Chapter 76: The Rift Between Brothers (Part 2)
"Itachi, it's been a while since we had a real talk, hasn't it?" Shisui said with a warm smile.
"Yeah… not since you lost your eyes," Uchiha Itachi replied quietly.
Hearing that, Shisui sighed and shook his head. What had happened days ago had revealed the true colors of many people. In his spare time from work, he'd gone through old Police Force records. What he discovered hidden beneath Konoha's polished surface had shaken him to the core.
He now understood that when Uchiha Douhuan had taken his eyes, it wasn't out of greed—it was to protect the clan, the village, and even himself. Shisui realized that his former self had been too naïve. If Douhuan hadn't acted when he did and let him recklessly use Kotoamatsukami, both the clan and the village might have fallen into utter ruin. The corruption buried deep in the village would have continued festering in the dark.
Douhuan was right—Shisui's answer to his inner conflict, Kotoamatsukami, had been far too arrogant and childish. Wielded by someone like him, that technique was no different than handing a sharpened blade to a child—dangerous and uncontrollable.
Now, even if Douhuan placed that pair of Mangekyō Sharingan right in front of him, Shisui no longer had the courage to pick them up.
Noticing Shisui's silence, Itachi finally spoke again. "What exactly happened in the village while I was gone?"
"You've heard about it, then?" Shisui sighed and gave a detailed recount of the recent rumor incident. As someone directly involved in the Police Force, he had a much clearer view of what had really occurred compared to Sasuke's second-hand version.
After hearing everything, Itachi frowned deeply and finally raised his head. "No matter how it started, the Police Force shouldn't have used violence against the villagers."
"I understand what you mean, Itachi. But Douhuan already showed remarkable restraint in handling it," Shisui replied, fully understanding his friend's ideals. "Originally, he wanted to resolve it through legislation. But due to certain individuals manipulating the situation behind the scenes, things spiraled out of control. I don't think he ever wanted it to come to this."
"You're… defending him?" Itachi was taken aback. He hadn't expected Shisui to side with the very man who had forcibly taken his Mangekyō Sharingan.
"But by doing this, the rift between the clan and the village will only widen!" Itachi argued. "Doesn't Douhuan care about integrating the clan into the village? Have you forgotten our dream?!"
"You've misunderstood him, Itachi," Shisui said seriously. "Douhuan has always worked toward that goal. The fact that the Police Force is now recruiting non-clan shinobi is proof of that. But after thinking about it deeply… while the clan can integrate into the village, the Police Force cannot."
Itachi frowned. "What do you mean?"
"Because the Police Force is the village's law enforcement body," Shisui explained. "Its role is to maintain justice, not to cozy up to the villagers. In this matter, Douhuan sees things more clearly than we ever did."
"Shisui… have you forgotten the Will of Fire?" Itachi asked, unable to believe that even Shisui—who once revered the Will of Fire—was now speaking like this. Had Douhuan brainwashed him too?
"Itachi, for the Police Force to fulfill its duty faithfully is to uphold the Will of Fire," Shisui said solemnly, frowning as he realized the depth of Itachi's emotional turmoil.
Silence fell again. After a long pause, Shisui sighed and added, "Besides… not everyone in the village cares about the Will of Fire as much as they say."
"Don't forget what he said that day—he threatened to start a war!" Itachi clenched his teeth.
"I think that was just Douhuan trying to shake me mentally," Shisui shook his head. "If he'd truly wanted to kill me, with his eye techniques, he had a thousand ways to do it."
"Enough! You've been completely brainwashed by him! You've forgotten our dreams—forgotten the Will of Fire!" Itachi slammed the table, rose to his feet, and stormed out.
Their conversation ended in bitterness. Watching Itachi's back as he left, Shisui sighed helplessly. Douhuan once called me arrogant… but Itachi, you're even more so.
If he could, he would show Itachi the damning evidence they had uncovered—but due to confidentiality regulations, he wasn't allowed to.
I'll ask Douhuan tomorrow. Maybe we can let Itachi see the truth for himself, Shisui thought, returning to his study and opening the files again.
—
Meanwhile, Uchiha Itachi wandered the village aimlessly.
He couldn't understand it. He'd only been away for a short while—how had the world changed so much? His once sweet little brother, the brotherly figure he revered like a teacher… all of them now felt like strangers.
Before he knew it, Itachi found himself at his favorite thinking spot—on the cliffs overlooking the Naka River.
The cold wind of early winter tousled his hair. Feeling the breeze against his ears, Itachi reflected on the strained relationship between his clan and the village.
Among the Uchiha—a clan often obsessed with power and honor—Itachi had always been one of the few with a clear mind. As Hiruzen Sarutobi once said, Itachi had the rare ability to see things from the Hokage's perspective. That's why he had always seen the issues between the Uchiha and Konoha's leadership. But seeing the problem didn't mean he had a solution—not even the Third Hokage could resolve it, let alone someone like Itachi, who could only think like a Hokage but wasn't one.
In other words, Itachi had the intellect to see the problem, but lacked the experience and insight to solve it.
If Uchiha Douhuan were here, perhaps he would be willing to guide this lost soul—but pride and prejudice had already led Itachi down a path of his own choosing.
The last leaf of early winter floated down gently as Itachi's Sharingan flared to life. The three tomoe rotated slowly, and the falling leaf was ignited by chakra into a flickering flame. Through that flame, he looked up toward the Hokage Monument where the four great faces of Konoha stood watch.
"The Will of Fire… can't be wrong." The ashes of the leaf scattered into the wind, and Itachi whispered to himself.
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