Chapter 49 - Trickery
Ryu raised an eyebrow at Shisui, who was carefully examining the weapons he had crafted. "So, what do you think?" he asked, genuinely curious about Shisui's opinion.
Shisui looked up from the weapon in his hands, a mix of admiration and disbelief on his face. "I don't want to sound ridiculous, but are you sure five million for everything is enough? With this quality, I wouldn't be surprised if it was a million per weapon."
Ryu chuckled, shaking his head. "Ha, don't kid yourself. In our current circumstances, charging two million per unit is more than fair. You're lucky I'm not after money." Ryu glanced over at Itachi, who was cautiously testing the weight and balance of one of the axes Ryu had made. "What's the latest on our side?"
Shisui sighed, running a hand through his hair. "It's been a series of small skirmishes, really. The clans have been more cautious than we anticipated. It's understandable, given that some of the most influential clans have sided with the civilians. They're wary of us and the Hyuga. The Nara clan's ability to read their intentions doesn't help either. But with these weapons and the support we've gained, we finally have the means to make a significant impact."
Ryu nodded thoughtfully, his eyes narrowing. "When are you planning to attack?"
"Midnight," Shisui answered, determination in his voice. "They expect us to play defensively, so a surprise attack should catch them off guard and allow us to strike hard."
Ryu scrutinized Shisui's expression, trying to gauge his confidence. "Are you sure you can pull it off?"
Shisui nodded, taking a deep breath before continuing. "Keep in mind, we Uchiha were strong enough to attempt a coup against the entire village. If we truly wanted to annihilate the enemy, we could. But our goal in this war is to mend our reputation, so we must strike a balance between assertiveness and restraint. These weapons will empower the civilians and other clans, making them more effective in combat."
Ryu's interest was piqued. "Which clan are you targeting first?" he inquired.
Shisui's expression grew serious. "We're focusing on the Aburame clan's base. Their insects are formidable opponents in battle, and their information-gathering capabilities are unparalleled. As long as they're in play, we must exercise extreme caution."
Ryu nodded thoughtfully, then offered a surprising response. "Alright, I'll see you there," he declared, catching both Itachi and Shisui off guard.
Itachi's eyes widened in surprise, and he couldn't help but ask, "You're coming with us?"
Ryu laughed lightly, enjoying the rare sight of Itachi's astonishment. "I must've truly surprised you if I made Itachi speak. Yes, I'll be there, but not for your sake. I want to introduce Naruto to a real battlefield, and if there's one close by, why not take advantage of the opportunity?" he explained.
Itachi's expression shifted to one of disappointment, though he tried to hide it. "Oh, I see," he replied with forced indifference.
Ryu, noticing Itachi's reaction, added a warning. "Make sure your men stay clear of Naruto. I won't be with him the whole time, but I'll ensure his safety. Anyone who tries to harm him will be dealt with."
"Understood," Shisui replied, his tone resolute. He turned to leave, his sudden urgency was apparent in his brisk movements.
Ryu chuckled as he noticed Shisui's oversight. "Aren't you forgetting your weapons?" he called out, gesturing toward the boxes brimming with the high-quality armaments he had crafted.
Shisui halted and sheepishly scratched his head. "Right, of course," he mumbled. Itachi, ever efficient, quickly summoned several shadow clones to help carry the boxes of weapons.
As the duo and their clones began to walk away, Itachi couldn't help but comment, "It's unusual for you to forget something like that."
Shisui offered a half-smile. "Yeah, I know. I guess my mind was preoccupied with something else. Let's gather the war council; we need to revise our plans," he suggested, a glint of determination in his eyes as they prepared for the upcoming confrontation.
---
As the warm hues of the setting sun painted the sky in shades of pink and orange, casting a soft glow on the buildings below, Shisui found himself standing in front of a door within an apartment complex.
He raised his fist and knocked three times, the sound echoing in the quiet hallway. He waited patiently for the door to open.
As the door creaked open, a blond-haired child stood behind it. "Shisui? What're you doing here?" Naruto asked, clearly surprised by the unexpected visit. "Hey, Naruto. Mind if I come in?" Shisui requested, giving the young boy a friendly wave.
"Um, sure," Naruto replied, his confusion evident as he stepped aside to let Shisui enter.
Shisui chuckled at the puzzled look on Naruto's face. "I can see you're wondering why I'm here, so let's cut to the chase," he said. "I heard you'll be joining us on the battlefield tonight?" Shisui inquired, accepting a small milk carton that Naruto offered him.
"Yeah, Ryu thinks it's important for me to experience a real battle," Naruto answered, his voice tinged with nervousness.
"So, what will you be doing exactly?" Shisui probed, seeking clarification on Naruto's role. "Well, I think I'll just watch the battle from a safe distance," Naruto replied hesitantly.
Curious, Shisui asked, "Do you know what kind of protection Ryu has arranged for you?" He took a gulp of milk, awaiting Naruto's response.
Naruto furrowed his brow, then said, "He mentioned that several of his S-rank Shinobi would be guarding me. Why do you ask?" Hearing this, Shisui couldn't help but choke on the milk, sputtering it out in disbelief.
"He's sending several of his what now?" Shisui asked incredulously, recalling his own astonishment when he first encountered those Shinobi. He wondered if now, being on the same side, he could ask them some questions. He knew they were strong, but S-rank?
"Yeah... Honestly, I stopped questioning him a while back," Naruto admitted, scratching the back of his head sheepishly. "That's probably the best approach, isn't it..." Shisui's shock temporarily made him forget the purpose of his visit.
"Ah, right! With that level of protection, why not get yourself involved in the actual fight?" Shisui suggested. "W-what?" Naruto stammered, taken aback by the proposal. "Think about it. With that amount of protection, you're guaranteed to come out of this fight unscathed. Isn't this the perfect opportunity to do more than just watch?" Shisui reasoned.
Naruto felt uneasy. Shisui's argument made sense; he was virtually invincible this time, so he should take advantage of the situation. However, the thought of merely watching the battle from afar was already frightening enough.
The idea of actively participating seemed beyond his grasp. Moreover, he didn't feel strong enough to hurt trained Shinobi. Thanks to Ryu, he could hold his own against any civilian, but a trained Shinobi? He wouldn't even be able to lay a finger on them. Although that was what the protection was for...
"...I don't know, Shisui..." Naruto hesitated. "Listen, Naruto. Your participation could save many lives. If you just sit on the sidelines, the outcome will weigh on you," Shisui tried to sway Naruto's decision. "...Fine, what do you want me to do?" Naruto finally relented, as Shisui broke into a satisfied smile.