Shisui's Mangekyō

"Big Brother Gen, what is the Mangekyō Sharingan? How is it different from the Sharingan?" Hyuga Natsu asked as she ate a candied hawthorn skewer, having overheard people talking about it.

It was their day off, so Hyuga Gen had gone strolling with Hyuga Natsu. It had been a long time since they'd gone shopping together. Most of the time, after all, they were training.

Hyuga Natsu had now completely mastered the Rasengan. She still needed a little more practice with Rotation, but she wasn't far off. Hyuga Gen thought she'd definitely learn it within two years at most.

After all, Hyuga Natsu was only ten. In two years, she'd be twelve. The Main House probably wouldn't even dare imagine someone mastering Rotation at that age.

Hyuga Gen was also making good progress with Fire Style. He'd already learned the Great Fire Dragon Technique. If Uchiha Izumi found out, she'd be so shocked her jaw would drop.

Lately, Hyuga Gen had been thinking about how to master the Majestic Destroyer Flame and the Dragon Flame Song Technique. The Majestic Destroyer Flame might be a super-evolved version of the Great Fireball, and using it required a huge amount of chakra.

Hyuga Gen thought the Dragon Flame Song Technique seemed to combine the Phoenix Sage Fire Technique and the Great Fire Dragon Technique. It also consumed a great deal of chakra.

Hyuga Gen was fairly satisfied with how much chakra he had. As his body grew stronger, his chakra reserves kept increasing. That was thanks to his soul merging with the original protagonist's after he crossed over, which had made his mental energy exceptionally powerful. As a result, Hyuga Gen learned things quickly, almost as if he had a photographic memory, and he had excellent insight.

His mental energy was exceptionally powerful, far surpassing his physical strength. So as his body grew stronger, his chakra capacity increased too. After all, chakra was produced by combining physical and mental energy.

Even so, Hyuga Gen figured he still didn't have enough chakra to use either of those techniques. After all, he was only eleven. That didn't mean he wouldn't be able to use them in the future, so he still wanted to figure them out. He might not need them now, but they'd come in handy someday.

Those Fire Style techniques were enough for him. He didn't need to learn any more. Hyuga Gen wasn't greedy; once he became a Genin, he planned to focus on learning Wind Release Ninjutsu.

"The difference is huge. Someone who's awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan and someone who hasn't are worlds apart."

"People who awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan usually gain two unique ocular abilities. Both are incredibly powerful, and they're different for everyone. Some can warp and travel through space; others gain black flames that can burn anything, or genjutsu that can never be broken."

"Awakening the Mangekyō Sharingan gives you Kage Level strength. If your eyes grant you exceptionally powerful abilities, you might even surpass Kage Level. In short, it's incredibly powerful," Hyuga Gen explained to Hyuga Natsu.

Of course, Hyuga Gen didn't mention the even more powerful abilities. Forbidden techniques like Izanami and Izanagi were so overpowered that they made no sense. Fortunately, they came at the cost of an eye. Otherwise, the whole world might belong to the Uchiha.

"Is that so? That Uchiha Shisui must be amazing," Hyuga Natsu said with a sigh.

"Yeah. It's a shame," Hyuga Gen said, sighing, because he knew Shisui was close to death.

What was the Uchiha thinking? The fewer people who knew about something like this, the better. A life-saving trump card like that should never be shared with anyone. Yet Shisui had even explained what Kotoamatsukami could do. How could anyone not be wary of him, afraid he might use it on them without warning?

Hyuga Gen really wanted to know what was going through Uchiha Shisui's head. Were the more talented really that simple-minded? So simple-minded they became foolish? When he'd explained what his ocular ability could do, Hyuga Gen imagined Hiruzen and Danzo's expressions must have been priceless.

Of course, ordinary people couldn't possibly know what his ability did. They only knew that a Uchiha named Shisui had awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan and was incredibly powerful.

"Big Brother Gen, what's a shame?" Hyuga Natsu asked curiously.

"Haha, nothing. Let's not talk about that, Natsu. We're out today, so let's have some fun. I'll buy you a few pretty outfits. I want to see you wear them," Hyuga Gen said quickly, changing the subject.

"Hmph, all you do is change the subject. I'm not letting you see me in them. But you're right, pretty clothes are the most important thing," Hyuga Natsu thought, a little annoyed. But the thought of pretty clothes soon cheered her up.

And so they visited every clothing shop in Konoha.

Meanwhile, in the Hokage's office, Danzo was discussing matters with the Third Hokage.

"The Uchiha Clan is making another move. We have to eliminate Uchiha Shisui as soon as possible," Danzo said with a sinister look.

"Shisui is a good boy. He's on our side. You saw him make his position clear just now. If they really rebel, he'll use that genjutsu to put down the uprising," Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi said, disagreeing with Danzo's plan.

"Hiruzen, don't be so naïve. He's a Uchiha. Do you really believe he'll do that instead of joining the rebellion? Can you guarantee it? Besides, you know why the Uchiha have become so restless this time, don't you?" Danzo fired off question after question, leaving Hiruzen no room to respond.

Hiruzen knew full well that the Uchiha Clan had grown restless because Uchiha Shisui had awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan, boosting their confidence.

Poor Uchiha Shisui was caught between both sides. At least he was on the village's side; otherwise, Konoha might have erupted into civil war.

"I believe that boy. He's on the village's side," Hiruzen said again.

"You know what his ocular ability can do. Even those who awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan turned against us. Think of Uchiha Madara and the others. If he used it on you one day, you might not be able to resist. It's easier to act while he's still on the village's side. If he decides to side with the Uchiha, it'll be too late. He is a Uchiha, after all," Danzo continued.

"Enough. It's settled. I'll take care of it. You don't need to worry about the rest," Danzo said firmly, seeing that Hiruzen still seemed hesitant. Then he slowly left the Hokage's office.

When he stepped outside and saw that Hiruzen didn't stop him, Danzo knew Hiruzen had tacitly approved. He went off to make arrangements.

Elsewhere, in the Uchiha Clan Compound, a group of people were still arguing.

"Shisui, tell us where you stand. You're a member of the Uchiha Clan. You're not really going to side with the village, are you? Can you really bear to watch us die one by one right in front of you without doing anything?" a man who looked like an elder said to Uchiha Shisui.

Uchiha Shisui gazed calmly at the group. He'd spent a long time trying to persuade them, but it had clearly been useless. In their pairs of red eyes, he could see nothing but resentment, desire, and madness. He knew he couldn't change people who had already gone mad.

"I'm tired. I'm going to rest. I'll give you a clear answer at this time tomorrow." He ignored the group and left. There was naturally some commotion and cursing behind him, but he let it go in one ear and out the other.

Looking up at the setting sun in the distance, he wondered where the Uchiha's path forward lay. He'd just realized that even if he used Kotoamatsukami, it could only affect one person, so it wouldn't make much difference. Unless he could use it on every one of them.

Even if he used Kotoamatsukami on the clan head, he'd still be alone against them. The elders would never accept it; after all, they all supported an uprising and rebellion.

So where did the way forward lie?