Chapter 153: I Want You to Play a Part

Hokage's Office.

Danzo closed his eyes, adjusting to the power of the Mangekyou. When he opened his eyes again, the pupil of his right eye had transformed into a four-cornered shuriken.

Then, Danzo looked at the Third Hokage and said solemnly:

"Shisui has been poisoned by the Fruit Fly. Even if he managed to escape, his death is inevitable.

He said he came to see you without Uchiha Dan knowing, so until the Uchiha clan discovers the cause of his death, we have the upper hand.

Hiruzen, are you still hesitating? Make a decision quickly and take action against the Uchiha clan!"

Upon hearing this, the Third Hokage pondered for a moment, and finally nodded:

"Alright." He knew that there was no turning back now. He had to see this through to the end.

"Also..." Danzo's eyes flashed, making a request, "Give me the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki. With Shisui's eye and the cells of the First Hokage, I can control the Nine-Tails. That demon fox will be the key force in eliminating the Uchiha clan."

The Third Hokage frowned.

He instinctively wanted to refuse, but when he met Danzo's gaze, for some reason... he inexplicably agreed, telling Danzo the location of Naruto Uzumaki.

Danzo's face lit up with joy, and he hurriedly left.

Just now, to test the power of Kotoamatsukami, he couldn't wait to use it on the Third Hokage, who was indeed unaware.

After Danzo left.

The Third Hokage was still deep in thought.

Of the three strongest Uchiha, Shisui was gone, leaving only Dan and Fugaku. The most difficult to deal with was Dan.

Whether the plan to exterminate the Uchiha clan could succeed, the key was to eliminate Uchiha Dan.

Just as he was thinking.

An Anbu appeared, reporting to the Third Hokage, "Hokage-sama, Jiraiya-sama has returned."

This was undoubtedly good news.

"Let him come to see me." The Third Hokage's face lit up with joy.

Jiraiya's return was very timely. With this disciple's help, the Third Hokage was more confident about dealing with Uchiha Dan.

Uchiha Clan Area.

In Shisui's home, Dan sat calmly on the sofa, closing his eyes to rest.

Click, click.

Tsunade, on the other hand, was pacing back and forth in her high heels at the door, occasionally looking in the direction of the Hokage building. As time passed, her gaze became increasingly worried.

Compared to Dan, Tsunade, who was not an Uchiha, was more worried and anxious about Shisui.

Because she knew that Shisui's visit to the Third Hokage this time could lead to the biggest internal conflict in Konoha's history.

"Shisui hasn't come back yet, has something... happened?"

Tsunade finally couldn't help but ask Dan.

Coincidentally, just as she finished speaking, a figure appeared in the yard, stumbling towards them.

It was Shisui. He looked miserable at the moment, his right eye tightly closed, a dried bloodstain hanging on his right cheek, which was shocking.

"Dan, I'm sorry, I failed."

Shisui said with a weak bitter smile, almost falling as he reached the door.

Tsunade quickly stepped forward to support him, asking with a horrified face: "What happened to your right eye, could it be... the Third Hokage...?"

Even though she saw Shisui's miserable state with her own eyes, she still couldn't believe that the Third Hokage would do such a thing.

"It was Danzo. He suddenly attacked me during my negotiation with the Hokage and stole my right eye," Shisui said with a bitter expression.

"And the Third Hokage, why didn't he stop Danzo?" Tsunade asked further.

"The Hokage... he..." Shisui didn't finish, but from his despairing expression, it could be guessed—

Even though the Third Hokage was present, he tacitly approved of Danzo's actions.

Seeing Shisui like this Tsunade felt a sinking feeling in her heart, realizing that the conflict between the Uchiha and the village was now inevitable.

At this moment Shisui, while walking towards Dan, said to him: "Danzo took my right eye, and I can't let him get my left one. Dan, I can't protect this eye anymore, I can only entrust it to you."

Saying this, he reached towards his own left eye, ready to gouge it out.

Whoosh.

Dan, however, stepped forward, grabbed Shisui's wrist, and said to him:

"Your eye should be given to someone more suitable."

"Who?" Shisui was taken aback.

"Itachi." Dan said his nephew's name.

"Why?" Shisui didn't understand why Dan would suddenly bring up Itachi.

Dan looked at Shisui's miserable face and gave a smile: "Because, I want you to play a part."

...

In the eyes of outsiders Uchiha Itachi was a smart, calm, and mature boy. His every move was like that of a mature adult.

But few people knew that his favorite food was the three-colored dango that girls loved to eat.

Itachi and Izumi's acquaintance started with these dangos.

Today was a bright and beautiful day, the sun was warm, the breeze was gentle, and on the streets of the Uchiha district, cats were lazily sprawled out, basking in the sun leisurely.

In the dessert shop, Itachi and Izumi walked out, chatting and laughing.

With Itachi's help, Izumi had just successfully passed the Chunin exam and even won first place, so she was happily treating Itachi to his favorite three-colored dango.

This was a date.

The two walked side by side, passing through the streets of the Uchiha district, heading towards the small park in the clan.

Itachi was relaxed now.

Since leaving the Anbu and distancing himself from the cruel world of shinobi, he no longer had to be caught between his family and the village, thinking about those despairing issues all day.

Instead, like his peers, he could fully enjoy the beauty of youth.

His heart was not as heavy as before, and his personality had changed unknowingly.

From darkness to light.

In a short while.

The two arrived at the lakeside of the small park. The lake was shimmering, and the breeze was refreshing.

"Itachi, let's rest a bit." Izumi smiled sweetly and sat down on a bench by the lake.

Huh?

Itachi seemed to sense something, turned his head to look at a bush not far away, then shook his head and said:

"Sasuke, come out."

As soon as he finished speaking there was a rustling sound from the bush.

Then, Sasuke, with leaves all over his head and pouting, crawled out from inside.

He had followed his brother all the way here to be a third wheel.

"Sasuke really clings to you. I remember when we were young, I once tried to hug him, but he started crying and making a fuss, refusing to leave your arms."

Izumi said, recalling a past event.

"No matter what, he would always prefer to be with you." As she spoke, she looked at Itachi with a gentle smile, her eyes filled with affection and tenderness.

Itachi, on the other hand, looked at his younger brother who had just emerged from the bushes, a soft smile on his face.

"Sasuke, come here," he called out to his brother.

Sasuke, still pouting, walked over reluctantly. He looked at Izumi, then at his brother, and finally sat down next to Itachi, his small face full of dissatisfaction.

Itachi reached out and ruffled Sasuke's hair, his eyes filled with warmth.

This peaceful and warm scene, under the bright sunshine, seemed extraordinarily beautiful.

However, no one knew that this peaceful day would soon be shattered, and a storm was about to engulf the Uchiha clan...

Izumi was smiling at Itachi, her beautiful eyes curved like crescent moons.

"Hmph." Upon hearing Izumi's teasing, Sasuke immediately snorted coldly. He didn't have a good impression of this woman who had taken his brother away from him.

Seeing this, Itachi frowned slightly and reprimanded his younger brother in a slightly stern tone:

"Sasuke, be polite." Upon hearing this, Sasuke immediately pouted, looking aggrieved.

Izumi couldn't help but laugh at Sasuke's reaction, telling Itachi, "He's just a kid, it's okay."

After saying this, she took out a box of tri-colored dumplings from her bag and, as usual, fed them to Itachi.

Itachi blushed slightly but seemed to enjoy the moment. He was about to take a bite when...

"Roar." Sasuke, quick as a flash, jumped up like a little dog snatching food and intercepted the dumpling.

Izumi was taken aback, her face full of disbelief.

Itachi also showed a helpless smile.

Their perfect date was ruined by Sasuke.

"Sasuke, why don't you go home first? I'll play with you later."

Just as Itachi was thinking of a way to send his brother away...

"Caw, caw."

A harsh and hoarse cry suddenly came from above their heads.

Hmm?

Itachi looked up and saw a crow circling in the air. It then swooped down and landed on his hand.

The crow's eyes were a startling red Sharingan, blinking as if it was conveying a message to Itachi.

Itachi looked surprised and stood up.

"What's wrong?" Izumi asked.

"Shisui has an urgent matter to discuss with me. I need to go. Izumi, could you please take Sasuke home first?"

After Itachi finished speaking, he leaped onto the lake's surface, stepping on the water to enter the forest on the opposite side, and soon disappeared from sight.

Ten minutes later... above the Nanhe River, on a cliff a hundred meters high.

This was a place known only to Itachi and Shisui. Whenever they had something important to discuss, they would meet here.

"Shisui." As soon as Itachi arrived, he saw Shisui standing at the edge of the cliff, his back to him.

"Itachi, you're here."

Shisui slowly turned around, revealing his closed right eye and the bloodstain on his cheek to Itachi.

Itachi was immediately shocked and quickly asked, "What happened? Your eye..."

"Listen to me, Itachi, I don't have much time." Shisui interrupted Itachi, then quickly told him everything:

The Third Hokage suspected that the Uchiha clan was colluding with the Hidden Cloud Village and wanted to take action against the Uchiha clan. Upon learning this, Dan decided to lead the Uchiha clan in a coup.

In order to prevent a war between the clan and the village, Shisui went to see the Third Hokage alone, hoping to use his Mangekyou Sharingan's "Kotoamatsukami" to maintain peace in the village.

Unexpectedly, he was attacked by Danzo, who stole his right eye and poisoned him. He didn't have much time left.

"How could this happen..." Itachi murmured, unable to accept the cruel reality that had befallen Shisui.

Shisui showed a bitter smile and continued to speak to Itachi with a tone of self-blame and regret: "Itachi, I was too naive. I thought too highly of the Third Hokage and didn't heed Dan's warning.

On the issue between the clan and the village, your uncle was right. All I've done so far has only caused trouble for him and the clan.

At this point, I really don't have the face to see Dan again, so I can only ask you to give him my left eye..."

These words were not entirely dictated by Dan.

A large part of them were his own heartfelt words.

As soon as he finished speaking... while Itachi was still in shock, Shisui didn't hesitate to reach out and gouge out his own left eye.

Then he handed it to Itachi.

"Shisui..." Itachi took the eye with trembling hands.

"There's one more thing." Despite the blood and tears flowing from his left eye, Shisui, who had lost both eyes, seemed to feel no pain. "It's about the Mangekyou Sharingan."

Itachi listened in pain.

"Itachi, the first time I showed you the Mangekyou Sharingan, I saw admiration in your eyes. I know your dream is to become the strongest ninja, to become Hokage, and then to eliminate the wars in the world.

So you crave the power of the Mangekyou, don't you? Now I'll tell you how to awaken these eyes. That is, you have to kill me with your own hands."

With his eyes closed, Shisui calmly said these words.

"What?!"

Itachi's pupils shrank, he stepped back in shock, his face full of horror.

He was supposed to kill Shisui himself? No matter what, Itachi could never do such a thing. As if anticipating Itachi's reaction, Shisui sighed deeply and explained why he wanted Itachi to do this:

"Because that's how I awakened my eyes. Before I met you, I killed my best friend with my own hands."

A deep-seated memory from Shisui's past came pouring out. He once had a friend, whom he met during his time at the Ninja Academy. After graduation, they both joined the same team, trusting and relying on each other.

Until the Third Great Ninja War broke out. Shisui's team was sent to the battlefield. In the cruel war situation, they quickly faced a crisis and were isolated.

In the end, Shisui was saved, but his friend didn't make it.

However… this wasn't because his friend was unlucky, but because Shisui deliberately let him die.

Because of jealousy Shisui was jealous of his friend's talent. In every way, his friend was better than him. So darkness grew in his heart, and at the critical moment, he chose to abandon his friend.

Afterwards...he awakened the Mangekyou Sharingan due to the intense regret of killing his friend.

The eyes of the Uchiha awaken their power due to extremely intense emotional fluctuations. This is the secret of the Sharingan.

"It's surprising, isn't it, Itachi? You must never have imagined that I could be such a despicable person. People wouldn't think that Shunshin Shisui, known as a genius, is actually a petty man full of jealousy."

Shisui said with self-mockery.

"..."

Itachi didn't know what to say.

He just realized that he didn't really know Shisui.

"Itachi, I'm beyond saving, but I don't want to die meaninglessly. So, please kill me, just as I killed my best friend. Through the pain, you will gain the Mangekyou Sharingan, and then use the power of those eyes to protect the Uchiha clan!"

As Shisui spoke, he opened his arms and walked towards Itachi.

Itachi snapped back to reality, his eyes wide with horror as he backed away:

"Shisui, you... don't come any closer."

However, Shisui suddenly raised his voice and shouted: "Come on, Uchiha Itachi! Show me your resolve! You clearly have the talent to awaken the Mangekyou, why are you so timid, disappointing me so?"

"I... I can't do it!" Itachi shouted back at Shisui, trembling all over.

If it were the old him, the one consumed by darkness, he might have really killed his best friend.

But now, he had lost that so-called "resolve."

That damned resolve.

"I see." Shisui suddenly laughed, no longer pressuring Itachi.

Facing Itachi, he stepped back until he was at the edge of the cliff.

"Itachi, remember, always listen to your uncle. Only Dan can save the Uchiha clan."

After saying his last words, Shisui jumped off the cliff in front of Itachi.

"Shisui!"

Itachi rushed to the edge of the cliff, crying out in despair.

Then, with a thud, he fell to his knees.

After a long silence...

Whoosh. Itachi suddenly raised his head, his eyes glowing with a demonic red light. His pupils burned like flames, eventually forming a pattern of three intersecting blades.

The Mangekyou Sharingan.