The next day.
Konoha appeared calm on the surface.
But beneath it, the news had already spread.
Uchiha Shisui was being questioned by hardliners within the clan over Kotoamatsukami.
Fugaku was furious.
Tekka had rebuked Shisui in public.
To prove he wouldn't betray the village, Shisui planned to meet the Third Hokage alone and ask him to step in and mediate.
As soon as the news got out, Root moved before the Hokage Building even reacted.
Deep underground.
Danzo sat in the shadows, his one eye narrowed.
"Shisui wants to meet Hiruzen alone?"
A Root ninja knelt before him.
"Yes."
"The information came from inside the Uchiha Clan."
"Shisui and Tekka got into an argument."
"It seems the Uchiha have already begun to distrust Shisui."
Danzo didn't respond at once.
His fingers tapped lightly against his cane.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
The timing was too perfect.
Almost like a trap.
But—
Shisui's eyes were too important.
Kotoamatsukami.
The most powerful Genjutsu, capable of permanently rewriting another person's will.
If he obtained that eye, he'd have a chance to truly control Konoha.
Hiruzen was too weak.
The Councilors were too shortsighted.
The Uchiha were too dangerous.
And he, Shimura Danzō, was the most suitable Hokage to lead Konoha to greatness.
As long as he got Shisui's eye.
Everything would be different.
Danzo spoke slowly:
"What about Uchiha Shingetsu?"
The Root ninja replied:
"He's still at the clan grounds."
"This morning, he was practicing Lightning Release at the Training Ground, watched over by members of the Police Force."
Danzo's one eye turned cold.
"Are you sure?"
"Certain."
The Root ninja said:
"Our observation posts saw him stay inside the clan grounds the whole time."
Danzo fell silent for a moment.
Uchiha Shingetsu was the variable he feared most.
There was something unsettling about that kid.
He'd foiled Danzo several times in a row.
If Shingetsu were there, Danzo wouldn't dare make a move so easily.
But now, Shingetsu was staying at the clan grounds.
Shisui was going out alone.
The opportunity would vanish in an instant.
Danzo finally gave the order.
"Notify Torune and Yamanaka Fū."
"Set an ambush by the Naka River."
"Don't kill Shisui."
"I want his eye."
The Root ninja bowed his head.
"Yes."
Danzo rose to his feet.
His cane struck the ground.
"This time, we cannot fail."
Dusk.
The Uchiha Clan Grounds.
At the Training Ground.
"Shingetsu" was practicing Lightning Release.
He formed Hand Seals, electricity flickering in his palm.
Several Uchiha watched him from nearby.
Everything seemed perfectly normal.
But anyone who came closer and looked carefully would notice that "Shingetsu's" movements were a little stiff.
At the edge of the Training Ground, Uchiha Tekka stood with his arms folded and the corners of his mouth slightly raised.
"That old dog Danzo should've taken the bait by now."
Beside him stood Uchiha Inabi.
Inabi watched "Shingetsu" in the field and asked in a low voice:
"How long can a Shadow Clone disguised with Genjutsu fool them?"
"Long enough to fool ordinary surveillance," Tekka replied.
"The real Shingetsu left a long time ago."
A trace of coldness flashed in Inabi's eyes.
"We're really going after Danzo tonight?"
Tekka sneered.
"If he dares to gouge out Shisui's eye, we dare to cut off his hand."
"This time, he isn't hunting the Uchiha."
"The Uchiha are hunting him."
The Naka River.
The sun sank beneath the surface of the river.
The water shimmered with a dark red glow.
Shisui walked alone along the path by the river.
His expression was calm.
But his hand, hidden in his sleeve, was already gripping a short blade.
Shingetsu had told him the night before.
Danzo would definitely come.
At first, Shisui had still hesitated.
But now, he could feel it.
It was too quiet around him.
The insects had fallen silent.
The birds had stopped calling.
Even the sound of the wind in the leaves seemed cut off by some unseen force.
A Barrier.
Someone had set one up here in advance.
Shisui stopped.
"Come out."
Several figures slowly emerged from the shadows among the trees.
Root.
The two at the front included one wearing goggles characteristic of the Aburame Clan and another with a short blade on his back and a slender build.
Torune.
Yamanaka Fū.
Behind them, Danzo slowly appeared, leaning on his cane.
"Shisui."
Danzo's voice was low.
"I don't want to kill you."
Shisui looked at him.
"So you only want my eyes?"
Danzo narrowed his one eye.
"So you already know."
Shisui gave a bitter smile.
"If this had happened before, I might not have believed it."
"But now, I do."
Danzo said coldly:
"A power like Kotoamatsukami shouldn't be in the hands of an Uchiha who can't make up his mind."
"Hand over your right eye."
"I'll let you live."
Shisui's gaze turned completely cold.
"Lord Danzo."
"Do you know what you're saying?"
Danzo stepped forward, leaning on his cane.
"I've made myself perfectly clear."
"For the sake of Konoha, you must hand over your eye."
Shisui tightened his grip on the short blade.
"For the sake of Konoha?"
"Or for your own sake?"
Danzo's eye turned icy.
"Attack."
At his command,
Torune raised a hand.
Countless nanoscopic venomous insects flew out, rushing straight at Shisui.
Yamanaka Fū formed Hand Seals, preparing to use the Mind Transfer Jutsu to seize control of Shisui's consciousness.
At the same time, the Root ninja around them activated the Barrier.
Humm!
A black sealing barrier rose.
The area beside the Naka River was instantly cut off from the outside world.
Danzo stared coldly at Shisui.
"Body Flicker Shisui."
"You're certainly fast."
"But inside a Barrier prepared in advance, you can't escape."
Shisui said nothing.
He only slowly raised his head.
A crimson glow surfaced in his eyes.
The Three-Tomoe spun.
The next instant, a Mangekyo pattern appeared!
Danzo's one visible eye flashed with greed.
"As expected."
"Those eyes should belong to Konoha."
Shisui said coldly:
"You're wrong."
"They belong to the Uchiha."
The next second.
Shisui vanished.
Body Flicker Technique!
A Body Flicker Technique pushed to its absolute limit!
Yamanaka Fu's expression changed. He immediately sent his venomous insects swarming back to defend him.
Before Yamanaka Fū could release his Mind Body Switch Technique, Shisui had already appeared at his side.
A flash of steel.
Pfft!
Blood burst from Yamanaka Fū's shoulder, and he was sent flying.
Torune quickly retreated as swarms of venomous insects spread out.
Just as Shisui was about to pursue him, the barrier runes beneath his feet suddenly lit up.
Chakra Binding!
Danzo had been prepared.
He knew Shisui was fast.
So he hadn't set up a killing formation.
He'd set up a barrier to restrict his speed.
Shisui's movements faltered for the briefest moment.
That was all Danzo needed.
He moved.
He was no slouch when it came to speed.
A short blade hidden inside his cane shot straight for Shisui's right eye.
In the original course of events, this strike would have landed.
But this time—
Boom!
A streak of lightning suddenly erupted from the ground.
"Lightning Style: Earth Flash!"
Blue-white lightning tore through the earth.
Danzo's feet went numb, and his movements stopped instantly.
His pupils contracted.
That voice!
A small figure leaped down from the treetops.
Black clan robes.
A Three-Tomoe Sharingan.
Uchiha Shingetsu.
For the first time, Danzo's expression changed completely.
"How are you here?"
Shingetsu landed beside Shisui, the corner of his mouth lifting.
"Take a guess."
The next second.
Shadows stirred among the trees all around them.
Uchiha Fugaku stepped out.
Uchiha Tekka stepped out.
Uchiha Yashiro stepped out.
Uchiha Inabi stepped out.
More than a dozen pairs of Sharingan lit up in the night.
Danzo's expression darkened to the extreme.
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