章節 35: Awakening

"Give me your other eye too!"

Having lost an important eye, Shisui could no longer maintain Susanoo.

Yato seized the opportunity, coldly extending his left hand to extract Shisui's remaining eye. While a single Mangekyō Sharingan was precious, a pair capable of activating Susanoo was incomparably more valuable.

But at that moment, Danzo took action, unwilling to let Yato take both of Shisui's eyes. Simultaneously, the Root ninjas attacked Yato's shadow clones, attempting to secure Shisui's Mangekyō Sharingan.

"Wind Style: Vacuum Great Ball!"

Yato was forced to halt and quickly raised his sword to block the attack. This enhanced ninjutsu was more than twice as lethal as the Vacuum Ball. If he didn't block it, he would be cut in half.

Boom!

Unprepared, Yato was knocked away by Danzo's ninjutsu, slamming hard into a tree. When he stood up, he spat out another mouthful of blood.

His shadow clone, not broken but escaped, had successfully handed the eye to him, completing half of today's plan.

"There is another one!"

Yato took the eyeball, placed it in a pre-prepared bottle, and stored it in a sealing scroll. After securing the eye, he discarded the damaged ninja sword, replaced it with a new one, and prepared to strike again.

But Riku reminded him, "Yato, it's time to go. Someone is coming!"

Yato frowned. "He is at the end of his rope. I can get the other eye!"

Having prepared for so long and paid so much, he was unwilling to leave with just one eye.

Seeing that he didn't listen, Riku said anxiously, "You can't stay any longer. Two teams are coming, one from Anbu and the other led by Uchiha Itachi!"

Hearing this, Yato gripped his ninja sword tightly, hesitating. But in the end, he signaled to the shadow clone in the dark, unwilling to take further risks.

The next second!

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Countless smoke bombs and flash bombs exploded, covering the entire Nanga River with a gray veil.

"Don't let him escape. Report his location."

Danzo immediately cast a Wind Style ninjutsu to blow away the thick fog. He didn't want to give up and wanted to retrieve the eye.

But the perception-type ninja behind him reported bad news.

"He... he's in the sky!"

"What!"

Danzo looked up and saw a figure emerging from the fog. The figure was actually floating in the air, fleeing the scene at a very fast speed.

"Damn it, where is Shisui? Where is he?"

"He's heading towards the Uchiha clan's ancestral temple!"

"Why aren't you chasing him?!"

"Don't chase him anymore, Danzo-sama. The Anbu ninjas are approaching. It's the team led by the Third Hokage!"

Damn it, damn it, damn it!

When Danzo heard that the team was led by Sarutobi Hiruzen, his face turned as dark as ink.

Sure enough, not long after, Sarutobi Hiruzen, dressed in his ninja outfit, arrived with his Anbu.

"I need an explanation, Danzo!"

This was the Naka River, the Uchiha clan's territory. The Uchiha clan was set to hold a key meeting today. The Root Ninjas' presence here was highly suspicious.

"What do I need to explain? You didn't even know that the village was invaded by the enemy. Sarutobi, What on earth does your Anbu do for a living?"

Danzo was not afraid at all. He complained first, recounting everything that had just happened.

Of course, he didn't mention his attempt to seize Shisui's Mangekyō Sharingan. Instead, he threw the blame on Yato, claiming he was here only to repel the enemy.

Sarutobi knew his old friend well, so he understood that things were not as simple as they seemed.

However, the corpses of Root ninjas scattered all over the scene and the overwhelming pungent smell of blood made him more inclined to believe Danzo's words.

Hiruzen's gaze swept over the battlefield, then settled back on Danzo. "We'll sort out the details later. For now, we need to ensure that the village remains secure."

Danzo nodded, though his mind was still on the lost opportunity. "Agreed. We should also investigate this rogue ninja more thoroughly. He poses a significant threat."

As they spoke, the Anbu began their cleanup and search operations, securing the area and tending to the injured.

Meanwhile, Yato had no idea about the ongoing confrontation between Sarutobi and Danzo.

After escaping the encirclement, he went straight into the forest. He cleaned off the blood and removed his mask, then sprinkled powder to hide his scent and avoid being tracked by ninja dogs.

Just as he was about to return to Might Guy's house, the effects of [Potential Explosion] wore off, and the severe aftereffects hit him without warning.

Bang!

Yato suddenly felt all his strength drain away. He missed his footing and fell from a tree.

At that moment, he was drenched in sweat, and every cell in his body protested simultaneously. The pain was excruciating, almost causing him to pass out.

"Yato, get up, get up quickly!" Riku urged anxiously.

Given the significant events in Konoha tonight, it was inevitable that the village leaders would launch a large-scale search. If Yato fainted now and was captured, the consequences would be disastrous.

"Yato, get up quickly. If you want to sleep, wait until you get home... It's easy to catch a cold. Get up first. Hanabi said they would make a big meal tomorrow. Can you sleep after tomorrow?"

"Shut up... Shut up... Stupid bastard..."

Finally, under the persistent nagging of Riku, Yato shook his head and struggled to stand up.

Using his sword as a crutch, he began to walk toward Might Guy's house, step by step.

"I won't die!"

His physical condition was terrible. Every cell in his body trembled, and every inch of his skin was painful, making it hard to even open his eyes.

"Yes, yes, good people don't live long, but evil people will last a thousand years. You're such a bastard; how can you die so easily..."

Seeing that this encouragement worked, Riku kept talking nonstop. By the time Yato finally got home, Riku's throat felt sore.

Yato, however, no longer had the energy to care. He was severely injured and suffering from the aftereffects of [Potential Explosion].

Forcing himself to his bedroom, he collapsed onto the bed and immediately lost consciousness.

---

At the same time, at a waterfall in the Naka River, Shisui met up with Itachi, who had come to pick him up.

Although he could not fly like Yato, his body flicker technique was unrivaled in the world. When the Root focused on Yato's body, Shisui mixed into the smoke and successfully escaped.

But at this moment, his mood did not improve at all, and his face was filled with unconcealed disappointment.

"The Uchiha clan's coup can no longer be stopped. Once Konoha starts a civil war, other ninja villages will definitely take advantage of the situation. War is inevitable."

"I wanted to use Kotoamatsukami's ability to stop the family from launching a coup, but Danzo didn't believe me at all!"

"Did Danzo take your eyes away?" Uchiha Itachi's face was extremely gloomy behind him.

For the sake of Konoha's stability and peace, they disguised themselves and tried every means to prevent the family from launching a coup. In the end, his friend's eyes were dug out. How could he accept such a result?

"It's not Danzo; it's someone else I've never seen before."

Shisui shook his head and said, "His ninjutsu is very strange. It is an unknown bloodline limit that can control gravity at will. Itachi, you must be careful in the future. Don't act rashly before you figure out his purpose."

After a pause, he continued, "Itachi, I'll give you my last remaining eye."

"Shisui!"

"Don't refuse. I know Danzo's character. He won't give up easily. Instead of giving it to him, I hope this eye can help you. Please, my dear friend, whether it's for the village or the Uchiha clan."

With that, he dug out his only remaining eye with his hand. Blood streamed down his face, mingling with sweat and tears.

"Take it, Itachi. Use it to protect the village and our clan," Shisui said, his voice steady despite the pain etched in every word.

Itachi's hands trembled as he accepted the precious gift, and his eyes locked onto Shisui's. "Shisui, there must be another way..."

"There isn't," Shisui interrupted, his tone firm. "Danzo won't stop, and neither will the clan. My disappearance will force the clan to halt their actions for some time. Hopefully, it would be enough for you to bridge the gap between the clan and Konoha."

The summer evening breeze rustled the leaves gently, yet to Itachi, it felt like an icy wind cutting through his soul.

"Itachi... Don't seek revenge on Danzo; think about the clan before anything." Shisui whispered, his voice barely audible over the sound of the waterfall. Gathering his remaining strength, Shisui leaped into the river. The water surged around him, a roaring torrent that quickly swallowed his form.

Itachi watched in horror and despair as his friend disappeared beneath the waves.

"No! Shisui!" Itachi's voice echoed through the night, but it was too late. Shisui was gone, lost to the river's depths.

Grief, anger, and a burning resolve surged through Itachi. The weight of his friend's sacrifice pressed heavily on his soul. Clenching his fists, his bright pupils shone with red light. The three tomoes twisted and morphed, forming an intricate Mangekyō pattern in an instant.

The world around him seemed to shift, with colors becoming more vivid and details sharper. His vision blurred momentarily, then cleared, revealing the intricate patterns of the Mangekyō Sharingan in his eyes. Itachi felt the power coursing through him—a bittersweet gift born from immense loss.

Kneeling beside the riverbank, Itachi swore an oath to himself. "I will honor your sacrifice, Shisui. I will protect the village and our clan, even if it costs me everything."

As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows across the forest, Itachi's eyes glowed with the new power of the Mangekyō Sharingan. The determination in his heart solidified into an unbreakable resolve.

He stood there for a moment, staring at the river where his friend had vanished, then turned and walked away, ready to face the future with the strength Shisui had entrusted to him.

****

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