There Is No Shortage of Uchiha Who Understand the Will of Fire
A few days later, news of Uchiha Shisui's disappearance spread throughout the clan.
Losing Shisui—one of the most powerful Uchiha—cast a shadow over the coup d'état planned by the Konoha Military Police Force. If even a shinobi as strong as Shisui could vanish without explanation, what chance did the rest of the clan stand against Konoha's forces? Doubt crept in. The harsh reality of their status as outsiders in the village was painful, but compared to the loss of their own kin, enduring discrimination seemed like the lesser evil.
However, the Uchiha were more troubled by one pressing question: What happened to Shisui? Had he defected? Was he assassinated? And why was there no trace of his body?
After days of fruitless searching, suspicion turned toward Uchiha Itachi.
On the night of the secret clan meeting to finalize the coup, only Shisui and Itachi had been absent. If anyone knew the truth, it was Itachi. And if Shisui had been killed, Itachi was the most likely culprit.
Tensions escalated as several Uchiha jōnin gathered outside the home of their clan leader, Uchiha Fugaku.
Standing at the entrance, Fugaku's expression darkened as he faced the men. "Yashiro, Inabi, what is the meaning of this?"
Uchiha Yashiro, his eyes sharp with suspicion, stepped forward. "Captain, we suspect Itachi murdered Shisui."
Fugaku's gaze hardened. "Absurd. Shisui and Itachi were like brothers. Why would Itachi kill him?"
Inabi scoffed. "That may be true, but what if Itachi coveted Shisui's Mangekyō Sharingan? It's a legendary power, after all. If he wanted it for himself, killing Shisui would be the fastest way."
A flicker of uncertainty crossed Fugaku's face. Could Itachi have done such a thing?
Inside the house, Itachi listened silently, his expression unreadable. He had found Shisui's suicide note in his room, confirming the truth: Shisui had chosen death to prevent the clan's rebellion and entrusted him with his remaining eye—his Mangekyō Sharingan—and his dream of peace between the Uchiha and the village.
Yet despite Shisui's sacrifice, the clan refused to see reason. Instead of abandoning the coup, they suspected him of betrayal.
Was the Uchiha clan even worth saving? Their arrogance would destroy them sooner or later.
As frustration and resentment swirled in his mind, his Sharingan shifted. The three tomoe spun violently before morphing into a new shape—shuriken-like pupils with an ominous glow.
The Mangekyō Sharingan.
A flood of knowledge surged into his mind—Tsukuyomi, the power to control time within illusions, and Amaterasu, the inextinguishable black flames.
Itachi exhaled slowly, his resolve hardening. The Sharingan reflects the heart. My eyes have shown me the path I must take.
A few crow feathers drifted through the air as he vanished from his study.
Outside, before the gathered jōnin could react, Itachi materialized. With swift, precise strikes, he incapacitated them effortlessly.
Yashiro found himself pinned against a wall, Itachi's fingers tightening around his throat. The Sharingan in his eyes glowed ominously.
"How dare you measure me against Shisui?" Itachi's voice was ice. "If you want to lecture me, first awaken eyes like mine."
He released Yashiro with a forceful shove, then turned and walked away without another word.
The Uchiha jōnin remained frozen. Yashiro coughed, rubbing his throat, his expression stricken. "Itachi… has awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan. And it's not the same as Shisui's."
The others exchanged uneasy glances. The implications were terrifying.
Fugaku, watching from the sidelines, fell deep into thought. If Shisui were still alive, the Uchiha would already have the power to claim the Hokage's seat…
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A Meeting with the Hokage
More than ten minutes later, Uchiha Itachi stood before the Third Hokage and Konoha's senior leadership in the Hokage Office.
Hiruzen Sarutobi regarded the young Uchiha carefully. "Shisui's disappearance is a great loss. He was the last bridge between the Uchiha and the village. Itachi, will you take his place?"
Itachi bowed slightly. "I will do whatever is necessary for peace. But Shisui's body is still missing. I request the village's assistance in locating him."
Hiruzen nodded solemnly. "I'll send a team to find him. Shisui was a hero—his body must not be left to rot in the wilderness."
At that moment, Danzo Shimura spoke up, his tone sharp. "We must recover Shisui's body before any enemy village does. His Mangekyō Sharingan is a weapon too dangerous to fall into the wrong hands."
Itachi's gaze flickered toward Danzo. He already knew the truth—Danzo had stolen Shisui's right eye, forcing Shisui's hand in his final act. But now was not the time to expose him.
"I take my leave," Itachi said coolly. "The clan remains unstable. I must ensure they don't attempt another coup."
As Itachi departed, Hiruzen turned to Danzo, his expression darkening. "Danzo, do you realize what you're doing? If we lose Itachi's trust, we lose our last hope of peace with the Uchiha."
Danzo, unfazed, crossed his arms. "You're too sentimental, Hiruzen. Shisui's Kotoamatsukami was a threat to Konoha's leadership. The boy's death was a necessary sacrifice."
The Hokage's voice grew cold. "We don't even know the full truth of Shisui's death. Were you involved? I've noticed some irregularities in Root's personnel movements lately."
Before the tension could escalate, the two village advisors, Homura and Koharu, intervened.
"Enough. The Uchiha will attempt another coup sooner or later. Shisui's death only delays the inevitable," Homura stated matter-of-factly.
Silence filled the room.
Finally, Hiruzen spoke. "I believe Itachi can maintain peace. There have always been Uchiha who understood the Will of Fire."
Danzo's lips curled in disdain. "You're a fool if you believe that. The Uchiha are already enemies of the village. We should act now—wipe them out before they have the chance to strike first."
Hiruzen glared at him. "Are you offering to lead the assault yourself? If the Hokage orders the destruction of his own people, how will the other villages see us?"
Danzo's voice was like steel. "The Uchiha must be eliminated."
Then, without another word, he turned and left the office, already preparing to summon Uchiha Itachi for a secret meeting.
The massacre was inevitable.
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