The Mantis Stalks the Cicada, Unaware of the Oriole Behind

The next day.

Konoha appeared calm on the surface.

Yet, in the shadows, the news had already spread.

Uchiha Shisui was being questioned by the hardliners within his clan over the matter of "Kotoamatsukami."

Fugaku was furious.

Tekka publicly rebuked Shisui.

To prove that he would not betray the village, Shisui prepared to meet the Third Hokage alone to request his intervention.

As soon as this news broke, before the Hokage Building could even react, the Root moved first.

Deep underground.

Shimura Danzō sat in the shadows, his single eye narrowed slightly.

"Shisui intends to meet Hiruzen alone?"

A Root Ninja knelt on one knee.

"Yes."

"The information comes from within the Uchiha Clan."

"Shisui and Tekka had a dispute."

"It seems the Uchiha have begun to lose trust in Shisui."

Danzō did not speak immediately.

His fingers tapped lightly against his cane.

One.

Two.

Three.

This news came too conveniently.

So convenient that it felt like a trap.

However—

Shisui's eyes were too important.

Kotoamatsukami.

The strongest Genjutsu capable of permanently rewriting a person's will.

If he obtained those eyes, he would have the 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 only one fit to lead Konoha toward true strength as Hokage.

Once he obtained Shisui's eyes, everything would change.

Danzō spoke slowly:

"What about Uchiha Shingetsu?"

The Root Ninja replied:

"He remains in the clan compound."

"He practiced Lightning Release at the Training Ground this morning, under the watch of Police Force members."

Danzō's single eye turned cold.

"Are you certain?"

"Certain."

The Root Ninja stated:

"Our observation posts confirmed that he has not left the clan grounds."

Danzō fell silent for a moment.

Uchiha Shingetsu was the variable he feared most.

That brat was too sinister.

Several times in a row, he had been thwarted by this kid.

If Shingetsu were present, he would never dare to act rashly.

But now, Shingetsu was staying in the clan compound.

Shisui went out alone.

Opportunities are fleeting.

Danzo finally gave the order.

"Notify Torune and Yamakaze."

"Set an ambush by the Naka River."

"Do not kill Shisui."

"I want his eyes."

The Root Ninja bowed his head.

"Yes."

Danzo stood up.

His cane tapped against the floor.

"This time, there can be no failure."

Evening.

The Uchiha compound.

At the Training Ground.

"Shin-getsu" was practicing Lightning Release.

He formed hand seals, electricity flickering in his palms.

Nearby, several Uchiha Clansmen watched him.

Everything looked perfectly normal.

Yet, if anyone were to approach and look closely, they would notice that this "Shin-getsu's" movements were slightly stiff.

At the edge of the Training Ground, Uchiha Tekka stood with his arms crossed, the corners of his mouth curling upward.

"That old dog Danzo should have taken the bait."

Standing beside him was Uchiha Inabi.

Inabi looked at the "Shin-getsu" in the field and whispered:

"How long can a Shadow Clone combined with Genjutsu disguise last?"

Tekka replied:

"Long enough to fool ordinary surveillance."

"The real Shin-getsu left a long time ago."

A cold glint flashed in Inabi's eyes.

"Are we really going to move against Danzo tonight?"

Tekka sneered.

"If he dares to gouge out Shisui's eyes, we dare to chop off his hands."

"This time, he isn't the one hunting the Uchiha."

"It is the Uchiha hunting him."

Naka River.

The setting sun sank into the water.

The current shimmered with a dark red light.

Shisui walked alone along the path by the river.

His expression was calm.

But his hand, hidden in his sleeve, had already gripped his short blade.

Shin-getsu had said it last night.

Danzo would definitely come.

Shisui had felt a trace of hesitation at first.

But now, he could feel it.

It was too quiet all around.

The chirping of insects had vanished.

The sounds of birds were gone.

Even the rustling of wind through the leaves seemed to be blocked off by some kind of power.

A Barrier.

Someone had set up a Barrier here in advance.

Shisui stopped in his tracks.

"Come out."

Several figures slowly emerged from the shadows of the trees.

Root Ninja.

The two in the lead were a man wearing the signature goggles of the Aburame clan and a thin, gaunt man carrying a short blade on his back.

Yamanaka Fu.

Aburame Torune.

Behind them, Danzo stepped out slowly, leaning on his cane.

"Shisui."

Danzo's voice was low.

"I do not wish to kill you."

Shisui looked at him.

"So, you only want my eyes?"

Danzo narrowed his single eye.

"It seems you already know."

Shisui gave a bitter laugh.

"If it were before, I might not have believed it."

"But now, I believe it."

Danzo said coldly:

"A power like Kotoamatsukami should not be held by the wavering Uchiha."

"Hand over your right eye."

"I can let you live."

Shisui's gaze turned completely cold.

"Lord Danzo."

"Do you know what you are saying?"

Danzo stepped forward, leaning on his cane.

"I have made myself very clear."

"For the sake of Konoha, your eyes must be handed over."

Shisui gripped his short blade tightly.

"For the sake of Konoha?"

"Or for your own sake?"

Danzo's eyes turned icy.

"Do it."

As the words fell, Yamanaka Fu and Aburame Torune moved.

Aburame Torune instantly raised his hand. Countless nano-sized poisonous insects flew out, lunging straight at Shisui.

Yamanaka Fu formed hand seals, preparing to use the Mind Transfer Jutsu to lock down Shisui's consciousness.

At the same time, the surrounding Root Ninja activated a barrier simultaneously.

Hum!

A black curtain of sealing light rose.

The banks of the Naka River were instantly cut off from the outside world.

Danzo watched Shisui coldly.

"Body Flicker Shisui."

"Your speed is indeed fast."

"But inside a pre-arranged barrier, you cannot escape."

Shisui did not speak.

He simply raised his head slowly.

Scarlet light emerged in his eyes.

The Three-Tomoe spun.

In the next instant, the Mangekyo pattern appeared!

Greed flickered in Danzo's single eye.

"As I thought."

"These eyes should belong to Konoha."

Shisui said coldly:

"You are 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, and he immediately commanded his poisonous insects to fall back and defend.

Before Yamanaka Fu could even release his Mind Transfer Jutsu, Shisui had already appeared at his side.

A flash of blade light.

Squelch!

Blood sprayed from Yamanaka Fu's shoulder as he was sent flying backward.

Fu retreated rapidly, his poisonous insects spreading out in a dense swarm.

Just as Shisui prepared to pursue, the barrier runes beneath his feet suddenly lit up.

Chakra Binding!

Danzo had been prepared.

He knew Shisui was fast.

Therefore, he had not set up a killing formation.

He had set up a barrier to restrict speed.

Shisui's movements faltered for a split second.

In that very instant, Danzo moved.

His speed was not slow.

With a short blade hidden inside his cane, he thrust directly at Shisui's right eye.

In the original fate, this strike would have succeeded.

But this time—

BOOM!

A bolt 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 stalled instantly.

His pupils constricted violently.

That voice!

From the treetops, a small figure leaped down.

Black clan attire.

Three-Tomoe Sharingan.

Uchiha Shingetsu.

For the first time, Danzo's expression changed completely.

"How are you here?"

Shingetsu landed beside Shisui, the corners of his mouth curling upward.

"Take a guess."

The next second.

The shadows of the trees all around began to sway.

Uchiha Fugaku stepped out.

Uchiha Tekka stepped out.

Uchiha Yashiro stepped out.

Uchiha Inabi stepped out.

Over a dozen pairs of Sharingan ignited in the night simultaneously.

Danzo's expression turned dark to the extreme.