After Uchiha Dohan departed, Shisui didn't even stop to implant the replacement eyes Dohan had given him. Instead, he rushed straight toward the Hokage Tower.
Although Dohan had claimed he wouldn't use Shisui's eye to control the Hokage, Shisui couldn't afford to take that risk.
'At the very least, Lord Hokage must be warned.'
Clinging to that thought, Shisui endured the searing pain in his empty eye sockets, stumbling his way to the Hokage Tower.
"Uchiha Shisui?!"
The two Chūnin stationed at the entrance were horrified when they recognized the bloodied figure approaching. This was the famed Body Flicker Shisui—how could he be in such a state?
"I need to see the Hokage! Now!" Shisui said urgently.
"What happened?!" came a voice from within. Hiruzen Sarutobi had heard the commotion and stepped out of his office. The moment he saw Shisui's hollow, bloodied eyes, his expression changed dramatically.
He had sent Shisui to gather intel on the Uchiha clan council… Had the clan actually initiated a rebellion?
"Shisui! Someone call a medical-nin!" Hiruzen immediately barked.
"Lord Hokage, this is urgent. The medics can wait!" Shisui forced himself to speak as soon as he heard Hiruzen's voice.
"…Very well."
Seeing Shisui's desperation, Hiruzen led him into the office and dismissed everyone else.
"Tell me, Shisui. What happened?"
His voice was strained, his heart already bracing for the worst.
Taking a deep breath, Shisui recounted everything: his encounter with Uchiha Dohan, the Mangekyō Sharingan, the failed use of Kotoamatsukami, and the theft of his eye. He left nothing out.
As the Third Hokage listened, his expression grew darker with every word. He had prepared himself for news of a full-scale Uchiha uprising—but this was even more alarming.
"Dohan, huh…"
At some point, Hiruzen had lit his pipe. As smoke drifted through the air, memories of Uchiha Dohan resurfaced.
Dohan had made a name for himself during the Third Great Ninja War, standing shoulder to shoulder with Shisui in reputation. Unlike most Uchiha, he never acted arrogant or aloof. Though more reserved and distant than Shisui, he had pioneered a policy of "smiling enforcement" during his time with the Konoha Military Police—earning the goodwill of many villagers and improving relations between the clan and the populace.
Hiruzen had once believed Dohan to be another Uchiha like his old comrade, Kagami—someone who truly carried the Will of Fire. But now, it seemed the young man had been hiding a much more sinister agenda. And now, in his hands… were not one, but two pairs of Mangekyō Sharingan.
"Lord Hokage, please be cautious! Don't give Dohan any opening to exploit!" Shisui warned.
"I understand, Shisui. You've done well—there's still hope."
Hiruzen took a long puff from his pipe and exhaled. "Go and get those eyes implanted."
"Lord Hokage—!"
"Even if he uses your eye on me, he won't succeed."
Hiruzen clapped a reassuring hand on Shisui's shoulder. "You must understand—what makes a Hokage is not just strength, but the trust and recognition of the entire village. If Dohan thinks controlling me means controlling Konoha, then he's gravely mistaken."
"So go, Shisui. Rest, recover. We still need your strength to stop him."
"…Lord Hokage…"
Shisui's throat tightened. "I understand! I will stop him!"
---
After Shisui was taken away for eye surgery, a figure emerged from the shadows of the Hokage's office, leaning on a cane.
"Hiruzen, how much longer are you going to hesitate?"
The newcomer's voice was cold and impatient. "Do you really want to become that evil Uchiha brat's puppet?"
"Calm yourself, Danzō," Hiruzen replied, lifting his gaze to meet his old comrade's. "Things haven't reached that point."
"Dohan has clearly been planning a rebellion for some time! If we sit back and wait, it'll be too late!"
Danzō's tone grew harsh. "And once the clan finds out he's awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan, they'll rise up today! We must act preemptively—capture Uchiha Dohan now!"
"Enough! Danzō—I am the Hokage!" Hiruzen snapped.
"You'll regret this, Hiruzen!"
Bang!
Danzō stormed out, slamming the door behind him.
Left alone in the smoke-filled office, Hiruzen took a slow breath and looked out at the night sky.
Knowing Danzō as he did, he was certain the man would act on his own—probably already making arrangements to assassinate Dohan.
And honestly… Hiruzen didn't mind.
If Danzō succeeded, all would be well. If he failed, it would be considered his own rogue action—not something that implicated the Hokage. That unspoken understanding had existed between the two of them for many years.
"Troubled times indeed…" Hiruzen murmured as the smoke swirled around him.
---
The next morning.
The sun rose as usual.
Uchiha Dohan awoke in his bed, went through his morning routine, and headed off to work at the Konoha Military Police Force.
Just as he entered his office and barely sat down, the team captain—also clan head—Uchiha Fugaku walked in.
"Dohan, prepare yourself. There's an emergency mission from the village. You'll go with Inabi and Yashiro. You're in charge," Fugaku said grimly.
"Understood."
Dohan nodded calmly. He wasn't surprised—if anything, he thought the mission had come a little too quickly.
"So the Hokage's side couldn't sit still any longer…"
Once Fugaku had left, Dohan slowly drew the blade at his waist. The cold steel reflected his calm, unreadable expression.
Sheathing the sword again, he gathered his gear and picked up the mission scroll before walking to the gates of the Police Force Headquarters.
There, his two teammates were already waiting—Uchiha Inabi and Uchiha Yashiro—both standout young clan members.
While not as powerful as Shisui or Dohan, both had reached Chūnin rank before the age of twenty and had awakened the two-tomoe Sharingan.
Their problem, however, was the same as most Uchiha: their minds were too small, too rigid—completely consumed by the honor and pride of the clan. As a result, both had long disapproved of Dohan's "smiling enforcement" approach.
But now that a mission was underway, they still bowed in formal greeting when they saw him.
Dohan gave a nod.
"Let's move."