Shisui Committed Suicide

Arata did not know how he had made it back to the clan compound.

His mind was filled with the scene from the day he had parted with Shisui:

"Hey, hey, I surrender, I promise!"

"I'll definitely, definitely keep an eye on Danzo's movements."

"Because I still have to keep protecting my little brother, always, always!"

He had promised him!

He would not lie to him!

Arata's knuckles turned white. His shallow nails had already dug into his palms, and blood seeped out.

"Arata."

As he walked, a familiar voice called out to him.

Looking up, he saw Izumi Uchiha.

The vicious incident in the commercial district of the main city had already spread. She had run all the way here just to find the boy before her.

"Izumi."

"Is Shisui really dead?"

At the sight of the girl before him, Arata was like a drowning man grasping at a lifeline. His voice was hoarse, as though countless emotions were choking in his throat.

As for what those two Chunin had said earlier, Arata did not believe it at all!

That was his brother!

That was Body Flicker Shisui!

That was the Uchiha Clan's greatest genius, a supreme powerhouse who could activate Susanoo with a single eye. How could he possibly die so easily?

Even against Shimura Danzō, even against the entire Root, he should have been able to escape unharmed!

Unless...

Unless the course of history had changed.

Someone else had participated in this hunt!

Itachi Uchiha, or the Third Hokage?

Arata's heart suddenly clenched with panic.

He had overlooked something crucial: Konoha's higher-ups' stance!

His interference had disrupted Shisui's resolve regarding Konoha and the clan. Though Shisui had still not openly chosen a side, from Konoha's perspective—especially in Danzo's and the two Councilors' eyes—such actions meant he had chosen a side. It was a sign that he was about to betray the village!

At that thought, Arata's entire arm tensed involuntarily. Blood seeped from his palm and dripped onto the ground, drop by drop.

"Arata, don't do this."

Izumi looked at the grown boy before her with heartache.

From the way he addressed Shisui, she had already realized one thing: Shisui was very important to Arata! Important enough to be considered family!

And Arata cherished that familial bond immensely.

Back when the Sarutobi brothers had provoked her, Arata had beaten them mercilessly.

At the time, Arata had only just enrolled in the Academy, while they were fourth-years! They were even members of the Hokage's clan!

"Izumi, you still haven't answered my question."

Arata spoke softly.

Just as before, he answered a question with another question.

"Yes, he really is."

Thud.

When those three words reached his ears, the bag of food clutched tightly in Arata's palm suddenly fell to the ground. Its white string had been stained red, while the delicious-looking tri-colored dango quietly poked out from the box.

Arata said nothing. He simply started walking toward a destination he had already decided upon.

He was going to find that person!

"Arata."

As the boy passed by her, Izumi called out again. The worry in her eyes deepened. She had never seen Arata like this before—not even when the entire clan had questioned and ostracized him had he shown such emotions!

Arata stopped as she asked.

Yet no words followed.

Because Izumi did not know what to say at that moment. Any words, any comfort, seemed pale and powerless now.

"I'm fine, Izumi."

The pause was fleeting.

In the end, Arata was the one who broke the silence.

After saying that, he brushed past her and left.

"Brother, you broke your promise."

"Then everyone who made you break it will have to pay the price!"

Clan Head Fugaku's residence was magnificent, occupying the center of the clan compound. Even someone visiting the Uchiha Clan for the first time could easily find it.

Yet there was a conspicuous shattered section on the wall by its gate.

The pattern beneath the break was the fan symbol of the Uchiha Clan.

Arata stopped before the main entrance. He did not call out. Instead, through Clear Mirror, Still Water, he continuously unleashed his presence and undisguised killing intent!

Whether it was Clan Head Fugaku or Itachi, as long as either of them was inside, they would definitely sense it.

Creak.

Before long, the door opened.

It was Itachi!

Itachi Uchiha, wearing an utterly calm expression!

"Shisui is dead."

Arata gritted his teeth as he spoke.

His eyes were locked firmly on the person he hated most!

On his way here, Arata had thought of many, many things.

Danzo and Root alone were not enough to force Shisui into a hopeless situation with no chance of survival!

Even following the original course of events, after being ambushed and having one eye stolen, Shisui should still have been able to escape and survive under Susanoo's protection!

Besides, he had promised Arata. He would never throw his life away so easily!

That left only one possibility: others had joined this hunt, leaving Shisui at the end of his strength even after he escaped.

Itachi was a traitor to the clan. Arata's first thought was this ungrateful bastard.

Yet he had not been completely blinded by rage.

The Itachi of this time should not have been capable of joining in Shisui's murder.

Thus, there was only one possibility: the Third Hokage had been involved!

"I know. But Shisui's death had nothing to do with me."

Itachi Uchiha instinctively clenched his fists, his voice cold.

A few days ago, it had been the clan elders. Now it was Arata. The entire clan suspected him.

Heh.

This hopeless clan!

"So, what are you going to do?"

Arata did his best to slow his tone and suppress his emotions.

He feared that he would lose control and want to kill this bastard before him again!

But now!

Right now, only Itachi could help him!

Help Shisui avenge his death!

Root!

Danzo!

As long as they joined forces, as long as Arata revealed every card he had, together with Itachi's Susanoo and the Mangekyō Kotoamatsukami Shisui had entrusted to him, they could definitely crush those pieces of trash who only knew how to hide underground!

Looking at the boy whose eyes were filled with hatred and who radiated endless killing intent, Itachi Uchiha's thoughts drifted.

"So, Shisui, was he the one you wanted to speak of at the end?"

That night, before Naka Waterfall.

"Shisui."

Looking at the young man before him, Itachi trembled all over. His mind went blank for a moment.

Blood silently flowed from Shisui's tightly shut eyes. Endless weakness and the aura of death clung to him.

A black Crow stood quietly on his shoulder. That was likely how he had managed to return here.

"Yo, you're here, Itachi."

Cough.

Shisui forced a relaxed response.

But with every word he spoke, more blood spilled from the corner of his mouth.

Itachi Uchiha did not speak. He did not know how to begin.

Vaguely, he had already guessed the reason.

"The Hokage sent Anbu to deliver a letter to me."

"He said he wanted to consider allowing the Uchiha to return to the clan compound to ease the current situation, and told me not to inform anyone else."

"Cough, cough."

"But when I arrived at the agreed location, I found Danzo and his Root waiting for me."

"Danzo no longer trusted me and took my right eye. He definitely would not give up on taking my left eye, so I have already destroyed it."

Cough.

Blood slowly trickled from the corner of Shisui's mouth.

He was already at the end of his rope.

Activating Susanoo with one eye had already been his limit. Though he had escaped with great difficulty, it had exhausted all his strength.

"Perhaps all of this was merely Danzo's scheme. I just failed to see through it."

A deeply concealed trace of mockery lingered in Shisui's voice.

"But be careful of him. Be careful of them, if you want to protect Sasuke."

Those words struck straight at Itachi's heart, making his fists clench even tighter.

"If I die, the situation between the village and the clan should change somewhat. I have already left behind a suicide note."

After revealing the whole truth, Shisui slowly backed away. Even standing atop the cliff, they could hear the raging river below.

"Do you have any last wishes?"

Itachi desperately restrained his emotions as he suppressed the grief and indignation in his heart.

This was his closest friend, his mentor!

Yet faced with such a scene, he could do nothing.

For the village.

And even more so, for Sasuke!

At those words, Shisui suddenly stopped.

He thought of someone.

A little fellow who had earnestly called him brother and repeatedly warned him to guard against Konoha's higher-ups.

He wanted to ask Itachi to take care of that little fellow who was not particularly likable.

But the words reached his lips and stopped.

Because Sasuke would always come first in Itachi's heart.

"None."

"I'm glad I knew you, Itachi."

"I'm sorry I broke my promise, Arata, my dear little brother."

The Crow flew away, and the genius fell.

"Shisui committed suicide."

Coming back to his senses, Itachi Uchiha replied one word at a time.