news of Fugaku awakening the Mangekyo, as well as the information he had heard within the clan compound.
On one hand, he feared the Village would become more vigilant, escalating tensions with the Uchiha; but more importantly, he didn't know how to phrase it, as those speculations were too offensive to Hiruzen Sarutobi.
In fact, he felt a faint sense of fear in his heart.
Because this matter had already spread within the clan compound, but since few clan members went to the Village for communication, it might not spread outside in the short term.
What if... that information leaked out?
He dared not imagine!
Thinking of this gave him a headache, and he felt somewhat fortunate for the clan's isolation.
"Nonsense!"
"How could I possibly deliberately watch Shisui die?"
"Danzo? Even less likely!"
"He is an Elder of the Village; how could he possibly harm a villager?"
"Uchiha Jin's speculations are entirely aimed at destroying the Village. Shisui, you must never believe them!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi slammed the table.
Forcing down the terror in his heart, he immediately began to refute.
But, at the same time.
His heart was extremely terrified, because Uchiha Jin's judgment seemed far too accurate to him.
Danzo would definitely move against Shisui; the only difference was when. And he himself would certainly choose to ignore it, only holding Danzo accountable afterward.
That bastard Uchiha Jin read his mind too clearly!
Thinking of this made him feel uneasy.
Having such a person in charge of the Uchiha was not a good thing for the Village; he was much harder to deal with than Fugaku.
"Hokage-sama, please rest assured, I am still willing to trust the Village."
Hearing this, Shisui quickly spoke.
Seeing the sincerity on Shisui's face, Hiruzen Sarutobi felt relieved and quickly smiled, saying: "That puts my mind at ease. Shisui, please don't overthink things."
"I understand, Hokage-sama," Shisui nodded.
Hiruzen Sarutobi pondered for a moment, stabilizing his emotions: "How did Uchiha Jin find out about your Mangekyo information?"
"I'm not quite sure, I'm very confused." Shisui was completely bewildered, and after a long pause, he hesitantly said: "Perhaps it's the effect of his Mangekyo, some kind of prophetic ability?"
Yes.
He couldn't figure it out either!
After all, he had only ever told Hiruzen Sarutobi about his Mangekyo ability.
Given this prophetic Mangekyo, he couldn't think of any other possibility for now.
Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression grew uglier. The prophetic ability made him feel even more distressed. Didn't this mean that no matter how he planned, Uchiha Jin could know the information beforehand, stop him, or even counterattack?
This—this is troublesome!
Finally.
After learning everything that had happened within the Uchiha clan today, he reassured Shisui before letting him go home to rest.
After Shisui left, he angrily slammed the table.
"Bastard, damn it!"
"How can this Uchiha Jin be so difficult to deal with?"
"Anbu!"
After shouting a curse, Hiruzen Sarutobi knocked on the table, and an Anbu respectfully knelt on one knee.
Hiruzen Sarutobi pondered for a moment before speaking in an indifferent tone: "Take Shisui's statement, compile a copy, and send it all to Elder Danzo, and warn him that he absolutely must not move against Shisui recently."
"Yes, Hokage-sama!" The Anbu bowed and left.
After the Anbu left, Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed.
He—was having a tough time!
It seems dealing with Uchiha Jin is not something that can be done overnight. This person is quick to threaten mutual destruction. If he cannot be eliminated first, even if the Uchiha are destroyed, he will remain a huge threat to the Village.
A hidden Mangekyo powerhouse, specializing in ambushing ordinary Ninja Clans members and civilians—the Village has no defensive means to stop this.
Wait a little longer!
First, send the Uchiha back to that cesspool known as the Police Force, then figure out a way to weaken the Uchiha. He would worry about the rest later.
However... the only thing that strained him was: what about the Village's financial deficit?
The allocated funds from the Land of Fire during the Third Great Ninja War had long been embezzled by the Sarutobi, Utatane, Homura, and Shimura clans, taking eight or nine tenths. Root directly took most of the remaining small amount, and the tiny bit left was barely enough to last until the war ended.
Now, there was a remaining deficit in compensation funds. The Village also needed to stockpile grain, and there were financial costs for supplies like Explosive Tags, Kunai, Shuriken... With such a huge deficit, the Daimyo was unwilling to pay. If he couldn't quickly dispose of the Uchiha, where would he acquire this massive amount of assets?
Hiruzen Sarutobi started to get a headache!