Convincing Shisui

Before long, Shaoyu returned to a secluded courtyard inside the Uchiha Compound. This was the home he shared with his younger brother, Shisui.

Their parents had died on a mission years ago, leaving the brothers to depend on each other.

A faint light still glimmered inside the house. Shaoyu landed silently in the courtyard, suppressing every trace of his presence. He walked to the window and peered through a narrow gap.

Inside, a green-haired little boy sat upright at a low table, studying a basic ninjutsu scroll under the lamplight.

He had handsome features, and his eyes and brows bore some resemblance to Shaoyu's, though they were much more youthful.

Though he was young, his gaze was exceptionally focused and bright, carrying a maturity beyond his years. This was Uchiha Shisui.

He seemed to sense something and abruptly looked toward the window. His little face first grew wary, but the moment he made out the silhouette beyond the glass, his expression transformed into delight.

"Big brother!"

He jumped to his feet, hurried to the door, and pulled it open. When he saw Shaoyu standing in the moonlight, travel-worn but bright-eyed, Shisui's smile grew even wider. But he soon sensed something unusual about his brother.

There was a weight to it, a grim resolve, and an urgency that seemed to burn like fire.

"Big brother, you're finally back! The elders..."

Before Shisui could finish, Shaoyu pulled him inside and quickly shut the door, then set up a simple soundproof barrier.

"My foolish little brother, listen to me. There's no time to explain."

Shaoyu crouched and placed both hands on Shisui's small shoulders, meeting his younger brother's clear, confused gaze at eye level.

"We're leaving Konoha. Now. Right away. Come with me."

Shisui froze and blinked his big eyes, seeming unable to take it in. "Leave... Konoha? Where are we going? Why?"

"To somewhere we can survive, somewhere the Uchiha can gain freedom and respect."

Shaoyu spoke quickly, but every word was clear and firm.

"Konoha is no longer our home. The High Command has been pushing the Uchiha aside and oppressing us all along. If we stay, things will only get harder for us and our clan. We could even be in danger. I can't wait any longer, and I don't want to leave you alone in this dangerous place."

Shisui looked at the unprecedented seriousness in his brother's eyes, and the hint of buried pain there. The surprise gradually faded from his little face.

He had been clever from a young age and depended on his brother. He wasn't completely oblivious to the oppressive atmosphere within the clan.

His brother had come home late at night and was speaking with such urgency about "defecting"... This was no joke.

He didn't cry or fuss, or nervously ask for more details. He simply pressed his lips together, then nodded firmly.

"I understand, big brother. Wherever you go, I'll go too."

His crisp, decisive answer showed a level of trust and resolve far beyond his years.

Warmth stirred in Shaoyu's heart, and he ruffled Shisui's hair.

Though he had the original owner's memories, directly feeling the bond between himself and his beloved little brother still moved him.

Besides, Shisui was still young and hadn't yet been brainwashed by the so-called Will of Fire. Right now, he trusted his genius big brother completely.

"Good boy. Go change into something you can move easily in. Bring your ninja tool pouch and... the short sword Mother left behind. Don't take anything else. I'll buy you new things later."

"Okay!"

Shisui immediately ran into the inner room. He soon changed into a dark training outfit, strapped on his little ninja tool pouch, and carefully fastened a well-maintained short sword at his waist.

His movements were swift and orderly, showing the makings of a good ninja.

Shaoyu hurriedly packed his things as well. He sealed some important personal belongings, a little money, and several scrolls containing his insights into Fire Release and genjutsu inside a storage scroll.

He glanced around the home where he had spent so many years, his gaze lingering for a moment on a blurry photograph of their parents. Then his expression hardened. Lingering would only put them in danger.

In less than ten minutes, the brothers were ready. Shisui stood beside Shaoyu, his small hand clutching his brother's clothes. He looked up, his eyes betraying some unease about the unknown, but far more trust in his brother and the courage to face it all together.

"Are you scared?" Shaoyu asked.

Shisui shook his head, then nodded. "A little..." he said softly. "But I'm not scared when I'm with you."

Shaoyu took Shisui's hand, feeling its warmth and strength. "Hold on tight. We're leaving."

He removed the soundproof barrier and led Shisui away, the two of them slipping silently into the night like shadows. They left behind the home that was about to become part of their past and headed for their planned meeting place.

They hurried toward the Abandoned Watchtower, which overlooked part of Konoha yet remained well hidden.

It would have been much safer if Shaoyu could have tamed a few more Shikigami from the Ten Shadows Technique before defecting. But in Konoha, with the Uchiha under surveillance by the Konoha High Command, it simply wasn't a good place for Uchiha Shaoyu to perform the taming ritual.

He could think about that after leaving Konoha. His current strength was enough for now.

With Elder Setsuna covering for them, Konoha wouldn't discover their defection for a while. And although Shaoyu hadn't yet further developed either the Ten Shadows Technique or the Six Eyes, he could already use Susanoo. With Susanoo, Uchiha Shaoyu was a genuine Kage Level fighter.

Unless the Sannin came after him together or Sarutobi Hiruzen personally pursued him, Shaoyu didn't take anyone else seriously.

Wait. The Sannin of this era, even together, couldn't defeat Hanzo the Salamander. Hanzo's strength was indeed terrifying; he could be counted among the strongest in the Shinobi World. But he still hadn't surpassed Kage Level.

His victory over the Sannin showed that the three of them hadn't yet reached Kage Level. Shaoyu didn't know whether Jiraiya had learned Sage Mode, so all three of them were probably somewhere between elite jonin and Kage Level.

With Susanoo, Uchiha Shaoyu could still put up a fight.

As for Sarutobi Hiruzen, Shaoyu definitely couldn't beat him right now. Hiruzen was at his absolute peak, and one combination of cage and fire would probably break through Susanoo.

That old bastard Danzo might also be Kage Level, but his strength was nowhere near Sarutobi Hiruzen's at his peak. Besides, Shaoyu knew all about Danzo's trump cards: the Sharingan and Izanagi.

When it came down to it, a ninja battle was all about the information gap. If Jiraiya had known everything about Pain and activated Sage Mode before going in, he might not have lost.

After all, Pain's control over the Rinnegan was nowhere near Uchiha Madara's.

Still, Susanoo consumed eyesight, so he should avoid using it whenever possible.