Thinking back on it now, I suppose I should be worried, but… I already died once. So yes, I fear death even more than before — just not in the same way other people fear it. I fear it from the perspective of weakness. Now that I understand the true scale of the universe, I realize death itself is nothing. Weakness, however — and therefore the inability to make choices — that's what truly irritates me.
Everything feels simpler to me now.
After living long enough to accumulate knowledge and experience, I started viewing things more objectively and calmly. Panic leads nowhere. Besides, not every circumstance can be controlled — nor should it be. It's easier to read dynamics and tendencies, analyze the facts while leaving room for unexpected variables, and build judgments from there.
That's why my actions are justified.
I'm not unafraid of Danzo or Hiruzen because I'm some kind of badass. I simply understand their motives, understand their weaknesses — in a way, I understand them. And because of that, I can act within reasonable limits.
Danzo would never dare meet me directly simply because he knows Hiruzen's patience has limits. He can get away with many things, but he cannot personally seize control of the country's strategic weapon. That would be like handing a nuclear warhead to a child, and Hiruzen understands that perfectly well.
As long as Hiruzen still distrusts Danzo, he remains restrained.
Even in the original story, Danzo acted cautiously. He inserted Sai into Team Seven rather than sending masked operatives with, "Danzo-sama wishes to see you." And he never showed up personally.
Because he's paranoid.
And because he's afraid to act openly until power is entirely in his hands.
---
Meanwhile, the atmosphere inside the Hokage's office was heavy and grim. A conversation had been taking place there for over an hour and was finally approaching its conclusion.
Three men were gathered there — all extremely important, because the fate of both the Uchiha clan and the village itself was being decided.
Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, sat on the tatami floor and, surprisingly, wasn't smoking his pipe.
Across from him sat Danzo.
Behind Danzo, kneeling on one knee, was Shisui.
"The Uchiha are gathering again tonight, and it will be your task to suppress them, Shisui. If Fugaku's speech turns toward rebellion, he must never realize he is under control. If the Uchiha change, then the village's opinion of them must change as well."
"I'm counting on you, Shisui. Tonight, everything depends on you. May Kami guide you."
Hiruzen finished speaking.
"Yes, sir."
---
That same evening, at the foot of the Naka River, a tense conversation continued between Danzo and Shisui, who — due to his naivety and unwavering faith in the Will of Fire — had no idea that tonight he would be betrayed by the very people he trusted most, all under the banner of that same Will of Fire.
"The meeting is about to begin. If the Hokage keeps his promise—"
Shisui never finished.
Danzo interrupted him with an emotionless voice while staring directly into his eyes. There was something deeply unsettling hidden in that gaze.
"If Konoha were to lose its trust in you, what would you do?"
The question sounded almost mocking.
"But Danzo-sama—"
That was all Shisui managed to say before Danzo's hand lunged toward his eyes at blinding speed.
"Your Sharingan should remain in my possession."
At that instant, Shisui activated his Sharingan, hoping to counterattack.
But Danzo was faster.
He used genjutsu — not an ordinary illusion, but one that sacrificed a Sharingan itself: Izanagi, the technique that erased the boundary between illusion and reality.
Yes.
Danzo already possessed a Sharingan.
With swift movements, he tore one of Shisui's eyes out. Shisui barely managed to leap backward and widen the distance between them.
"Give me the other eye as well."
In response, Shisui silently created clones and immediately formed hand signs.
"Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!"
As the flames erupted, he vanished at tremendous speed.
But in truth, he had disappeared before the fireball was even launched — the clone had cast the technique. It was the famous movement technique that earned him the nickname Shisui of the Body Flicker.
"Pursue him immediately. Bring me his body. The Sharingan must remain intact."
Danzo ordered his Root ANBU.
---
Events moved rapidly, and soon night had fallen completely.
Somewhere along the Naka River, near the edge of a cliff, Shisui and Itachi stood facing one another.
"If civil war begins in Konoha, our village will be destroyed. The nations surrounding us will take advantage of our weakness. And Danzo has already taken one of my eyes — you know the power it possesses. He no longer trusts me, which means I can only rely on you."
"Because you are my best friend."
"So protect the village… and the honor of the Uchiha clan."
As he spoke, he handed his remaining eye to one of Itachi's crows.
"This is goodbye, Itachi. I failed. All hope now rests in your hands."
As he said those words, he slowly backed toward the edge of the cliff.
"Wait, Shisui!"
Itachi shouted, rushing toward him.
But he was too late.
Shisui stepped off the cliff.
"Don't stop me, Itachi."
"Shisui, no!"
Itachi could not remain there for long. The weight of being unable to save someone precious to him crushed his heart.
But when we lose something, we also gain something in return.
In Itachi's case, grief ignited a new light within his eyes.
The Mangekyo Sharingan.
But at what cost?
The death of his closest friend.
The Uchiha clan truly was cursed by the power of love.
---
News of Shisui's death spread quickly. The death of the clan's greatest genius was not something easily hidden.
At the same time, Itachi uncovered truths with far deeper meaning for the world itself.
Within the Uchiha clan's shrine — Naka Shrine, named after the river flowing through the clan, the village, and the Land of Fire — his newly awakened eyes revealed part of the truth carved into the stone tablet said to be the legacy of the Sage of Six Paths.
A pity he didn't know that legacy had been rewritten.
---
Inside the village council chamber, Itachi stood before a table where the village elders were seated.
At the center sat the Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi.
To his right: Danzo Shimura, leader of Root and advisor.
To his left: the other two advisors, Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado.
"Shisui was one of the key members of the Uchiha clan."
"You believe suicide was his only option?"
Hiruzen asked.
"Hm. He possessed many secrets. He had already fallen under suspicion. That is what the village will be told."
Danzo answered calmly.
Itachi observed him silently.
He understood perfectly well that there was nothing he could currently do against Danzo.
This was not a man you fought directly.
At least not yet.
---
Time passed quickly.
Several months went by, and the situation surrounding the Uchiha clan only grew more volatile.
Inside the Hokage's office, a young silver-haired jonin with a covered eye stood before Hiruzen.
"Kakashi, are you familiar with Konoha's barrier system?"
"Yes, Hokage-sama."
"I have a mission for you. Recently, someone infiltrated Konoha unnoticed and left just as silently, leaving behind no trace whatsoever. Your task is to investigate and inspect the effectiveness of the barriers. This occurred near the Uchiha district. Learn what the situation there is."
"Yes, Hokage-sama."
Some time later, Kakashi stood in the office once more.
"The situation within the Uchiha clan is rather tense. As for the barriers, control needs to be strengthened at several points…"
He delivered his report.
"Hm. We can't spare enough manpower for an operation of that scale. I'll discuss it with the police force. Your mission is complete. You are dismissed."
"Yes, Hokage-sama."
Once alone again, Hiruzen sank into thought.
"The Uchiha clan grows more unstable with every passing day. The tension between the clan and the village deepens constantly. And now there's an unknown enemy capable of entering and leaving the village undetected."
"None of this bodes well."
"My final hope rests with Itachi."
"Danzo… what exactly are you planning, old friend?"
"Shisui's death… the timing aligns far too perfectly."
"I can only hope you had nothing to do with it."
---
Root Headquarters.
As always, it was a cold place.
But now it felt even colder, because its master was furious.
"You empty-headed fools. How could you lose him?"
"You will neither sleep nor rest until you find me his corpse."
"Search. Search for the body. If necessary, comb through the river across the entire country."
"Danzo-sama, that's impossible. We don't possess enough resources. His body was swept away in an unknown direction."
"Silence."
"You… will monitor the Uchiha clan instead. Especially Itachi Uchiha."
"Yes, Danzo-sama."
"Itachi… I know that Sharingan is with you."
"You're fortunate Hiruzen restrains me."
"For now, you are still useful."
---
Konoha Cemetery.
Itachi Uchiha crouched before Shisui's empty grave, placing flowers there.
"Shisui, I will not fail you. You entrusted your final will to me. I won't allow the village and the clan to plunge into war. I'll find a way to stop this."
"Danzo… what exactly are you planning?"
---
At roughly the same time, inside Naruto's apartment:
"Shisui Uchiha is dead."
"So the time has finally come…"
"Yes. The Uchiha clan's end is approaching."
"Personally, I think it was inevitable."
"In a way, they truly are cursed — not so much by love itself, but by a distorted version of it. I think it's connected to the nature of chakra itself… more specifically, to the Ten-Tails."
"Just as the Rinne Sharingan, the Rinnegan, and the Sharingan are passed down through Uchiha blood… so too is its madness."
"In any case, this doesn't concern me."
"Though getting my hands on a pair of Sharingan wouldn't be a bad idea."
"I'm not strong enough for that right now."
"But opportunities will come in the future."
"Thanks to Obito Uchiha and his little 'super-eye transplant hospital'…"
"…otherwise known as the Sharingan storage room."