Mangekyō

Itachi walked home in a daze.

He no longer remembered how he had parted from his uncle, Uchiha Dan, or how he had made it back to the Clan Compound.

"Your uncle here just wants to watch this world burn."

Dan's words echoed in Itachi's mind, making him tremble despite the sweltering heat, his hands and feet turning cold.

It took a long while for Itachi to come to his senses and calm down.

He didn't intend to tell his father about his uncle's deranged idea, because his father had never understood him.

He would tell the person he trusted most, Shisui.

That night, at the edge of the Naka River cliff.

"Shisui, I'm counting on you. At tomorrow's Clan Meeting, if my uncle does anything out of line, please stop him."

Itachi made his request to his friend with all sincerity.

"I understand, Itachi. I never thought Dan would have such a dangerous idea."

Shisui sucked in a breath, then solemnly agreed.

Then.

Itachi poured out everything he knew about his uncle, telling Shisui all of it.

He told him about Dan's battle with the mysterious masked man at Naka Shrine, and how Dan had evaded Root's assassination attempt, leaving Aburame Ryoma empty-handed.

"Uchiha Dan is someone who worships nothing but strength. The only way to stop him or change his mind is to defeat him in front of everyone and make him realize he isn't all-powerful."

Itachi urged Shisui to show no mercy if he came into conflict with Dan.

"Don't worry. I'll win. Because, just like the Masked Man you mentioned, I have a Mangekyō Sharingan too."

Shisui patted Itachi on the shoulder and gave him a warm, confident smile.

Itachi stared at him in astonishment.

Whoosh.

Shisui's dark eyes first became Three-Tomoe, then spun again, transforming into a brand-new pattern.

Unlike the Masked Man's triangular pinwheel eyes, Shisui's Mangekyō was shaped like a four-pointed Shuriken.

"From your description, the Masked Man only had one Mangekyō Sharingan. That's why he lost to Uchiha Dan, who only had Three-Tomoe, when he let his guard down.

"With both eyes together, the Mangekyō's Pupil Power is far greater than that of a single eye, and it can unleash its true power.

"That power is called God's Power."

Shisui spoke mysteriously, his gaze distant.

God's Power?

Itachi was deeply shocked, but also felt much more at ease.

After all, Shisui had never let him down.

At the same time.

Itachi couldn't help but feel a yearning for the Mangekyō.

The Masked Man and Shisui—those who had awakened the Mangekyō—were beyond his reach for now. All he could do was look up to them.

His dream was to become the strongest ninja, become Hokage, and put an end to war in the world.

To reach that point, he probably couldn't do without the Mangekyō.

It seemed Shisui could see what Itachi was thinking.

"Itachi, I believe you'll awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan someday. Every Mangekyō has a different pattern and different abilities. Maybe yours will be even stronger than the others."

Shisui smiled and offered Itachi a few words of encouragement, but he didn't tell him how he himself had awakened his Mangekyō.

Shisui simply couldn't bring himself to bring up those memories.

The night passed quietly.

The next afternoon. Hokage Building.

Clatter.

Danzo pushed the door open and barged into the Hokage Office. He found the Third Hokage standing with his back to him, smoking his pipe as he gazed out the window at Konoha.

"Hiruzen, how can you still be looking at the scenery at a time like this?"

Danzo snapped, jabbing his cane hard against the floor to show his displeasure with the Hokage.

"What is it?"

The Third Hokage turned around slowly, unruffled.

"You know a man named Uchiha Dan, don't you? After luring four of my subordinates to a remote spot outside the village, he attacked them and ruthlessly killed every one of them!"

Danzo glared at the Third Hokage, his face livid. "Root's people are Anbu, subordinates of you, the Hokage. Uchiha Dan must have acted on the orders of his brother-in-law, Uchiha Fugaku. They're planning a rebellion and declaring war on us!"

With those words, Danzo accused Dan and the Uchiha of treason before anyone else could.

The Third Hokage quietly watched Danzo's performance.

Phew~

He exhaled a ring of smoke, then sat calmly in the Hokage's chair and tapped the ash into the ashtray.

"Itachi already told me about this. You tried to recruit Dan, failed, and got a faceful of bitter tea for your trouble. So you lost your temper and sent people to assassinate him, only for them to fail. Isn't that right?"

The Third Hokage spoke unhurriedly, his eyes seeing right through Danzo.

After reading Dan's intelligence report last time, he had taken a keen interest in the man and had even specifically assigned Uchiha Itachi to keep an eye on him.

From Itachi's earlier report, the Third Hokage knew Danzo had taken a hit at Dan's hands. But to be honest, he hadn't expected Root to lose as many as four men.

It seemed Uchiha Dan was even more troublesome than he'd imagined.

The Third Hokage's words made Danzo's face stiffen.

That little brat, Uchiha Itachi, had actually told Hiruzen about the disgraceful incident in the teahouse.

Still.

Danzo was thick-skinned. Now that he'd been exposed, it was time to move on and act as though he'd never brought it up.

He snorted and continued advising the Third Hokage, insisting that he make a decision:

"Even if you intend to leave Uchiha Dan alone, don't forget that the Uchiha Clan Meeting is tonight. You and I both know this clan is becoming more and more dangerous. At a time like this, we must have the Anbu surround the Uchiha Clan Compound. That way, if the clan makes any move, we can respond immediately. And, if necessary..."

Danzo's gaze turned cold. His meaning was clear.

"Are you trying to tell me how to do my job as Hokage? Danzo, you've overstepped."

The Third Hokage furrowed his brow, displeasure showing on his face.

Danzo didn't back down. Instead, he stepped closer and pressured the Third Hokage across the desk.

"Hiruzen, everything I do is for Konoha. This time, you have to listen to me!"

Bang!

The Third Hokage stood up and slammed his palm on the desk, shouting at Danzo, "You've gone too far, Danzo. I'm the Hokage!"

"You'll regret this." Danzo showed no respect at all. He turned and slammed the door behind him.

After a while.

"You can come out now," the Third Hokage said with a sigh.

Uchiha Shisui stepped out from behind the folding screen.

He had listened to the entire argument between the Third Hokage and Danzo. Now he stood silently, his thoughts unreadable.

"Sorry you had to see that, Shisui. I'm not fit to be Hokage. I can't even keep my subordinates in line."

The Third Hokage made a self-deprecating remark.

Shisui's expression was solemn as he spoke from the heart. "Third Lord, you are the greatest Hokage in history. Without you, Konoha wouldn't be where it is today."

Hiruzen Sarutobi had been Hokage for nearly forty years—two full generations. He had led Konoha to victory in two Ninja World Wars, and only then had the village achieved its present peace and prosperity.

By now, the old man's prestige in the village had long surpassed that of the First and Second Hokages.