You Should've Guessed It by Now, Right?

"An ability that can be used without eye contact, that makes people unknowingly act according to subconscious suggestions planted by the caster, and whose only drawback is the need for a constant supply of chakra?"

After Shisui nodded, Yun continued, "Are you the only one who knows about this technique's ability, besides the Fourth?"

Shisui shook his head slightly. "The Fourth's student Kakashi knows, too. His eye played a major role in that incident a year ago."

Yun thought back over Kakashi's history. With the Fourth still around, he wondered whether Danzo would try to manipulate Kakashi.

"From now on, don't tell anyone else about your Mangekyō Sharingan's abilities. Even if the Konoha High Command asks, just say the Fourth knows."

None of the three present were fools. They quickly understood what Yun meant.

Fortunately, the ability had a weakness: the continuous chakra output. The Byakugan could easily reveal who was under its control.

"Shisui, big brother."

Itachi's voice rang out. The Two Tomoe in his eyes slowly turned. "Have you found out who that enemy was—the one who was captured and brought to the Military Police Force a year ago?"

Shisui shook his head slightly. "That enemy wore a mask because his face had been disfigured. And since the Fourth really did have something important to take care of that day, he and I didn't question the prisoner until the next day."

"But you probably know what happened after that. The moment the Fourth and I left the Military Police Force, that man was rescued. And the Mangekyō we'd entrusted to Captain Fugaku the day before ended up being the cause of his death."

Shisui looked at Itachi with guilt. "And that eye..."

Itachi cut him off. "I know. But as clan head, it was only right for the Sharingan lost outside the clan to be entrusted to him. I just need to learn that man's identity so I can find the person who killed my father."

Yun scratched his head. A year ago, Obito's Matryoshka Team 2 probably didn't have many members, and he wasn't sure if Matryoshka Team 1 had gone bad yet.

But even if they had, would Nagato have sent the Six Paths of Pain to rescue him? Would Madara Uchiha really stoop that low?

Then again... maybe the Black and White Duo?

The atmosphere turned cold for a moment after Itachi brought up his father's murder, until Shisui took out a weapons pouch and tossed it to him.

"A gift to celebrate your enrollment. These are custom-made tools I bought from Granny Cat. The kunai are light and sharp. They should suit you."

Itachi looked at the items in the pouch, then raised his head and smiled for the first time. "Thank you."

Shisui nodded, then turned to Yun and tossed him a scroll. "This has the Shadow Clone Technique and the Body Flicker Technique, along with some Uchiha Fire Release Ninjutsu. You're different from Itachi. I think you'll need these."

Yun caught the scroll. Shisui really did understand him.

He didn't care much about Fire Release. But the Shadow Clone Technique, the ultimate tool for skipping class, was a must-have.

And then there was the forbidden Multi Shadow Clone Technique, Naruto's training cheat. As long as you could handle it, you could keep stacking experience indefinitely.

And if you couldn't handle it? Brain death was the result.

"Both the Shadow Clone Technique and the Body Flicker Technique require a lot of chakra. If you use them recklessly and collapse from exhaustion, no one will be there to save you. So..."

Shisui gave him a warning, then said, "Let's call it a day. Yun, could you take Izumi's wooden kunai back for her?"

The three of them parted ways on the walk from the training ground to the Uchiha Compound. Yun had gone halfway when he stopped.

"You actually sensed me?"

Shisui appeared out of nowhere, looking surprised. Yun shook his head. "I didn't sense you. I guessed you still had something left to say, but didn't want Itachi to hear it."

"Phew..."

Shisui let out a breath and said with a sigh, "Sometimes you really don't seem like a six-year-old. Sure, ninja mature early. Kakashi graduated at five and became a Chunin at six. But you, Yun... sometimes you act like a child, and other times like an old man."

"Should I call you Grandpa?"

"Smack!"

Shisui lightly smacked Yun for his cheek, then laughed. "That joke went a bit too far, don't you think?"

Yun smiled. "What was it you hadn't finished saying? Go ahead. I might be able to help you figure something out."

Shisui's expression gradually grew serious. Even the Three Tomoe in his eyes began to connect as his Mangekyō opened.

After using his Mangekyō's heightened perception and a sensing technique to check their surroundings, Shisui finally spoke. "The Kotoamatsukami I mentioned earlier is only the ability of my right eye. My left eye's ability is also called Kotoamatsukami, but its power..."

No eye contact was needed, nor did the caster need to maintain a chakra connection. The target was controlled without even realizing it.

This was Shisui's ultimate genjutsu, Kotoamatsukami—a power so absurd it was practically a cheat.

"When I first awakened it, I used the technique once. That enemy... filled with genuine remorse... killed himself!"

Shisui's words carried his fear of the technique. "From that moment on, I understood how terrifying Kotoamatsukami was. And because it's so terrifying, after using it once, I need several years before I can use it again."

Yun tilted his head slightly. "How long until you can use it again?"

Shisui nodded. "Next year. One more year."

Yun let out a sigh of relief. At least it wasn't more than five years. If it took longer than that, the Uchiha might manage to wipe themselves out.

"This technique... don't mention it to anyone else, including me. If a third person learns about it, that'll be the moment the Uchiha are exterminated!"

After he finished, Yun looked toward the Hokage Building in the center of the village. "Politics has been tainted since the moment it entered this world. Don't test a person in power's goodness with your own sincerity. When they weigh the pros and cons, you won't get the outcome you want."

Shisui nodded. "I've understood how terrifying this technique is ever since I awakened it. You're the first person besides me to learn about it. And you have secrets too, don't you, Yun? About Kotoamatsukami... I get the feeling you'd already guessed."

Yun abruptly looked at Shisui, then just as abruptly lowered his head. He thought it over, then looked back up. There was no need for eye contact. Looking or not made no difference.

As Yun took in Shisui's smiling face, every moment they'd spent together over the past six months flashed through his mind. He reviewed each of their conversations all over again.

He really couldn't underestimate anyone who had become a jonin!

Analyzing intelligence and every word spoken—those were basic skills for a jonin.

And Shisui was an elite even among jonin. There was no need to say more.

"Although I won't pry into your secrets, I can tell you like your life in Konoha, too. And unlike Itachi, you feel a lot of goodwill toward the ordinary Uchiha clansmen."

As he spoke, Shisui looked toward a small shop up ahead. It belonged to a middle-aged couple in the compound and was called the Uchiha Rice Cracker Shop.

The owners were named Uchiha Geng and Uchiha Tesho. They were ordinary civilians, but they treated everyone with kindness.

Before Yun turned five, when his mother was the only one in the family earning money, the owners of this rice cracker shop often gave Yun and Izumi rice crackers to eat.

"They're just ordinary civilians. Yet they have to make a choice between life and death just because they have the Uchiha name. Shisui, once you've recovered, use your ability to become clan head!"