Itachi saw the change in Shisui's eyes clearly. The Kunai thrust by his Shadow Clone stopped dead.
He could hardly believe it.
"Shisui, you awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan!" Itachi broke into a delighted smile.
He was genuinely happy for Shisui. Shisui nodded.
"I can feel it. I never thought it would awaken while we were sparring. Itachi, you're my lucky charm."
Not far from the forest, Fugaku watched it all from within the Black Mist.
When Shisui had appeared in his courtyard earlier, Fugaku had sensed a distinct fluctuation in Pupil Power. Just as he had expected.
Shisui's awakening had come naturally. He had reached the right age, and his bloodline had awakened. That was what a true genius looked like.
With a step, Fugaku returned home. Shisui was still young, but to Fugaku, the timing was perfect.
This was the ideal time to train him. Fugaku himself had been about Shisui's age when he awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan.
That had been during the Second Shinobi World War. He had already led an Elite Squad and established his place in the Ninja camp.
Thinking of his old companions made Fugaku feel as though that life belonged to another era. Since the Elite Squad disbanded, he had not seen those former teammates in a long time.
He had kept up with news of them, though. Across two Shinobi World Wars, many had died on the battlefield.
They had given their lives to win Konoha's hard-fought victories in the brutal final stages of the Second Shinobi World War.
That was part of why Fugaku had later insisted on signing a Treaty with the Four Great Ninja Villages: to avenge his fallen companions.
In the forest.
"Shisui, how does it feel to awaken the Mangekyo Sharingan?"
Shisui shook his head. "I don't feel