After two days at sea, the merchant ship stopped some distance from Whirlpool Island. From aboard the ship, Qiu Shan Uchiha could see the island far away. It was sizable, looking large even from that distance. After saying goodbye to the captain, Qiu Shan Uchiha jumped straight off the ship and ran across the water toward Whirlpool Island.
Meanwhile, as Qiu Shan Uchiha arrived at Whirlpool Island, undercurrents were stirring in Konoha.
In an enclosed cave, Shimura Danzō sat silently and motionlessly on a chair carved from stone. The flickering torchlight beside him cast shifting light and shadow over his expressionless face. His exposed eye was half closed as he listened to the report from the subordinate kneeling before him on one knee.
"Lord Danzo, we have questioned the people who recently teamed up with Shisui Uchiha, as well as those he rescued during his missions. Shisui Uchiha's Sharingan has indeed undergone a mutation. Its pattern is completely different from the ordinary three tomoe, and both its perceptive power and its ability to amplify genjutsu far exceed those of an ordinary Three-Tomoe Sharingan. After comparing the findings, we can confirm that Shisui Uchiha’s Eyes have evolved into the Mangekyō Sharingan."
After delivering his report, the Root ninja said nothing more. He remained motionless on one knee, as though he had been forgotten. For a time, neither man in the cave moved. If not for the flickering firelight, it would have been difficult to sense time passing at all.
After a long while, Danzo opened his eye slightly. "So the Mangekyō Sharingan has finally appeared in the Uchiha Clan again. Teacher Tobirama was right. The evil Uchiha Clan truly does possess power beyond the Three-Tomoe Sharingan. It was precisely because Madara Uchiha possessed this evil power that the First Hokage died before his time. It seems the time has come to eradicate the Uchiha Clan once and for all."
In the Hokage's office, an Anbu was also delivering a report. "Lord Hokage, Lord Danzo's Root has been rather active lately. They seem to be investigating Shisui Uchiha of the Uchiha Clan, but we do not know what action Advisor Danzo intends to take. Should we investigate further? Doing so may alert Root."
The Third Hokage sat behind his desk and quietly listened to his subordinate's report. He raised his pipe, took a deep draw, and slowly exhaled a cloud of smoke.
Danzo, have you already noticed something? Has Shisui Uchiha failed to keep his Mangekyō Sharingan hidden after all? Shisui is a supporter of my will of fire. No matter what, I must protect him. Danzo, I, Hiruzen Sarutobi, am the Hokage. Do not cross the line.
At that thought, the Third Hokage tightened his grip on his pipe and took another deep draw. After exhaling, he gave his orders.
"Investigate further. Do not worry about whether Root notices. Also, dispatch a squad to protect Shisui Uchiha covertly, but do not follow him into the Uchiha District."
Hearing the Third Hokage's orders, the Anbu standing before the desk finally raised his head, revealing a face covered by a black mask. His forehead protector was worn at an angle, concealing one eye. Only his silver-white hair revealed his identity-Konoha's prodigy, the Fourth Hokage's student, the gifted ninja who had become a jōnin at just twelve years old, Kakashi Hatake.
Kakashi Hatake could be considered the Third Hokage's grandstudent, and his father, Hatake Sakumo, had always supported the Third Hokage as well. Thus, Kakashi Hatake belonged to the Hokage Faction, with impeccable credentials.
After Kakashi accepted the orders, the Third Hokage, still somewhat uneasy, added, "Kakashi, Shisui Uchiha may belong to the Uchiha Clan, but he has perfectly inherited the will of fire of Kagami Uchiha, the student of the Second Hokage, Teacher Tobirama. So take care with this. Do not let Danzo ruin one of Konoha's promising young talents."
Hearing the Third Hokage's instructions, Kakashi understood Shisui Uchiha's importance. With a solemn expression, he promised to complete the mission, then put on his Fox Mask and left using the Body Flicker Technique.
As the central figure in this plan, Shisui Uchiha had also noticed something amiss. Outside the Uchiha District, more people were following him. Since awakening his Mangekyō Sharingan, not only had his chakra and perception increased dramatically, but his intuition had also become keen, perhaps because his mental strength had grown.
Although those following him were highly professional and never showed themselves, Shisui Uchiha still keenly sensed their presence. He could tell that the newcomers around him numbered more than one or two; there was at least a whole squad. To someone with sharp senses, the chakra of this squad felt gloomy and oppressive.
Shisui Uchiha could tell that they were probably Danzo's men. Only people from Root, stripped of emotion and numb to everything, gave off such a gloomy, oppressive feeling.
Shisui Uchiha guessed that Danzo would move against him within the next few days. Without wasting time, he followed the plan and reported the matter directly to the clan leader, Uchiha Fugaku. Upon receiving Shisui's report, Uchiha Fugaku immediately summoned Uchiha Mikoto and asked her to notify Qiu Shan Uchiha.
Before leaving, Qiu Shan Uchiha had told Uchiha Fugaku that if anything urgent came up, he could reach him through Uchiha Mikoto. She knew how to find and notify him quickly.
Once Uchiha Mikoto learned what had happened, she understood the importance of the matter and wasted no time. She went somewhere deserted and activated the space mark Qiu Shan Uchiha had left between her brows.
In an instant, Uchiha Mikoto felt a slight wave of dizziness, and then she was already on the island within Takamagahara Space.
Since time in Takamagahara differed from the outside world, it was still night there when Uchiha Mikoto arrived.
Although it was night, the space was not very dark. A faint glow in the sky dimly illuminated everything. After arriving, Uchiha Mikoto did not wander around. She simply stood quietly, admiring the island's beautiful scenery as she waited for Qiu Shan Uchiha.
Qiu Shan Uchiha had told her that if she needed to reach him urgently, she could activate the mark and enter the space directly. Since the space was bound to his Sharingan, he could sense anyone entering it.
Just as Uchiha Mikoto quietly admired the scenery, a hand suddenly reached around from behind and gripped her waist, pulling her tightly into an embrace. At the same time, a warm breath brushed her ear, instantly raising tiny goosebumps over her skin.
"Mikoto, it's been a while. Did you miss me?"
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