Author's Notes
Hello, I've changed the ending and added more content to the chapter and story as a whole. Chapter 9 is pretty much done and will drop soon.
Chapter Eight : New Light
"I-I'm... so sorry Naruto." Shisui said to his brother, his red eyes tearing up as he closed his eyes tight, letting some of the water trail down his face. "I-I've failed Naruto, I-I'm sorry but I'm not able to save them." The redhead became confused, needing the context to understand the situation at hand.
"Exactly right Shisui, but you can still help this village." A voice said from behind Naruto, who spun around to see the entrance of the new figure. Out of the forest walked a man with a bandaged right eye and forehead, shaggy black hair, long dark robes, and a fairly distracting scar on his chin. He walked with a cane in his left hand, though Naruto got the sense that he didn't need it.
"You can save this village by giving your eyes to me. With the power of your Kotoamatsukami and the Nine Tails, I can save this village, stop the Uchiha from revolting, and make this village strong again. With your death, no your sacrifice, I can usher in an era of peace!" Danzo proclaimed
The proclamation made Shisui blood boil.
"How dare you even talk about stopping the clan when you're helping them! Your idea of peace isn't worth dying for, much less living for! And I'll be damned if I let you determine the fate of our clan or the village!" Shisui shouted towards the other man, his sharingan eyes blazing with fury as he prepared himself for another battle with the man.
He reached up to his right shoulder and pulled his tanto out, and stood up, standing in front of his younger brother. A second later and Shisui disappeared from his spot in his signature jutsu, to appear behind the elderly man, his tanto stabbing through his heart. The man gasped, before he fell to the ground, exhaling his last breath.
A very anticlimactic end.
Naruto starred wide eyed at the scene before him, his eyes focused on the dead man only ten meters away from him. Shisui looked tired as he put his tanto back into its sheath. He looked towards his younger brother as he deactivated his sharingan. "This man, he was an elder of the Leaf council. He was helping, no more like manipulating the Uchiha to plan a coup d'état on the village and they were planning on using you for the revolt against the Leaf."
Just like that, Naruto's mind was thrown for the biggest loop he had experienced. Why would the Uchiha plan to betray the village? Why was this Danzo guy helping them? Is his own village involved but to what extent? And what role did he play in any of this? None of this made any sense!
Suddenly a familiar voice rung out, "And we still will use Naruto, he will be a tool to help guide this village to peace and prosperity!"
Naruto whipped his head around at the sudden noise, seeing the man that Shisui had just killed standing only a couple meters away from him. He had no visible injuries; his eyes then glance at Danzo arm.
He almost threw up at the horrid sight, a pale white arm with multiple sharingans implanted in it. Naruto then looked towards his brothers for answers but Shisui looked just as shocked as he did. "H-How? W-What is that?"
Danzo scoffed at the surprised looks, "Do not underestimate me, Shisui. You cannot fathom the power that I have gained..." Both Shisui and Naruto was too stunned to speak as Danzo continued, "But, I must thank your clan head though, without Fugaku I couldn't achieve this feat."
Flashback
In the dimly lit chamber beneath Konoha, where the shadows converged, two figures stood in a tense, silent confrontation. The air was thick with anticipation, the flickering candlelight casting long, wavering shadows on the walls. Danzo Shimura, the enigmatic leader of Root, sat behind a sturdy wooden desk, his expression inscrutable beneath his bandaged face. Across from him, Fugaku Uchiha, the head of the Uchiha Clan, stood with an unreadable expression, his dark eyes glinting with a mixture of suspicion and curiosity.
Danzo broke the silence first, his voice low and measured. "Fugaku, I trust you understand why I called for this… meeting."
Fugaku's eyes narrowed slightly, but he nodded. "I do. The Uchiha have been marginalized for too long, treated with distrust, watched like criminals within our own village. It's time that changed."
A faint smile tugged at Danzo's lips. "Indeed. We are in agreement on that front. The Uchiha's strength and talents are wasted in the shadows, kept away from the positions they rightfully deserve. I have always believed in recognizing talent and power where it exists."
Fugaku crossed his arms, his gaze unwavering. "You speak as if you've had a change of heart, Danzo. Why the sudden interest in our plight?"
Danzo leaned forward, his eyes narrowing. "It's not sudden, Fugaku. I've always been a realist. Konoha thrives on strength, on those who are willing to make the hard choices. And right now, the village is weakened by internal discord. A strong Uchiha Clan could be the key to restoring order, to ensuring Konoha's dominance."
Fugaku's expression softened slightly, a glimmer of hope in his eyes. "Then you're willing to support us? To help us claim our rightful place?"
Danzo nodded slowly. "I will support you, Fugaku. But there is a price."
Fugaku's expression hardened again. "A price? And what would that be?"
Danzo's eyes bore into Fugaku's, his voice cold and calculating. "The eyes that perceives everything. I want access to its power. In exchange for my support, I require that you provide me with a portion of the Uchiha's Sharingan— those who fell previously in battle. Their eyes will be mine."
Fugaku's breath caught in his throat. The Sharingan was the pride of the Uchiha, the source of their strength, their identity. To give it away, even in part, felt like a betrayal. "You want our eyes… for what purpose?"
Danzo's smile widened, though it didn't reach his eyes. "To strengthen Konoha. To ensure that we are prepared for any threat, internal or external. Think of it as a safeguard. A necessary measure for the greater good."
Fugaku hesitated, his mind racing. The Uchiha had been pushed to the brink, cornered by fear and suspicion. A revolt was inevitable, but without support, it would be a slaughter. Danzo's offer was tempting, a lifeline in a sea of uncertainty. But at what cost?
"The Sharingan is our heritage, our power," Fugaku said slowly. "You ask a great deal, Danzo."
"I offer a great deal in return," Danzo replied smoothly. "Funds, weapons, strategic support. The means to ensure that your revolt does not end in massacre. Consider it, Fugaku. Is a portion of your clan's eyes not a small price to pay for their survival and ascendancy?"
Fugaku's fists clenched at his sides. He knew the stakes, the risk, the potential for betrayal. But he also knew the desperation of his clan, the yearning for justice, for recognition. Could he afford to let this opportunity slip away?
After a long, agonizing pause, Fugaku finally nodded, his voice steady but tinged with resignation. "Very well, Danzo. For the sake of the Uchiha, I will agree to your terms. But know this—if you betray us, if you betray me… there will be consequences."
Danzo's smile returned, cold and calculated. "Of course, Fugaku. I would expect nothing less. We have a deal."
Fugaku turned on his heel, his cloak billowing behind him as he walked toward the exit. His mind was heavy with the weight of his decision, the knowledge that he had just made a pact with the devil. But for the sake of his clan, he would see it through to the bitter end.
Danzo watched him leave, his eyes gleaming with satisfaction. "For the sake of Konoha… and for my own ambition." He then made a hand gesture calling one of his minions.
A faceless masked man appeared kneeling, awaiting orders. Danzo looked towards his underling, "Inform Orochimaru that I request his services.. Tell him I have something that'll make it worth his while." He demanded. The masked man nodded silently and disappeared.
Danzo stood there in silence as the shadows in the room seemed to deepen, swallowing the light. The seeds of chaos had been sown, and now all he had to do was wait. In the darkness of the chamber, he thought about the future of himself at the pinnacle of power, a ghost of a smile on his lips.
Present Day
"Now I am taking your eyes and the boy, with or without your cooperation."
"You're persistent, Danzo," Shisui said calmly, though his muscles tensed. "But you won't have my eyes nor my brother."
Danzo, his kunai already in hand. "Your eyes and that boy are the keys to protecting Konoha. You just don't understand what's at stake."
Shisui's eyes narrowed. "You talk of protection, but all I see is a man driven by his own fear and greed."
With that, round two of the battle began.
Shisui moved first, a blur of speed and precision. His tanto flashed in the moonlight as he closed the distance between them, aiming for Danzo's vital points. Danzo countered with a kunai of his own, enhanced with wind chakra. The blades clashed, sparks flying in the night. Shisui's Sharingan tracked every movement, predicting each strike and parry. Yet Danzo was no amateur; his movements were precise, calculated, and ruthless.
The two danced a deadly ballet, the sound of metal against metal ringing through the forest. Shisui's agility and speed were unmatched; he darted around Danzo, looking for an opening. But Danzo's experience and cunning were formidable. He deflected each of Shisui's strikes with ease, his wind-enhanced kunai making it difficult for Shisui to press his advantage.
Then, it happened.
Danzo made a swift, almost imperceptible movement. A flick of his wrist, a kunai flying through the air. Shisui saw it coming, his Sharingan slowing the moment down to a crawl. He dodged, narrowly avoiding the blade, but something felt… off. He had been too slow. A sharp sting ran across his left shoulder.
He glanced down and saw a shallow cut, barely breaking the skin, but the pain was disproportionate. Shisui's eyes widened. He knew immediately that something was wrong. His breath started to come in short, shallow gasps.
Danzo let off a rare smirk. "Feeling a bit winded, Shisui?"
Shisui's eyes flicked back to Danzo. "Y-You... W-What did you…?" he muttered, his voice strained.
"That kunai," Danzo replied, his tone mocking, "Was laced with a special poison from one of my most trusted operatives, Torune of the Aburame clan. A mix of chakra-consuming insects and a paralytic agent. It won't kill you… yet, but it will make things interesting."
Panic flashed in Shisui's eyes for a brief moment. He could feel the effects of the poison rapidly spreading through his body, weakening his limbs and clouding his mind. In a bout of desperation, he knew he had to act now or risk losing everything.
With a burst of adrenaline-fueled determination, Shisui lunged forward, clashing his tanto directly against Danzo's wind-enhanced kunai. The impact was powerful, a shockwave emanating from the point of contact, sending ripples through the air around them.
Shisui pushed with all his might, his muscles straining against Danzo's strength. His eyes burned with the intensity of his Sharingan, desperately trying to force his will onto the battlefield. Danzo, however, held firm, his expression one of concentration and grim resolve. He could feel the desperation in Shisui's movements, the erratic, frantic energy of a man fighting against his own body as much as his opponent.
"You're fading, Shisui," Danzo taunted, pushing back with equal force. "The poison is taking its toll. Your strength is waning."
Shisui gritted his teeth, every muscle in his body screaming in protest. His breath came in ragged gasps, his vision blurring slightly at the edges. He could feel his body giving out, but he refused to back down. Not yet. Not while there was still a chance.
It was much too fast for Naruto to keep up with. He had no idea how such an old looking man could be keeping up with his older brother. He was still confused as to how Danzo had even survived Shisui's initial attack but he guessed it has something to do with his arm.
Whoever this man was though, he was not good. He clearly had some motives that were less than ideal, and he was trying to get his foster clan to participate in something that was certainly not good for them. But right now, in this moment, he was hurting his older brother, and Naruto had to do something about it.
Naruto brought up both his hands and started going through hand seals with speed not usually found in an academy student. When he had gone through them all, he brought his hand up to his mouth and shouted, "Fire Style : Fireball Jutsu!"
A small stream of fire flowed out of his mouth, and once it had reached a couple meters, he added more chakra causing it to expand into an enormous fireball, raging towards the two shinobi. Naruto knew that his brother would be able to avoid his attack, but hopefully the one non-academy ninjutsu he had mastered would surprise and overwhelm the older man.
Shisui looked over to his left and saw the fire coming towards him and his foe. He let himself feel a little bit of pride at how well Naruto had mastered the clans signature jutsu. But now wasn't the time to dwell on how proud he was of his brother. He had to make sure that Danzo got caught in this.
Shisui suddenly shunshined behind Danzo, and with his tanto, severed the tendons in the older man's feet. He made a quick cut along Danzo's back quickly before kicking him down to the ground and teleported out of the way of Naruto's attack and next to said redhead before the fire could harm him.
BOOM
He watched as the orange flame engulfed the Konoha elder. He relaxed at seeing the burning corpse of the man, and turned his body to see Naruto. Focused, calm, not afraid to take action. Just some of the things that every shinobi needed.
Suddenly though, Danzo emerged from the flames, his body showing none of the injuries that Shisui had inflicted on him, his cane gone and replaced with a sword that they could only assume that the older man kept it hidden in his cane. He was moving faster than Shisui could have expected, and he was close to Naruto. Too close for Shisui to step in and save him.
The wind kunai Danzo had in his right hand came down towards Naruto at speeds that couldn't be rivaled, though that didn't stop Naruto from trying. He brought out his special kunai that his brother gave him on his birthday, in an attempt to parry it but in the end, it was futile.
"AAAARRGGG" Naruto screamed in agonizing pain as the wind sliced across his face, slicing through the headband and cutting from his forehead and over his left eye, cutting into the eyelid and into the bright lilac orb, effectively destroying it. The deep cut ran down from a couple centimeters above the eyebrow and ended next to the middle one of his strange faint whisker marks, already cutting past the highest one.
Shisui looked on in horror as his younger brother lost an important part of his body. While distracted and in a poisoned state, Danzo took his chance, and lunged his hand towards Shisui's face, stealing his right eye.
It felt horrible, a pain no shinobi can prepare for, having his eye forcibly pulled right out of his socket. Though Shisui knew that Naruto probably felt far worse than he did. Shisui grabbed his brother and shunshined away as fast as he could, though in his weakened state, he couldn't get as far away as he would like, still within fighting distance from Danzo. No way that they could get out of this. He began breathing even harder, purple splotches and welts began forming on his skin.
"I have taken your eye, Shisui, and I have incapacitated the boy. Admit defeat, and I can assure you that your death will help lead this village to an era of peace, and one under the leadership of the Uchiha! This village will become the strongest it has been since its founding! We can bring all the other countries and villages under the banner of Konoha, and bring the entire continent to justice! Just think of how powerful Konoha will be combined with the strength of Iwa, Suna, Kumo, and Kiri, not to mention their secrets and resources!"
Shisui only grew angrier as Danzo continued to speak, busy using what little medical ninjutsu he knew to heal Naruto's eye then best he could. He could heal the cut over his eyelid just a little, and figured that Naruto's incredible healing factor would do the rest. Shisui was sad to internally admit that he didn't think even Naruto's special chakra could heal his eye. Almost nothing could repair a completely destroyed eye. His thoughts were cut off by a recognizable voice.
"W-What y-you're suggesting is a complete dictatorship of the entire Great Continent!" Naruto grounded out. "Tsk.. Forcing everyone to give up their dreams and beliefs, just so that you can be put in power! And to do it, you're just tricking the Uchiha clan into working for you, lying to them, making them think that they'll be put in charge instead of you." He said as he held his bleeding face with one hand and stood up on shaky legs.
"I will never let anyone harm my brother! Not some old bastard like you, and definitely not the Uchiha as a whole! I will protect him and my family from people like you, even if it costs me my life to do so! And I never go back on my word!"
Shisui then looked at Naruto wide eyes as the redhead smiled softly. "Because that's my nindo... My ninja way!"
After proclamation, Shisui had seen a vision of the four past Hokage standing right behind to Naruto. Their hands were placed on his back, as if they were passing on their Will of Fire to his brother. And in the next moment, Shisui could see them both together away from it all, and he had what he what he had always desired, and what he would do anything to protect now.
A family
"Heh, I couldn't had said it better Naruto." He said, standing next to him. Shisui narrowed his lone eye, "It seems we still have business to take care of." He proclaimed, getting ready once again.
Just as Shisui was getting back into a battle stance, suddenly twelve of Danzo's loyal Root Anbu came dashing into the clearing, surrounding their leader as they all stood ready to defend the old war hawk. Shisui wasn't sure in his current state if he could handle all these Root shinobi, especially not to mention that Danzo now had his right sharingan.
But when he saw Naruto straighten himself out, and readied himself into the interceptor fist fighting style he realized he couldn't give up. He still needed to stop Danzo. Shisui knew that it was wrong of him to let a child still in the academy participate in a fight of this caliber, but he needed help, and he was confident that Naruto could prove very useful. As long as he kept the fight short. "Naruto, this is the one time that I'm letting you do this. Keep your distance and use shurikenjutsu. If forced to engage, use only taijutsu. Those are your specialties. Let me do most of the fighting, and I think that we could win this. But whatever you do, stay away from Danzo."
Naruto nodded at what Shisui had said, not voicing his concerns about his brother state to fight. "Alright, but after this, you will tell me what is going on, right?"
Shisui smirked, giving Naruto the only answer he needed. Shisui dashed off towards the conglomerate of shinobi. Naruto reached into his shuriken hip pouch and pulled out a dozen shuriken, six in each hand. Once his brother reached a safe distance, Naruto skillfully threw the projectiles, straight at Shisui's back, they came close to the Uchiha before they suddenly curved around him, fanning out straight towards the twelve Root shinobi that came running towards Shisui, one shuriken for each Anbu. As Naruto expected, each of the Anbu easily blocked the shuriken. And as Naruto had hoped, it had distracted them just barely enough for Shisui to use his signature jutsu, teleporting behind two of the Root almost simultaneously, and slicing both at once.
Shisui then engaged the remaining ten of them in a battle of kenjutsu and taijutsu on a level Naruto had never seen in his ten years of life. Naruto had heard stories of Shisui's legendary battle skill, but to see it in person, even if it was not the ideal situation, was something else entirely. Naruto watched in awe as Shisui took down another one of the Anbu, and easily teleported away from another. Teleporting around without even a single hand sign was ludicrous to him. Naruto didn't even have that much mastery over the Great Fireball jutsu, something that had taken him months of pain and self-inflicted stress to even pass off as acceptable, and something he had continued practicing for years to get to the mastery he was at now. And he still needed signs to perform it.
It was the most amazing thing that Naruto had ever seen.
Naruto saw one of the shinobi moving in to attack Shisui from behind, and pulled out two kunai, the rings tied together with ninja wire. He threw the two kunai at the Anbu, aimed low towards his legs. The kunai flew on either side of the leg, causing the leg to be caught and dragged by the wire and trip the shinobi. Naruto had to say, it was quite embarrassing that a shinobi of such high caliber was caught in such a simple shurikenjutsu trick.
Naruto watched on as Shisui took care of three more of the Root members, one of which was the one that Naruto had tripped, leaving their numbers at half of what they were when they had arrived there to defend their leader. As Naruto looked at his older brother though, he could see that Shisui was tiring, slowing down just enough for it to be noticeable. The Anbu were beginning to land more hits on him, Shisui gained more cuts and scrapes, and he was no longer able to take any of the enemy shinobi out.
It was while Naruto was distracted that one of the remaining six Root shinobi started running towards him, equipped with two Ninjato. Naruto finally noticed the Anbu coming at him, and with little time to prepare, got into the interceptor fist stance. His true specialty.
The Root shinobi started swinging his swords at Naruto, clearly not in an attempt to kill, but definitely maim. Naruto skillfully evaded most of their attacks, and when he couldn't he used his kunai to narrowly block the blades, the same trick that hadn't worked on the elder man. The interceptor fist was a taijutsu style focused on being able to evade an enemy's attacks, and use them against the opponent, which made it perfect for this situation, in which Naruto only needed to focus on staying alive long enough for Shisui to help him. That being said, Naruto was not perfect in the taijutsu style, and the shinobi managed to get two deep cuts across Naruto's chest, causing him a great deal of pain.
Naruto was in an immense amount of pain, but continued to evade the man's other attacks. Regardless, Naruto knew that he could not remain close to Anbu with these wounds and hope to win, with the pain distracting him too much. In a moment of Naruto's famous unpredictable moments, Naruto jumped towards his attacker while they were in motion, and positioned himself for his feet to land on the man's chest. The Root Anbu brought one of his ninjato up to block the ten-year-old boy, doing exactly as Naruto wanted. While still in the air, Naruto started performing focused a condense ball of chakra with both hands.
Naruto's feet met the flat side of the Anbu's blade, which were then held in place by the mysterious Anbu. Naruto smirked as he his feet were taken captive by the shinobi, thinking back to the spar he had earlier with Sasuke. He extended both hands aimed right at the man in front of him, suddenly forming a ridiculously large vortex of chakra between his palms "Rasengan!"
BOOM
Naruto jumped away at the last possible second as the vortex of chakra engulfed the ground where the man once stood, but kept his guard up, his mind still thinking how the same trick hadn't worked on Danzo. As Naruto landed back on the ground, he noticed that the five shinobi that Shisui had been fighting was now down to three, but also noticed that Danzo was nowhere to be seen. He looked around quickly with his remained right eye, and saw the man once again approaching at speeds that should be impossible to someone so old. Much faster than when he had destroyed Naruto's eye.
Shisui however, saw what was happening, and mentally panicked but Shisui wasn't praised as being as fast as the Yondaime Hokage for nothing, and faster than a blink of an eye, disappeared to Naruto's location. As he reappeared next to Naruto, Shisui was left with his last resort. The tomoe in his left eye began spinning faster, molding together until they formed a four-pointed square looking shape. Similar to that of a very odd-looking shuriken.
Just before Danzo could reach the two, Shisui Uchiha gritted his teeth and summoned the last vestiges of his chakra, pouring it into his Mangekyou Sharingan. He could feel the poison coursing through his veins, sapping his strength, but he wasn't finished yet. Not while he still had something left to fight for.
A sudden, violent surge of chakra erupted from Shisui, filling the air with a thick, oppressive energy that crackled like electricity. The ground beneath him trembled, the leaves on the surrounding trees rustling as if caught in a sudden windstorm. A dark, emerald-green glow began to emanate from his body, growing brighter and more intense with every passing second.
And then, it appeared.
The spectral form of Shisui's Susanoo burst into existence, towering above the forest floor. It was monstrous, a fearsome colossus of chakra and rage. The spectral beast stood several stories tall, its form hunched and twisted, exuding a primal power that sent waves of fear rippling through the very air around it. Its body was a brilliant shade of green, with darker hues swirling like a storm within its form, creating a chaotic and almost otherworldly pattern across its massive frame.
The Susanoo's eyes were hollow and black, like twin voids that seemed to suck in all light around them. Within those black depths, however, something stirred—a dark, malevolent energy that flickered and pulsed, casting an eerie, ghostly light over the battlefield. The eyes glowed with a baleful intensity, the darkness within them almost alive, writhing and shifting as if it were its own entity, full of wrath and unyielding power.
Its face was monstrous, with sharp, angular features and a gaping maw that seemed to stretch impossibly wide, filled with jagged, ethereal fangs. Its brow was furrowed in a permanent snarl, exuding a sense of fury and menace that was almost palpable. Every part of the Susanoo radiated a dreadful strength, its body rippling with raw, unbridled chakra. Massive shoulders led to arms that were thick and powerful, each hand ending in clawed fingers that could easily crush rock or tear through steel.
As the Susanoo raised its head, the hum of chakra became a roar, a deep, resonant sound that vibrated through the very bones of anyone nearby. The energy it radiated was almost suffocating, a dense, pulsating aura that seemed to warp the air around it. Waves of heat and energy rolled off the colossal form, distorting the light and making the Susanoo appear even more terrifying—a monstrous apparition that seemed to flicker between reality and nightmare.
The emerald armor that covered its body was ornate and jagged, shimmering with a dark, malevolent energy. Its surface was etched with intricate patterns, runes, and symbols that seemed to pulse with life. Each movement it made, every twitch of its massive limbs, sent ripples of green energy cascading outward, like shockwaves crashing against the ground.
As Shisui and Naruto stood at the heart of this monstrous apparition, their bodies barely visible within the Susanoo's chest cavity, he felt a rush of power unlike anything he had ever experienced. His chakra reserves were nearly depleted, his body weakened by the poison coursing through his veins, but the Susanoo was a manifestation of his very willpower and determination. It was as if the spirit of Shisui himself had taken form, rising up in defiance of Danzo's treachery.
The black eyes of the Susanoo focused on Danzo, their dark, empty gaze promising nothing but destruction. With a thunderous roar, the Susanoo swung one of its massive arms, a swipe of its clawed hand tearing through the air with a force that seemed capable of ripping apart the very fabric of reality itself.
Danzo braced himself, his eyes widening with a mix of awe and terror as the monstrous Susanoo bore down upon him, its every movement exuding a terrifying power that promised to crush anything and everything in its path. The battlefield trembled under the weight of the spectral beast, the air around them humming with the relentless force of Shisui's unyielding resolve.
For a moment, time itself seemed to stand still, caught in the presence of this enormous, spectral behemoth. And in that moment, the full, fearsome might of Shisui Uchiha was unleashed—a final stand, a testament to the indomitable spirit of a true shinobi.
Danzo scowled as he comforted his left hand, jumping back away from the two.
Meanwhile, the other three Anbu shinobi had started to grow nervous at the sight, suddenly in a single moment, green beams shot out of the opened chest, quickly getting rid of the remaining Anbu, leaving only the elderly leader of the Root standing.
"T-This i-is it D-Danzo. This is the true power of the Uchiha. With this blade, comes your eternal demise." Shisui proclaimed out of breath as the ethereal being raising up its swirling blade as it prepared to attack its enemy.
Unknown to the three of them, someone else was watching the battle from afar, and was wide eyed at the blade that was in the beings' hand. "Totsuka no Tsurugi, Sword of Totsuka an ethereal weapon whose blade, emerging from a sake jar, that is enchanted with a sealing jutsu. Those stabbed by the sword are swiftly drawn into the jar and trapped in a genjutsu-like "world of drunken dreams" for all eternity. The ultimate Fuinjutsu technique..." The figure smiled under its hood. "Imagine the possibilities."
Danzo looked at the attack that was coming his way, and knew that although weakened, if he continued to fight Shisui while he was using Susanoo, his Izanagi would eventually run out. He was lucky enough to be able to gather the sharingan that he had right now over the last decade, and he couldn't avoid to waste them unless any more Uchiha were to die. He would have to retreat, although with the acquisition of the Kotoamatsukami, this could still be considered a success.
The blade like weapon that the Susanoo was wielding started spinning in its right hand, and pierced where Danzo once stood. Danzo had already disappeared by then, but Shisui kept up his technique for a minute, making sure that the elderly man was gone before the green being faded away. Shisui started breathing in and out quite heavily, as he wiped his forehead free of sweat. And after a couple of deep breaths, he fell down coughing up blood. The purple splotches completely covering half his face.
"Shisui!" Naruto screamed as he caught the older Uchiha right before he hit the ground. "Oh Kami, what do I do?" Naruto laid Shisui down on the ground and brought his fingers to his neck, relieved to find that there was still a pulse. He was trying to figure out what to do next when he saw someone jump into the field. As they ran towards the two of them, Naruto pulled out a kunai and jumped towards the figure as they neared him.
"Naruto, it's just me!" Itachi said as he evaded Naruto's kunai swing, but Naruto didn't stop attacking the long haired Uchiha. Itachi kept dodging the smaller redhead until he eventually put Naruto in a hold, keeping the distressed kid from attacking him any longer. "Naruto, you need to calm down. We need to get Shisui somewhere away from here and treat him. We can't do that if you're trying to kill me."
Naruto struggled to get out of the hold Itachi had him in, before he gave up. Instead, Naruto asked him a question. "What did Itachi get me for my eighth birthday?"
Itachi was a little confused by the question, but then he knew what Naruto was trying to do. Anybody with even the smallest amount of sense knew that even the most basic of genin could impersonate someone else. Naruto was making sure that Itachi really was Itachi.
"I got you a pair of sandals that were two sizes too big."
Naruto let out a breath of relief at Itachi's answer, but still had to make absolute certain. "What color were they?"
"… Pink."
Naruto relaxed his entire body after that, knowing that only Itachi or somebody very close to them would know that. It was the only prank Naruto had ever witnessed Itachi participate in, and was a very fond memory of his.
"Itachi, you need to help me." Naruto said once Itachi released him, his right eye crying while his destroyed left eye still sat closed. "I don't know what was going on, other than Shisui was trying to stop some revolt by the Uchiha. But this Danzo guy stole Shisui's right eye, and we had to fight these Anbu guys, and I don't know what to do!" Naruto yelled as his eye spilled tears. His arms were shaking, and his breathing was fast and irregular.
So Itachi did the one thing that could calm Naruto down.
He knocked him out.
⁂
Hours Later
Naruto groaned as he sat up, pain radiating from his chest and eye. His body ached in protest with every movement. He opened his right eye, squinting against the throbbing pain, and looked down at the deep gash across his chest. The wound was still fresh, a reminder of the fierce battle he had just survived. He'd always healed quickly, but this… this would take more than a few hours, maybe even a trip to the hospital. Gritting his teeth, he gingerly touched the two sword wounds, hissing at the sharp sting that followed. He knew it would be a while before he felt normal again.
As he surveyed his surroundings, he spotted Shisui sitting upright nearby, with Itachi kneeling beside him. Itachi's hands glowed with green chakra as he performed a final check-up on Shisui's condition. The two were speaking in hushed tones, but Naruto couldn't focus on their words. His attention was solely on the fact that Shisui, his big brother, was alive.
"Shisui!" Naruto called out, forcing himself to stand despite the agony it caused him. His legs wobbled beneath him, but he ignored the pain and ran to his brother.
Shisui's eyes widened in concern as Naruto approached. "Naruto, you shouldn't be up yet!" he said urgently, standing to meet the boy halfway. "Look at yourself. You need to rest and get to a hospital."
Shisui knelt down to inspect Naruto's wounds, cursing softly when he saw the deep cut across Naruto's eye. "You need to get that eye checked immediately. It won't heal on its own."
Naruto gave a weak chuckle, trying to lighten the mood. "Yeah, says the guy with a missing eye," he joked, though the pain in his voice was unmistakable. Despite everything, Naruto's spirit remained unbroken, and Shisui offered him a small smile in return.
But the smile didn't last long. Shisui knew what had to be done, and there was no easy way to say it.
"So… I promised you answers," Shisui began, his tone somber as his eyes flicked away from Naruto's gaze. "Naruto, you already know from the fight that the Uchiha were planning a coup against the village. After the Kyuubi attack ten years ago, many in the clan felt they were being unfairly blamed, even though there's suspicion that the Uchiha were somehow involved."
Naruto's lone eye widened in disbelief. "What? That can't be true. The Uchiha were protecting the civilians during the attack! They're respected—they run the Police Force. Why would they plan something like that?"
Shisui's face darkened. "When people feel hated, they often turn that hate outward. And the Uchiha… are no strangers to hate. But that's not all. The clan was planning to use you."
Naruto's confusion deepened. "Me? Why? I'm just a kid. I'm not even a real shinobi yet."
Shisui's face grew pained as he spoke the next words. "Naruto… the Nine-Tails wasn't killed. It's was sealed inside you. You're were it's container."
Naruto's world shattered. His eye widened in shock, and his body froze. It was as if the ground beneath him had disappeared. He couldn't find the words to speak, and the silence stretched between them, heavy and suffocating.
Shisui wanted to continue, to explain more, but Itachi's voice cut through the air, firm and commanding. "Shisui, we don't have time for this. We need to report to the Hokage. Danzo is after your Sharingan, and he's not going to wait. We can still stop him, but we have to move quickly."
Itachi's face was as unreadable as always, but Shisui could see the strain in his eyes—the pressure of carrying the burden of both loyalty to the village and the love he had for his family. It was tearing him apart.
Shisui sighed, nodding. "I know, Itachi, but considering my state this is the only way," he said, his voice filled with resignation. He turned back to Naruto, knowing what had to come next.
"Danzo already took my right of my eye. That man didn't trust me, and he never will. The only way to keep you safe, Naruto, is to make sure Danzo never feels threatened again. If we push him, he'll lash out, and you'll be his target."
Naruto remained silent, the weight of everything Shisui had said pressing down on him. He could feel his chest tightening, the panic threatening to rise again.
Shisui stepped closer, kneeling once more in front of Naruto. "I'm sorry, brother. I can't tell you the whole truth, but I can give you something. One last birthday gift."
Naruto stared at him, still trying to process everything. "W-What do you mean?"
Shisui took Naruto's hand in his own, his expression soft but determined. Then, without warning, Shisui reached up to his own face. "Shisui, what are you—?" Naruto began, his voice rising in alarm.
But before he could finish, Shisui carefully removed his remaining eye. Naruto gasped, horrified, as Shisui handed it to him, his hands glowing with medical chakra to numb the pain.
"Shisui, no! You need that eye!" Naruto cried, tears threatening to spill from his good eye.
Shisui smiled sadly, placing the eye in Naruto's hand. "I won't need it where I'm going. But you… you will. You need this, Naruto. To protect yourself."
Naruto shook his head, overwhelmed with emotion. "No! You can't… You're not going anywhere!"
But Shisui knew his fate had already been sealed. Standing up, he walked to the edge of the cliff, his silhouette framed against the setting sun. "Danzo has my Kotoamatsukami. He'll use it to manipulate anyone he wants, including the Hokage. But with this eye, Naruto, you can resist him. You can fight back."
Naruto's heart raced as he watched his brother stand at the edge, knowing what was about to happen but powerless to stop it. "Shisui, please… don't leave me," he whispered.
Shisui's voice broke as he spoke one last time. "I love you, Naruto. I always will. Even in death."
And with that, Shisui took a step forward, disappearing over the edge.
Naruto's world went silent.
Nothing else mattered anymore. His left eye burned as Itachi carefully transplanted Shisui's Sharingan into its place, but Naruto barely felt it. His heart ached far worse than any physical wound.
Shisui was gone.
Fire Daimyō Manor
In the capital of Fire Country, the Fire Daimyō strode through his opulent garden, the soft swish of his silk robes the only sound disturbing the tranquil surroundings. His hands were clasped behind his back, and the delicate scent of blooming flowers filled the air as he moved with practiced grace through the perfectly manicured grounds.
The manor, a sprawling estate of polished wood and stone, stood in stark contrast to the lush greenery surrounding it. The atmosphere was serene, yet there was an unmistakable weight to the day, as if something unseen loomed just beyond the horizon.
As the Daimyō made his way back into his office, the sliding door opened silently, and one of his aides entered, bowing low as he presented a sealed letter. "Your Excellency, a request has arrived from one of Konoha's delegates."
The Daimyō raised an eyebrow, his curiosity piqued. "Oh?" he asked, a touch of intrigue coloring his voice. "That's unexpected. Who is it?"
The aide hesitated for a moment before responding, his voice steady but careful. "Danzo Shimura."
The Fire Daimyō's expression faltered for the briefest moment, his usually composed demeanor cracking as he heard the name. He turned the letter over in his hands, fingers tracing the seal of Konoha, lost in thought. Danzo—an elder from the Hidden Leaf, a man whose reputation was shrouded in shadows, known for his ruthless tactics in the Great Ninja War. The name alone carried with it a sense of foreboding.
"Danzo," the Daimyō repeated softly to himself, his voice barely above a whisper.
As he broke the seal and unfolded the letter, his eyes skimmed over the neat, precise handwriting. His face remained calm, unreadable, as he read the contents. Yet, there was a shift in the atmosphere, a quiet tension settling into the room as the Daimyō's eyes narrowed ever so slightly.
"Prepare my guards," he said after a long pause, his voice measured and composed, but with an underlying tension. "We will meet him. But something tells me this is no ordinary request."
The aide bowed once again and swiftly left the room, leaving the Daimyō alone with his thoughts. He placed the letter on his desk, fingers lingering on it for a moment longer before he turned to gaze out the window, his mind racing with unspoken concerns.
As the soft patter of footsteps echoed down the hallway, signaling the preparations being made, the Daimyō couldn't shake the uneasy feeling gnawing at the edges of his mind. What could Danzo Shimura possibly want? What could be so urgent that he sought a personal audience with the Daimyō himself?
The Daimyō's hand clenched into a fist, his mind racing with questions—and a sudden, gnawing fear.
The fate of Fire Country future in question in the coming days.
