Shisui's "Defection"

Dusk.

The setting sun was as red as blood, bathing Konoha in a dark crimson hue.

The entrance to Root Base lay hidden in a forest on the outskirts of the village, a place that even birds and beasts rarely approached.

Two masked Root guards were concealed in the treetops, keeping a watchful eye on their surroundings.

Suddenly, a gust of wind swept through.

The leaves rustled, but nothing seemed out of the ordinary.

But when the guards looked toward the ground again, their hearts skipped a beat.

A young man had appeared in the empty clearing, though no one knew when.

He wore the Uchiha Clan's distinctive high-collared, dark-colored shirt and carried a short sword on his back. His black hair stirred gently in the wind. He made no effort to conceal his presence and showed no signs of preparing to fight. He simply stood there, looking forlorn and conflicted.

"Who are you?!"

The guards instantly used the Body Flicker Technique to land, their Kunai aimed at the young man's throat.

The young man slowly raised his head, revealing a pair of deep, dark eyes.

"Shisui Uchiha."

He gave his name calmly. His voice was quiet, yet both guards instinctively took half a step back.

Body Flicker Shisui.

In the Shinobi World today, that name meant extreme danger.

"I request an audience with Lord Danzo." Shisui bowed slightly, adopting a humble posture. "I have important information about the Uchiha Clan that I must report in person."

Deep within Root Base.

Danzo was reviewing documents. On his desk lay the report about "infighting within the Uchiha Clan" that Tieshan had delivered yesterday.

"Shisui is here?"

At his subordinate's report, the pen in Danzo's hand stopped in midair.

A glint flashed in his single eye.

The intelligence matched.

First, a spy had reported that the Uchiha hardliners were gaining influence and Fugaku could no longer keep them in check. Now the only "moderate" representative in the clan, Shisui, had come to him of his own accord.

That meant the situation had indeed worsened to the point that even Shisui, a "pacifist," could no longer sit still.

"Let him in." Danzo set down his pen, the corner of his mouth curling into an amused smile. "No, take him to that room."

The room in question was Root's Brainwashing Room. Danzo had no plans to act against Shisui just yet, but he needed that oppressive environment to put psychological pressure on the young man.

A few minutes later.

Shisui was led into a sealed room with metal walls on all sides.

Danzo stood in the shadows, leaning on his cane, his single eye coldly scrutinizing the young man as he entered.

"Shisui." Danzo's voice was hoarse and commanding. "You rarely come to see me of your own accord. Is it because of Fugaku?"

Shisui said nothing. Instead, he dropped to one knee.

The gesture eased some of the wariness in Danzo's eye.

"Lord Danzo." Shisui raised his head, his face filled with pain and confusion. His acting was worthy of an Oscar. "I... I'm lost. I don't know what to do anymore."

"Speak." Danzo walked up to him.

"The situation in the clan is worse than I imagined." Shisui's voice trembled slightly. "Ever since the last clan meeting, the hardliners have grown louder and louder. Yesterday, Tieshan even openly challenged the clan head, shouting that they should fight the village by force. And Clan Head Fugaku... He seems to have given up trying to keep them in check. He's been shutting himself in his study all day."

Danzo sneered inwardly. Just as Tieshan had said.

"I'm worried." Shisui clenched his fists. "If this continues, a coup is inevitable. Then both the village and the Uchiha will be plunged into war... I don't want to see that happen."

"Shisui."

Danzo reached out and patted Shisui on the shoulder like a kindly elder.

"You're the only clear-headed member of the Uchiha Clan. You should understand that the clan's narrow interests are insignificant in the face of the village's greater good."

Danzo's voice took on a hint of persuasion. "Fugaku is old and confused. To keep his position as clan head, he's actually indulging those madmen. A man like that is unfit to lead the Uchiha."

Shisui's body trembled. He looked up at Danzo. "You mean..."

"To preserve peace in the village, sometimes we must make difficult choices." Danzo fixed his gaze on Shisui. "If it comes down to it, are you willing to put the greater good above family and act against your own?"

It was a test.

And a demand.

Shisui fell silent for a long time. His eyes wavered, as though he were locked in a fierce inner struggle.

At last, he seemed to make up his mind.

Bzz—

The three Tomoe in Shisui's eyes spun rapidly, transforming into the Mangekyō Sharingan that struck fear into the entire Shinobi World.

The four-pointed pinwheel pattern glowed an eerie red in the dim room.

"I want to stop all this, too." Shisui looked at Danzo, his voice firming. "Lord Danzo, these eyes... have the power to completely change another person's will in an instant. The jutsu is called Kotoamatsukami."

"Kotoamatsukami..."

Danzo's breath caught for a moment.

Even a deeply calculating old fox like him couldn't help letting a flash of naked greed show in his eye at the name.

The ultimate genjutsu.

It could alter someone's will without them realizing it, turning an enemy into a loyal follower. It was a godsend for controlling the Shinobi World!

Danzo's fingers tightened around his cane until they turned white. For a moment, he even wanted to order the Root shinobi lying in wait nearby to attack and seize Shisui's eyes.

But he held back.

Shisui was still at the height of his power. His Body Flicker Technique was unparalleled in the Shinobi World. If they failed to kill him in one strike and he escaped or fought back, the consequences would be disastrous.

More importantly, this "blade" was being offered to him willingly.

"Change someone's will?" Danzo took a deep breath, suppressing his greed. "A fine ability. If it were used on Fugaku, perhaps this crisis could be resolved without bloodshed."

"That was what I thought, too." Shisui put away his Mangekyō, his expression once again turning obedient. "If Clan Head Fugaku truly decides to stage a coup, I'll use Kotoamatsukami on him and force him to change his mind, making him devote himself to peace between the village and the clan."

"Excellent."

Danzo nodded in satisfaction.

That was how it should be. Once Shisui used Kotoamatsukami on Fugaku, the Uchiha threat would be eliminated. By then, Shisui would be exhausted and at Danzo's mercy. Those eyes would end up in his possession sooner or later.

"Since you've reached this understanding, you can serve as a special liaison for Root," Danzo said. "From now on, you won't need to go through an intermediary. You can report to me directly. If Fugaku shows any signs of losing control, you'll answer to me at once."

"Yes, Lord Danzo."

Shisui bowed respectfully, then rose to leave.

Watching Shisui's retreating figure, Danzo turned to his trusted subordinate in the shadows. "Keep an eye on him, but don't make a move. Those eyes are our trump card now. Once he's dealt with Fugaku, we'll reap the rewards."

"Yes." The subordinate accepted the order.

By the time Shisui left Root Base, the sun had completely set and night had fallen.

A cool breeze swept through the forest, carrying away the stench of decay from underground.

Shisui stood on a treetop and glanced back at the seemingly bottomless entrance.

In that brief moment, he had clearly sensed the greed and killing intent erupting from Danzo. If he hadn't offered up Kotoamatsukami as bait, it would have been difficult to leave unscathed today.

In his previous life, this was where Danzo had ambushed him and taken one of his eyes.

But in this life...

Shisui reached up and touched the socket of his right eye.

It was intact, its ocular power undiminished.

The confusion, pain, and conflict on his face vanished in an instant. In their place appeared a chilling smile.

There was no warmth in it, only bone-deep cold.

"Danzo, do you want these eyes?"

Shisui murmured softly, his voice as light as the wind.

"Then watch closely. This time, my eyes will be on you the whole way... watching you step into the grave we've prepared for you, watching you meet your end."

"Kotoamatsukami will indeed be activated. But Clan Head Fugaku won't be its target."

With that, his figure blurred and disappeared in an instant.

Meanwhile.

The busiest streets in Konoha were ablaze with lights.

A long line had formed outside a sweets shop bearing the sign "Kanmidokoro."

Itachi Uchiha wore casual clothes and held the hand of five-year-old Sasuke.

Sasuke stared longingly at the tricolor dango behind the counter, practically drooling.

"Nii-san, is it our turn yet?" Sasuke tugged at Itachi's sleeve and asked in a childish voice.

"Soon."

Itachi gently patted Sasuke's head, but his gaze passed over the crowd and settled on the other end of the street.

There, a blond man in a Hokage's haori was walking toward them with a gentle smile, accompanying a pregnant red-haired woman.

The Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze.

And the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, Kushina Uzumaki.

Itachi's gaze sharpened slightly.

The actors were in position, and the stage was set.

Next came the grand performance known as a "chance encounter."