Shisui and Kuro

Konoha - Above the Fourth Kage Rock

Under everyone's gaze, the boy walked up to Kou and stood facing him, a few steps away.

The boy wore the Uchiha Clan's robes, his face still showing some immaturity, but his eyes held a maturity beyond his years.

At the end of the Third Ninja World War, the name of the boy before him was in no way inferior to those already famous and powerful figures in the Ninja World.

The former number one Uchiha, the "Body Flicker Technique) – Shisui.

At this moment, however, the gentleness and composure that used to Shisui's eyes were completely gone.

"Hello, it's been a long time, Brother Kou."

Shisui stammered, his voice strained.

Looking at the young man's roguish yet handsome face, which was noticeably more weathered than he remembered, he felt a mix of emotions.

The argument we had when we parted that day feels like it happened just yesterday.

At the time, I had no idea what would happen next; I simply treated it as an ordinary "conversation."

He was determined to convey his beliefs to this mentor-like and friend-like figure before him, and was eager to prove himself to him:

I have grown to the point where I can share his responsibilities and have the ability to resolve the increasingly serious conflict between the village and the family!

... but they completely ignored Brother Kou's feelings at the time.

After the argument that day, Brother Kou, with a serious expression he had never seen before, scolded him severely.

My mind went blank at that moment. I just stared blankly at Brother Kou's dejected figure before he left, standing alone from the sunset of the night until the dawn.

At the time, I was planning to apologize to Brother Kou after he calmed down.

Completely unexpectedly, on the night after their argument, Brother Kou secretly... chose to leave Konoha.

After Brother Kou left, the Lord Third Hokage and the clan chief suppressed the condemnation and doubts about him from the village and the clan.

The Lord Third Hokage even completely broke ties with his older brother Asuma, with whom he had previously had a somewhat improved relationship.

While he felt guilty about this, the remorse he felt towards Brother Kou was also constantly tormenting him in his heart.

I still can't forget the look in Brother Kou's eyes at the end.

That was a look of weariness and disappointment he had never seen in this "elder's" eyes before...

"I'm sorry, Brother Kou!"

Shisui suddenly bent over, her voice trembling uncontrollably:

"I have let you down, I really... I'm sorry."

"Shisui..."

Fugaku looked at Shisui before him, a hint of reluctance flashing in his eyes.

He was about to reach out and help Shisui up when his gaze involuntarily fell on Kou.

The hand that had just been raised suddenly froze in mid-air.

Unlike Shisui's excited expression, Koko's face was calm, as if he had expected what was happening before him.

"... If that's all you wanted to say, then you can skip this."

"At least now, I don't hold as much resentment towards you anymore."

Kouchi gazed calmly at the boy before him, recalling the sunset during his argument with Shisui, a self-deprecating smile involuntarily creeping onto his lips:

"After all, you weren't the only immature one back then."

Back then, I wasn't much better off than you.

Shisui was taken aback at first, then quickly raised his head, shaking it excitedly:

"No, Brother Kou, you're not wrong! It's all my fault, I—"

"Tsk, he's still the same as before, not listening to anyone."

The knocking interrupted Shisui's words. He shook his head with a look of disdain and couldn't help but mutter:

"That's what I hate most about you. I really don't know who taught you that. Is there something wrong with my parenting style...?"

Shisui swallowed back the words he was about to say, lowering his head in embarrassment like a child being scolded by an elder.

"Sigh, forget it, so many years have passed, I'm too lazy to complain anymore."

Kou waved his hand and said calmly to Shisui:

"Lift your head up. What I just said was the truth; I wasn't trying to comfort you."

"Although back then I had to rely on others because I lacked the ability myself."

However, this action itself involves a great deal of uncertainty.

Prematurely expecting and then prematurely being disappointed is nothing more than a form of self-arrogance, not unlike your past self.

His gaze lingered on Shisui's face for a moment, then he smiled calmly:

"I haven't even done this well myself, so how can I expect you to do it?"

"So you don't need to blame yourself so much for the argument we had back then."

"At least in this matter, I don't blame you."

"Brother Kou..."

Hearing Kou's words, Shisui raised his head with difficulty.

His gaze finally stopped darting away, and tears welled up in his eyes, blurring his vision.

Only now was he finally able to temporarily set aside his guilt and face the "brother" he hadn't seen for many years.

And from his eyes... he saw things that he hadn't noticed earlier because of his emotions.

Kou's eyes were no longer the familiar black pupils of his memory, but a pair of purple eyes with six Tomo and concentric ripples.

Although it differs slightly from what is recorded in the legends, it is indeed the eye that only the legendary Sage of Six Paths possessed.

The Rinnegan, ranked first among the three Dōjutsu!

"Brother Kou... he's gotten stronger."

Shisui stared at those purple pupils, momentarily lost in thought.

In those eyes, he saw not only the power they contained, but also something he had never seen in Brother Kou's eyes before.

Absolute self-confidence, and the peace of letting go of all burdens and finding a home...

"It seems that in all these years I didn't know, Brother Kou has really been through a lot."

Shisui sighed inwardly, and looking at Kou in front of him, a relieved smile appeared on his lips.

At this moment, he was genuinely happy for his elder brother.

Even if it wasn't him who brought him this peace.

"Of course, I do harbor some resentment towards you."

The smile that had just appeared on Shisui's lips froze instantly upon hearing Kou's next words.

Kou coldly stared at the boy who was once again embarrassed, a glint of purple light flashing in his eyes:

Aren't you going to tell me about the stupid thing you did last time?

"... Are you referring to my decision to commit suicide?"

Shisui subconsciously shrank his neck and asked cautiously.

"Or what?"

Kou said irritably, glaring at him fiercely:

"How could you choose to commit suicide at that time? What were you thinking?"

Didn't you think about the impact your death would have? You've made me forget all the political lessons I taught you before?!

Don't ever say I taught him/her, I can't bear the shame!

Hearing the rebuke, Shisui lowered his head again and said in a practiced, low voice:

"I'm so sorry, Brother Kou."

"You!!"

Seeing Shisui's willing and submissive demeanor, Kou's anger subsided somewhat.

"Hmph, the person you should apologize to isn't me."

He tilted his head slightly, glancing at the resurrected Uchiha around him, and sighed heavily.

"The people you should apologize to are everyone around us."

Haven't you realized it yet?

Why are the Uchiha members here, along with you who are already dead...?