Shisui's Defection

Over the years, with Hiruzen Sarutobi speaking up for them, the Uchiha Clan's reputation had improved considerably.

Uchiha Fugaku and Uchiha Itachi's strict orders, combined with Root's attacks, had made the Uchiha Clan rein in much of its arrogant behavior.

Everything was moving in the right direction.

"What's going on in the clan?"

As soon as Uchiha Yoru got up, he saw clan members hurrying about as though something serious had happened.

"Izumi, what happened? What's going on in the clan?"

"Shisui defected. He killed two teammates during a mission and fled the village!"

"Shisui defected?" Uchiha Yoru was stunned.

"The clan's holding a meeting right now! Everyone who's awakened the Sharingan has been told to gather. I have to go!" Uchiha Izumi said hurriedly.

"Today, I have unfortunate news. Uchiha Shisui, captain of the Konoha Military Police Force, has defected from the village and brutally murdered two teammates!"

"Shisui would never do something like that!"

Uchiha Itachi was visibly shaken.

"We've brought back the bodies. Both were killed in a single strike, and Shisui is nowhere to be found. Who else could it be?" Uchiha Fugaku demanded, warning his son not to let his feelings cloud his judgment.

Uchiha Itachi could hardly take it in.

The person he trusted most had become a rogue ninja. He refused to believe it.

"I'll ask Shisui myself! What do we know? Where is he now?" Uchiha Itachi shouted. No one had ever seen him like this.

Even when he had killed his parents with his own hands, his eyes had held only guilt and grief. But now that Uchiha Shisui had defected, all he felt was confusion and anger.

We agreed to protect the village and the Uchiha together. How could you defect?

"Itachi, calm down! How can I entrust the Uchiha Clan to you if you act so rashly?" Uchiha Fugaku said.

Uchiha Itachi realized he had acted inappropriately and immediately apologized to everyone present.

They laughed it off and forgave him. Without his usual impassive expression, Itachi seemed a little more genuine.

"We don't know where Uchiha Shisui is. Carry on as usual, and no matter what the village says, don't act rashly. Understood?" Uchiha Fugaku instructed them.

The Uchiha Clan's reputation had only just begun to recover. After this business with Shisui, there was no telling what the other villagers might think.

It's rare to see Itachi like this! Seriously, if he wants information, he can just ask his summoning animal! They both summon crows. If they can even put a Mangekyō in a crow, sending a message should be easy! What an idiot!

Uchiha Itachi felt helpless. Couldn't people be honest with each other? Why couldn't Yoru just say it outright?

No longer in the mood to pick on Uchiha Yoru, Uchiha Itachi exchanged a few words with Uchiha Fugaku and left.

Uchiha Yoru followed him. He watched Uchiha Itachi summon a crow with a scroll in its beak.

"Itachi, is that a message from Shisui?"

"You!"

Itachi sighed.

"Here. Read it."

With a weary sigh, Uchiha Itachi handed the scroll to Uchiha Yoru.

"Meet at the Back Mountain at seven tonight!"

"What about you? Are you going? Or will you tell Father and let him deal with the traitor?" Uchiha Yoru asked pointedly.

Uchiha Itachi said nothing and walked away.

"There'll be another show tonight. Better bring snacks this time!"

Uchiha Yoru showed no concern for his brother's safety. All he cared about was whether the drama would be worth watching.

Night fell, and stars dotted the sky.

A figure dropped from a tree. As he looked at the man before him, pain flashed through his eyes.

"Shisui, is it true?"

"Itachi, what do you think?" Uchiha Shisui's voice was cold.

"I don't believe it. You must have your reasons!" Uchiha Itachi said.

What a tragic scene! "Shisui, don't go!" "Itachi, I have to." "Why, Shisui..."

"Little Yoru's here too. Where's he hiding?" Uchiha Itachi looked around but couldn't spot Uchiha Yoru.

Did Itachi notice me? He shouldn't be able to see through the Concealment Technique the system gave me, right? Uchiha Yoru grew nervous as Itachi searched the area.

"Itachi, this world is full of pain and war. I've hated it for a long time. But now I've found a way to bring peace..."

Like a zealot, Uchiha Shisui slowly revealed the Infinite Tsukuyomi.

"What good is peace if everyone is trapped in a dream?"

"There would be no more war. Everyone could live happily. Wouldn't that be a better world?" Uchiha Shisui said.

Uchiha Itachi took two unsteady steps back. The Uchiha Shisui before him felt like a stranger.

"You're under a Genjutsu, Shisui!"

"My mind is clear. Do you really think any Genjutsu in this world could control me?"

He was right. As the wielder of Kotoamatsukami, the most powerful Genjutsu, what illusion could possibly deceive him?

"Itachi, come with me! There's more to your world than this!" Uchiha Shisui held out a hand, apparently hoping Itachi would join him.

All he got in return was a slash of Itachi's sword.

"You just won't listen!"

"Body Flicker Technique!"

Uchiha Shisui formed hand seals and created several Shadow Clones, surrounding Uchiha Itachi.

Uchiha Style: Sun Halo Dance!

The Shadow Clones drew their Samurai swords in an instant and swept forward with three flaming slashes. Dozens of fiery strikes lit up the Back Mountain.

Trapped in their midst, Uchiha Itachi had nowhere to retreat.

Shisui, is this your choice? Sorrow gripped Uchiha Itachi. How tragic that he had to turn his Ninjutsu against someone so dear to him.

The flaming slashes came down, and Uchiha Itachi's figure scattered into crows.

Behind Uchiha Shisui, a Kunai stabbed toward his back.

"As expected of you, Itachi! You found the real me so quickly. But you're too slow!"

Uchiha Shisui reacted at once, swinging his Samurai sword at Itachi faster than the eye could follow.

Uchiha Itachi scrambled back, several new cuts opening across his body. He could see it now: Shisui was serious. He truly meant to kill him.

Itachi hesitated no longer. He gripped his Kunai tightly and fixed his eyes on Shisui.

Uchiha Itachi held a Kunai, and Uchiha Shisui held a Samurai sword. The two former friends began a fight to the death.