Sun God

Moonlight, chill as frost, filtered through gaps in the dense canopy and spilled into the quiet woods, casting mottled patches of shifting light and shadow across the ground.

Whoosh...

A breeze suddenly swept up a fallen leaf, and three figures darted past amid the dancing foliage and dappled shadows.

They were Shisui, Itachi, and Shinichi, the three Uchiha Mangekyō Sharingan users who had just received Hyuga Kagami's message and hurried over from the Uchiha Compound.

After yawning, Shinichi muttered, "It's so late. Why did the boss call us out here?"

Shisui shook his head. "There must be a reason Senior called us here. Don't ask so many questions."

Itachi pondered for a moment before saying, "Senior asked us to meet at the secret laboratory in the Forest of Death. Perhaps it has something to do with the surgery to transplant the First Hokage Cells."

"Surgery? Great!"

Shinichi grinned.

Ever since his battle with Obito, the severe loss of ocular power had caused his vision to deteriorate rapidly. Even after returning to the village for so long, he had yet to adapt, so he was even more eager than Itachi to undergo the transplant surgery.

Seeing Shinichi beam with delight, Itachi calmly reminded him, "Brother Shinichi, you should prepare yourself for the possibility that the surgery may fail."

Shinichi looked puzzled. "Why?"

Shisui took over. "Senior's transplant techniques should be the best in the shinobi world today, but the First Hokage Cells are extraordinary. So even with Senior personally performing the operation, there is still a chance of failure."

Shinichi did not seem concerned. "What happens if it fails?"

Shisui was somewhat uncertain. "Maybe... maybe you'll turn into a tree?"

The carefree expression on Shinichi's face instantly froze.

Itachi, standing beside him, said seriously, "More accurately, you'll be swallowed by trees."