Shisui's crisis, Kotoamatsukami

Uchiha Rìtiān sprinted with all his strength toward Shisui's chakra.

Shisui's chakra grew increasingly erratic and faint.

Uchiha Rìtiān's heart sank.

Could... that scheming old bastard Danzo have struck again?

Impossible. After what happened last time, Danzo shouldn't dare act so openly.

Besides, with the Fourth Hokage around, Danzo should have restrained himself somewhat.

The more Uchiha Rìtiān thought about it, the more something seemed wrong.

Soon, he reached the cliff behind the Naka Shrine.

This place... why was it so familiar?

Shisui was attacked here last time, too!

Uchiha Rìtiān rushed to the cliff's edge, his pupils contracting sharply.

Shisui leaned against a tree, covered in blood, his face as pale as paper.

What alarmed Uchiha Rìtiān even more was that Shisui's right eye socket was empty!

"Shisui!" Uchiha Rìtiān rushed over and caught him, supporting him.

Shisui opened his eye with difficulty. Seeing Uchiha Rìtiān, he gave a weak smile.

"Uchiha Rìtiān... you're here..."

"Shisui, your eye..." Uchiha Rìtiān's voice trembled.

"Don't worry... it's only one eye..." Shisui smiled, though it was a strained smile.

"Was it Danzo?" Uchiha Rìtiān asked through gritted teeth.

Shisui nodded, then shook his head.

"It was him... but that's not the whole story..."

"What do you mean?" Uchiha Rìtiān froze.

Shisui gave a bitter smile. "Danzo sent people to ambush me and took my right eye..."

"But I hit him with my Kotoamatsukami..."

Uchiha Rìtiān's pupils contracted.

Kotoamatsukami!

Shisui used Kotoamatsukami on Danzo at the last moment before his eye was taken?

"Then... Danzo..."

"I planted the will to protect Konoha... in his mind..." Shisui said weakly. "From now on... he won't attack the Uchiha again..."

Uchiha Rìtiān froze.

The will to protect Konoha?

Wait, Danzo already believed he was protecting Konoha!

"Shisui, are you sure... that'll work?" Uchiha Rìtiān asked hesitantly.

Shisui paused. "What do you mean?"

"Danzo already thinks everything he does is for Konoha," Uchiha Rìtiān said with a bitter smile. "Isn't planting the will to protect Konoha in him the same as planting nothing?"

Shisui: "..."

That... seemed to make some sense?

"No... it's different..." Shisui shook his head. "My Kotoamatsukami fundamentally changes a person's will."

"Danzo's idea of 'protecting Konoha' before was what he himself considered protection."

"But now... he'll truly consider Konoha's interests, rather than his own ambitions."

Uchiha Rìtiān's eyes lit up.

Really?

If that was the case, wouldn't Danzo become a good person from now on?

No, not a good person, but at least he wouldn't keep scheming, right?

"Shisui, is that true?" Uchiha Rìtiān asked excitedly.

"Yes..." Shisui nodded. "I used the last of my strength... to activate Kotoamatsukami..."

"Although it only works through one eye... it should be enough..."

Seeing how weak Shisui was, Uchiha Rìtiān felt a pang of distress.

"Shisui, stop talking. I'll take you to get treated!"

"There's no need..." Shisui shook his head. "I know my own body..."

"What nonsense!" Uchiha Rìtiān grew anxious. "It's just one eye! You won't die!"

"Come on, I'll take you to the hospital!"

Uchiha Rìtiān helped Shisui up and was about to head for the hospital.

Just then, the system notification sounded.

"Ding! Shisui's severe injuries detected. Choice triggered:"

"Option one: Take Shisui to the hospital for conventional treatment. Reward: Shisui's survival probability +60%."

"Option two: Use system healing, consuming 2,000 show-off points. Reward: Shisui fully recovers, and his eye regenerates!"

Uchiha Rìtiān's eyes lit up.

Eye regeneration?!

It could even do that?

"System, can his eye really regenerate?"

"Ding! Yes. Consuming 2,000 show-off points will completely restore Shisui's eye."

Without a second thought, Uchiha Rìtiān said, "Choose option two!"

Shisui had sacrificed so much for Konoha. What was one eye?

Forget 2,000 show-off points-even if it cost 5,000, he'd be willing!

"Ding! Choice confirmed. 2,000 show-off points consumed."

"Healing initiated..."

A gentle light shone from Uchiha Rìtiān's hands, enveloping Shisui.

Shisui paused. "Uchiha Rìtiān, this is..."

"Shisui, don't talk. Just feel it," Uchiha Rìtiān said earnestly.

Shisui felt a warm power flow into his body, and his wounds rapidly healed.

Even... his right eye socket began to itch.

"This... how is this possible?" Shisui said in shock.

He could feel his eye... growing back!

"Nothing's impossible." Uchiha Rìtiān smiled. "I told you I'd protect you."

Shisui looked at Uchiha Rìtiān, his eyes filled with shock and gratitude.

This little brother... always brought him surprises.

A few minutes later, the treatment ended.

Shisui stood and moved his body around.

His injuries... were all healed!

And his right eye... was back, too!

Shisui trembled all over with excitement.

"Uchiha Rìtiān... I..."

"Shisui, don't say another word." Uchiha Rìtiān patted his shoulder. "There's no need for that between us."

"Ding! Shisui successfully saved!"

"Reward: Shisui's favorability +100, Mangekyō Sharingan Evolution Clue Fragment ×2, show-off points +1,000!"

"Current Mangekyō clue fragments: 8/3."

Uchiha Rìtiān was delighted. This had been well worth it!

Shisui took a deep breath, calming his excitement.

"Uchiha Rìtiān, thank you," Shisui said earnestly. "I won't forget this kindness."

"Oh, it's no big deal." Uchiha Rìtiān waved a hand. "By the way, Shisui, about Danzo..."

At the mention of Danzo, Shisui's expression grew grave.

"Danzo... he's under Kotoamatsukami, so he probably won't attack the Uchiha again."

"But the eye he took..."

Uchiha Rìtiān rubbed his chin. "The eye is a minor matter. The key is... how long will Kotoamatsukami's effect last?"

Shisui paused. "That... I'm not sure either."

"Kotoamatsukami has a very long cooldown. Generally, its effect lasts a long time on someone subjected to it."

"But Danzo has a strong will... I can't guarantee anything."

Uchiha Rìtiān frowned.

That made things a little troublesome.

If Kotoamatsukami's effect wore off, Danzo would definitely cause trouble again.

No, he had to find a way to settle this once and for all.

"Shisui, I have an idea," Uchiha Rìtiān suddenly said.

"What idea?"

"We... should send Danzo your other eye, too," Uchiha Rìtiān said with a smile.

Shisui: "..."

Huh?

"Uchiha Rìtiān, what nonsense are you talking about?" Shisui asked with a frown. "That's Kotoamatsukami!"

"I know." Uchiha Rìtiān nodded. "That's exactly why we should send it over."

"Shisui, think about it. Danzo took your right eye. He'll definitely transplant it into himself."

"If we send him the left eye too, he'll have both Kotoamatsukami eyes."

The more Shisui listened, the more confused he became. "So what?"

"Then Danzo will be completely influenced by Kotoamatsukami's effect!" Uchiha Rìtiān said with a smile. "One eye's effect might wear off, but with two eyes..."

"The effect will definitely double, and even last longer!"

Shisui: "..."

That... seemed to make some sense?

"But... isn't giving Danzo such a precious ability as Kotoamatsukami too much of a waste?" Shisui said hesitantly.

"What waste?" Uchiha Rìtiān waved a hand. "Shisui, hasn't your eye already recovered?"

"Besides, trading a pair of Kotoamatsukami eyes for peace between the Uchiha and Konoha is a good deal!"

Shisui fell silent.

Uchiha Rìtiān was right.

If they could really change Danzo and stop him from targeting the Uchiha, what did that pair of Kotoamatsukami eyes matter?

"But... will Danzo believe it?" Shisui asked with a frown. "If we offer him the eye, he'll definitely be suspicious."

"Suspicious of what?" Uchiha Rìtiān smiled. "Just say... losing an eye left you disheartened, and you don't want to be a ninja anymore."

"Keeping the other eye is useless, so you'd rather offer it to Lord Danzo in exchange for the Uchiha Clan's safety."

The corner of Shisui's mouth twitched.

That excuse... was far too ridiculous, wasn't it?

"Don't worry. Danzo will definitely believe it," Uchiha Rìtiān said confidently. "Because... he wants Kotoamatsukami too badly."

"The more he wants it, the more easily he'll believe it."

Seeing Uchiha Rìtiān's confidence, Shisui hesitated, then finally nodded.

"All right. We'll do as you say."

"Hehe, that's the spirit!"

The corners of Uchiha Rìtiān's mouth rose into a mischievous grin.

Oh, Danzo, I'm sending you a great gift this time.

I hope you... 'enjoy' it.

The next day, in Danzo's office.

When a Root Ninja delivered Shisui's left eye, Danzo was utterly stunned.

"What did you say? Shisui offered his eye himself?" Danzo asked incredulously.

"Yes, Lord Danzo," the Root Ninja said respectfully. "Shisui said losing an eye had already rendered him useless."

"Keeping the other eye was useless, so he would rather offer it to Lord Danzo in exchange for the Uchiha Clan's safety."

Danzo stared at the eye in his hand, his gaze shifting.

He didn't believe it.

He didn't believe for a moment that Shisui would be so kind.

There had to be a plot behind this!

But... this was Kotoamatsukami!

The Kotoamatsukami he'd dreamed of!

With both eyes, Kotoamatsukami would be even more powerful!

Danzo's breathing quickened.

He wrestled with himself for a long time, but in the end, greed won out.

"No matter what the plot is... once I have Kotoamatsukami, I'll have nothing to fear!"

"Transplant them! Transplant them into me right now!"

"Yes, sir!"

Danzo could hardly wait as he had the doctor transplant the eyes into him.

The moment both Kotoamatsukami eyes had been transplanted into him-

Buzzz-

A roar rang through Danzo's mind.

Two powerful wills flooded his mind at once.

"Protect Konoha..."

"Protect Konoha..."

"For Konoha, anything can be sacrificed..."

"Including yourself..."

Danzo's gaze gradually grew vacant.

Then, little by little, it cleared again.

Only now, that clarity held less malice and a little more... sincerity?

Danzo lowered his head and looked at his hands.

"What... have I been doing all this time..."

There was actually a trace of remorse in his voice.

Outside the Root Base, Uchiha Rìtiān and Shisui stood on a distant rooftop.

Ding! Detected: Danzo has been thoroughly influenced by Kotoamatsukami.

Mission complete: permanently eliminate the threat posed by Danzo.

Reward: Uchiha safety rating +50, Show-Off Points +500.

The corners of Uchiha Rìtiān's mouth lifted.

It worked!

That huge headache, Danzo, had finally been dealt with!

Shisui looked toward the Root Base and sighed.

"I hope... he really can change for the better."

"Don't worry, Big Brother Shisui," Uchiha Rìtiān said with a smile. "That's two Kotoamatsukami eyes. They work like a charm!"

Shisui shook his head helplessly.

This little brother of his...

He really was an unconventional genius.

"By the way, Big Brother Shisui, what are you planning to do next?" Uchiha Rìtiān asked.

"Me?" Shisui smiled. "I'm planning to stay in the Police Force and do my best to protect Konoha."

"After all... I'm Shisui Uchiha."

Sunlight fell across Shisui's face, and his smile was warm and bright.

Looking at Shisui, Uchiha Rìtiān smiled too.

How wonderful.

Big Brother Shisui was still alive.

And he was smiling so happily.

That was enough.

Just then, the system's voice suddenly sounded in Uchiha Rìtiān's mind.

Ding! Warning: large-scale Akatsuki operation detected.

Objective: capture the One-Tail Jinchuriki.

Location: Sunagakure.

Uchiha Rìtiān's expression changed.

The Akatsuki... had begun to move?

So soon?!