Uchiha Kaien looked at the confusion in Uchiha Shisui's eyes and silently shook his head. Shisui was undoubtedly a genius ninja, but when it came to politics, he was naïve—easily manipulated.
If Uchiha Itachi was considered paranoid, then Shisui was overly trusting of the Hokage system. Only betrayal had forced him to awaken.
This proved that Shisui never contemplated wiping out the clan. Had he not died too soon, the Night of the Uchiha Massacre might have unfolded differently.
"Shisui, the Uchiha clan stands isolated now, and this is our opportunity," Kaien said with a solemn tone. "Have you noticed the secret organ trafficking? Almost every major clan takes part. They need healthy bodies; we need their connections. Through these operations, we forge intricate ties with them."
Politics, Shisui realized. His actions weren't born of paranoia—after all, even the Medical Corps ran covert transplants. Why shouldn't he?
Only high‑level ninjas knew the full extent of the Medical Corps' organ surgeries; lower ranks had no need to know. In contrast, the Police Department was an official branch, while the Medical Corps' black market work was unauthorized and riskier.
"Then why involve the Hyūga clan?" Kaien pressed.
Shisui hesitated—Hyūga weren't isolated. Kaien shook his head. "They bring influence, yes, but they're not alone in this. Everyone involved compromises themselves. Once they come here for transplants, they expose themselves. At a certain scale, that becomes a terrifying lever."
He paused, then shifted the topic. "Shisui, I want the Hyūga to take over the prison operations. Darkness doesn't suit you—you should stand in the sun."
Shisui was stunned by Kaien's words. Guilt washed over him at the forced smile Kaien wore. While Kaien bore the clan's shadows, Shisui had held them back.
"Kaien‑niisan, I will do my best!" Shisui vowed.
Kaien waved him off kindly. "No, you've misunderstood. The Police Department has many duties. You won't focus solely on this. From now on, you'll oversee department operations broadly—and guide Itachi. Keep him on the right path."
"Yes, Kaien‑niisan!" Shisui replied, relief and resolve mingling in his tone. His faith in the Hokage faction had waned; now only Itachi remained unshaken.
After all, both brothers shared the potential of the Mangekyō Sharingan. The Uchiha had plenty of elite jōnin, but an ANBU‑captain‑level shinobi with Mangekyō power was irreplaceable. Kaien had sacrificed much for the clan.
—
In Root headquarters, Yakushi Kabuto handed Danzo Shimura fresh intelligence: the Uchiha and Hyūga clans' secret organ traffic network.
Danzo's eyes glinted with cold triumph. The clans were firmly in Orochimaru's orbit. Yet the report did nothing to quell his distrust of Kabuto. Although Kabuto had visited the orphanage, his calm bearing suggested no recognition between them—perfect cover.
Danzo sneered. Organ trafficking was child's play compared to the human experiments he ran with Orochimaru. This intel merely confirmed his suspicions.
—
In the Hokage's office, Hiruzen Sarutobi puffed his pipe, smoke curling around him, as ANBU Yugao Uzuki reported.
"Organ trafficking," he murmured. "Gathering influence through black‑market medicine..." He frowned at the dossier: thirty‑eight clan members linked to the Uchiha in two months.
"Yugao, any recent findings?" he asked.
Yugao, kneeling, replied, "Hokage‑sama, the Seventh Division has slowed overt security work. They're stricter on civilians but lenient with noble families and ninjas."
Sarutobi nodded. He understood the political signal—Orochimaru's hand at play. Konoha was stabilizing; it could not tolerate this power play undermining peace.
"Yugao," he said, voice grave and ambiguous, "I need you to go deeper."
Yugao's eyes shone with determination. "Hokage‑sama, I will earn the Uchiha's trust and gather intelligence from within."
Sarutobi's smile was gentle, but his mind calculated. He needed his eyes and ears inside the Uchiha clan.
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