The Choice Shisui Made, and His Foolish Nisan

"I didn't expect Danzo to have so many traits."

"Though... they're kind of dark..."

Deep in the forest, Jin couldn't help recalling the traits that had appeared over Danzo just moments ago.

[You defeated Shimura Danzo. Attempting to copy traits.]

[Currently copyable traits: Sharingan Collector (Black), Pot Kage (Black), 5.5th Hokage (Black), Bridge Sealer (Black), Wood Release Cells · Remnant (Blue), Wind Release Mastery (Blue), Tongue Curse Eradication (Green)...]

There were so many black traits that he couldn't help giving a thumbs-up and praising him:

"As expected of the Pot Kage. The only ones who could rival that level of darkness are probably Obito or Madara, right?"

Wasn't that leaving everyone else in the dust?

He shook his head and kept reading.

[Copy successful. Congratulations, host! You have obtained the rare trait Wood Release Cells · Remnant (Blue): Increases physical energy and balances spiritual energy. However, due to the immaturity of the replication technique, using it will consume life force.]

No wonder the trait was incomplete.

Its rank wasn't high, but the side effect was no joke!

Jin narrowed his eyes and kept the trait without a second thought.

For now, it seemed capable of maintaining a balance between physical and spiritual energy.

In other words, it could keep him from becoming like Itachi, coughing everywhere he went.

Before he even arrived, his coughing would give him away.

Those who knew the truth would realize the Sharingan had worn him down; those who didn't would think he had a weak constitution.

With Wood Release, he could keep his physical and spiritual energy stable for a while.

But the part about consuming life force...

He just needed to upgrade the trait.

It was only blue for now. If he could raise it to purple or even gold—

Then he'd have nothing to worry about!

At that thought, Jin glanced back the way he had come and murmured, "Looks like I'll have to find Danzo for a chat whenever I get the chance..."

From now on, on dark and windy nights, Danzo would be getting a taste of Jin's brick!

"Faster, faster!"

"Lord Danzo... why... why would you do this..."

"That guy Jin... he really was right..."

"Root, huh?! They really won't give up the chase."

Muttering to himself, Shisui clutched his eye and unleashed his Susanoo with one eye!

The Susanoo, wreathed in green light, stood seven or eight zhang tall!

It stood out sharply in the forest.

And it was incredibly powerful!

Most members of Root had no idea what they were looking at.

Faced with power like that of a god, all they could do was struggle to defend themselves.

But Shisui merely swept the Root members aside before continuing to run forward.

He didn't know where he wanted to go.

Back to the clan?

In his current state, there was no way he could hide what had happened from the clan.

Given the situation within the clan, those people might launch a coup tonight.

Especially the elders. Even the Clan Head might not be able to stop them.

Forget it. He'd go to—his usual spot.

As he thought this, he suddenly dismissed his Susanoo, turned around, and ran toward the edge of the cliff.

It was the place where he sought solace whenever he felt lost and helpless.

But gradually, his eyes began to hurt more and more.

His thoughts grew heavier, too.

Faster.

Just a little faster.

Thud.

At one point,

his strength gave out, and he collapsed.

But just before he hit the ground, a pair of slender hands reached out to catch him.

"It's..."

Shisui froze for a moment. When he looked up, he saw a boy with tear troughs, about his own height, standing before him.

"Itachi... what are you doing here..."

Itachi shook his head without saying a word.

He simply helped his friend sit beneath a tree.

Why was he here?

Jin had been showing up in their chats every day lately, and the conversations always touched on Shisui and Danzo.

So when Itachi saw Shisui head out that night, he followed without thinking.

Unfortunately, he'd been a step too slow.

He drew a deep breath, tamped down his excitement, and said in a low voice, "Shisui, you..."

Before he could finish, two frail fingers pressed against his lips.

Shisui shook his head. "Shh, Itachi. Listen to me."

"Lord Danzo did this. He took my other eye, too."

"But—don't tell the clan. Let them think I died on the battlefield."

As he spoke,

he drew back the two fingers he'd extended, pinched out an eyeball, and said,

"Don't be sad. Take this, and remember to look after the village and the clan—and those two kids, too."

"Maybe only my death can bring this invisible conflict to an end."

Then, with death in his heart, he turned toward the cliff he remembered and leaped over the edge.

"Shisui..."

Itachi looked at the bloodied eyeball in his hand.

Then he looked at his friend, whose whole body seemed steeped in death. An indescribable feeling began to spread through his chest.

Why had it come to this?!

Why had such an innocent, naive boy become a casualty of political struggle?!

Why was it Shisui?!

His mind wailed, his blood roared!

Even the Chakra inside him began to whirl wildly.

The Three Tomoe Sharingan in his eyes began to spin rapidly.

Like a motorized scooter souped up with a 98cc engine, it was spinning like crazy.

Gradually, the Three Tomoe stretched and merged, forming what looked like triangular shuriken!

The Mangekyo awakened!

Itachi's Mangekyo had awakened in fury over the death of Shisui, both his mentor and his friend!

Tap, tap, tap.

At the same time, a Root member appeared behind him and crept closer.

Itachi didn't even look. He simply glared at him and unleashed a blast of Black Flame.

Fwoosh!

Black flames appeared out of nowhere and quickly engulfed the ninja.

He didn't even have time to scream before he was burned to ash.

Amaterasu!

"So... this is my new Dojutsu, Amaterasu?"

Itachi watched the Root member burn alive as two trails of bloody tears slowly ran down his face.

"You're the first person to die to Amaterasu."

"And the last."

Just as he finished speaking, a flippant voice came from beside him.

Young, spirited, flippant.

That voice belonged to—Jin?!

Itachi quickly looked up. The moment his crimson eyes rose, they returned to normal.

Sure enough, Uchiha Jin was standing before him.

He was carrying a very familiar figure on his back.

"Hm? Shisui, too?"

Itachi was surprised, a trace of delight suppressed deep in his eyes.

He hadn't expected Jin to save Shisui after he'd jumped off the cliff.

Then he frowned and hesitated over how to put it. "But... Shisui doesn't want us to save him..."

Jin: ...

His anger flared up in an instant.

"Idiot!" He immediately reached out and jabbed Itachi hard in the forehead, scolding him. "So what if he said not to save him? If he told you to assassinate the Hokage, would you do that too?!"

Damn it!

No wonder the Uchiha were a bunch of lunatics.

Even Itachi, the smartest of them, could be an idiot a lot of the time!