Mayuri Kurotsuchi Card Game, starting from Naruto

Chapter 25 Conversation and Attack

"Chieftain."

After completing his training, Uchiha Shisui returned to the Uchiha clan compound and met with the clan head, Uchiha Fugaku.

"It's Shisui." Fugaku Uchiha, who was teaching a child, stopped teaching immediately upon seeing Shisui's arrival. He handed the child to his wife and gestured for Shisui to follow.

Shisui waved to the child, then turned and followed Uchiha Fugaku into the house.

"Itachi likes you a lot." Fugaku Uchiha gestured for Shisui to sit down and smiled at him.

"I also really like Itachi; he's so cute." Shisui thought of the child in the courtyard, and a genuine smile involuntarily appeared on his face.

He was a very intelligent child, and although still young, he was already more mature than his peers. His talent was also exceptional. Shisui believed that he would definitely become a powerful ninja in the future.

"You came today?" After Itachi started the conversation, Fugaku Uchiha looked at Shisui and asked tentatively. He already had a vague guess in his mind.

As expected, Shisui hesitated for a moment, then quickly said, "I have inquired about what you told me, clan leader..."

"Orochimaru?" Fugaku Uchiha continued Shisui's question.

"No, it's Nara Shikaku!" Shisui shook his head, uttering a name that surprised Uchiha Fugaku.

"Nara Shikanobu? I remember he's Nara Shikakichi's son." Uchiha Fugaku nodded.

"Lord Orochimaru is very busy, and he only teaches us through shadow clones. Of the three of us, only Shikaguchi-kun is valued by Lord Orochimaru the most, and we can see him at any time."

After spending the last few days with him, I feel that he is calm and composed, and he has his own insights on many things. "Zhishui lowered his head, seemingly apologetic.

"So you want to get an answer from him?" Fugaku Uchiha looked at Shisui across from him expressionlessly.

"I'm sorry. I truly believed that Mr. Lu Nie could give me an answer," Shisui said apologetically, bowing slightly.

"Did he give it to him?" Fugaku Uchiha was not as angry as Shisui had imagined, but asked calmly.

"He gave it to me." At Fugaku Uchiha's prompting, Shisui sat up again and recounted his conversation with Shikano in detail, without missing a single word.

"Did he really say that?" Fugaku Uchiha was initially somewhat disappointed and hadn't expected to hear anything useful from Shisui, but there was no doubt that Shisui's answer still stirred something within him.

"Yes." Shisui nodded affirmatively.

The two fell silent for a moment.

A moment later, Fugaku, snapping out of his thoughts, saw Shisui's young face across from him, a face filled with anxiety and confusion, as if he wanted to speak but hesitated, afraid of disturbing him. He subconsciously smiled and asked, "What do you want to ask?"

"Does what Lu Nie-kun said make sense?" Shisui finally asked the question that had been swirling in his mind for a long time.

"For a child to be able to discern certain things and offer such advice is extremely rare. Truly worthy of the Nara clan as a group of strategists."

Fugaku initially agreed with Shisui's words, but before Shisui's joy could fully show, he shook his head again and said, "But it's clear that he still doesn't know enough about our intelligence and that of the higher-ups."

"The environment in the clan isn't so bad that we'd use you as a sacrifice. In fact, I'm surprised you were able to join Orochimaru's team."

Now that you've become part of the village's ANBU, the only one who can truly make the final decision is the Third Hokage.

The reason I told you those things before was simply to encourage you to try and befriend Orochimaru. After all, since White Fang's death, the only remaining candidate for the Fourth Hokage, with the highest popularity and greatest hope, is the Sannin.

Based on my understanding of the Sannin, since Tsunade left the village, she probably has no interest in competing for the Fourth Hokage position. Of the remaining two, Jiraiya and Orochimaru, Orochimaru is the most likely candidate.

If Orochimaru becomes the Fourth Hokage, you will likely become his direct bodyguard, just like the Third Hokage did for the Second.

Fearing that Shisui might not understand, Fugaku patiently and thoroughly explained it to him.

"So, the relationship between the higher-ups and the clansmen isn't as bad as I imagined?" Shisui was somewhat surprised.

"Of course not! This village was founded by the ancestors of the Senju and Uchiha clans! The Uchiha are an indispensable top-tier clan in this village!"

The conflict between the higher-ups and us lies in the Second Hokage's wariness and suppression of us, as well as our desire for the Hokage position.

After all, the Senju clan has already produced two Hokage, and the third and fourth could also belong to the Senju lineage of master and disciple.

Your grandfather, Lord Kagami, originally had a chance. But he suddenly died.

Fugaku smiled and continued, "This is just a power struggle between us and the higher-ups; there's no real irreconcilable conflict. I think it was precisely because the Uchiha clan heard their appeals that the Third Hokage transferred you to the Hokage's direct ANBU and then assigned you to Orochimaru's subordinates."

Thinking about it this way, Orochimaru is more likely to succeed the Fourth Hokage than Jiraiya.

It's good that Lu Nie didn't analyze or explain these things to you, but his advice is correct. You can listen to it!

If possible, you should deepen your relationship with him; he might become the Fourth Hokage's strategist in the future.

"I understand." Shisui felt much relieved. As long as there was no possibility of a complete falling out between the village and his people, he was happy.

"Go see Itachi, let him relax and have some fun." Fugaku's face at this moment showed that of a loving father.

Although he had extremely high expectations for Itachi and often trained him with a stern face, he firmly believed that Itachi's future would surpass his father's and that his talent was far superior to anyone else in the clan!

If possible, he would be happy to let Itachi follow the same path as Shisui. That is, to integrate into the village and train in places like the Anbu.

"I will." Shisui stood up, bowed respectfully to Fugaku to say goodbye, then opened the door and walked out.

……

"Are you Nara Shikanehira? A certain lord wishes to see you."

At the dark alley entrance, a figure dressed in smuggling gear and wearing a mask suddenly appeared in front of Lu Nie, who was returning home.

"Who wants to see me?" Sensing a certain indifference and malice from the person opposite him, Lu Nie immediately became alert. His arm, which was hidden in the sleeve behind his back, drooped down, and a small snake quickly darted out before disappearing into the night.

"Just keep up, don't put up any pointless resistance." The newcomer's voice was cold and emotionless, like a machine carrying out a mission.

"Shouldn't I let my teacher, Lord Orochimaru, or my parents know who I went to see?" Shiro said, already preparing to resist.

The malice emanating from the other party was becoming increasingly obvious. Lu Nie had no idea who he had offended in the village to be targeted like this.

"Looks like I'll have to take you down first." The newcomer drew a short sword from his back, the tip pointing at Lu Nie.

(End of this chapter)