Sei

Chapter 44: Sei

"Shisui, let's go home."

"Home?"

Kagato stared blankly. With his frostbitten, cracked hands, he steadied Shisui on his back, then walked toward the Uchiha compound on feet that were just as frostbitten and cracked.

Last night, a ninja had died. His death would not have much of an impact on this world; it would only cause a seven-year-old child to lose the last of his support completely.

"Shisui, can you teach me ninjutsu?"

"Huh? Me?"

That was where Kagato's connection with Shisui began.

At the time, beneath the setting sun, a six-year-old child had made a request to an Anbu member, and the Anbu member had agreed.

From then on, Kagato had gained an elder brother who was almost family. Back then, Kagato had not dared to slack off in his training for even a moment. He had to work hard—harder still. He had to protect his parents and his Shisui from the Uchiha Clan Massacre.

But he could never have imagined that disaster would come so soon. Two of Danzo's Root members had become the fuse that ignited everything.

Within two months, his parents and Shisui had left him one after another. He no longer had a home. He had completely lost the place he could call home.

So Kagato did not go home. Carrying Shisui on his back, he went to the training ground where he and Shisui often stayed. He gently laid Shisui down, took out a Kunai, squatted on the ground, and began digging through the soil.

Perhaps now, only this familiar training ground could barely be called "home."

Shisui had no family either, so Kagato could personally bury him.

However, after being frozen in the river water for an entire night, his hands were already extremely fragile. Before long, blood began to flow from his palms, running down and dripping onto the earth, dyeing patches of soil red.

Itachi had gone back as soon as Kagato found Shisui's corpse. He had to return and report Shisui's death to the village.

So Kagato could only bury Shisui alone.

"Drip."

Suddenly, something other than blood fell onto the earth. Kagato touched his face.

"Are those tears?"

The moment he finished speaking, rain suddenly began to fall from the sky.

"Drip, drip, drip."

"Oh, so it's rain."

The rain drenched Kagato, streaming continuously down his cheeks. No one knew whether it was tears or rainwater.

The rain fell heavily. Every household hurried to take in its drying clothes and hid inside.

"It suddenly started raining. I almost didn't have time to collect the clothes."

"Ugh, it's so cold. I really wish the weather would warm up."

"Well, I had something to do, but there's nothing I can do about the rain. Let's wait at home for now."

The people looked at the sudden rain and discussed it helplessly.

The Uchiha compound.

Itachi stood at the entrance to his home, gazing at the heavy rain outside, his thoughts unknown.

"Brother, when the rain stops, teach me ninjutsu, okay? Kagato is already so strong. I can't fall behind."

Sasuke ran out of the house and went to Itachi's back, pestering him to teach him ninjutsu.

Itachi turned around with a smile and gently tapped Sasuke on the forehead.

"Sasuke, I still have something to do after the rain stops. Next time."

"Mm."

Sasuke puffed out his cheeks and looked at Itachi unhappily.

The Hokage's Office.

The Third Hokage looked at the heavy rain outside and could not help sighing.

"Shisui actually died. Could Shisui only stop the Uchiha in this way? And his parents had only just passed away, and now something has happened to Shisui too. That child..."

The rain grew heavier.

In the darkness.

Danzo spoke coldly.

"Shisui is dead? In that case, Uchiha Kagato cannot be allowed to live either. Now that he has lost all support, killing him will be as easy as turning over my hand."

Two days later.

Kakashi went to Kagato's house but did not see him. He had heard about Shisui's death, and Kakashi could not help wanting to visit Kagato.

His parents had died, his comrades had died, and even the elder brother who had taught him had died. That experience was far too similar to his own. Kakashi knew exactly how painful it would be. That was why he had come to see Kagato, hoping to pat him on the shoulder and tell him that everything would get better.

Unfortunately, Kakashi did not see Kagato.

The Uchiha training ground.

Kagato knelt before a gravestone. On it, he had crookedly carved several words: The Grave of Uchiha Shisui.

To accomplish all this, Kagato had paid the price of covering both hands in dried blood and losing all feeling in them.

If he stayed here without receiving treatment in time, his hands might well be crippled completely.

"Are you desperate toward this world?"

Suddenly, a voice came from behind Kagato.

Kagato turned his head slightly and glanced back. There were three people: a masked man wearing a mask with red markings; a man in a black robe patterned with red clouds, his face covered in black rods; and a mature woman with purple hair, also wearing a black robe patterned with red clouds.

Obito (Madara), Deva Path, and Konan.

The one who had spoken just now was Obito—or rather, the masked man.

Kagato ignored them. Although Obito had once killed his comrades, Kagato was now utterly disheartened. He had already thought countless times about whether he should erect a gravestone for himself as well. He had no interest in thinking about anything else. He was tired—truly tired.

"Join the Akatsuki."

Obito spoke again. He had not originally intended to personally invite Kagato, but in the end, he could not help coming himself. Kagato's experience had made him even more certain that this world was false. He could empathize with that utterly hopeless look in Kagato's eyes. When Rin died, his own state of mind had been much the same.

"Not interested. Get lost."

Kagato's answer was simple and direct, even somewhat brutal.

With death in his heart, what else could he possibly care about? Someone who truly wanted to die would not care about anything. These past few days, Kagato had not sought out anyone or disturbed anyone. He had no attachment to this world. It would be best if he could simply die quietly here.

"Don't you want revenge against Danzo?"

However, Obito, who had experienced almost the same despair, knew exactly what someone in such a state still cared about.

Hatred!

Sure enough, Kagato's eyes brightened slightly.

"Can your Akatsuki help me kill Danzo?"

"First, you need to join."

Kagato remained unmoved.

"You need to promise me first."

"Fine. I promise you that when you take revenge against Danzo, the Akatsuki will send people to assist you."

Deva Path nodded and agreed.

Kagato did not currently have the ability to take revenge against Danzo. Although he had awakened the Mangekyo, he could not control it at all. He did not even know what ability his Mangekyo possessed. Therefore, if he wanted revenge, he needed to borrow the Akatsuki's power.

"However, before you take revenge, you need to help us finish forming the Akatsuki. We don't have enough people yet. Before the Akatsuki is fully established, I will not send anyone to help you seek revenge."

"Fine."

Kagato did not care how long it took. He could wait. Besides, he did not merely want to kill Danzo. He also wanted Danzo to experience the same pain he had suffered. Simply killing Danzo was far from enough!

Danzo—didn't he want to protect Konoha? Then he could protect it properly!

Although Kagato had promised Shisui that he would not personally attack Konoha, that did not mean he had no way to destroy it. The Akatsuki was the perfect choice. Danzo wanted to protect Konoha? Fine. Kagato would ruthlessly destroy Konoha. Danzo wanted the Sharingan? Fine. One day, Kagato would dig every Sharingan out of his body, one by one.

Danzo wanted to become Hokage? Fine. Kagato would not let him live to see that day.

"Then show me your rejection of Konoha."

Deva Path said this.

Kagato knew what Deva Path meant. Summoning all his strength, he raised his hand, which had long since lost all feeling, and without hesitation removed the Konoha forehead protector from his head. He took out a Kunai and carved a deep slash across it.

From this day onward, he was a Rogue Ninja of Konoha.

Deva Path walked over to Kagato and handed him a ring.

"From today onward, you are Uchiha Kagato of the Akatsuki."

Kagato took the ring. A single character was engraved on it:

Sei.

Good morning, everyone! It's a new day, and I hope you're all in a good mood!

Starting with this chapter, Kagato has officially left Konoha. Next, we'll be entering the Akatsuki arc.