Mangekyo

Itachi walked home in a daze.

He couldn't remember how he parted ways with his uncle, Uchiha Dan, or how he returned to the Clan Compound.

"Uncle, I just want to see this world burn."

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

After a long while, Itachi finally snapped back to reality and calmed down.

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

He wanted to tell Shisui, whom he trusted the most.

That night, by the cliff of the Naka River.

"Shisui, I'm begging you. If my uncle acts out of line at tomorrow's clan meeting, please stop him."

Itachi earnestly made the request to his friend.

"I understand, Itachi. I didn't expect Dan to have such dangerous thoughts."

Shisui gasped, then solemnly agreed to Itachi's request.

Then.

Itachi poured out all the Intelligence he knew about his uncle to Shisui.

He recounted everything, including Dan's battle with the mysterious Masked Man at the Naka Shrine, and how Dan had evaded an assassination attempt by Root, causing Aburame Ryoma to return empty-handed.

"Uchiha Dan is someone who only worships power. The only way to stop or change his mind is to defeat him in public, to make him realize he's not omnipotent."

Itachi cautioned Shisui, hoping that the latter would not hold back when confronting Dan.

"Don't worry, I will win. Because, like the Masked Man you mentioned, I also have the Mangekyo Sharingan."

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

In Itachi's astonished gaze.

Swish.

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

Unlike the Masked Man's triangular pinwheel eyes, Shisui's Mangekyo was a four-pointed shuriken.

"Based on your description, that Masked Man only had one Mangekyo Sharingan, which is why he was defeated by the Three-Tomoe Uchiha Dan due to carelessness.

The Mangekyo's power is much stronger when both eyes are activated simultaneously compared to a single eye, and it can unleash its true strength."

"That power is called God's Power."

Shisui said mysteriously, his eyes distant.

God's Power?

Upon hearing this, Itachi was greatly shocked, but also felt a lot more at ease.

After all, Shisui had never disappointed him.

At the same time.

In Itachi's heart, he inevitably began to yearn for the Mangekyo Sharingan.

Whether it was the Masked Man or Shisui, these users of the Mangekyo Sharingan were existences that Itachi could not reach at the moment, forcing him to look up to them.

His dream was to become the most powerful ninja, become Hokage, and then eliminate war in the world.

To achieve that, without the Mangekyo Sharingan, it was probably impossible.

As if sensing Itachi's thoughts.

"Itachi, I believe you will definitely be able to awaken the Mangekyo Sharingan in the future. Every pair of Mangekyo Sharingan has a different pattern and different abilities. Perhaps your abilities will be even more powerful than other Mangekyo Sharingan."

Shisui said with a smile, encouraging Itachi meaningfully. However, he did not tell Itachi how he had awakened his Mangekyo Sharingan.

This was because Shisui truly lacked the courage to bring up that past event.

The night passed without incident.

The next day, in the afternoon. Hokage Building.

Clang.

Danzo pushed open the door and barged directly into the Hokage's office, finding the Third Hokage with his back to him, smoking his pipe while looking out the window at Konoha.

"Hiruzen, what time is it, and you're still in the mood to admire the scenery?"

Danzo said coldly, poking the ground heavily with his cane to express his dissatisfaction with the Hokage.

"What is it?"

The Third Hokage slowly turned around upon hearing this, his expression calm and composed.

"There's someone named Uchiha Dan, you should know him. This person lured four of my subordinates to a remote area outside the village and then ambushed them, ruthlessly killing them all!"

Danzo stared at the Third Hokage with a furious expression and said sternly, "Root members are Anbu members. They are subordinates of you, the Hokage. Uchiha Dan's actions must have been instigated by his brother-in-law, Uchiha Fugaku. He's planning to rebel and declare war on us!"

With these words, the villain accused first, placing the hat of rebellion on Dan and the Uchiha clan.

The Third Hokage quietly watched Danzo's performance.

Puff~

He exhaled a smoke ring, sitting calmly in the Hokage's chair, tapping ash into the ashtray.

"Itachi already told me about this. You clearly tried to win over Dan, but were instead sprayed in the face with bitter tea, and then in a fit of rage, sent people to assassinate him, only to fail, right?"

The Third Hokage spoke unhurriedly, his eyes seeing through everything.

After reviewing Dan's intelligence last time, he had attached great importance to this person and had specifically dispatched Uchiha Itachi to monitor him.

From Itachi's previous reports, the Third Hokage knew Dan had suffered a setback at Dan's hands, but honestly, he hadn't expected Root to lose as many as four members.

It seemed this Uchiha Dan was even more troublesome than he had imagined.

After hearing the Third Hokage's words, Danzo's expression stiffened.

That little brat Uchiha Itachi actually told Hiruzen about his embarrassing incident in the teahouse.

However.

Danzo was thick-skinned. Since he had been exposed, it was time to move on, as if he hadn't mentioned it.

He snorted coldly and continued to advise the Third Hokage, demanding a decision:

"Even if you plan to leave Uchiha Dan alone, don't forget, tonight is the Uchiha clan meeting. You and I both know this clan is becoming increasingly dangerous. In this critical period, we must dispatch the Anbu to surround the Uchiha Clan Compound, so that if there is any movement from the clan, we can respond immediately. Even, when necessary..."

At this point, Danzo's gaze turned cold, his meaning self-evident.

"Are you teaching me, the Hokage, how to do my job? Danzo, you've overstepped."

The Third Hokage frowned, showing displeasure.

Danzo did not back down. Instead, he took a step forward, leaning over the desk to pressure the Third Hokage:

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

Bang!

The Third Hokage stood up, slamming his hand on the desk, and roared at Danzo, "You are too presumptuous, Danzo. I am the Hokage!"

"You will regret this." Danzo showed no respect, turning and slamming the door shut as he left.

After a long pause.

"You can come out now." The Third Hokage sighed and said.

Uchiha Shisui emerged from behind the screen.

Having listened to the entire argument between the Third Hokage and Danzo, he was now silent, lost in thought.

"I've made a fool of myself, Shisui. I'm not worthy of being Hokage, unable to control my subordinates."

The Third Hokage said with self-deprecation.

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

Hiruzen Sarutobi had been Hokage for nearly 40 years, spanning two generations, leading Konoha to victory in two Ninja World Wars, ultimately bringing the Village the peace and prosperity it enjoyed today.

Currently, the old man's prestige in the Village far surpassed that of the First and Second Hokage.