Chapter 55: Shisui Vs Lady Mikoto.

Author Note: Nothing of importance, just enjoy the chapter, and if you have any questions, make sure to comment!

And like always, remember if you want to read up to 18-22 chapters ahead go to https://www.patreón.com/cornbringer

I'm currently updating the novel 2-8 chapters a day in patreeeeon. On chapter 69 so far, though by the end of today it will be chapter 71-74

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Enjoy you sexy bastards.

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[Uchiha Itachi - POV.]

The sun hung low in the sky, casting long shadows over the training ground. I stood alongside Shisui and Takeshi, our breaths synchronized as we sparred. The rhythm of our movements, the clash of kunai, and the rustling of leaves underfoot was familiar, almost comforting. Takeshi had taken the day off from his training to join us, and I was glad he had. There was such a thing as too much Shisui, and I was at that point.

We eventually paused our training session, taking a moment to catch our breath. "You're getting faster, Itachi," Shisui remarked, a proud smile on his face. "And your shurikenjutsu is getting dangerously good. I'm proud."

Takeshi nodded in agreement. "Please, do become the strongest Uchiha of your generation. Shisui needs someone to take him down a peg or two…."

I nodded, smiling at them. "He does, doesn't he?"

Shisui pouted, crossing his arms. "You two are just jealous of how handsome I am."

"I'm pretty sure I have more fangirls than you," Takeshi replied, grinning.

"Not because everybody buys it, it means it's the best… it's just the most affordable option," Shisui retorted, sticking his tongue out.

"So what you're saying is… you are expensive and a bad product?" Takeshi replied, shaking his head. "No wonder I have more fans than you."

Before anyone else could say a thing, a chilling presence washed over us, drowning the area with killing intent. Snapping around, I saw Danzo approaching, flanked by a group of Anbu, most likely the ones Takeshi told me he usually had around him. His expression was as cold and calculating as ever, his eyes devoid of any warmth.

What was he doing here?!

It made no sense for him to try and make a move this early on unless he wanted to eliminate us… but even then, this was too risky for him to accomplish without causing a civil war.

"Uchiha Itachi, Uchiha Shisui, and Arata Takeshi, such… wasted potential," Danzo began, slowly approaching us, his voice carrying an ominous weight. "I would've wanted you three to work under me… but alas, you are more trouble than you're worth. You three have become a threat to the Leaf. Such power in the hands of those who may not be loyal is a risk we cannot afford, is a risk I cannot afford." My heart sank as he continued, his words filled with nothing but malevolence. "Therefore, I have decided that you must be eliminated."

Before I could react, Danzo's men moved in unison, their speed and precision overwhelming. I tried to step in, to defend my friends, but before I could do so, a group of his agents restrained me, their grips like iron. I struggled against them, but it was no use.

"Shisui! Takeshi!" I shouted, my voice filled with desperation. "Run! Tell father!"

Shisui and Takeshi, however, refused the idea of leaving me behind, so fought back valiantly, their skills giving Danzo's men trouble, but the sheer number of them was too much. My heart pounded in my chest as I watched in horror. Shisui was the first to fall, a kunai striking him down, hitting him in the neck. His eyes met mine for a brief moment, filled with regret and determination, before his body crumpled to the ground, bleeding.

"No!" I screamed, my vision blurring with tears.

Takeshi continued to fight, his movements a blur of speed and precision. But even he couldn't hold out forever. He took down several agents, but eventually, cutting one after the other, until he too was overwhelmed. He fell to his knees, blood staining the ground beneath him.

The pain and rage that filled me were indescribable. My vision swam, the world around me becoming a haze of red. And then, something within me snapped. The pain and anger were too much to bear, and in that moment, I felt a surge of power unlike anything I had ever felt before.

As I looked around, I realized that everything I was seeing was an illusion. Danzo, his men, Shisui and Takeshi's deaths—it was all a genjutsu. My Sharingan had awakened, revealing the truth, and shattering the lie.

This… was all an illusion? But who would do such a thing? And why?

"It worked!" Shisui exclaimed beside me, grinning from ear to ear.

It was him… he was the one that put me in that Genjutsu, he was the one that made me watch them die, using what I had told him about Danzo to create… this.

"You!" I hissed, turning to face him, anger and relief mingling in my chest. "Why would you do such a thing? You insufferable moron! Do you have any idea how much it hurt! How much it pained me seeing you two die while I could do nothing about it!"

"It was the only way, Itachi," Shisui said, raising his hands in surrender. "You needed to awaken your Sharingan, and this was the only way to do so without actually having to see someone you love die."

He was making a good point, but I didn't care! To hell with logic right now!

"This wasn't your call to make!" I snarled, getting face to face with him, my hands tightened into fists, my Sharingan blazing with suppressed fury. The pain that had been so overwhelming moments before transformed into a blistering rage that threatened to consume me.

Shisui raised his hands defensively once more, a placating grin still on his face. "I know, I know… but Tachi, it worked. It was all a lie, an illusion, sure, but you awakened your Sharingan without the actual trauma we all have to go through. Now instead of having to watch your friends die, like all Uchiha had to so far, you can save them!"

I took a step back, my rage quelling ever so slightly as his words sank in. "I wouldn't mind letting you die right about now."

Shisui merely laughed. "That's fair enough. I did just force you into an illusion where you had to watch me and Takeshi die…"

"I hate you," I all but hissed at him.

Shisui simply shrugged, the infuriating grin still glued to his face. "You don't mean that," he countered with a wink. "You love me, and you know it."

"True, I don't mean that… as much as I would want to, but I do mean this," I replied, a cold smile dawning on my face. "I will tell my father about this. And my mother."

Shisui's grin wavered, replaced by an expression of total apprehension. "Now, Itachi," he began, his voice strained in a failed attempt to sound unconcerned, "Let's not do anything we might regret... we all said things we regret today, don't do anything rash."

"I won't regret it," I shot back, my tone cold and devoid of emotion. "In fact, I will enjoy it very much."

"Itachi, please, I'll do anything!" Shisui begged, desperation seeping into his voice. "Your father will kill me, and that's okay. But your mother, she will get to me before your father… and she will do things to me that are not only inhumane but illegal across the elemental nations! Things not even the Konoha Torture and Interrogation Force would dare to utter!"

I simply shook my head, folding my arms across my chest, a faint smile on my face. "You should have thought about the consequences before you decided to play God with my life," I retorted icily.

Shisui laughed nervously, his voice sounding more and more desperate. "Remember our bond, our kinship. We're like family, you wouldn't—"

This time, I didn't stay to listen to his words, instead I began running towards the compound. After all, I had a feeling my father and mother would find what happened today very much to their interest… and if Shisui survived whatever punishment they deemed fit, I would forgive him. But as far as I was concerned, if I had to be tortured, so did he… that much seemed fair, if you ask me.

But even if it wasn't… I was allowed to feel vindictive right now.

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[Arata Takeshi - POV.]

Hm…

I don't know why, but I feel someone did something unimaginably stupid, and somehow, I feel that someone is… Shisui.

I can't explain the sensation, or why exactly I have this feeling, but I feel the very distinctive sensation that Shisui did something so horrendously bad, so unimaginably stupid, that it will piss Lady Mikoto off like never before. I wonder… what exactly? It was honestly hard to imagine Lady Mikoto angry; she had a very serene and motherly air about her.

Yet, I could not ignore the prickling feeling creeping up my spine like a slow-approaching storm.

"I guess the question now is… should I get snacks to see what will happen to Shisui? or is this more of a full meal kind of an event?"

Ohhh, should I get a drink too?

What about dessert? Will there be enough time to enjoy a nice slice of cake?

These were the real questions, the ones that required a strong will to answer.