Chapter Seventy-Two: Who Is the Cancer?

On Shou’s side, faced with Uchiha Li’s assault, he hurriedly brandished the brush in his hand. Even though he knew his chances of escape were slim, he would not sit still and await death. As a member of the Foundation, he was determined to do whatever it took to accomplish his mission, or at the very least, find a way to relay information back.

“Ninja Art: Super Beast Imitating Drawing!”

In an instant, a massive tiger took form, its ink-black body roaring as it charged at Uchiha Li. Taking advantage of the distraction, Shou activated the Body Flicker Technique. With a few swift leaps, he reached the edge of the forest. Glancing back and seeing Uchiha Li entangled with the ink tiger, Shou let out a breath of relief.

But at that very moment, a wave of scorching heat surged from the side. Shou turned just in time to see a gigantic fire dragon racing toward him. Caught off guard, he was struck head-on and sent flying into a tree.

When he finally made out the figure who had attacked him, a flicker of despair appeared in Shou’s eyes. He demanded, “Uchiha Shisui, you dare attack me? Are you planning to betray the village?!”

Before the mission, Danzo had assured them there was no need to worry about Shisui, who was shadowing Uchiha Li. Since Shisui was in the Anbu, and they in the Foundation, both groups were technically on the same side. As long as they could kill Uchiha Li before Shisui reacted, there were ways to force Shisui’s compliance afterward.

But now, Shisui had shown no regard for his status and struck to kill.

“You attack my clansman, and still have the gall to call me a traitor?” Shisui’s face was full of fury, devoid of the gentle demeanor he usually wore. He could hardly believe the Foundation could utter such shameless words.

Shou coughed, forcing back his pain. “Uchiha Li’s existence only endangers the village. He must be eliminated.” He paused, then continued, “If you still care for the village, you should obey Lord Danzo’s orders!”

Shisui’s expression darkened further at these words. Even now, Danzo’s men tried to use the village’s authority to suppress him. All his life, he had truly worked for the good of the village, harboring no ill intent. But witnessing this scene, he realized how laughable his past actions had been. Uchiha Li was to be executed for reasons as baseless as his recent behavior.

If this was Danzo’s thinking, what did the Third Hokage and his two advisors truly feel toward him and the Uchiha? The Foundation was supposed to have been disbanded after the last incident—were such large-scale operations still happening with the Third’s knowledge? If not, was it another case of negligence? But if so, did that mean the Third tacitly approved?

At that thought, a chill ran through Shisui’s heart. He dared not consider it further.

“That’s enough, Shisui. There’s no need to argue with him,” Uchiha Li said, finishing off the ink tiger and approaching slowly. “I told you long ago—there are those for whom the village has never included the Uchiha.”

Shisui could only offer a bitter smile. “I’m just so angry… How can they do this…”

Where before he had felt disappointment and frustration with the Third and his advisors, now he felt only despair and fury toward the village leadership. The thought that he had once planned to reveal his Mangekyo and Kotoamatsukami to the Third and Danzo filled him with dread. Had he done so, he might have been the one attacked today, not Uchiha Li. And given his own trusting nature, he would never have been on guard. If his Mangekyo had fallen into Danzo’s hands, the consequences would have been unthinkable.

With that realization, Shisui looked at Uchiha Li with a hint of gratitude and relief. Thankfully, Uchiha Li had already opened his eyes to the truth about the village leadership. There was still time to set things right.

A flash of resolve passed through Shisui’s eyes. “Li, when we return this time, let’s change the situation in the village and the clan. I don’t want to delay any longer.”

Uchiha Li thought for a moment before replying, “Very well. While this incident is fresh, we can take action.”

His original plan had been to quietly build his strength, avoid major conflict, and gradually help the Fourth Hokage gain power, eventually forcing the Third and his supporters to step down peacefully. After that, he would deal with them behind the scenes, minimizing the fallout.

But this sudden assassination attempt had changed things. Uchiha Li no longer wanted to play games with the Third and Danzo. With this latest “Anbu” failure, it was time to act more aggressively.

“You cancerous vermin! Lord Danzo will never let you succeed!” Shou, hearing Uchiha Li and Shisui discuss how to deal with his master right in front of him, summoned his remaining strength to shout. He could not abide such treachery. In his eyes, only Danzo’s orders were correct.

If Danzo had sent them to kill Uchiha Li, it meant Uchiha Li was guilty and should submit to execution.

“Pitiful soul,” Uchiha Li sneered at the dying Shou. “Compared to us Uchiha, it’s you Foundation and Danzo who are the true cancer.”

The Foundation had originally been created to handle Konoha’s dirty work. But under Danzo, it had become nothing but his tool. The number of unspeakable deeds the Foundation had committed under Danzo’s orders, both inside and outside the village, was countless—bloody exploitation of orphans for ninja training, spreading rumors, framing innocents. The Foundation had facilitated the downfall of many groups and individuals.

Most notorious was Danzo’s role in sowing conflict between Akatsuki and Hanzo, leading to Yahiko’s death and Akatsuki’s transformation, as well as the Uchiha clan’s massacre and the suicide of White Fang. So many tragedies could be traced back to Danzo.

In fact, while watching the original story, Uchiha Li had often wondered: If Konoha had never had the Foundation, perhaps much of the plot would never have unfolded. In that sense, Danzo truly deserved his reputation as “the Shadow Hokage.”

Shou’s face twisted with rage at Uchiha Li’s words. “You damned Uchiha! How could you ever understand Lord Danzo’s greatness? Everything he does is for Konoha!”

“For the village,” Uchiha Li laughed coldly. “So you come to kill me?”

Without hesitation, Shou answered, “You are an unstable element. You’ll only bring disaster to the village.”

Hearing this, Uchiha Li saw no reason to waste any more words. People like Shou in the Foundation were thoroughly brainwashed, incapable of independent thought. To them, there was no village, no villagers—only Danzo.

He plunged his kunai into Shou’s heart and gave it a twist. Shou howled in agony, and with his last dying breath, managed to choke out, “You… Uchiha… all deserve to die!”

Uchiha Li paid no heed to a dead man’s words. He only said coldly, “Rest assured, your Lord Danzo—I’ll send him to join you soon enough…”