Chapter 7: If I Were the Clan Leader

Yuhara was surprised that Shisui intended to join him on his mission. He was even more shocked when Sarutobi Hiruzen, the Third Hokage, approved it!

It made sense that Shisui wanted to come along, considering he had many questions and things to understand. But as a member of the Anbu, leaving the village at will was no easy task, especially given the increasingly complex situation with the Uchiha.

The reality often exceeded Yuhara's expectations. Sarutobi Hiruzen's approval led Yuhara to ponder the Hokage's intentions. "Could someone be following us to see what we're up to?" Yuhara thought with a hint of malice. However, upon reflection, he understood that it was likely Sarutobi Hiruzen's way of winning hearts.

Shisui was entirely loyal to Sarutobi Hiruzen and Konoha, but the internal situation of the Uchiha clan put him under immense pressure. Given the oppressive environment within the clan, it was natural for Shisui to want to get out and clear his mind. Yuhara's friendly demeanor and willingness to help others, contrasting with the typical Uchiha arrogance, probably made Sarutobi Hiruzen see him as someone embodying the "Will of Fire."

Still, this alone wouldn't have been enough. Sarutobi Hiruzen, like the Second Hokage, fundamentally distrusted the Uchiha. Yet, he had more cards to play than just Shisui. He also had Uchiha Itachi, which might explain why he allowed Shisui to take a break. It showed trust in Shisui without leaving the situation unmonitored.

Realizing this, Yuhara felt somewhat relieved. At least he didn't have to worry about being followed, making it easier to speak freely.

"The Third Hokage is quite generous, giving you a whole month to relax," Yuhara remarked, glancing at Shisui as they walked along the road. "Won't it be a problem for you to be away for so long?"

"It's because of you I got this time off. I should thank you," Shisui replied, shaking his head. "If it weren't for you taking on those peculiar missions and asking me to gather intel through the Anbu, the Hokage wouldn't have given me this much time."

Yuhara didn't mind that Sarutobi Hiruzen knew some details. He was genuinely going after rogue ninjas, not worried about being investigated. Using Anbu channels to gather information was a common practice since Anbu often had more reliable intel than clients. Besides, Shisui could share information within the rules for their joint missions.

Most importantly, Anbu also followed proper procedures in submitting detailed mission data to the mission center. Exceptions were made only for missions intended to train students, which didn't disclose full details. For instance, Yuhara never believed that Konoha lacked more specific intel on the mission to the Land of Waves or that Kakashi's seemingly clumsy performance was genuine.

The two moved quickly, soon leaving Konoha far behind. Their targets this time were rogue ninjas from other villages, all of considerable skill. Interestingly, villages rarely had much intel on their own rogue ninjas. It was a common issue across the ninja world. Rogues usually fled to other countries, and other villages, if they didn't cause trouble, might even protect them for potential intel or to spite their original village.

"Why are you targeting jonin?" Shisui asked once they were far from Konoha. "It gets us out of Konoha for a while, but I feel you have more in mind."

"Think of it as a training process," Yuhara replied with a light laugh. "I need to train and think things through."

"Can I ask you a question?" Shisui hesitated before speaking again. "If, hypothetically, you became the clan leader, what would you do?"

"Clan leader?" Yuhara smiled at the thought. "The first thing I'd do is unify the clan."

He paused, looking up at the sky before continuing. "Our clan can have many voices because everyone thinks differently, but our thoughts and will must be unified. Only then can we work together to achieve our goals. But that's not enough. We need a clear political agenda and action plan. This way, everyone in the clan knows our objectives and isn't just fumbling around blindly."

He turned back to Shisui, placing a firm hand on his shoulder. "Any action requires a clear goal. Our goals should be twofold: end internal strife within the clan so we can live peacefully, and make Konoha hear our voice. They need to know we don't want internal chaos and that the Uchiha have always been part of Konoha and never left!"

Yuhara's words were powerful, stirring Shisui's emotions. Indeed, despite the growing distance between the Uchiha and Konoha, their ultimate goal was to return, for they had never truly left...

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