Kotoamatsukami Seizure Plan

The waters of the Naka River surged under the force of the Nine-Tails chakra, soaking half the old bridge.

Two Root remnants were dragged onto the bridge and dumped like dead fish at Mitokado Homura's feet. Water quickly drained from their bodies, revealing the sealing cords and drug-filled syringes hidden against their chests.

Naruto pinned one scroll beneath his foot.

The words on its cover were painfully clear.

Kotoamatsukami Seizure Plan.

Shisui's expression changed the instant he saw those words.

Itachi's blade remained across Mitokado Homura's throat, but his gaze shifted to the scroll.

Kotoamatsukami.

The most powerful ocular jutsu of Shisui's Mangekyō Sharingan.

Very few people knew that name.

The higher-ups knew, the Third Hokage knew, and Danzo knew. A few ANBU records might have contained vague descriptions.

But the words "Seizure Plan" laid every intention bare.

Naruto bent down, picked up the scroll, and unrolled it.

The first section:

"Target: Shisui Uchiha's right eye."

The second section:

"Rationale: Kotoamatsukami possesses the ability to rewrite the will. It can be used to correct the allegiances of the Uchiha Clan Head, the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, and key Jonin."

The third section:

"Recommended execution: Root will lure Shisui into acting alone. The Advisors' Office will fabricate an imminent coup crisis. If necessary, Uchiha Itachi will assist in subduing the target."

Shisui's fingers slowly tightened.

Itachi's expression turned cold as well.

His name appeared in the execution recommendations.

That meant Mitokado Homura had not merely wanted to use him to kill Shisui.

He had also intended to turn him into an accomplice in stealing Shisui's eye.

All color had drained from Mitokado Homura's face.

"That was Danzo's plan, not mine!"

Naruto turned to the end of the scroll.

There were two marks at the bottom.

A Root code designation.

The Advisors' Office review seal.

Mitokado Homura's personal seal.

Itachi pressed his blade a little farther forward, and a line of blood immediately appeared on Mitokado Homura's neck.

"Explain."

Mitokado Homura's breathing grew rapid.

"I only reviewed the risks! Shisui's eyes are too dangerous. If the Uchiha radicals used Kotoamatsukami, the entire village would become their puppets!"

Shisui looked at him.

"So you planned to steal it first?"

Mitokado Homura gritted his teeth.

"For the village's sake, someone must control the most dangerous power."

Naruto raised his eyes.

"You people?"

Mitokado Homura did not answer.

Naruto walked up to him and threw a punch.

Mitokado Homura slammed into a bridge pillar, a tooth flying from his mouth.

"You were even going to burn my mother's letter."

A second punch.

"You even dared to pocket my living allowance."

A third punch.

"You even stitched Uchiha eyes into Danzo's arm."

Mitokado Homura collapsed onto the bridge, his mouth full of blood.

Naruto crouched down to look at him.

"What makes you think you deserve to control Kotoamatsukami?"

No one on the bridge tried to stop him.

Not Jiraiya.

Not Kakashi.

Certainly not Itachi or Shisui.

Because this plan was too filthy.

It did not merely target Shisui, nor did it merely target the Uchiha.

It listed the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.

They wanted to use Kotoamatsukami to correct Naruto's allegiance.

If Naruto had not awakened his system tonight, if the Nine-Tails had not accepted him as its master, Shisui's eye might have been stolen a few years later and used on him, making him love Konoha from the bottom of his heart, forgive everything, and give his life for the village.

That thought ran down Kakashi's back like ice water.

He looked at Naruto.

But Naruto had not lost control.

His calm was chilling.

Naruto handed the scroll to Shisui.

"Keep it safe."

Shisui accepted it, his voice somewhat subdued.

"Thank you."

Naruto looked at him.

"You're thanking me too soon."

Shisui froze.

Naruto pointed at Mitokado Homura.

"If he could get intelligence on your ocular jutsu, you still have spies around you."

Shisui's gaze sharpened.

Itachi immediately turned to the two Root remnants.

Just as one of them was about to close his eyes, Itachi used the Body Flicker Technique to reach him and struck his jaw with his sword hilt.

"Who supplied the intelligence on Shisui?"

The Root remnant kept his lips tightly shut.

Naruto raised his hand and pressed it against the man's forehead.

A sealing formula burrowed inside.

The man's body shook violently as his Root cursed seal was forcibly pried open, broken sounds escaping his throat.

"Crows... summoning... records..."

Shisui's expression changed.

A few of his summoned crows had briefly gone missing.

He had assumed they were ordinary mission losses.

Now, it seemed they were not.

Mitokado Homura laughed as he coughed up blood.

"Shisui, you thought you could balance the clan and the village? You can't even protect the crows around you."

For the first time, killing intent appeared in Shisui's eyes.

Naruto looked at him.

"If you want to kill him, do it."

Jiraiya frowned, but did not immediately intervene.

Shisui gripped the scroll, his fingers taut, but ultimately did not draw his blade.

"He must stand public trial."

Naruto watched him for two breaths.

"So you're not completely stupid."

Killing Mitokado Homura was easy.

But Mitokado Homura had value beyond his death.

Only by bringing him back to Central Street alive and making him personally confess to the plan to seize Kotoamatsukami could the Uchiha establish this grievance before the entire village.

Itachi sheathed his sword and bound Mitokado Homura's hands behind his back.

"I'll escort him back."

Naruto nodded.

Just then, a black crow landed in the treetops across the river.

It was not one of Shisui's summoned crows.

Its eyes were scarlet, and a strip of paper was tied to its leg.

Shisui raised his hand, but the crow flew around him, heading straight for Mitokado Homura.

Itachi reacted instantly, sending a kunai flying through the crow's wing.

The crow fell onto the bridge and burst into a cloud of black smoke.

The strip of paper drifted down.

Naruto picked it up.

It contained only one line.

"If Mitokado Homura returns to the village, the contents of the Naka Shrine Stone Tablet will be made public immediately."

Shisui's expression changed drastically.

At some point, Fugaku had arrived at the end of the bridge with several Uchiha.

The moment he heard the words "Naka Shrine Stone Tablet," his gaze darkened.

It was one of the Uchiha Clan's most closely guarded legacies.

Naruto looked at Fugaku.

"What's on the stone tablet?"

Fugaku remained silent.

Shisui remained silent as well.

Naruto held out the strip of paper.

"You still want to hide it now?"