"Danzo finally ran out of patience."
Yamei's gaze sharpened as he flickered toward the back mountain.
At Konoha's back mountain, Shisui and Danzo stood before a building with a plaque bearing the character for "ninja."
"Is something the matter, Lord Danzo? It's almost time for the gathering."
Danzo narrowed his eyes at Shisui. "If you use your Dojutsu on Fugaku and persuade the Uchiha Clan members, but the village still doesn't change, what will you do?"
Shisui met his gaze. "Lord Hokage has promised me that things will change."
"Even if the Third Hokage persuades them... the village's suspicion of you will not disappear."
"I understand. It will take time."
"But... someone as suspicious as me will not change so easily... What will you do then?"
"But, Lord Danzo..."
Danzo suddenly opened his lone eye. "When that time comes... will you use your Kotoamatsukami on me as well?"
"I..."
"I'll be taking your Sharingan!"
While Shisui was stunned, Danzo suddenly reached for Shisui's right eye!
Bang!
Shisui instantly grabbed Danzo's hand, and a genjutsu activated at once!
"It's only an ordinary genjutsu... You'll wake up soon."
Leaving those words behind, Shisui turned to leave.
Yet in that instant, Danzo vanished and reappeared before Shisui! He threw a vicious punch, sending Shisui flying!
In that split second, Danzo's hand was already pressed against the right eye, ripping it away in an instant.
"Leave the other Sharingan behind as well."
As Danzo spoke, more than a dozen Root ninja suddenly appeared beside him.
Shisui's expression changed as his hands rapidly formed seals. "Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!"
"Water Style: Water Colliding Wave!"
The forces collided, and amid the rising mist, Shisui used the Body Flicker Technique to race toward the back mountain!
"Body Flicker Technique? Go capture him," Danzo said coldly, and the Root ninja behind him immediately gave chase.
Shisui raced through the forest. He did not go looking for Itachi; instead, Yamei's figure came to mind.
"It really was just as you said... It seems... I truly am a failure."
A trace of desolation crossed Shisui's face as the Root ninja caught up behind him.
Yamei appeared at the place where Shisui and Danzo had just been.
Watching Danzo rub his right eye, Yamei could not help shaking his head.
He had originally wanted to use Magic Hand to loot Danzo, but Danzo had not yet transplanted Hashirama Cells, so there was nothing worthwhile to take. He would come back later.
Ignoring Danzo, Yamei raced in Shisui's direction.
Before long, Yamei saw a green Susanoo standing tall, its Yasakani no Magatama bombarding everything before it!
"That color... really is flashy." Yamei shook his head with a chuckle.
By the time he reached the battlefield, the Susanoo had already dissipated. The area was in ruins, and only Shisui remained, sitting weakly at the edge of the cliff and looking at Yamei.
"You came."
"So, you were waiting for me here?" Yamei asked with a smile as he stepped forward.
Shisui did not answer. Instead, he nodded bleakly. "You were right... I really am stupid."
"And now one of my eyes is ruined. As a one-eyed man... I'm afraid I don't hold much value for you anymore, do I?"
"So you believe you've already died once?" Yamei asked with interest.
"If I hadn't thought of you... I would have given my remaining eye to Itachi and jumped down already."
Shisui froze, then turned to glance behind him. "Then just treat me as if I've died once."
"Then from now on, everything you have belongs to me, correct?" Yamei's gaze grew somewhat serious.
Shisui only hesitated briefly before nodding firmly. "From today onward, there is no longer Uchiha Shisui of Konoha. There is only Shisui of Hyakawa Yamei!"
Yamei nodded in satisfaction at Shisui's attitude. "In that case, I'll give you a gift first."
Yamei formed hand seals, and Shisui suddenly felt every injury and trace of exhaustion vanish from his body...
Suddenly, he reached for his right eye...
It was still there!?
He looked at Yamei in shock.
"That's right. It was all genjutsu. Danzo never obtained your eye. Both of you were deceived by my genjutsu."
Shisui was stunned for a moment, then showed a look of understanding. "I can only say that I still underestimated you... Your genjutsu... has become even more terrifying."
"Not bad." All of those genjutsu had been planted in Shisui's body beforehand.
"If Danzo didn't get my eye, he'll definitely become suspicious of me..." Shisui frowned.
"It's fine. Just let him keep believing that he got your eye." Yamei spread his hands.
Upon hearing that, Shisui stared deeply at Yamei. It seemed... he had still underestimated him!
"Come on. Go to my house tonight. I'll tell you a few things and assign you some tasks."
After Yamei called out to him, Shisui quickly followed.
Not long after the two left, several Anbu figures appeared there. They looked over the scene... then looked toward the blood at the cliff's edge, which dripped all the way down below.
"The target most likely fell off the cliff. Leave two people behind to investigate. The rest of you, return with me and report to Lord Danzo."
"Yes!"
With Root's departure, the matter of Shisui was finally settled.
Meanwhile, Shisui had arrived at Yamei's home. After washing up and changing clothes, he sat down in the living room.
"Take a look at this."
Yamei took out a red-covered notebook and handed it to Shisui.
Shisui accepted it and began reading. The farther he read, the more animated and excited he became!
"Yamei! Th-this... did you come up with this!? Liberate the labor force, have ninja join production! Civilization and harmony..."
"This is truly magnificent! If... if the ninja world could implement this ideology! Then there would be true peace!"
"You think it's feasible too?"
"Of course!"
"Then are you willing to become my assistant?" Yamei stared at him.
Shisui's expression suddenly turned solemn. "I will devote myself wholeheartedly!"
"Good. Take these notes with you. Then I'll give you two years. Within two years, I need you to unify the Land of Waves and transform it! Make it our base!"
Yamei's eyes shone with ambition.
Why choose the Land of Waves?
First, the Land of Waves had no ninja village!
Second, Gato of the Land of Waves was extremely wealthy and could provide an economic foundation!
Third, the Land of Waves was weak! It would not attract the attention of the other great nations!
"Yes!"
Shisui accepted without hesitation, while resolving to carry it out properly.
"However, before heading to the Land of Waves, you still have two tasks."
Yamei took out a scroll and handed it to Shisui. "The first task is to find Sunagakure's Kekkei Genkai user, Shakuton Pakura, and give this scroll to her."
"Pakura!?" Shisui was stunned. Naturally, he had heard Pakura's name, but when had Yamei ever gotten in contact with her?
Yamei did not explain the truth that Pakura would be betrayed by her village and die.
Pakura's exact time of death could not be determined. In any case, after the Third Shinobi World War, Sunagakure's Kazekage would sell her to Kirigakure as part of a deal, resulting in her death.
Pakura's disciple Aki was born around Year 40, and Pakura became his teacher around Year 53, so she would most likely die within these two years.
"Mm. She may be useful to me. When you reach Sunagakure, give her the scroll if she's still alive."
"If she's dead, then carry out the second task. Go to Kusagakure and rescue a mother and daughter from the Uzumaki Clan."
"There are still survivors from the Uzumaki Clan!?" Shisui was somewhat surprised.
"Mm." Yamei merely nodded and continued, "After you complete those two tasks, head to the Land of Waves! If nothing unexpected happens, Raiga Kurosuki and Momochi Zabuza of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist are both in the Land of Waves."
"Those two are fairly capable. You can try to recruit them as well."
Before you continue