Chapter 215

"Reliable?"

Danzo's inner thoughts surfaced in his mind as he looked at the Third Hokage. 'In this world, the only person you can truly trust is yourself. You're already so old—have you not grasped this truth yet?'

"The other party assured me they could handle Toshiro on their own," Danzo declared with confidence.

Observing the Third Hokage's hesitation, Danzo couldn't help but think that his old rival had grown too soft, too sentimental.

"And what about Shisui? How do you intend to deal with him?" the Hokage finally asked. Though Danzo had given his assurances, the Third still harbored doubts. Shisui, after all, was the descendant of Kagami Uchiha, someone who had fought alongside them in the past. That connection complicated matters.

Danzo's expression hardened. Shisui was central to the arrangement. The deal hinged on whether the mysterious organization could eliminate Shisui. Only if they succeeded would Danzo proceed with their alliance.

As for Kagami? 'He's long dead,' Danzo thought coldly. 'Sentimentality has no place here.

This time, his ambitions would not be derailed by nostalgia or hesitation.

"Don't get too directly involved in this matter. Let your collaborators handle it as much as possible," the Third Hokage advised, his tone firm.

The situation had to remain entirely detached from the village. If their involvement were discovered, a failure would bring not just embarrassment but severe consequences.

Danzo's expression remained neutral, though inwardly he harbored little faith in his collaborators' ability to deal with Uchiha Toshiro effectively. As for Shisui—what a waste of such a talented child.

Why is it always the Uchiha...?

—

***Meanwhile, in the capital of the Land of Water***

The city floated like a luminous pearl upon the water, radiating an air of serenity and romance.

Mist rolled continuously across the landscape, seamlessly connecting the heavens, the earth, and the city itself. The shimmering reflections of clouds and rippling waves created an almost ethereal atmosphere, as though the entire city were a dream suspended between reality and fantasy.

The city was tranquil, devoid of the clamor of carts and carriages. Only the soft lapping of waves and the whispers of the breeze filled the air. Small boats glided effortlessly through the waterways, weaving between buildings of varied styles. The beauty of classic elegance and modern architecture created a harmonious scene, reminiscent of a living ink painting.

"Tsk! Sakura-chan always knows me best," Toshiro remarked, savoring the balance of sweetness and tartness from the grape in his mouth. The thought of gathering the Three-Tails' chakra had long drifted to the back of his mind.

"Hmph, Daimyo-sama, are you saying Mizuhime isn't gentle or considerate enough?"

Before Toshiro could respond, a soft, alluring voice reached his ears.

A delicate hand with alabaster fingers gracefully lifted a peeled lychee and held it to his lips.

"How could I ever think that?" Toshiro replied smoothly, accepting the lychee with a smile. "Mizuhime, you're the gentlest woman I've ever met. To dislike you would be unthinkable."

Naturally, he hadn't killed the Daimyo of the Land of Water. Instead, he had constructed a secure cellar beneath the Daimyo's mansion and confined the man there, ensuring he could "recuperate" in peace.

After all, the Daimyo was far too frail, and Toshiro reasoned that his actions were for the man's own good.

"Musicians—continue playing. Dancers—keep dancing!"

In the expansive and brightly lit palace, Toshiro lounged in the seat of honor, basking in the entertainment below.

With a beauty nestled on each arm, he relished the sensation of being attended to by two stunning women. The indulgent luxury and decadence of feudal society only added to his enjoyment.

After marveling at the musicians' skilled performances and the dancers' fluid grace—both curated from the finest talents in the Daimyo's mansion—Toshiro finally felt a twinge of fatigue. With a casual wave of his hand, he signaled for the performers to withdraw.

Toshiro rested a hand lightly on the edge of his eye socket, closing his eyes as he focused inward, gauging the state of his vision.

"It's close… so close now…"

A genuine smile broke across his face, one of satisfaction and anticipation.

One of the reasons he had lingered in the Daimyo's residence in the Land of Water for over a year was his sensed that his eyes were nearing a breakthrough. This was also why he had assumed the Daimyo's identity for such an extended period.

Ever since he began using Hashirama's experimental eye drops, his body and eyes had undergone a profound transformation. His chakra reserves, physical endurance, ocular power, and even his ability to recover from injuries had all seen substantial improvement.

Even his affinity for natural energy had grown remarkably, allowing him to adapt to it with greater ease.

The only drawback was the slow pace of this evolution due to the gradual effects of the eye drops. Yet now, standing on the brink of something extraordinary, he realized the slow process had been a blessing in disguise.

Leaning against the soft, delicate body of the beauty beside him and enjoying her attentive care, Toshiro thought to himself, This is the life...

—

At the Uchiha compound, Itachi, enjoying a rare day of rest, decided to take his beloved younger brother, Sasuke, to the clan training ground to practice shuriken techniques.

On their way, they ran into Shisui, who had just emerged from the Hokage building. Without hesitation, Itachi approached him with a warm greeting.

"Shisui, did the mission go well?"

"Long time no see, Shisui-nii!" Sasuke greeted reluctantly, his excitement from earlier fading into a gloomy expression.

He knew all too well what Shisui's appearance meant—it was only a matter of time before his brother apologized to him.

Sure enough...

"I'm sorry, Sasuke," Itachi said with a faint smile, his tone tinged with regret.

"Shisui and I have something important to discuss, so you'll have to train on your own today," Itachi said gently, leaning down to his younger brother's level.

Extending two fingers, he tapped Sasuke lightly on the forehead, a gesture of both affection and apology.

"Sorry, but I need to borrow your brother for a while," Shisui added with a warm smile.

Sasuke pouted, his face puffing up in frustration, but before he could dodge, Shisui ruffled his hair playfully. Then, without further delay, Shisui and Itachi began walking toward Shisui's home.

"Itachi..." Shisui began hesitantly after a moment of silence.

Although Itachi hadn't asked, he could already tell from Shisui's weary expression that the mission hadn't gone as planned.

"This mission..." Itachi started, glancing at his friend.

Shisui sighed, his gaze distant as if searching for the right words. "Itachi... I'm still piecing everything together. I haven't fully understood what's happening yet."

While Shisui and Itachi were deep in conversation, in a secluded corner of Konoha Village, Danzo stood in silence, flanked by a few of his loyal subordinates. They were all on high alert, waiting for someone.

Suddenly, ripples disturbed the space before them, and a figure emerged—a man wearing a striped mask that concealed his face, with long hair flowing behind him.

"Danzo, we meet again," the masked man greeted coolly.

Obito stood alone, exuding an air of confidence, his disdain for Danzo's men evident in the way he glanced at them, all ready for combat.

"Another theatrical entrance," Danzo muttered, tilting his head slightly as he assessed Obito's appearance. After exchanging subtle gestures with his subordinates, he dismissed the idea of probing further into this enigmatic figure.

These were some of his most skilled operatives, experts in sensing and intelligence-gathering. If even they couldn't detect anything unusual, pressing the matter further would likely yield no results.

"So, your presence here means you've given my proposal some thought," Danzo said with a measured tone, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. "It seems we're ready for a productive discussion."

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