Chapter 11: Playing Hard to Get

"Madam, do you wish to see Sasuke?"

After Uchiha Mikoto had given Shishou the location of the Naka Shrine, he stood beside her, both of them gazing towards Konoha.

Hearing Sasuke's name, Mikoto trembled and nodded.

"But do you know what appearing before Sasuke now would bring him?"

Shishou turned to look at the woman beside him.

"Sigh."

"I understand."

Being able to awaken the Three Tomoe Sharingan, Uchiha Mikoto was naturally not foolish. She quickly understood Shishou's meaning.

If she, who was thought to be dead, appeared before Sasuke, it would bring him immediate danger.

Instead, it might be better to remain as things are now.

"Madam, it seems you haven't fully grasped my meaning."

Shishou reached out to caress Mikoto's face, closely observing her conflicted expression—she wanted to avoid his touch but didn't dare to move.

As Mikoto endured his invasion, she thought Shishou's desires were about to manifest, making her heart race. However, his next words brought her relief.

"If you wish to see Sasuke, you need immense power—power to crush all obstacles in your way."

"Moreover, Uchiha Itachi committed the massacre. Sasuke now sees him as his greatest enemy. Do you really want to watch them..."

Shishou deliberately paused, observing Mikoto's expression before continuing calmly:

"Do you really want to see them kill each other?"

Sadness, hatred, and complexity flashed across Mikoto's face before she closed her eyes in pain.

"The clan's vengeance, I will take care of it myself!"

Having said that, Mikoto's expression dimmed.

She remembered that Itachi possessed the Mangekyou Sharingan, whereas she only had the Three Tomoe Sharingan.

Against the Mangekyou, the Three Tomoe was powerless.

She knew her own talent. Awakening the Three Tomoe in her twenties, she had no hope of awakening the Mangekyou.

Moreover, her long years of domestic life had made her forget how to fight.

How could she seek revenge like this?

But Mikoto was desperate to prevent Itachi and Sasuke from fighting each other.

Maybe she could rely on him...

Unknowingly, Mikoto looked towards Shishou.

Their eyes met briefly before Mikoto quickly looked away in panic.

"I once read an ancient text, which recorded the secret to awakening the Mangekyou Sharingan in the Uchiha clan. That's also why, despite my thin bloodline, I managed to awaken the Three Tomoe Sharingan."

With his hands behind his back, Shishou looked towards Konoha and slowly spoke:

"If you're willing, I can help you awaken the Mangekyou."

"But you will have to pay a heavy price."

To strengthen his argument, Shishou showed his Sharingan as an example.

Having seen Shishou's Sharingan, Mikoto didn't doubt his words. After pressing her lips together, she reluctantly asked:

"What do you need me to do?"

Clearly, to prevent Itachi and Sasuke from fighting, she was ready to go to great lengths and had anticipated what might be required.

"Ha, we'll discuss this later."

"Take good care of them."

Seeing Mikoto's determined yet apprehensive look, Shishou smiled slightly and disappeared.

Mikoto had just undergone a major upheaval. Her physical and mental state was poor, making it unsuitable to proceed with the Mangekyou awakening now.

Playing hard to get might ensure her obedience in the future.

Moreover, if awakening the Mangekyou harmed Mikoto, it would be counterproductive.

Shishou valued Mikoto as a person, not just her potential Mangekyou.

A pair of Mangekyou eyes didn't mean much to him.

However, Mikoto hadn't awakened the Mangekyou despite her significant ordeal.

Forcing her to awaken it would likely be very difficult.

"..."

Watching Shishou disappear, Mikoto felt regret and fear.

Regret for her resistance and fear that Shishou might refuse to help her.

For a moment, Mikoto was filled with uncertainty.

"Auntie, come down and eat."

At the entrance of the abandoned lab, a girl's voice called, waking Mikoto from her thoughts.

"Coming, Izumi."

Answering quickly, Mikoto leapt from the large tree, resolving in her heart.

Having seen the hope of becoming stronger and the possibility of seeing Sasuke again, she couldn't give up.

"Maybe it's time to show him what a real woman is."

...

Meanwhile.

Unaware that Mikoto had resolved to win him over, Shishou was watching some Root members leave, frowning deeply.

He had left because his insects had alerted him to nearby movement.

Following the trail, he discovered a Root hideout hidden in the Forest of Death.

This intrusion into his territory made him very unhappy.

"It seems I need to relocate Mikoto and the others soon."

With a decision made, Shishou turned and left.