"Lord Menma!"
After Itachi's figure vanished into the forest, Shisui clenched his fists tightly, his voice suppressing barely concealed shock and anger.
"No—the extermination of the clan... I have to stop Itachi!"
Shisui's chest heaved violently, and even breathing became difficult—how had things turned out like this?
Itachi, the girl he had once acknowledged and trusted most, the one he had believed could uphold her convictions even in the darkness... had now chosen the most extreme, most cruel method.
Exterminating the clan.
Shisui's thoughts were a mess.
From a certain perspective, this really could "protect the Uchiha name"... after all, the dead could not betray anyone. It could also "protect the village"... because the root of the civil war would be completely erased.
But—genocide?
Something like that... could never be allowed!
Menma turned his head and glanced at Shisui.
Just a moment ago, he had been calling him "Ashes" at every turn. Now that he needed something, he had changed it to "Lord Menma"?
Still, this was not the time for snark.
"Listen carefully." Menma's voice carried unquestionable resolve. "Of course I won't carry out this so-called clan extermination."
"Meaningless sacrifice is the stupidest thing there is. Now, I'm going to save the Uchiha Clan. But time is tight, and there's no time to explain the details."
"Once this is over, I'll answer your questions. Until then, you do whatever I tell you to do—understood?"
Shisui froze for a moment, then nodded fiercely.
Menma... was not planning to help Itachi. That realization loosened Shisui's taut nerves slightly.
The Uchiha Clan's survival... could only be gambled on him now!
"Who are you...?!"
Inside a residence in the Uchiha Clan Compound, two men abruptly rose to their feet. Their pupils constricted as they stared fixedly at the two figures who had suddenly