Shisui looked at Itachi's hesitant expression and asked with confusion, "Itachi, what's wrong?"
Itachi took a deep breath, his face composed yet tinged with sorrow. Some truths had to be spoken, no matter how heavy. He looked Shisui in the eyes and said, "Shisui… a lot has happened since your death. Things you probably couldn't have imagined when you were alive."
Shisui nodded slightly. After all, even Danzo had been killed and now here he stood, alive again. If such absurdities were possible, what else couldn't happen?
"I understand. After all, nothing in this world is permanent."
Hearing Shisui speak such words gave Itachi a strange sense of comfort. A faint warmth stirred in his chest as if the burden he carried became just a little lighter. He stared at Shisui and said solemnly, "Shisui… Lord Third—Hiruzen Sarutobi—he died in battle. To be precise… he was killed."
"What?!"
Uchiha Shisui was stunned. "How could that be? Lord Third was so powerful. Did another war break out? Was the village attacked?"
From Shisui's understanding, the Third Great Ninja War had just ended shortly before his death. All five great nations had suffered heavy losses and were in a period of recovery. Konoha, being one of the most powerful villages, would never fall easily. For something to happen to the Hokage, it had to be catastrophic—something on a scale so massive it shook the entire Shinobi World.
Orochimaru scoffed and crossed his arms, his snake-like gaze unreadable.
Itachi nodded slightly and continued, "You guessed correctly. Someone impersonated the Fourth Kazekage and led Sunagakure's forces in an assault on Konoha. During the battle… Lord Third used the Dead Demon Consuming Seal to seal his opponent and perished in the process."
Shisui's brows furrowed in deep thought. After a few moments, he asked, "Who was it? Who forced Lord Third into such a desperate decision?"
Itachi's gaze shifted to the man standing nearby. "It was Lord Third's favorite student… Orochimaru."
Shisui's eyes slowly turned toward Orochimaru, who stood calmly, his expression unreadable. There wasn't a hint of remorse in his features.
"…Why?" Shisui asked seriously, his voice low but filled with emotion.
Orochimaru smiled slightly, his voice calm, almost whimsical. "Perhaps it was a whim. Or maybe I just wanted to see what kind of storm I could stir."
Listening to Orochimaru's metaphysical musings only made Shisui angrier. But what was done was done. The world had already changed beyond recognition. And as a man who had once given his life for the village, Shisui now found himself revived, yet powerless to change the past.
Orochimaru turned slightly toward him and said with a sly smirk, "If that concerns you… perhaps you should ask Itachi what became of the clan you held so dear."
With that, Orochimaru turned and walked away, unconcerned.
Naruto watched Orochimaru's departing figure, thoughts swirling in his heart. In his previous life, when peace finally came to the shinobi world, Orochimaru—who once reveled in chaos—had quietly begun to reflect. After witnessing Sasuke's resolve and Jiraiya's unwavering belief in him, Orochimaru started to change.
Back then, despite everything, even after all the chaos Orochimaru caused, his master Jiraiya had believed in him to the very end. Orochimaru had eventually begun to miss the one man who always treated him as a friend—Jiraiya.
Shisui's heart trembled. A bad premonition surged up from deep within. He turned to Itachi and asked, voice quivering slightly, "Itachi… tell me… what happened to the clan?"
Seeing Shisui's pained expression, Itachi remained silent for a moment. Then, slowly, he dropped to his knees in front of Shisui, his head bowed in shame.
"Shisui… I'm sorry. I failed your trust. I… couldn't protect the clan."
Shisui's eyes widened, panic and disbelief washing over him. "What… do you mean…?"
Naruto stepped forward, realizing Itachi couldn't say it. "Shisui, you know this already. Back when you were alive, the village was shaken by a huge crisis—the Nine-Tails was released."
Shisui nodded gravely. "Yes… that night."
Naruto continued, "Though the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, sealed the Nine-Tails at the cost of his own life, the village began whispering that the Uchiha were responsible. After all… only the Sharingan can control the Nine-Tails."
Shisui clenched his fists, his expression tense.
"At a meeting, the Uchiha were forced to move to the outskirts of the village. Fugaku, your clan leader and Itachi's father, protested vehemently. But Danzo crushed his words with power. That decision… was the beginning of everything."
Shisui exhaled slowly. "I remember. The resentment within the clan was already brewing. After being isolated to the edge of the village, their dissatisfaction reached a boiling point."
Naruto nodded. "Exactly. The gap between the village and the Uchiha grew wider and wider. Both sides started planting spies. Eventually, Itachi was chosen—by both sides."
Shisui's eyes turned toward Itachi, filled with pain. He knew better than anyone how kind-hearted Itachi was. To be caught between two loyalties… it must've been unbearable.
Naruto's tone grew heavier. "Eventually, Fugaku and the elders of the clan decided to stage a coup. Itachi, as a double agent, informed the village's higher-ups—Hiruzen, Danzo, and the advisors."
At this point, Shisui could already feel his stomach sinking.
Naruto took a deep breath. "Danzo pushed for a preemptive strike to avoid civil war. Hiruzen disagreed. He wanted to keep negotiating."
Shisui grit his teeth. Hiruzen's methods may have been slow, but he had always believed in diplomacy.
"But after the meeting, Danzo approached Itachi in secret," Naruto continued grimly. "He gave Itachi a cruel choice: eliminate the entire Uchiha clan himself, and in exchange, Danzo would spare his younger brother, Sasuke.
He promised to let the Uchiha name live on in history without being branded traitors. The world would only know that Itachi massacred the clan for unknown reasons. Sasuke would be allowed to live in the village… free from suspicion."
Shisui was speechless.
"Itachi chose to shoulder it all," Naruto said solemnly. "He carried that sin on his back. He slaughtered the entire clan with his own hands… and left Sasuke alive. Then, he defected from the village and joined Akatsuki, continuing his mission as a rogue ninja—all to protect Sasuke and maintain peace."
Tears streamed silently down Itachi's face as he remained kneeling. Shisui stood frozen, as if struck by lightning.
His chest tightened. His trusted brother. The boy he entrusted to protect the clan… had killed them all.
The weight of those words pressed down on him like a mountain. Even so, a small voice in his heart whispered: What would I have done in his place?
He had tried to use Kotoamatsukami, his ultimate Genjutsu, to influence the village to avoid conflict… but Danzo had stolen his eye before he had the chance.
Still… the idea that the Uchiha had been eradicated—by their own son…
"No…"
Shisui clenched his fists. His breath became erratic. He stepped forward and grabbed Itachi by the shoulders, yanking him up.
Tears mixed with rage filled Shisui's eyes. But instead of shouting, he wiped away Itachi's tears.
Then, with a deep breath… Shisui punched Itachi straight in the face.
The sound echoed in the room, but there was no hatred in the blow—only anguish.
Itachi didn't retaliate. He just stood there, eyes lowered, accepting the pain like a deserved punishment.
"Idiot…" Shisui muttered, voice trembling. "You could've told me… we could've found another way."
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