Shisui stood up, approached, and extended his hand to Shin with a smile. "Hello, my name is Uchiha Shisui. I'm a ninja from Konoha."

Despite being from a prestigious ninja clan, his gentle, polite demeanor put others at ease. His chakra signature remained as calm as a still pond, matching his approachable nature.

Such an open demeanor. Either he's incredibly naive or incredibly skilled at appearing so.

Shin walked forward and shook his hand, sizing up the young Uchiha while maintaining a polite expression. "Hello, my name is Aizen."

He had a good first impression of Shisui, but that didn't stop him from smoothly giving a fake name as soon as he spoke.

Nearby, a grey cat looked up in surprise at the false name, only to be quickly pacified when Shin casually offered a piece of mango. As Ayumi delicately ate the fruit, Shisui's eyebrows raised slightly.

"A cat that prefers fruit?" he asked, leaning forward slightly with interest.

Shin smiled slightly. "In the Land of Rain, with all our rainfall, fruits and vegetables grow in abundance. Fresh fish, on the other hand, became scarce during the wars when the waters were poisoned. She developed quite a taste for the local fruits instead."

The explanation came naturally—after all, the best lies were built on truth. The constant rain in the Land of Rain did make it a surprisingly fertile place for vegetation.

"Meow~" Ayumi purred contentedly, mango juice glistening on her whiskers as she savored her treat.

Shisui nodded in understanding. "Ah, so you're an Ame ninja? For you to be accepted by Sora-ku, you must be quite skilled," he sincerely complimented.

He knew that the cats of Sora-ku were very picky, and even when dealing with ninja business, they wouldn't lower their standards for just anyone. This was probably why Sora-ku remained obscure in the ninja world. From the time he was born, this was the first time Shisui had ever seen a non-Uchiha ninja in the village.

"You flatter me. I'm just a simple chunin," Shin replied humbly, though he had already decided not to reveal any of his personal information. His fingers absently stroked Ayumi's fur, a gesture that made him appear more approachable, more human.

If he hadn't been out of other village headbands to use, he wouldn't have even admitted to being an Ame ninja.

Later, with the help of the one-eyed grey cat shopkeeper, Shin and Shisui smoothly transitioned into discussing the purchase of ninjutsu scrolls.

Shisui didn't agree immediately. "I'm sorry. But I can't make that decision on my own. I need to consult with our clan leader."

Shin nodded in understanding and cautiously asked, "Is your clan leader currently Uchiha Fugaku?"

Shisui was a little surprised, his eyebrows lifting slightly as he honestly replied, "Yes. I didn't expect you to know so much about the Uchiha clan, even from the faraway Land of Rain."

"The Uchiha are a renowned ninja clan in the shinobi world and one of Konoha's founding families," Shin responded smoothly. "Even we Ame ninja hold your clan in high regard, so paying attention to the Uchiha is quite normal."

This one sentence dispelled Shisui's doubts and even won his favor. The young Uchiha's posture relaxed slightly, though his natural shinobi alertness never fully disappeared.

"I understand. Don't worry, I will definitely convey your request to the clan leader."

What a simple and sincere kid, Shin thought, watching sunlight play across Shisui's honest features. Almost too perfect for this cruel world.

At the same time, he quickly calculated the potential benefits of connecting with Shisui. Given Shin's personality, it was impossible for Shin to simply want to be friends with him, no matter how good his first impression was.

The first thing that came to mind was using Shisui to gather intelligence about Konoha, particularly concerning Root and Danzō. Ayumi rubbed against his leg, as if sensing his plotting.

By the time they parted ways, he was still mulling over exactly how to proceed. The bell above the shop door tinkled softly as Shisui left with a wave and a smile.

---

Unexpectedly, before Shin could take action, just a week later, during their second meeting at Sora-ku, Shisui proactively asked him a question.

"Aizen, I have a question that might be a bit abrupt."

"Since you're an Ame ninja, have you heard of an organization called Akatsuki?"

Shin's fingers twitched slightly, but he kept his composure, smiling calmly as he replied, "I've heard of them. They mainly operate in the southern part of the Land of Rain, and they've recently been recognized by Hanzō-sama. It's a powerful organization."

His expression remained perfectly neutral as he asked, "Why do you ask, Shisui?"

With a few light words, Shin distanced himself from Akatsuki, misleading Shisui into believing that he was a loyal subordinate of Hanzō. This played perfectly into the stereotype most people held about Ame ninja at this point in time.

"You may not know this, but recently, many people in our village have been talking about this organization," Shisui said with a pained sigh.

"Our clan leader has approved your request to trade, but with one condition: he hopes to get some information about Akatsuki from you."

When Shin heard this, his heart skipped a beat. Konoha's already moving. Did we draw too much attention too soon?

But he remained composed, keeping his expression calm as he asked, "Oh? Why is that? Is there some reason?"

After hearing Shisui's troubled explanation, Shin breathed a sigh of relief, almost laughing aloud. Politics. Of course it's about politics.

--- One week earlier in Konoha's secret chambers ---

With the outbreak of the Ninja World War, the intelligence departments of all major villages had ramped up their efforts to gather information.

In Konoha, Danzō, who controlled Root, had consolidated his power and influence.

But that day, a piece of information brought by one of his subordinates completely ruined his good mood. The Root operative knelt before him, head bowed, report extended with both hands.

The report detailed the recent statement deliberately spread by Shin. The statement contained Minato's promises and heavily emphasized his status, hinting that the next Hokage was already chosen.

At the Root headquarters, deep beneath Konoha's streets, Danzō flew into a rage. "Damn it!" His fist slammed against his desk, making the masked operatives flinch. "Who gave him the right to represent the village?!"

"And now he thinks he can decide the next Hokage on his own? Without the elders' consent? Without thinking about what's best for the village? Did I agree to this?!"

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

The Root ninja was stunned. Danzō-sama's anger... it's not about village security at all?

He'd assumed Danzō's fury stemmed from Akatsuki's unauthorized statement from the Land of Rain. But this? The young operative's shoulders stiffened imperceptibly. Is this really about protecting Konoha?

But it was… bizarrely reasonable.

The young Root ninja quickly buried his head deeply, forcing himself to purge any disrespectful thoughts toward Danzō from his mind. The cold stone floor beneath his knees helped ground him in proper Root discipline. Think of nothing. Feel nothing. Be nothing.

Without anyone to agree with him, Danzō's anger only intensified as he thought about it. That brat... trying to take what should be mine.

Unable to bear it, he stormed into the Hokage's office, the door crashing open with enough force to rattle the windows. He slammed the report onto the desk of the Third Hokage, scattering papers across the polished wood.

"Danzō, what now?" Hiruzen asked irritably, puffing on his pipe. His old friend's increasingly frequent outbursts were becoming tiresome.

"Look at what Minato has done."

"He's selling out the village. How can Konoha bow down so easily to a small village like Ame?!"

Of course, in front of Hiruzen, Danzō wouldn't admit that his real anger stemmed from people referring to Minato as the next Hokage. His tactic was always to accuse others of endangering the village. The same tired dance they'd performed countless times over the years.

But this time, Hiruzen had no patience for it. Dark circles showed his sleepless nights planning war strategies. Not today. I've had enough of your games.

"Danzō, we're currently fighting on two fronts against Suna and Kumo, and Kiri and Iwa are also stirring near our borders. They could join the war at any moment. We don't have the resources to invade the Land of Rain right now."

He paused to tap his pipe, eyes hardening. "Besides, Minato explained the situation to me. His priority was rescuing his student, and I think he did the right thing."

But Danzō didn't care about that. Minato didn't do anything wrong? So, does that mean you've also agreed to him being the next Hokage? The thought burned like acid in his mind.

"Your approach with Minato lacks foresight," he said as he stood by the window, watching the village below.

Hiruzen took a long draw from his pipe, letting the silence stretch. "That will be all, Danzō."

Danzō's hand rested on the windowsill for a heartbeat. Without another word, he left, his footsteps fading down the hallway.

The name 'Akatsuki' from the Land of Rain burned in his thoughts as he returned to Root's base. This isn't over. Not by far. The village needs a stronger hand... my hand.

As Shisui described Danzō's rage and loss of composure, from seeking out Orochimaru to the news reaching the Uchiha clan, Shin could hardly suppress his laughter.

Isn't he a bit too trusting? He fought to keep the smile from his lips, not wanting Shisui to notice anything unusual.

"The entire upper echelon is aware now," Shisui continued. "Some say Danzō hasn't been this angry in years."

"Is that so? How... concerning."

Back then, when he pressured Minato to write such a statement, his original intention was to set up both Root and Danzō for a fall. Now that Danzō was unhappy, naturally, Shin was quite pleased.

As for the fact that Danzō might now be paying attention to Akatsuki sooner than expected, he didn't care in the slightest. After all, it was destined to happen eventually, and whether it happened sooner or later didn't make much of a difference.

He had never considered reconciling with Danzō.

Because, as seen in the original story, Danzō never possessed the grand vision of forming alliances or forging cooperative relationships. He viewed every village outside of Konoha as an enemy and throughout his life, never helped the village secure any allies.

A man so blinded by his own village that he can't see the forest for the trees.

Even without personal grudges, Shin could never cooperate with someone like that. So why should he care about Danzō's anger or hostility? However, another detail in Shisui's account piqued his interest.

"Shisui, do Konoha's higher-ups also sense that the war is about to escalate?"

Naive Shisui, not realizing he was being led into revealing information, innocently relayed everything the village's intelligence agencies had painstakingly uncovered. His dark eyes shone with earnest concern for his village.

"Yes, does Ame have the same assessment?" he shifted in his seat, lowering his voice. "The Hokage estimates that by next spring at the latest, Iwa and Kiri won't be able to hold back any longer. When that happens, Konoha will likely face a truly difficult time."

The weather was getting colder. Judging by the early chill, the climax of the Third Great Ninja War was likely only a few months away.

He needed to act faster—time was running out. He couldn't just wait until the system-predicted date of his death to start making moves. The peak of the ninja war would be his best chance to seize control of Ame.

He had to hurry and prepare.

Shin lowered his gaze, a complex mix of emotions flashing through his eyes. Chaos brings opportunity, he thought. When everything falls apart, that's when I can rebuild it in my image.

After a brief silence, Shisui awkwardly shifted the topic back. "So, Aizen, do you know much about this group called Akatsuki?"

Shin chuckled lightly, "Of course, I've dealt with them several times and am quite familiar with some of their key members." He took a slow sip of his tea, watching Shisui's reaction over the rim of the cup.

"That's great!" Shisui leaned forward eagerly, "Could you share some of their information with me?"

Shin set down his cup with deliberate care. "But Akatsuki is now recognized by Hanzō-sama. They're part of our nation, like brothers and sisters to me." Play the patriotic card first. Let him think I have principles to overcome.

Shisui, pure as ever, looked disappointed and said, "I see. I'm sorry for making things difficult for you." His shoulders slumped slightly, already preparing to leave.

To his surprise, Shin leaned forward and said, "No, what I meant was, there needs to be more money involved."

"…" Shisui, who had never encountered this kind of ploy before, froze for a second, mouth slightly open. His cheeks flushed with embarrassment before he hurriedly stated he would need to consult with the clan leader.

Run back to Fugaku, little Uchiha.

Shin, showing no impatience, simply let him leave.

---

After returning, the first person Shisui found was Fugaku, to whom he recounted his encounter in Sora-ku. The Uchiha compound was quiet at this hour, the only sound the soft rustling of leaves in the evening breeze.

He had expected Fugaku to flat-out refuse or even become furious. After all, the proud Uchiha clan had never been manipulated in such a manner. He stood stiffly before his clan leader, prepared for the worst.

Shisui had already started thinking about how to explain things on behalf of Aizen, as he had found the Ame ninja to be a decent person after several interactions.

But to his surprise, Fugaku not only didn't get angry but also asked, stroking his chin thoughtfully, "Did that Ame ninja really claim to know all of Akatsuki's key members? If that's true, agreeing to the deal might not be a bad idea."

"What he's asking for is probably just a few jutsu scrolls, and we have plenty of those lower-rank scrolls in our collection."

Shisui was stunned and looked up at Fugaku in surprise.

Seeing his confusion, Fugaku sighed. "There's something you might not know: Kakashi has recently been accused of harming his comrades and might soon face trial."

Shisui's Sharingan activated instinctively at the news, its red glow reflecting off the polished floor. "Is this the work of Root?"

Given that Danzō had recently been giving Minato trouble, it made sense for Root to target Kakashi. The suspicion had already spread throughout the village.

Fugaku sighed again. "The exact details of the case aren't clear, but based on the evidence, Kakashi may not be innocent."

"What did he do?"

"In the past week, several active and retired ninjas have committed suicide in the village and the common thread among them is that, three years ago, they publicly criticized Sakumo for abandoning a mission to save his comrades. Coincidentally, Kakashi had visited each of them just days before their deaths."

At that moment, Shisui's eyes darkened, the Sharingan fading back to their natural black.

Though he was a staunch supporter of Konoha, always defending the village, even at the cost of frequent clashes with more radical members of his clan, he still harbored resentment toward the village over the suicide of Sakumo three years ago.

How could protecting a comrade be wrong, the question burned in his mind as he clenched his fists. Especially when Sakumo had been saving a younger, less experienced ninja at the time.

Wasn't the Will of Fire meant to teach that the older generation should protect the young? Wasn't that the right thing to do? An ideal he'd once thought burned eternal now seemed to flicker and fade.

Shisui didn't understand. He couldn't bring himself to condemn Kakashi's actions.

But though he couldn't say it, someone else could. No matter how many people in the Uchiha clan criticized him for being extreme, there was always one person who thought he was too conservative.

But someone else had no such hesitation. That person was Uchiha Itachi.

"No matter the reason, harming a comrade from the same village is an unforgivable crime! Even if Kakashi is Minato's disciple, he must face judgment!"

Though only five, Itachi held an absolute conviction that the village could never be wrong. If the village wasn't wrong, someone else had to be—that was his simple logic.

Fugaku stood up abruptly, his face darkening with anger. "Itachi! What are you doing here? I'm discussing something important with Shisui. Get out!"

Itachi met his father's gaze, his young eyes holding wisdom far beyond his years. But he said nothing more, turning silently to leave the room.

Shisui sighed softly, feeling helpless. The atmosphere in this family was suffocating, even for an outsider like him.

But this was the clan leader's house, and as a clansman, he wasn't in a position to comment. He could only sigh again and steer the conversation back to the original topic. "Fugaku-sama, what does this have to do with our deal with Aizen?"

Fugaku sat back down on the tatami mat, rubbing his temples in frustration. After a long moment, he finally explained.

"From what I've gathered, Kakashi's changes began the same day Minato wrote that statement in the Land of Rain. It's said that someone from Akatsuki completely changed him."

"So, Shisui, you must ask that Aizen: who is this person within Akatsuki?"