Facing the Hokage, Uchiha Shisui had no intention of lying.
"I… do feel some uncertainty in my heart."
Sarutobi Hiruzen's expression darkened for a brief moment before returning to its usual calm.
"Oh? And what exactly has that boy, Yoru* *, been telling you?"
Shisui shook his head.
"Just casual discussions, really. But… his ideas aren't entirely without merit."
Hiruzen exhaled a slow stream of smoke, his face unreadable. The haze curled through the stale air of the aged Hokage office.
"For example?"
"For example… what defines war? Justice? Good and evil?" Shisui hesitated. "Hokage-sama, Uchiha Yoru seems to believe that Konoha hasn't always been on the side of justice—that we've even committed acts of aggression against other nations."
Hiruzen's brow furrowed. "When?"
"The Hidden Rain Village."
A cold laugh echoed in Hiruzen's mind—but his face remained gentle, his tone paternal.
"Shisui, I understand your confusion. This shinobi world is an endless cycle of hatred, and we're merely tools struggling to survive within it. Yet even so, some things must take precedence above all else."
"And what would those be, Hokage-sama?"
"The Will of Fire."
Shisui's words caught in his throat. He'd once believed in it without question—but Yoru's words had detonated like a bomb in his mind, rippling through his once-still resolve.
Hiruzen saw his hesitation.
"Shisui… has even the Will of Fire begun to waver for you?"
"No, Hokage-sama. I'd never betray Konoha. I'd sacrifice myself in an instant for the village's peace. But…"
"But your faith isn't as steadfast as before."
Hiruzen sighed. "Where the leaves dance, the flames will follow."
"I've repeated those words to you all countless times. Many dismiss them as empty platitudes—pretty lies. Yet… they are the genuine conviction passed down from the First and Second Hokage to me, their successor."
"On the surface, they speak of nurturing the next generation, of sacrificing oneself for the village's future. But their true meaning runs deeper."
Shisui lifted his gaze, eyes burning with a plea for clarity.
"The Will of Fire, in its essence, is this: Everything for the greater good."
"The elders sacrifice for the young. Shinobi sacrifice for the village. This is its embodiment."
"The First Hokage founded Konoha to erase divisions—to dissolve clans and individuals into a single collective. His dream was a village without bloodlines, where all were simply family."
"In the Warring States era, we were Uchiha and Yoru, slaughtering each other in endless vendettas. Children died before they could grow. But Konoha changed that."
"The First Hokage abandoned his own clan name, urging others to follow. Today, the Yoru have faded into history—but not all clans share his vision. Some… remain a threat to the village's stability."
Shisui's chest tightened.
He knew exactly who Hiruzen meant.
Konoha was born from the alliance of Yoru and Uchiha. Now, one clan has vanished—while the other festers like a time bomb.
The Will of Fire… For the greater good…
His mind churned again.
Hiruzen's voice softened. "If every clan could see beyond their own interests—if everyone prioritized the village—Konoha and the shinobi world would be different. But I'm no saint, nor can I demand sainthood from others."
"The First led by example. I can only hope others will follow—someday."
Suddenly, Shisui's heart stilled.
"Hokage-sama, I understand now."
"People love themselves first, then their clan, then the village. But with enough resolve, one can rise above bloodlines—see the bigger picture."
"I, Uchiha Shisui, am a shinobi of Konoha first and an Uchiha second."
A smile warmed Hiruzen's face as he exhaled smoke.
"Good… That's very good."
"The Uchiha have… complicated history. Tensions are rising. But I've never believed reconciliation is impossible."
"The key lies not with me, but within your clan—specifically, two people."
"One is you, Shisui. The other… is Uchiha Itachi."
Shisui chuckled. "Itachi?"
"He's… an enigma. Sometimes even I can't fathom him."
Hiruzen nodded. "Though young, Itachi thinks like a Hokage—transcending clan loyalties. With you both guiding the Uchiha, I have faith peace will come."
Shisui's eyes shone with hope. "I believe that too."
Hiruzen stubbed out his pipe. "As for Yoru's grand theories—war, justice, the morality of nations—they're too abstract to grasp."
"The First dreamed of a world where all villages united. But that future is… distant."
"We can only take one step at a time. You, Itachi, and I—we already see beyond clans. That's rare enough."
"Yoru's words are lofty, but hollow. Don't let them unsettle you."
Shisui exhaled, grinning. "Understood, Hokage-sama."
"Though my doubts are resolved… one thing troubles me. Some villagers approve of Yoru's… extreme methods in the name of justice. What are your thoughts?"
(◠‿◠)