Chapter 279: From Today On, You Are Danzo

Upon seeing the shuriken-like pattern in the Mangekyō Sharingan, despair surfaced on Danzo's face. He knew the power of the Genjutsu Kotoamatsukami, which could quietly alter one's will. He wasn't sure whether his true self would remain after his will was modified.

The only thing he could foresee was that his dream of becoming Hokage was completely shattered.

From now on, Konoha would fall under the control of the two cunning individuals—Byakuya and Shisui. If even Hiruzen Sarutobi couldn't stop them, then all the efforts of his and Tobirama's decades of work would be wiped out.

As these thoughts crossed his mind, Danzo sighed deeply, his mind drifting back to past events. What if he hadn't hesitated back then? Would things have turned out differently?

With the continuation of Kotoamatsukami, Danzo's eyes gradually lost their light, and he became a puppet, fully controlled by the genjutsu.

Watching Danzo fall under his control, Shisui finally let out a sigh of relief. Danzo had always been a major force opposing the Uchiha clan, and now that he was under control, it felt as if the Uchiha might finally be able to breathe, free from the constant persecution.

However, as Shisui relaxed, an intense pain shot through his eyes, causing him to clutch them. When he opened them again, blood tears were streaming down his face, and his vision was blurry. He staggered a few steps and almost collapsed.

Once he steadied himself, Shisui sighed inwardly. He knew that using Susanoo and Kotoamatsukami took a heavy toll on the eyes, but he hadn't expected the cost of using Kotoamatsukami to be so devastating. His right eye, from which he had cast the genjutsu, was nearly blinded. It would be impossible to use it again in the short term.

Byakuya noticed Shisui's distressed expression and furrowed his brows. "Shisui, it looks like using Kotoamatsukami took a greater toll than I expected. How long until your eyes recover?"

Shisui nodded, grimacing slightly. "Byakuya-sama, it will take at least five years for my eyesight to fully recover."

"Five years…" Byakuya nodded, then said, "A five-year cooldown is acceptable. We won't need Kotoamatsukami again for a while. Just focus on recuperating."

Hearing this, Shisui felt a sense of warmth in his heart. He realized that, unlike Hiruzen Sarutobi or Danzo, Byakuya wasn't focused on power for power's sake. This was the attitude of a true top-tier shinobi.

Regaining his composure, Shisui approached Danzo's body and removed his Sharingan, turning to Byakuya and asking, "Byakuya-sama, what is our next move?"

Eliminating Danzo, a significant enemy, was a good thing, but Shisui didn't forget his ultimate goal: saving his clan from the threat of extinction. Eliminating Danzo was merely a temporary delay in this process.

Byakuya pondered for a long time before turning to Shisui with a question. "Shisui, what do you think we should do next? Danzo is a high-ranking figure in Konoha. If he goes missing, Hiruzen Sarutobi won't just ignore it. But if we let Danzo go, he'll come after the Uchiha even harder."

Shisui fell into deep thought. Byakuya was right. In order to take down Danzo, they had already killed more than a dozen Root ninjas, causing quite a disturbance. If the higher-ups, especially Hiruzen Sarutobi, found out, they would likely become even more suspicious of the Uchiha clan.

After a brief pause, Shisui spoke up. "Byakuya-sama, what if we take Danzo's corpse and the evidence to the Hokage's office? With Danzo dead, I don't think Hiruzen Sarutobi would tear his relationship with the Uchiha clan over a dead man."

Byakuya gave Shisui a thoughtful glance. Shisui's train of thought was becoming more refined.

Hiruzen was an indecisive leader, much like Fugaku Uchiha. Just like how Hiruzen had once forgiven Danzo for orchestrating the elimination of the Uchiha clan through Itachi, Shisui's plan might actually work. If Shisui presented Danzo's death and evidence to the Hokage, Hiruzen might be willing to compromise.

After all, Hiruzen's primary goal was stability. It wouldn't be worth it to risk offending the Uchiha clan over a man like Danzo. Giving them a way out might even help mend their relationship.

However, while this situation might benefit both Konoha and the Uchiha, it wouldn't maximize Byakuya's own interests.

Konoha was the enemy of the Akatsuki, and it was a significant obstacle to the success of the Moon's Eye Plan. If the relationship between Konoha and the Uchiha improved, it would become much harder to recruit members for the Akatsuki.

Byakuya shook his head. "Shisui, your plan is good, but the risks are too great, and it places too much reliance on Konoha. You should know that Konoha will never truly accept the Uchiha."

Hearing this, Shisui fell silent, looking at Byakuya with hopeful eyes.

Byakuya walked over to Danzo's body and gestured toward Shisui. "I've thought of a better plan, but it requires you to make a sacrifice."

Shisui swallowed nervously. He had no idea what Byakuya's next move would be.

After a brief pause, Byakuya revealed his plan. "Danzo is a high-ranking figure in Konoha, the leader of Root. We can use his position to slowly move the Uchiha clan. If we act in the name of Root, even if other ninjas discover it, they won't suspect the Uchiha. We can secretly relocate the clan under the guise of Root."

Shisui's eyes suddenly lit up. He had realized what Byakuya was getting at. Excitedly, he said, "Byakuya-sama, your idea is brilliant! As long as I control Danzo, and have the clan secretly join Root for our purposes, we can relocate the Uchiha in secret. The clan's crisis will be averted!"

Byakuya nodded approvingly. "You're starting to see the bigger picture. However, Kotoamatsukami can be seen through with the Byakugan. To avoid being discovered by Konoha ninjas, you'll need to impersonate Danzo."

"Impersonate Danzo?" Shisui was momentarily stunned. "I've never had experience in a high-ranking role before."

Byakuya gave him a serious look. "Experience is something you gain by learning. No one is born with the ability to lead. After going through the trials of Root, you'll truly be in a position to serve me."