A special thank you to all my patrons:
—Cain, Jacob Mooe, HADES, Varun Madhu, Gonzalo Sumalavia, kevin Williams, KD2001, merp., Jose Carrillo, Derek M, DancingMonkey65, Joseph, Jose Sierra, AR3S, Nuro, SPabloS.
You can read 30 chapters ahead of everyone on p@treon.
P@TREON - [email protected]/lessaservantofcosmos
(just replace the "@" with "a")
ps: Please support me on P@treon. I can really use your help!
-------------------------------------------------------------
Rage surged through Shisui, obliterating his usual composure. Seeing the three children in a pool of blood, he felt an unprecedented fury.
"Where's Kakashi?! Is he dead? Does he deserve to be an instructor?!" Shisui roared.
The masked man hadn't left. He'd intended to stay and watch Kagaya die slowly, but before that could happen, a formidable opponent arrived.
"I thought Kakashi would be the first to see this scene, not you," the masked man said.
He'd lingered to ensure no one could save Kagaya. With such wounds, Kagaya was doomed without aid, but rescue could change that.
Shisui's three-tomoe Sharingan spun rapidly, transforming into a four-bladed Mangekyo Sharingan. His crimson eyes locked onto the masked man and his bloodstained sword.
"No matter who you are, today, you die!"
The masked man's Mangekyo flickered slightly under his mask. "Fighting me won't benefit you."
Shisui's face twisted with rage. "You think I'm after some benefit? Today, you must die!"
The masked man paused, then abandoned his plan to watch Kagaya's death, shaking his head. "You can't kill me, Shisui. I have no intention of fighting you. I'm leaving."
A blaze of fire flashed, passing harmlessly through the masked man's body.
A vortex appeared, and he vanished.
Moments later, Kakashi arrived. The masked man had cast a genjutsu on him, making him unknowingly take a long detour, slowing him down.
Shisui lifted the bloodied Kagaya, his back to Kakashi, speaking without turning. "Kakashi, you don't deserve to be an instructor. Go back to the Anbu."
With that, Shisui vanished with Kagaya.
Kakashi stared at the blood-soaked ground, his breath nearly stopping. Again… again…
Pain tore through him.
Stepping forward, he carefully lifted Daisuke's body. "Shisui's right. I don't deserve to be an instructor."
Itachi emerged silently from the shadows, picking up Genji's body. "Kakashi, let's go."
Kakashi noticed that Itachi no longer called him "senior." Though Itachi showed no anger, the deliberate distance was unmistakable.
Kakashi gave a bitter smile, unable to respond. "Let's go."
They vanished.
Shortly after, the masked man reappeared, gazing toward Konoha. In his mind, he thought, 'You can't save anyone, Kakashi. Just like Minato-sensei, you can only kill them.'
---
The next day, Konoha Hospital.
Kagaya slowly opened his eyes, seeing the ceiling.
Turning his head, he saw Shisui sitting there. Pursing his lips, Kagaya spoke. "Senior, am I still alive?"
Shisui nodded. "Of course."
"And… Genji and Daisuke?"
Silence.
After a few seconds, Kagaya seemed to understand, turning back to stare blankly at the ceiling, lost in thought.
"I'm sorry," Shisui said suddenly, his eyes filled with guilt. "Kagaya, I failed to keep my promise. I said I wouldn't let you awaken those eyes, but…"
Kagaya shook his head. "It's not your fault, Senior."
Touching the area around his eyes, Kagaya finally understood the immense pain required to awaken the Sharingan.
When he first arrived in this world, he'd dreamed of using these eyes to rise to prominence in the ninja world. Now, he only wished they'd stay at one tomoe forever. 'Please, please don't evolve any further.'
Shisui watched Kagaya's hand linger near his eyes, speaking with heartache. "It hurts, doesn't it?"
Kagaya smiled, though it felt like a sob. "Yeah, Senior, it hurts too much. These eyes… I really, really don't want them."
Outside the window, Itachi and Kakashi stood like ghosts, silently observing the room. Neither spoke, enveloped in a deathly silence. Both had endured similar pain and knew that, to others, it might seem trivial, but to those who experienced it, it was unbearable.
Shisui took Kagaya's hand, smiling gently. "For now, take a break from being a genin. No missions. Let me train you."
Kagaya blinked, surprised. "Didn't you say you didn't have time before?"
Shisui cut him off, smiling nonchalantly. "Not anymore. I have time now."
'Time? Hardly.' Shisui was likely forcing himself to make time for Kagaya.
"Okay," Kagaya agreed. He wasn't a machine—emotions, not just logic, guided him. Right now, he needed time to process. Besides, he had another goal: to keep a close eye on Shisui. As he'd thought, he truly didn't want his eyes to evolve further.
Soon, a nurse entered, and Shisui vanished with a Body Flicker. He still couldn't be seen publicly. If not for Kagaya's critical condition, he wouldn't have even faced Kakashi.
---
Evening, by a waterfall.
Shisui asked Itachi quietly, "Where's that masked man?"
"His abilities are unique. I can't pinpoint him, and I don't know how to kill him," Itachi replied.
"Is that so?" Shisui sighed. He knew Itachi's rational nature—if Itachi said the man couldn't be killed, it was likely true.
"Kagaya's too young," Shisui said.
"What are you getting at?" Itachi asked.
Shisui's tone turned pleading. "Itachi, if—if something happens to me, I want you to protect Kagaya. Can you promise me that?"
Itachi shook his head. "There's no 'if.' You'll be fine."
Shisui's eyes held sorrow. "Didn't you see him today? Promise me. I'm scared—scared that one day… He's too young. He needs time to grow. Until then, someone has to protect him."
Itachi was silent for a long moment before speaking. "I'll protect him—not just if something happens to you, but from today onward, with everything I have. I promise, Shisui. But you need to remember: nothing will happen to you."
Shisui smiled, relieved. "Yeah, of course."