Itachi Uchiha, his Mangekyō Sharingan newly awakened, focused intently on the surge of power coursing through his eyes. He quickly realized the truth — his ocular might had grown immensely, and along with it, his own unique abilities had surfaced.
His left eye carried the genjutsu of Tsukuyomi, a technique capable of dragging an opponent's mind into an illusory realm with a mere glance.
His right eye bore Amaterasu, black flames that clung to their target until nothing remained.
Since the Hokage himself had asked, there was no point in hiding it.
"Lord Hokage," Itachi spoke calmly, "my left eye wields a genjutsu called Tsukuyomi. It drags the enemy's spirit into an illusionary world — anyone who meets my gaze will be caught. My right eye bears Amaterasu, a ninjutsu that summons black flames which burn until their target is reduced to ash."
The Third Hokage's heart trembled in shock. What terrifying powers… Tsukuyomi was nearly inescapable, an almost invincible illusion, and Amaterasu's flames eclipsed even the Uchiha's traditional fire techniques. If Tsukuyomi was the sharper weapon, Amaterasu was its unyielding edge.
Yet even as terrifying as they were, they weren't Shisui's Kotoamatsukami. That jutsu, able to bend the will of even the strongest shinobi, was in a league of its own.
Still, the Hokage sighed in relief. Such overwhelming talent — and loyal to the Will of Fire — belonged to him. Fortunate indeed. If only Shisui's eye could be used to control Ryosuke as well, then both of Konoha's Uchiha prodigies would serve him faithfully. The future of the village would be secure, and his own legacy, unrivaled.
Hiruzen produced a glass vial, filled with preservation fluid. Inside floated a pair of eyes — Shisui's eyes.
"Itachi," he said, voice heavy with expectation, "these are Shisui's eyes. I ask you to take them, to use Kotoamatsukami… and bend Uchiha Ryosuke back toward loyalty. This task falls only to you."
Itachi's heart twisted at the sight. Once, Shisui had been his comrade, a brother-in-arms who shared his ideals. But now, Shisui was gone — his will poisoned by Ryosuke before the end. Itachi would inherit that will, and cleanse the stain Ryosuke had left behind.
"Yes, Lord Hokage," Itachi replied.
Though Tsukuyomi and Amaterasu could very well kill Ryosuke outright, subduing him would be better — and this was the Hokage's command. Ryosuke would serve Konoha, redeeming his sins in service to the village.
The Hokage's eyes lit with joy. "Itachi, you truly are great. I'll have Shisui's eyes implanted into you at once. Once you've mastered them, you must move quickly against Ryosuke. This is our top priority."
Together, they descended into Danzo's old Root base. With its preserved facilities, the transplant was swift. The new eyes fused seamlessly with Itachi's optic nerves, astonishing him with how naturally they took root. By tomorrow, he would be ready. For now, he carried his original Mangekyō in a nutrient vial, tucked away safely in his pouch.
At dawn, Itachi and the Hokage made for Ryosuke's training grounds, a secluded grove where he often trained.
Ryosuke was jogging idly when the two appeared before him. He stopped at once, eyes narrowing. The Hokage and Itachi — together? That was an unusual pair, and not ones aligned with him.
Itachi's face darkened. He wasted no words, forcing calm into his heart as his Mangekyō flared to life. Crimson light poured from his eyes as he poured chakra into them, activating Shisui's legendary technique.
Kotoamatsukami.
"Uchiha Ryosuke — you are loyal to Konoha. Loyal to the Third Hokage."
His will pressed forward like a spear, embedding itself into Ryosuke's mind.
Ryosuke blinked in surprise. Itachi's Mangekyō? And not his own, but Shisui's four-pointed pinwheel. So he had been given Shisui's eye… and he was using it to cast Kotoamatsukami.
But Ryosuke did not panic. His left Mangekyō was his shield — a power that nullified illusion itself.
His Sharingan spun open, blossoming into an ten-pointed star, and the mental wave of Kotoamatsukami shattered harmlessly against its defense.
Still, to Itachi's vision, Ryosuke stood perfectly still — unmoving. Success, he thought. The genjutsu had taken hold.
"Lord Hokage, it's done. He's under control."
Joy burst in Hiruzen's chest. That easily? In just seconds? He barked out a command: "Come here."
Ryosuke smirked inwardly. So that was their plan. They thought him a puppet. Without hesitation, he walked forward obediently, hiding his intent. Shisui's eyes would never be left in their hands.
The Hokage beamed as Ryosuke approached, convinced the jutsu had worked. Itachi's heart swelled with relief — Shisui's sacrifice had meaning, the clan would no longer rebel, and Konoha would return to balance.
But just as Ryosuke reached them, his hands lashed out like twin vipers. In an instant, he gouged both of Itachi's transplanted eyes clean from their sockets, kicking him violently away.
The Hokage's face paled in horror. What—?!
Ryosuke pivoted, driving a crushing kick toward Hiruzen. The old man crossed his arms to block, but the weight crashed down like an avalanche, pain flooding his limbs.
"Impossible!" the Hokage's mind reeled. "Kotoamatsukami didn't control him… and his taijutsu, without even opening the Eight Gates, already surpasses me?! How can this be?!"
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