Chapter 46: Kotoamatsukami!  

The Hyūga brothers' plan to sacrifice themselves as decoys had not been disclosed to Sarutobi Hiruzen beforehand. 

Naturally, he couldn't remain indifferent. 

And then… 

Just moments ago, Killer Yoru had slaughtered the entire Kumo envoy team—right before the brothers publicly expressed their gratitude… 

How could Hiruzen's heart not be stirred?! 

Of course… 

Hyūga Hiashi was no fool. 

He understood that Uchiha Fugaku's "reminder" carried an underlying intention: alliance. 

If the Hokage himself holds a grudge against the Hyūga clan… 

Why not side with the Uchiha instead? 

But Hiashi wasn't reckless enough to make such a gamble. 

After all, Hiruzen represented the entire Konoha leadership. 

And the Uchiha clan? 

They could never stand against the entire village. 

With a sigh, Hiashi nodded. "Thank you for the warning, Clan Head Fugaku." 

"We'll proceed with caution." 

Then, turning to Yoru, he added, "If you ever need our aid, name it. We owe you a life-debt." 

Fugaku understood the subtext: 

We won't openly ally with the Uchiha—but we'll honor our debt to Yoru alone. 

Still, Fugaku was satisfied. This was enough… for now. 

Yoru gave a faint nod. The Hyūga brothers exchanged glances, hesitating as if to say more—but in the end, they simply clasped his shoulder and left. 

Now, only Yoru and Fugaku remained. 

Fugaku exhaled deeply. "Yoru… your methods are as ruthless as lightning." 

The words carried a double meaning: 

Yoru's decisiveness—swift and lethal. His Raiton Chakra Mode and Raiton: Gian no Yaiba—literally, a judgment from the storm itself. 

"Still… I must admit, you handled this perfectly." 

"Hmph. Hiruzen's plan was obvious—sacrifice the Hyūga to buy temporary peace with Kumo, then turn his full force on us." 

"But you shattered his schemes in one strike." 

"Not only that… you've even swayed the Hyūga's stance, if only slightly." 

Yoru shook his head. "The Hyūga won't gamble their future." 

"True. But their leanings matter. For now, it's enough." Fugaku's voice turned somber. 

"The Uchiha have never had allies in this village—only isolation and hatred." 

"The words you spoke to Yamaikaze… he shared them with the clan." 

"You were right. Even if we staged a coup, without support from other clans, it'd be meaningless." 

"And compared to Konoha's full might… the Uchiha are but a drop in the ocean." 

Then, his tone darkened. 

"The real traitor… is Shisui." 

"If he had remained loyal—combined with your power—we might've stood a chance. But now…" 

Fugaku glanced at Yoru. 

"Hiruzen will send Shisui to kill you. Are you prepared?" 

Yoru smirked. "A man without conviction is already dead." 

"He chose to be Konoha's puppet—to drown in the 'Will of Fire.'" 

"I'll grant him the end he deserves." 

Fugaku relaxed slightly—but the thought of kinslaying still weighed on him. His hatred for Hiruzen burned hotter. 

Hokage's Office 

"Koharu, Homura… why stop me?" 

Hiruzen's rage simmered beneath a calm surface. 

Mitokado Homura spoke first. "You're acting rashly, Hiruzen." 

Utatane Koharu added, "Even if Yoru must die, doing it publicly would backfire." 

"And why is that?" Hiruzen's voice was icy. 

Homura sighed. "Your power relies on perception as much as authority." 

"The clans already question your weakness toward Kumo." 

"If you openly pit two Uchiha against each other… what will they think?" 

Danzō sneered. "They'll call you spineless abroad, tyrannical at home." 

Hiruzen shot him a glare. "Silence, Danzō!" 

Then, turning to Shisui: 

"You hesitate. Do you still hope to redeem that man?" 

Shisui clenched his fists. "Hokage-sama… there's another way." 

Hiruzen raised a brow. "Oh? Can you truly make him loyal?" 

"That man has forsaken the village's peace—" 

"I can." Shisui's voice was firm. 

"What?" 

Shisui met Hiruzen's gaze—then scanned the room (Danzō, Koharu, Homura). 

Hiruzen understood. "Speak freely. They're trusted." 

After a pause, Shisui revealed: 

"My Mangekyō Sharingan…" 

"…can rewrite a person's will." 

Silence. 

The four leaders froze—faces paling. 

Hiruzen's voice trembled. "You… what?" 

This was mind control in its purest form. 

If true… why had he wasted years "indoctrinating" Shisui and Itachi? 

Shisui continued, solemn: 

"My ocular jutsu is called…" 

"Kotoamatsukami." 

Hiruzen repeated, dazed: "Koto…amatsukami?" 

"How does it work?" 

Shisui explained: "It alters the target's thoughts—without their awareness. They'll believe the new will is their own." 

"No bloodshed. No resistance. Absolute victory." 

"Kotoamatsukami… is the ultimate genjutsu." 

For a moment, the room was dead silent. 

This… was the dream of every ruler. 

Total control. 

Yet their first reaction wasn't awe—but terror. 

Cold sweat drenched their robes. 

This power… had been hidden from them all along. 

If Shisui had ever turned it against them— 

The consequences were unthinkable. 

To men who lusted for power… 

Kotoamatsukami was more terrifying than the Shodai's Mokuton. 

A weapon they craved—yet feared. 

Hiruzen's pulse raced. "Why conceal this, Shisui?" 

Shisui hesitated. "Because… I questioned its morality." 

"To strip someone of free will… it feels evil." 

Hiruzen almost laughed. Still so naive. 

"Power isn't evil, Shisui. Only its use." 

"If Kotoamatsukami can bring peace between the Uchiha and Konoha… isn't that justice?" 

Shisui bowed. "…Understood, Hokage-sama." 

But then— 

Danzō's voice cut in, cold as steel: 

"I forbid this."