The prejudice in people's hearts was a towering mountain. No matter how hard you tried, you could never move it. Opportunities to change your fate were few in life. If you missed one and waited for the next, who knew when it would come?
"My name is Shisui Uchiha. People often call me a genius, but I don't consider myself one. Within the Uchiha, there are plenty of geniuses whose names were never known. My achievements still fall far short. But I never expected that even someone as clumsy as me would be targeted."
After leaving the Hokage's office, Shisui walked leisurely toward home. Strangely enough, though he wasn't sure whether he was imagining it, he kept feeling that this street was unusually quiet today. It was only early evening, when people should have been at their most relaxed, yet he couldn't see a single pedestrian on the street.
Just then, two squads suddenly appeared and surrounded Shisui without a word.
"Not bad. As expected of the Uchiha Clan's genius. Quite sharp senses you have."
Shisui turned and saw Danzo walking toward him with his little cane.
"You're too kind, Lord Danzo."
"Hmm, at least you're modest. You may have achieved a little now, but you're still a long way from Kagami."
Although Shisui couldn't understand why Danzo had come looking for him, he grew rather excited when he heard Kagami Uchiha's name.
"Lord Danzo, you think so too? Senior Kagami, he..."
Seemingly unwilling to delve further into the subject of Kagami, Danzo interrupted Shisui.
"Yes. In my eyes, Kagami was a perfect man. He was once my classmate and close friend. Some of the things he did still benefit me to this day."
As Danzo said this, he touched his bandaged right eye, seemingly reminiscing about Kagami.
Of course, Shisui, standing before him, knew nothing of this. Apparently no longer wanting to waste words with him, Danzo got straight to the point.
"If the Uchiha Clan launches a rebellion, and you successfully use your Sharingan to cast your Dōjutsu on Fugaku and persuade the Uchiha, but then discover that the relationship between the village and the Uchiha Clan hasn't changed, let me ask you: what would you do then, Shisui?"
Shisui was rather bewildered too. Danzo's question was truly a difficult one, but he still chose to trust Hiruzen Sarutobi. He looked at Danzo with a burning gaze, not at all afraid to meet his eyes.
"Lord Hokage promised me things would change. I trust Lord Hokage."
Danzo scoffed at this. Others might not understand Hiruzen Sarutobi, but how could he not?
"Heh. Even if the Third lobbies the villagers on your behalf, their suspicions toward you won't disappear easily. The prejudice in people's hearts is like a towering mountain. No matter how hard you try, you can never move it."
But Shisui continued to argue.
"I understand all that. But with just a little more time, we can change how the villagers see us Uchiha..."
"No, you don't understand, Shisui. Take me, for example. I'm a suspicious man. I won't change my mind easily, nor do I believe you Uchiha will change. What will you do then?"
"But Lord Danzo, I..."
"Heh. When that time comes, do you intend to use your Dōjutsu, Kotoamatsukami, on me too?"
"I... I wouldn't do that, Lord Danzo."
Shisui hadn't expected Danzo to think this way either. For a moment, he couldn't find any way to defend himself.
"Oh? You wouldn't? Or you wouldn't dare?"
"No. I wouldn't dare, and I wouldn't do it."
But Danzo wasn't satisfied with Shisui's answer.
"Shisui, you hesitated. I'll be taking your Sharingan."
Almost the instant Danzo finished speaking, he moved. His hand reached straight for Shisui's eyes, while Shisui still stood dumbly in place.
Just as Danzo's hand was about to reach Shisui's eyes, Shisui moved, activating his Sharingan's ability.
"I'm sorry, Lord Danzo. This is only an ordinary Genjutsu. You'll come around soon."
Danzo fell under it instantly, freezing where he stood.
Shisui stepped past him, intending to leave.
But how could Danzo let him go so easily? He broke the Genjutsu in an instant. Moving fast and striking hard, he drove a fist straight into Shisui's liver, catching him completely off guard. Before Shisui could react, Danzo continued his attack.
A punch, a palm strike, an elbow. With a long combo and rapid attacks, he gave Shisui no time to react at all. Danzo seized the opportunity to grab Shisui by the hair, hoist him up, and gouge out one of his eyes.
Shisui finally reacted. Ignoring the pain coming from his eye, he quickly retreated, staring at Danzo in terror and disbelief. Was this still the elder who had been speaking with him just moments ago?
Terrified and confused, Shisui couldn't understand why Danzo would do this.
Then he saw Danzo slowly undo the bandages over his right eye, revealing a scarlet Sharingan.
"What? A Sharingan?"
As he watched Danzo's Sharingan gradually turn white, Shisui was utterly bewildered. Why did Danzo have a Sharingan, and where had that eye come from?
Shisui had many questions, but this clearly wasn't the time to focus on them. If he didn't escape now, he wouldn't be able to get away.
"Kagami, this is the last time you'll help me. Shisui, give me your other Sharingan too. Something so dangerous isn't safe in your hands. Listen to me. You can't handle it."
The Root members behind Danzo also began slowly closing in around Shisui.
Without hesitation, Shisui rapidly formed hand seals with both hands.
"Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!"
A massive fireball flew toward the Root ninja. Several masked figures stepped forward and formed hand seals as well.
"Water Release: Wild Water Wave!"
The instant the fireball met the water, a great cloud of steam rose, obscuring the Root members' vision.
By the time the steam cleared, Shisui was long gone.
"After him. Don't let him escape."
At Danzo's order, all the Root ninja scattered to pursue Shisui.
Although Shisui's Body Flicker Technique was powerful, losing an eye had inevitably weakened him somewhat. On top of that, the Root ninja stayed hot on his heels, never giving him a chance to rest.
"Damn it. They just won't give up."
In the woods, after once again taking down two Root ninja who had drawn close, the already injured Shisui could clearly feel his stamina draining rapidly. He glanced at his surroundings.
The Root ninja slowly closed in on him, forming a ring and trapping him firmly in the middle, while Danzo stood leaning on his cane in the distance, coldly watching the situation.
"Surrender, Shisui Uchiha. You can't escape."