"Then~ is there a way to solve this problem?"
Hearing Lin Cheng say this with such certainty, Uchiha Shisui instinctively swallowed and asked expectantly.
"The power in your eyes and their growth go hand in hand!
Unless you can make the Mangekyō Sharingan your regular power, it's impossible!"
Lin Cheng shook his head and came to a blunt conclusion.
He knew the real solution.
But he couldn't tell him.
Lin Cheng couldn't explain the theory behind that method.
Besides, that method was far too evil.
"I see? Heh. I was being too greedy!"
Uchiha Shisui shook his head, looking disappointed.
"I'll be on my way, then. Goodbye!"
Uchiha Shisui nodded and turned to leave.
"Goodbye!"
Watching Uchiha Shisui disappear into the distance in an instant, Lin Cheng shook his head regretfully.
Then he turned and headed in the opposite direction.
"Let's go, Little Kimimaro!"
"Okay, Lin Cheng!"
The two gradually walked away, their voices drifting back faintly as they talked.
"Lin Cheng! Why did you sigh at that man's back just now?"
"Because he has a pair of proud eyes, but not a proud heart!
Being too kind will make him hesitate when trouble comes. His fate will be tragic!"
"Is being kind a bad thing?"
"Kindness is good, of course! But being too kind isn't!"
As they walked farther away, their conversation gradually faded.
After a long while, a crow flew off.
Later, it landed on the shoulder of Uchiha Shisui, who had already gone some distance.
"Can being too kind actually be a bad thing?"
A thoughtful look flashed in his eyes. Uchiha Shisui set off again, heading for the Land of Fire.
Half a month later, Uchiha Shisui finally returned to Konoha and turned in his mission. There, he met his younger clanmate and friend, Uchiha Itachi.
"It's been a long time, Itachi!"
As soon as they met, Uchiha Shisui spoke with a hint of emotion.
"Mm."
Looking at Uchiha Shisui's deeply moved expression, Uchiha Itachi grew curious.
"Did something happen, Shisui? You look troubled."
"As expected of you, Itachi! On my mission to the Land of Earth, I met a genius just like you!
"No! Maybe he's even more gifted than you! Though I don't particularly want to say that!"
After thinking it over, Uchiha Shisui said it anyway.
"Oh? If you say that, Shisui, he must be incredible!"
Uchiha Itachi's eyes held nothing but curiosity; there wasn't the slightest trace of displeasure.
"I don't know exactly how strong he is! But he forced me to awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan!"
"What?! How is that possible? With your strength, Shisui, he—"
Thinking of Uchiha Shisui's abilities, especially his Body Flicker Technique, even Itachi, who had been calm moments before, was startled!
Uchiha Shisui seemed to guess what Itachi was about to say and interrupted with a wry smile. "His Body Flicker Technique is every bit as good as mine!
"And in close combat, I'm no match for him!"
"What?!"
Uchiha Shisui's words left Itachi utterly shocked.
No one understood better than Itachi just how powerful Uchiha Shisui's Body Flicker Technique was!
The name Body Flicker Shisui wasn't just for show!
"What was the outcome?"
Although Shisui stood before him unharmed, Itachi was still curious about how the fight had ended.
There was no outcome! After he forced me to awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan, we stopped fighting!"
Uchiha Shisui shook his head again, and his answer left Itachi surprised.
"What happened?"
"Before fighting me, he'd already guessed that my Sharingan had a more powerful state!
"So once he got confirmation, he stopped!"
"Could he be a spy?"
Itachi furrowed his brows and voiced his suspicion.
"Impossible! You're the only person I've told about the Mangekyō Sharingan!"
Uchiha Shisui shook his head, dismissing Itachi's guess outright.
"But—even if he's stronger than you, Shisui, he still shouldn't know about the Mangekyō Sharingan!"
Itachi questioned Uchiha Shisui's certainty.
"Maybe he has some special power!"
"Special power?"
"Mm~"
Uchiha Shisui then recounted everything that had happened from the moment he met Lin Cheng.
After a long while, Itachi came out of his thoughts and chuckled. "Hearing all that, Shisui, I kind of want to fight him myself!"
"With his talent, you'll definitely get the chance!"
"Mm. I'm looking forward to that day!"
The two looked up at the sky and fell silent for a long time.
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