Chapter 17: Shisui's Demise, Hinata's resolve

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Shisui's tragic fate was sealed once the Third Hokage and Danzo turned against him.

Betrayed by the very village he had sworn to protect, Shisui faced insurmountable odds. After a fierce struggle, he lost one of his eyes to Danzo, who coveted the power of the Uchiha.

Desperate and broken, Shisui sought out Itachi, his sole remaining confidant, and the only person he still trusted....

On a cliff's edge, Itachi cradled the grievously wounded Shisui, eyes brimming with sorrow.

"I failed you, my friend," Shisui's feeble voice rasped, his remaining eye still bleeding profusely. He refused Itachi's offer to seek Colt's healing, knowing the youth could undoubtedly save his life.

'It's dangerous'

But at what cost? Robbed of his Mangekyo's power, mere survival held little appeal to the noble Uchiha.

Instead, it would only endanger the gifted healer needlessly. Even in his final moments, Shisui's thoughts remained on protecting others before himself.

Mustering his last reserves, he extracted his remaining Sharingan, pressing it into Itachi's trembling hand.

"After my death, the clan will surely erupt. Only you can prevent a full-scale rebellion, my dearest friend."

"Protect our home, our village...and the Uchiha's honor."

With those parting words, Shisui cast himself into the canyon's bottomless depths.

"Shisui!" Itachi's anguished screams echoed as his Sharingan whirled, three Tomoe finally unlocking into the legendary Mangekyo pattern.

...

News of Shisui's demise spread like wildfire through the village streets.

Many reacted with utter disbelief - the renowned Shisui, the Uchiha's number one master, cut down so abruptly? Preposterous!

The Uchiha themselves raged most fervently, launching an intensive investigation immediately.

First, they discovered Shisui's alleged suicide note, quickly dismissing it as a bald-faced lie.

Then it came to light that neither Itachi nor Shisui had attended that day's clan meeting, instantly rendering the heir to the clan head as their prime suspect.

Yet Itachi refused to offer any defense against the damning allegations.

Due to his prestigious standing, the other Uchiha could do nothing directly against Fugaku's eldest son.

But an inescapable rift had formed, one that would only fester wider with each passing day.

In losing Shisui's incalculable power and diplomacy, the Uchiha rebellion's prospects effectively collapsed without its strongest catalyst.

The simmering conflict threatening open insurrection dissipated as abruptly as it had boiled over.

Upon learning of Shisui's demise, Colt felt no surprise - merely resignation that he lacked a viable confidant to steer future events definitively.

However, an unexpected aftershock manifested in the weeks following the tragedy.

The Mangekyo Sharingan's debilitating strain intensified, driving Itachi to seek out Colt's treatments with increasing frequency to ameliorate his deteriorating condition.

One afternoon after a routine session, as Itachi prepared to depart, a familiar voice called out:

"Nii-san!"

A warm smile graced the Uchiha prodigy's lips at the sound.

"Sasuke...did you listen to Mother today?"

The adorably petulant Sasuke scampered over, clambering onto his elder brother's back impetuously.

"You're back late again, Nii-san!" the younger accused with a huff of indignation.

Lately, it seemed Itachi spent less and less time with his beloved little brother - a fact Sasuke found unacceptable.

"My apologies, Sasuke. Your brother has many duties keeping him preoccupied," Itachi replied regretfully.

Striving to juggle his clandestine roles as a double agent between Hiruzen's watch and his father Fugaku's proved utterly exhausting.

"Well, I learned the Great Fireball Technique! Will you train with me tomorrow, Nii-san?" Sasuke swiftly wheedled, a child's temperamental moods fleeting as the breeze.

Itachi blanched, offering his younger sibling obligatory praise before regretfully declining once more, much to Sasuke's visible dejection.

In a desperate bid to distract the crestfallen boy, Itachi broached a new topic:

"I recently encountered an exceptional youth around your age - a genius like yourself, Sasuke."

"So even if your brother cannot always be present, you must never slack in your training. Do you understand?"

Though not entirely convinced, Sasuke grudgingly assented - if only to press for more details.

"What's his name?"

"Kamiyo Colt. The two of you will likely be classmates once you enter the Academy next year."

Sasuke committed the unfamiliar moniker to memory, a fierce sense of rivalry already ignited within his childish heart.

Kamiyo Colt...the one attempting to steal his beloved brother's affections!

He would make this interloper understand - Itachi belonged to him alone!

...

"Achoo!"

At that very moment, Colt sneezed violently amid his dinner with Hinata, prompting the young Hyuga's immediate concern.

"Are you well, Colt? You haven't caught a cold, have you?"

She fretted adorably, eyes brimming with tender worry for his wellbeing.

"Just a bit of an itch, nothing more," Colt reassured with his trademark warmth, swiftly shifting topics.

Hinata's cherished company tonight represented a precious rarity - her grueling family training regimen consumed most of the poor girl's waking hours lately.

Eyeing the fresh bandages swathing her tiny hands, Colt's brow furrowed in distress before gently taking them into his own.

Emerald chakra flowed forth, erasing each newly scabbed wound in moments.

"C-Colt..." Hinata's bashful murmur barely carried above a whisper as her cheeks flushed crimson.

Though comprehending his healing's necessities rationally, their intimate proximity ignited fiery butterflies fluttering madly within her belly.

The introverted Hyuga scion never experienced such dizzying sensations in any other's presence - only when in Colt's tender company did her heartbeat run wildly unrestrained.

"Hinata, I understand your desperation to earn your father's approval," Colt spoke in commiserating tones. "But please, do not overexert yourself with this excessive training."

"I-It's alright, Colt. This vigorous regimen is by my own choice," she softly reassured, warmed by his tangible concern for her wellbeing.

Yet the astute healer only grasped half the truth behind Hinata's dedicated efforts.

More than seeking her stern father's acceptance, she strove to emulate and keep pace with Colt's own ceaseless diligence - to earn the right to one day stand beside him as an equal.

Once their meal concluded, Colt insisted on escorting the heiress home despite knowing her safety was ensured by those around-the-clock Hyuga guardians.

The two conversed lightheartedly, even touching upon their upcoming Ninja Academy enrollment the following year as they meandered through the tranquil village streets.