Shisui's Eyes

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A long, long, long, long time ago.

At that time, the world had only just awakened, and all things had emerged from ignorance. There were no flowers, birds, grass, or trees; no beasts or flying creatures; and certainly no so-called humans...

At the center of the world, a great tree quietly grew. In the end, it pierced the heavens, reaching from sky to earth.

Its branches and leaves spread into every corner of the world, absorbing the wasted elements of the earth and sky before returning nourishment to the world, nurturing all things between heaven and earth.

Later, gradually... the first drifting cloud appeared in the sky, the first fading sunset glow, the first bird spreading its wings, the first flowing breeze; upon the ground appeared the first blade of grass breaking through the soil, the first little beast running free, the first babbling river, and the first human to learn how to think.

The first person to see this World Tree gave a heartfelt cry of praise and wonder:

"This is the Divine Tree."

Naruto followed Jiraiya toward the place where Orochimaru was being held.

On the way, they ran into an unwelcome visitor.

Danzo.

"What do you want?" Jiraiya was thoroughly impolite. He had no reason to be courteous to an old bastard like Danzo.

Naruto frowned. This old man gave him a... gloomy feeling. Though it was daytime, it seemed as if not a trace of light could be found around him.

Danzo remained silent. His exposed left eye narrowed slightly as he looked at the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki behind Jiraiya... the thing the Fourth Hokage had left behind.

Yet on Naruto, he could not see any of the traits a newly graduated genin ought to have.

He was composed and calm. Most importantly, there was actually confidence in the way he looked at him.

Danzo once again recalled that a few days ago, all contact between Orochimaru and himself had suddenly been cut off.

"Let's go, Naruto." Since Danzo would not speak, Jiraiya could not be bothered with him. He called Naruto and walked past Danzo.

Danzo remained rooted where he stood. Storm clouds brewed in his left eye as he raised that hand and pressed it against his bandaged right eye... this Sharingan of Uchiha Shisui.

The Demon Fox Chakra Root sensed during the second exam, combined with Orochimaru's disappearance... Naruto Uzumaki has grown a little too far, or rather... the Nine-Tails Fox...

For the village's safety, do I need to use Shisui's eye?

No, that genjutsu must be saved for that undead bastard Madara... But I cannot perfectly wield Shisui's Mangekyo Genjutsu either. Can it truly overturn Madara's will completely...?

Itachi's body... he is someone destined to die sooner or later. He has already lost his value as a target for this eye... Then, Madara or you, Nine-Tails...?

So long as it is for Konoha, let alone one eye...

Danzo's face remained expressionless as his figure vanished down the narrow path.

As they traveled, Naruto could not help asking, "What exactly does Danzo want?"

Jiraiya answered as he hurried along, "Probably to confirm... your aptitude." After a pause, he added, "When you saw him just now, you were too calm."

Naruto froze, recalling how Danzo had stared at him and exerted pressure on him.

"What an annoying guy..." He scratched his head. The other man had not said a single word, yet had still obtained some information from him. Naruto felt irritated.

"Don't worry about it. You're still young, after all. That 'you' hadn't really experienced these sorts of tricks either..." Jiraiya comforted him.

"But if I want to become Hokage, I can't just fall into someone else's rhythm that easily, can I?" Naruto smiled. He had already worked it out himself.

Jiraiya smiled as well, then suddenly said, "We're here."

Naruto stopped and looked around in confusion. No matter how he looked at it, this was merely the depths of an ordinary forest.

Jiraiya paced around until he found the right spot. He formed hand seals and slapped the ground. With a rumble, a square entrance appeared in the earth.

"Go in." Jiraiya jumped into the entrance first.

Naruto followed, leaping in after him.

After winding through the dim passageways, they finally stopped before a secret chamber deep within the underground complex.

Jiraiya formed seals with both hands, making a full forty-eight complicated hand signs before pressing his right hand onto the huge, thick iron door. Amid a heavy rumble, the iron door opened, and Jiraiya led Naruto inside.

The iron door closed.

Once inside, Naruto saw that the Third Hokage and Tsunade were already there.

It was a spacious secret chamber. Powerful lamps on the ceiling and walls illuminated the entire room as brightly as day, and the focus of every light was a square black chair.

Orochimaru sat upright in the chair.

His hands and feet were tightly bound to the chair's armrests and legs by black material. Dense black Curse Marks and runes covered his entire body. Two strings of Curse Marks even crossed directly through his heart like two black chains binding it, fastening him firmly to the chair.

"The three of us worked together for several days and nights to complete this. It can completely suppress the Chakra within him," Jiraiya explained.

Naruto fell silent. After he entered, Orochimaru had been staring at him with the one dark yellow vertical pupil left exposed.

Interest, excitement, curiosity, gloom, and coldness filled his eyes. Naruto had never imagined that one person's gaze could be so complicated.

"You truly make me curious... little brat of the Nine-Tails..."

Orochimaru said hoarsely.

"You're already a stray dog, and you're still curious, Orochimaru?" Tsunade crossed her arms and mocked him. She could not stand Orochimaru's crazed manner.

"It seems you are very curious... about why Naruto was able to grow so quickly." The Third Hokage spoke as he looked at Orochimaru, firmly bound to the chair.

"Oh? It seems you intend to tell me..." Orochimaru said.

Tsunade and Jiraiya remained silent.

The Third Hokage smiled soundlessly and continued, "Do you know, Orochimaru... originally, you truly could have gotten what you wanted." A sharp gleam flashed through the old man's clouded eyes. "After disguising yourself as the Kazekage, you could at least have taken this old man's life."

Orochimaru laughed mutely, then slowly said, "It seems you truly know everything, don't you? Could it be that you can see the future?"

Jiraiya spoke. "Sometimes, your intuition is truly terrifying, Orochimaru."

The snake-like pupil contracted slightly.

Naruto looked at Orochimaru, who had nowhere left to run, and said, "When I was six years old, six years ago, I really did see the future..." After thinking about it, he decided there was no need to explain that he had received a portion of Future Self's Chakra. He continued, "I saw all the way to my own future at seventeen."

Orochimaru was silent for a moment, then laughed. "Hahaha... how interesting... You old fellows, and this little Nine-Tails brat..." He stopped laughing. "If that is the case, are you still going to let those people from Sunagakure remain in Konoha?"

Then he answered his own question. "No, I suppose..." Orochimaru's dark yellow pupils slowly swept across Tsunade, the Third Hokage, Jiraiya, and Naruto. "You are probably planning to capture Sunagakure's Jinchuriki alive, then force Sunagakure to exchange for their Jinchuriki, aren't you? Konoha also needs to restore its long-lost 'prestige'... isn't that right, Teacher Sarutobi?"

Naruto looked at Jiraiya beside him in surprise, then at the Third Hokage and Tsunade. None of them denied it.

Orochimaru threw back his head and laughed from the chair.

"Interesting, truly interesting..."

On the way out, the Third Hokage walked beside Naruto. Both of them were silent.

Naruto was dissatisfied with the Third Hokage and the others' approach, but he had no grounds to object. After all, they were acting for the village's benefit. Still, he could not help feeling uncomfortable with such methods.

The Third Hokage suddenly said, "Naruto, once the Chunin Exams are over and you are about to leave with Jiraiya... I intend to have Sasuke travel with you."

"Huh?" Naruto was surprised. He was not surprised that he would be leaving the village with Jiraiya "again," but that Sasuke would be coming along. Naturally, he did not refuse, merely nodding. "That would be great."

The Third Hokage slowly added, "Also, take Orochimaru with you."

"Huh?" This time, Naruto was truly stunned.