The mockery on Shisui's face deepened in an instant.
A faint Kurenai glow rose in his eyes beneath the afternoon shadows. It spread from the edges of his pupils, filling his irises within a few breaths. Three Tomoe spun against the Kurenai, accelerating until they blurred together. Then a new pattern emerged at the center of the vortex.
A set of Scales!
A pan hung at either end, their rims etched with fine lines. Vine-like curves wound around the central pillar, gleaming darkly against the Kurenai.
"This is my Mangekyo Sharingan ability, Justice Judgment!"
"I tested everyone executed today... Every one of them was guilty!"
Itachi's gaze settled on the pattern of Scales in Shisui's eyes. He stared for a long while without speaking.
This was completely unexpected. It went beyond every contingency he had planned.
The afternoon wind swept in from the mouth of the alley, threading between the walls with a brief rustle.
An idea struck Uchiha Itachi. His eyes lit up with fierce anticipation.
"Shisui, find a chance to use your Justice Judgment on Uchiha Yongye."
"Then you'll see that he's Konoha's greatest evil!"
"When that happens, we'll fight side by side again!"
As his words faded, Itachi's body began to break apart.
It started at his shoulders. His outline blurred like a painting soaked in water, its colors bleeding beyond their lines and separating into countless tiny gray-black fragments. They spun and flipped in midair, each taking the shape of a Crow.
The rapid, crowded beat of wings burst through the alley.
The Crows scattered. Some landed on the walls; others skimmed along them toward the alley mouth. A few circled briefly above Shisui's head before climbing away and vanishing into the sunlit sky beyond the rooftops.
Silence returned to the alley.
Shisui stood where he