Itachi, find that master

Root's pursuit of Shisui ended in failure!

Back at Root's underground headquarters, Danzo tore off his bandages. The Sharingan he had used for Izanagi had lost its sight forever, turning a bleak white.

He had failed to obtain Shisui's eyes, wasted one of his own, and lost more than ten subordinates!

He had suffered losses on every front!

"That bastard Shisui!!"

Danzo's fury almost seemed to blaze out of his left eye!

He took out another spare Sharingan, implanted it in his right socket, and wrapped it in bandages again.

Once he had calmed down, he assessed the situation.

After escaping, Shisui had only three options.

First, pretend nothing had happened.

Highly unlikely. Shisui isn't a passive man. He must have realized my determination to destroy the Uchiha...

Second, report him to Hiruzen and expose his actions!

Knowing Hiruzen, he'll certainly give me a token punishment, but he'll still protect me in the end. He needs Root's power to hold on to his position as Hokage. Hmph, surely Shisui isn't foolish enough to blindly believe in the Hokage's fairness and justice...

Third, return to the Uchiha and incite the clan into an all-out rebellion!

That's highly likely. If things go badly, we could lose the initiative. The Uchiha must be destroyed, but doing it without bloodshed would be best. I can't delay any longer. That matter must be settled!

He grasped his cane and ordered his subordinate, "Summon Uchiha Itachi. Have him come see me!"

An incense stick's worth of time later, his subordinate reported, "Lord Danzo, we can't contact Itachi!"

Danzo's brow furrowed deeply. "Of all times, at this critical juncture..."

Clang!

His cane struck the floor as Danzo barked, "Keep Sasuke Uchiha under strict surveillance! That man's weakness is his little brother!"

Having escaped Root's pursuit, Shisui met Itachi, who was waiting at their agreed meeting place outside Konoha!

"Danzo never intended to negotiate peacefully with the Uchiha!"

"The Sharingan hidden in his right eye can use the forbidden ocular technique Izanagi, so he must have gotten his hands on Hashirama Senju's Cells as well!"

"That man's ambitions are far more rampant than I imagined!"

After hearing this, Itachi fell into a long silence. "Shisui, what are you planning to do next?"

Shisui said, "I can't pretend nothing happened, but going to the Hokage to expose Danzo won't solve the underlying problem either."

Itachi clenched his hand. "Are you going back to the clan?"

Shisui gave a bitter smile. "If the clan learns what happened to me, there will be no room left for either side to compromise. War will break out immediately!"

"..." Itachi lowered his gaze, unsure what to say.

After a moment's thought, Shisui confessed, "You know, Itachi, I should have fallen victim to Danzo today. I only escaped disaster because a master guided me!"

Itachi looked up in surprise. "A master?"

Shisui's eyes shifted. "Yes. During last night's gathering, that master's warning reached my mind. He told me that Danzo was after my eyes and that he possessed Izanagi!"

Itachi could not hide his shock. "Something like that happened!?"

Shisui spoke guardedly. "I was skeptical myself, until I went to the meeting today and learned that everything he said was true!"

After a long silence, Itachi asked, "Do you have any clues about this master?"

Shisui said, "No, but I can at least be certain that his ocular power surpasses mine!"

Itachi asked, "How can you be so sure?"

Shisui said, "Every technique requires chakra as a medium, and the Sharingan can perceive chakra. Yet no one present-not you, me, or your father-noticed when I was drawn into that medium. That's why I'm certain the technique that master used surpassed the Sharingan's ocular power!"

Itachi realized belatedly, "Someone who can see through ocular power must possess ocular power himself!"

"Itachi... look into my eyes!"

Zzt!

Shisui's eyes transformed into the Mangekyō Sharingan and met Itachi's gaze!

A piercing emotion suddenly welled up within Itachi!

Under that stimulus, Itachi's three tomoe spun, awakening his Mangekyō Sharingan!

"Ugh...!" Itachi braced one hand against the ground, his face shocked. "Shisui, what did you do?"

Zzt! Shisui's eyes reverted to three tomoe. Keeping them half closed, he spoke slowly.

"Kotoamatsukami can alter people's thoughts, making them faithfully carry out the caster's wishes without emotion and rationalize their actions. But Kotoamatsukami can't control their feelings. Whether they love or hate someone isn't something Kotoamatsukami can decide..."

"But Kotoamatsukami is an ocular technique housed in both eyes. That means combining the ocular power of both eyes can dramatically enhance its effects!"

"Double-Eyed Kotoamatsukami can even impart emotions. I gave you the grief of losing a close friend and awakened those Mangekyō Sharingan for you!"

"Now you can do what I can't accomplish myself!"

Itachi stood up and asked heavily, "Are you leaving?"

Shisui said, "I've decided to leave Konoha as a missing-nin."

Itachi asked, "Is there a reason you have to do this?"

Shisui revealed another secret. "While I was away on a mission, I came into contact with an organization called Akatsuki!"

"During that encounter, my partner died at the hands of an Akatsuki member. That's how I awakened these eyes!"

"Akatsuki is a shadowy organization that brings together powerful missing-nin from various countries and amasses vast sums of money. If that were all, it would be one thing, but I've learned something worse. They intend to get their hands on the tailed beasts!"

"The tailed beasts...!?" Sweat ran down Itachi's face at those words!

He immediately thought, Could Akatsuki have been behind the Nine-Tails' attack on Konoha seven years ago!?

Shisui said, "There's no direct evidence yet, but I suspect they were involved..."

"There's no more effective way to uncover Akatsuki's innermost secrets than infiltrating it."

"I'll join Akatsuki and monitor its movements. That's why I'm defecting from the village..."

Itachi felt both admiration and regret at Shisui's choice.

Troubled, Itachi said, "Your defection will surely deal a heavy blow to the clan's morale. And Danzo will pin the murder of those Anbu on you..."

Shisui saw it clearly. "That would only be a fabricated charge. What must come will come."

"As for the clan, here's a letter I wrote. Itachi, give it to your father for me. Hopefully, it will ease the Uchiha Clan's eagerness for war a little!"

Itachi accepted the letter and said bleakly, "But unless the underlying conflict is resolved, war will still break out sooner or later!"

Shisui said gravely, "That's right. The only lifeline the clan can grasp now is that master!"

"He didn't leave me to die, which means he doesn't want to see the Uchiha Clan go down a path of no return either!"

"He didn't appear to explain things in person, but gave me indirect hints instead. That means something is preventing him from doing so!"

"Itachi, find that master. He can save the Uchiha from disaster!"

Leaving behind his request and a smile of blessing, Shisui turned and walked away!

Whoosh...!

The wind stirred Itachi's hair as he watched Shisui, the man who had been both his mentor and his friend, disappear into the distance.

Itachi made up his mind. Shisui, I won't let you down!