Chapter 31: Using a Scapegoat

Bam bam bam~

Dun dun dun~

Shuriken collided in the air, sparking flames, and then struck the practice target at odd angles, each hitting perfectly in the ten-ring.

Suddenly, Shisui stopped his movements. He threw down his items and walked to the front yard, smiling as he said, "Welcome back, sensei."

Sima Yi, carrying some things, had just pushed open the courtyard door when he saw Shisui flicker to his side and take the items from him. He couldn't help but laugh, "If I had a grandson like you, things would have been much easier in my past life."

Shisui paused for a moment, then immediately looked up at Sima Yi, his eyes moving with a hint of expectation. "If sensei doesn't mind, you can treat me as your grandson, and I can call you grandpa from now on!"

Sima Yi was taken aback; he had just casually praised him and didn't expect Shisui to care so much about it. However, he was never one to spoil the fun. After a brief moment of surprise, he reached out to gently pat Shisui's head and replied, "I will be stricter with my grandson."

"It's okay. I will definitely work hard to meet your expectations, sensei."

"Hahaha, in that case, why are you still calling me sensei?"

"Grandpa!"

Shisui's eyes reddened slightly, and his cheeks were filled with embarrassment, but he still looked up at Sima Yi, eagerly awaiting a response.

"Hahaha, let's eat first. After dinner, grandpa will continue your lessons."

"Okay!"

Shisui happily carried a big bag of things back to his room and started a fire.

"Grandpa, were you alone wandering around Konoha today?"

Shisui felt the weight of the things in his hands and was a bit puzzled. Although Sima Yi was also a ninja, at his age...

"Kai came with me. He dropped me off at the door and then left, taking the last bottle of wine with him."

Sima Yi smiled, knowing that Kai thought he hadn't noticed. In reality, he was fully aware; it was just that Shisui wasn't old enough to drink yet, so he let it slide.

"Brother Kai, huh?"

Sure enough! Shisui felt a bit miffed. He also wanted to go shopping with his grandpa, but unfortunately, he had to go see Itachi.

"Eat while it's hot. We need to hire some servants at home; there are certain things we need to be more cautious about."

Since he had acknowledged this grandson, Sima Yi's tone became much more serious.

"Yes, grandpa. But if we hire servants, won't it attract some people with ulterior motives? I'm worried they might harm you."

Shisui agreed but didn't simply acquiesce; instead, he voiced his concerns.

Sima Yi nodded in satisfaction and said, "The presence of many people means mutual scrutiny. They can place their people to monitor you, but you can also use these people to accomplish other tasks. It just depends on whose methods are more skillful."

When it came to tactics, Shisui unconditionally trusted Sima Yi and immediately stopped worrying.

"Moreover, hiring servants serves another purpose aside from helping you with chores."

"Could it be that grandpa wants to cultivate personnel like Danzo does?"

Sima Yi fell silent. He did want to, but he really didn't have the means right now.

"The timing isn't right. We must not rush the cultivation of personnel. Before you take action, any behavior that might affect the Hokage's trust is inadvisable. You need to think long-term and must not jeopardize the future of the Uchiha for immediate gains."

Sima Yi's expression was extremely serious, and Shisui immediately understood that this was an issue that concerned the very survival of the entire Uchiha clan.

He nodded earnestly. "Grandpa, I understand!"

"Speaking of the present, recruiting servants is also a good opportunity for you to win people's hearts."

Sima Yi said, shaking his head slowly. "I'm still a ninja within Uchiha. After leaving for just a year, my house has collapsed, and no one has cared. You can imagine the lives of those ordinary clan members."

Although the Uchiha Clan is powerful, it is not made up entirely of ninjas; ordinary people still make up the majority.

"Discrimination from the village is everywhere, and Clan Leader Fugaku has his own difficulties."

Shisui sighed as well. Even a Jonin like Kai hardly gets to enjoy a barbecue on ordinary days, let alone the common clan members.

"This isn't about difficulties; whether it succeeds or fails is just the outcome. But as the Clan Head, his focus shouldn't be on this."

"What does grandpa mean by that?" Shisui frowned and thought carefully for a moment but found no answer.

"In the face of external enemies, his primary duty should be to integrate the internal structure and stabilize the morale of the troops. It doesn't matter if he can't solve the issues of his subordinates; what matters is that he must have the intention to solve them and must make the people below believe that he wants to address these issues."

Shisui's eyes brightened as he immediately realized, "Winning people's hearts!"

"Correct. Prestige and reputation are built little by little; you must not miss this opportunity!"

Shisui's gaze flickered, but he didn't hesitate; his eyes remained resolute. "I understand, grandpa! For Konoha! For Uchiha!"

Even though this might offend Clan Leader Fugaku, ever since making that decision that night, he had the determination to clear away everything in his path!

For Konoha! For Uchiha!

"It's good that you have such determination, but there are still matters in Konoha and Uchiha that you need to handle. Leave these trivialities to me."

"Then I'll leave it to you, grandpa."

Shisui nodded with a smile, but soon he couldn't smile anymore.

"There's one more thing, and it's about the Police Department."

Sima Yi immediately recounted everything he had seen and heard that day, causing Shisui's smile to fade away instantly.

If it were in the past, he would have thought this was due to the rough methods of his clansmen, which made it difficult for them to understand the villagers.

But now…

"The Third often asks the people in the Police Department to understand the villagers, but I know the Clan Head and the others have already made concessions. These small issues wouldn't even surface if it weren't for the villagers coming to report them."

"Yet now, Uncle Yashiro and Tekka are just following the rules, and the villagers are still gossiping."

Shisui sighed as he spoke. "Since the establishment of the Police Department, such things have occurred from time to time. Is it that only by giving up the Police Department can we avoid this problem? Or do you have a way to make the villagers understand the Police Department, grandpa?"

In response to this question, Sima Yi decisively shook his head. "As long as the Uchiha are in the Police Department, conflicts with the villagers are inevitable. Given the current situation, the Konoha Elders will not allow the Uchiha to give up the Police Department."

Shisui's eyes dimmed. He already had the answer in his heart; it was just that Sima Yi's words made him even more certain.

"However…"

At that moment, Sima Yi changed the subject and began to tell a story.

"When I was young, I served under Cao Gong. This man was a hero of his time, both talented in literature and skilled in warfare.

One day, while leading his troops, he faced a shortage of supplies. The granary officer Wang Hao went to report this to him."

Sima Yi spoke slowly, recounting how Cao Cao used Wang Hao's head to pacify the army's morale to Shisui.

After listening, Shisui couldn't help but frown and instinctively cursed, "This man is despicable! He clearly asked Wang Hao to reduce the rations, which caused discontent among the troops, yet he then shifts the blame onto others. Such behavior…"

Shisui's words trailed off, and he suddenly fell silent, lowering his head with his gaze shifting slightly.

Seeing this, Sima Yi smiled and slowly stood up. "Think carefully and get some rest."

After saying this, he turned to leave, leaving Shisui alone to gaze at the barbecue, lost in thought.

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