Suddenly, a powerful surge of chakra came from the distance!
A dozen Root members appeared in a clearing nearby, chasing after a shinobi.
"Wait... Big Brother Shisui!"
When Uchiha Itachi saw the shinobi being chased, panic spread across his face.
If it had been anything else, he might have stopped to think it through.
But... this was Shisui!
The strongest young member of the Uchiha Clan, known throughout the Ninja World as Body Flicker Shisui.
And now he was being hunted by Root, another Konoha organization.
Uchiha Shisui's one remaining eye was bleeding, and he looked battered and exhausted.
He must have already been gravely wounded.
In that situation, Uchiha Itachi immediately activated his Sharingan and prepared to rush to Shisui's aid.
He didn't care about the Will of Fire or what was best for the village anymore.
Root had openly attacked a member of the Uchiha Clan. The last bit of hope he'd clung to had vanished.
Thud!
At that moment, the Kunai in Roy's hand plunged into Uchiha Itachi's side.
"Sorry. If I want to survive, I have no choice but to do this."
"You're not getting past me."
Roy's voice came from behind Itachi.
"You... how could you...?"
Uchiha Itachi turned to look at Roy, unable to believe what he was seeing.
"Lord Danzo promised me that if I joined them and helped wipe out the Uchiha Clan, I'd be allowed to keep living as a member of Konoha."
"The High Command had already decided to move against the Uchiha. I was just forced to choose a path that would let me survive."
As soon as Lu Yu finished speaking, thorny vines sprang up around them and bound Itachi.
No matter how Itachi struggled, he couldn't break free.
All he could do was watch as Uchiha Shisui was attacked.
"Sorry, Big Brother Shisui."
"You have to die here today. You're just too strong!"
Roy shouted.
Hearing Roy's voice, Uchiha Shisui lost focus for an instant. The Root members seized the opening and struck him a devastating blow!
"Susanoo!"
Shisui's sole remaining Sharingan spun, and his Mangekyō Sharingan awakened.
A gigantic green Susanoo appeared on the battlefield.
The sight was undeniably overwhelming.
Staring at the enormous Susanoo, Uchiha Itachi looked shocked.
Was he really that weak?
If he had mastered Susanoo and awakened his Mangekyō Sharingan, could he have protected his friends and his clan?
As the thought crossed his mind, blood began to stream from his eyes.
His body trembled despite himself.
"Still not enough?"
Roy looked at Uchiha Itachi helplessly.
Even this hadn't awakened Itachi's eyes?
Fine, then. He'd have to make it even harsher!
By then, Uchiha Shisui had driven back all the Root members.
He immediately charged toward Roy and the others.
Roy saw him coming and quickly retreated.
Fighting Uchiha Shisui right now would be a foolish choice.
"Let's go!"
Shisui grabbed Uchiha Itachi and took him away.
They soon reached a higher cliff.
"Big Brother Shisui, why...?"
"There's no why. This is what happens when you lose a bet."
"The Konoha High Command can't be trusted."
"I was a fool to work so hard, even naively believing they might choose to trust the Uchiha."
Uchiha Shisui gave a self-mocking laugh.
"No, Big Brother Shisui, you..."
"Itachi, I can't go on."
"From now on, I'm counting on you to protect the Uchiha."
"Take this."
As he spoke, Uchiha Shisui removed his last Sharingan and handed it to Uchiha Itachi.
"But..."
"Goodbye, Itachi..."
Before Itachi could say anything, Shisui jumped off the cliff.
He made no attempt to use chakra to protect himself. He was ready to die.
"Big Brother Shisui!"
"No..."
In an instant, Itachi's Sharingan spun rapidly.
A new pair of Mangekyō appeared in Uchiha Itachi's eyes.
"Is this the power that can protect the village?"
"But, Big Brother Shisui, this isn't the kind of power I wanted."
"I..."
Even as he felt the power he'd just gained, there wasn't a trace of happiness on Uchiha Itachi's face.
Itachi's vision blurred. The world around him began to crumble.
Soon, his surroundings returned to normal.
He hadn't left the courtyard at all. Big Brother Roy hadn't betrayed them, and Big Brother Shisui hadn't died!
Had that just been... a genjutsu?!
"Big Brother Roy...?"
"He used too much ocular power and passed out."
"Controlling you with a genjutsu isn't easy. I was going to do it, but Roy said I might not be able to control it properly."
Seeing Uchiha Itachi's bewildered expression, Shisui explained what had just happened.
"Did you awaken your eyes?"
Shisui asked again when he saw how dazed Uchiha Itachi looked.
"Yeah."
Uchiha Itachi nodded, and his Mangekyō activated at once.
"Then Roy succeeded."
"Itachi, Roy will definitely become the Uchiha Clan's leading figure one day. I hope you understand that."
Shisui spoke with concern.
What the Uchiha needed now wasn't simply a leader with enough strength. They needed someone like Roy.
"I understand what you mean, Big Brother Shisui."
"I never wanted that kind of position. As for my father, he can't change what I think."
Uchiha Itachi had come back to his senses.
The feelings he'd experienced earlier had been brought on by Roy.
More importantly, Roy clearly understood his Absolute Domain and had helped him awaken his eyes in this way.
That was enough for Uchiha Itachi to accept Roy.
"Good. I just don't want power to blind you."
"All right, let's take Roy home first."
"He needs to rest."
After speaking, Shisui hoisted Roy over his shoulder and vanished.
Roy didn't wake up until evening.
"Ugh..."
"It worked..."
"And..."
Roy couldn't hide his happiness.
Not only had he managed to awaken Uchiha Itachi's eyes, but his main quest progress had also jumped straight to 50%!
Going after Itachi first really had been the right choice.
After all, Uchiha Itachi was the only person publicly known to have taken part in the Uchiha Clan Massacre.
Now that Uchiha Itachi had changed ahead of time, carrying out the Uchiha Clan Downfall Night wouldn't be so easy.
What would the Konoha High Command do next?
Before you continue