Shisui felt his heart waver—but he immediately forced himself to stop thinking further.
Perhaps… he was afraid to continue.
"As for the village, war, and justice—we'll have time to discuss those another day," Shisui said.
"But today, I came because you killed civilians."
"And just now, I personally witnessed you shatter a thief's legs into pieces."
"Such methods are far too cruel."
Qianyu ignored him. He finished his pancakes and glanced at the portion in front of Shisui.
"Are you eating that?"
"I… I'm not very hungry."
Qianyu reached over, took it, and stuffed it into his own mouth, eating without restraint.
"If you haven't even sorted out your own thoughts," he said calmly,
"then don't come discuss these things with me."
"The reason I talked about war and justice with you is simple."
"The question you wanted to ask—you already asked it."
Shisui froze.
"When did I do that?"
"The Teyaki couple."
Shisui's heart shook.
He understood.
From the Teyaki couple's perspective, Qianyu's actions were decisive—cutting weeds by the root, eradicating evil completely, and ensuring their safety forever.
Of course they were grateful.
However—
"You're right," Shisui said slowly.
"From their standpoint, your actions were undoubtedly justified."
"But those criminals… perhaps they still had a chance to reform—"
Qianyu finally let out a cold, mocking laugh.
"This is the difference between you and me."
"You choose to stand on the side of criminals."
"And I choose to stand on the side of the innocent."
Shisui felt as if a thunderbolt struck his soul.
He trembled violently, unable to speak.
Qianyu pressed on relentlessly.
"On the battlefield, your justice is survival of the fittest."
"In everyday life, you stand with the perpetrators."
"Do you know who walks that same path?"
"Demons."
An uncontrollable anger surged within Shisui.
Bang!
He slammed the table and stood up.
"You executioner—how dare you call me a demon?!"
"Executioner?" Qianyu replied indifferently.
"When it comes to killing, you've killed ten times more people than I have."
"And I kill only the wicked."
"What about the ones you killed?"
"Can you swear every one of them was evil?"
Shisui's lips trembled as he collapsed back into his seat.
Qianyu finished Shisui's pancakes.
Then, without hesitation, he drank Shisui's soup dry as well.
Satisfied, Qianyu stood up and dusted off his hands.
"Uncle Teyaki—he's paying today."
"Alright, Captain Qianyu. Leaving already?"
"Yes. Time to resume patrol."
"Please come anytime. Our doors are always open to you."
Qianyu gave a rare smile, nodded, and walked out.
Uchiha Geng silently extended his hand toward Shisui.
Shisui forced a bitter smile and paid.
He followed Qianyu outside and lowered his voice.
"Qianyu… even setting aside the debate over justice…"
"You understand the situation, don't you?"
"The village leadership and the Uchiha clan are locked in mutual suspicion—like a taut string ready to snap."
"At such a critical moment, why can't you restrain yourself just a little?"
"It would be for the sake of the Uchiha—and Konoha itself."
"Do you truly want to push everything toward irreversible disaster?"
Qianyu looked at Shisui deeply.
"Since you paid for the meal…"
"I'll say one more thing."
"Listen carefully, Uchiha Shisui."
"Even if my actions truly trigger a complete rupture between the Uchiha clan and the village leadership—"
"Even if rebellion breaks out, mutual slaughter ensues, and both sides suffer catastrophic losses—"
"The outcome you consider the most tragic…"
"…is still ten thousand times better than the outcome that was originally destined."
Shisui's face turned pale.
"What… what are you talking about?"
"You still don't understand?" Qianyu said coldly.
"The original outcome is far more cruel, bloodier, more violent, more disgusting—beyond imagination."
"So believe me."
"If I can ignite an Uchiha rebellion—"
"Then for the Uchiha clan, that would be the luckiest thing that could possibly happen."
With that, Qianyu adjusted his uniform collar and walked away.
Shisui stood frozen.
He stared at Qianyu's retreating figure and finally shouted:
"Uchiha Qianyu—"
"How far into the future have your eyes seen?!"
No answer came.
Only Qianyu's increasingly distant back.
Shisui's entire body began to tremble.
Akagin and Shiden stepped forward, staring at their shaken leader in confusion.
What had that man said—
To leave the strongest Uchiha so utterly destabilized?
Qianyu did not like Uchiha Shisui.
By his standards, Shisui might not be evil—
But he was foolish.
Revealing the secret of Kotoamatsukami before Sarutobi Hiruzen and Shimura Danzō was nothing short of suicide.
A technique that could unconsciously manipulate another's will—
To rulers, it was the ultimate weapon.
And no ruler would ever allow such power to exist outside their own hands.
Even if the owner claimed absolute loyalty.
Shisui's eventual death was rooted in that foolishness.
Strength alone meant nothing.
Even the strongest could be idiots.
"Captain Qianyu!"
Two figures rushed toward him—his subordinates.
Uchiha Aoki.
Uchiha Yamabuki.
Qianyu frowned.
"You were ordered by the Clan Head not to report to me."
"Why are you here?"
They exchanged glances, breathing heavily.
"…Yes."
"Move."
Qianyu turned instantly, sprinting in the direction they came from.
"Captain, we haven't even explained what happened—"
"Explain while moving."
The wind roared past his ears as he accelerated to his limit.
The two struggled to keep up.
"Captain, this matter is extremely sensitive—we should inform the Clan Head first—"
"Speak."
Aoki hesitated, then said:
"…Something happened to the Sarutobi clan."
"The Sarutobi clan?"
Qianyu immediately understood why they called it sensitive.
But—
So what?