Lately, Shingetsu Yu had been appearing around the outskirts of the Uchiha district with increasing frequency.
Although his meetings with Fugaku, Itachi, and especially Shisui always took place under the cover of night, they still failed to escape the notice of certain watchful eyes.
Deep beneath the Hokage Tower, inside the shadowy headquarters of Root…
Shimura Danzo sat at the head of the room while a masked Root operative knelt before him.
“Shingetsu Yu…
the Uchiha…”
His fingers tapped lightly against the tabletop, each rhythmic knock carrying an oppressive weight.
“Our informants within the Uchiha report that the boy Shisui intends to use his special eyes to influence Lord Hokage and the village elders, hoping to resolve the Uchiha issue peacefully,” another Root shinobi said in an emotionless, raspy voice.
Danzo let out a cold snort.
“Peacefully?
How naïve.”
“So long as the Uchiha’s fangs remain intact, Konoha will never know peace.
As for Shisui’s eyes…” Greed flickered across his lone eye.
“They’re far too valuable to be wasted on such foolish ideals.
They would serve a far greater purpose in my hands—for Konoha’s greater good.”
“As expected of Lord Danzo.”
Danzo’s expression remained unmoved.
“Pass the order.
We’re moving tonight.”
“I’ll personally claim those eyes.”
He could no longer afford to wait.
Yu’s involvement had introduced too many variables.
Before the situation slipped beyond his control, he had to seize the most important piece on the board.
Deep within a remote forest, moonlight filtered through the dense canopy in fractured beams.
Shisui raced silently through the trees.
Tucked inside his cloak was an urgent summons bearing the Hokage’s official seal, ordering him to meet here immediately to discuss a classified matter.
Something felt wrong.
Why here?
Why in the dead of night?
Why had he been summoned alone?
Yet thoughts of the village…
and the future of the Uchiha…
If this meeting truly offered a chance to prevent bloodshed, then he had no choice but to come.
It was an order from the Hokage.
He couldn’t ignore it.
The moment he stepped into a clearing—
The atmosphere froze.
Whoosh!
Whoosh!
Whoosh!
Dozens of dark figures burst from the shadows.
Kunai and shuriken flashed beneath the moonlight, sealing every possible escape route.
Root.
Shisui’s pupils contracted.
His Body Flicker Technique activated instantly, barely allowing him to evade the opening volley.
“Shisui.”
A cold voice echoed through the clearing.
“Surrender.”
“Your eyes belong to me.”
Danzo slowly emerged from the darkness, several elite Root operatives at his side.
“Lord Danzo!”
While deflecting another barrage of attacks, Shisui shouted,
“Is this the Hokage’s order?”
“The Hokage has more important matters to concern himself with,” Danzo replied calmly.
“This is a necessary sacrifice for Konoha’s stability.”
Shisui’s heart sank.
So it really was a trap.
He abandoned all hope of negotiation.
His Mangekyō Sharingan burst to life.
An emerald Susanoo ribcage materialized around him, violently blasting several Root shinobi backward.
“So that’s the power of Kotoamatsukami…”
Danzo’s gaze lingered greedily on Shisui’s eyes.
Beneath the bandages wrapped around his right arm, several Sharingan were faintly visible.
The battle erupted in full.
Relying on his legendary Body Flicker Technique and the overwhelming power of the Mangekyō Sharingan, Shisui managed to hold off Danzo and the surrounding Root forces despite being heavily outnumbered.
But he knew the truth.
His chakra was draining rapidly.
There were simply too many enemies.
And Danzo was patiently waiting for the perfect opportunity.
Advisor…
Yu’s face suddenly flashed through Shisui’s mind.
Before they had parted several days earlier, Yu had handed him a tiny metal token.
“If you ever face a crisis you can’t handle…”
“Crush it.”
The words had been simple.
Yet somehow reassuring.
Itachi had later sought him out in private, relaying Yu’s suspicions.
Danzo might make a move.
Be careful.
At the time, Shisui had appreciated the warning, but never imagined events would deteriorate this quickly.
Now he realized…
Yu had seen through everything from the very beginning.
Across the battlefield, Danzo narrowed his eye.
Shisui was stronger than expected.
But that didn’t matter.
This fight had reached its end.
He spotted a tiny opening.
His right hand shot forward like an eagle’s talon, aiming directly for Shisui’s right eye.
Shisui reacted instantly, twisting aside while unleashing a massive Fire Release: Fireball Jutsu.
The roaring flames engulfed Danzo completely.
He didn’t even try to dodge.
A moment later…
The fire dispersed.
Danzo stood exactly where he had been.
Unharmed.
His arm had already pierced straight through Shisui’s shoulder.
Izanagi.
Shisui groaned in agony.
The searing pain nearly shattered his concentration.
“Magnificent eyes,” Danzo said coldly.
“It’s a shame they’ll belong to me in another moment.”
His free hand reached toward Shisui’s glowing Mangekyō Sharingan.
Now!
Summoning every last ounce of strength, Shisui crushed the tiny metal token hidden inside his sleeve.
Crack.
The sound was almost inaudible amidst the chaos.
Then—
BOOM!
A pillar of golden light tore through the night sky like divine lightning descending from heaven.
Shingetsu Yu appeared in the center of the battlefield without warning.
Directly between Danzo and Shisui.
He caught Danzo’s outstretched arm with one hand.
Crack!
The unmistakable sound of bone breaking echoed through the clearing.
“AAAGH!”
Danzo screamed as he was hurled backward.
His right arm hung at an unnatural angle.
“Danzo.”
Yu’s voice was colder than winter itself.
“Your hand has reached far too far.”
He didn’t even bother looking back at Shisui.
“Shingetsu Yu!”
Clutching his shattered arm, Danzo’s expression darkened to the point of distortion.
How?!
How did this bastard get here so quickly?!
“Advisor!”
Relief flooded Shisui’s face.
The unbearable tension gripping him finally eased.
“You’re safe now.”
Yu spoke only two quiet words.
Then his hands blurred through a rapid series of seals.
“Wood Release: Deep Forest Emergence!”
The earth erupted.
RUMBLE!
Towering trees exploded from the ground, growing at an impossible speed.
Massive trunks twisted like colossal serpents while countless branches lashed outward, sweeping through the battlefield.
Root shinobi were scattered in every direction.
Others were wrapped up and pinned against the trees before they could even scream.
Cries of pain filled the forest.
In mere seconds, the airtight encirclement had been completely obliterated by the overwhelming force of Wood Release.
The surviving Root operatives stared in horror.
None of them retained even the slightest will to fight.
Only then did Yu turn toward Shisui.
He examined the wound calmly.
The shoulder had been pierced clean through.
Fortunately…
Both of Shisui’s eyes remained intact.
His Mangekyō Sharingan had merely dimmed from exhaustion and mental strain.
“You’ll live.”
Yu produced a green medicinal pill and handed it over.
Shisui swallowed it without hesitation.
Warmth spread rapidly throughout his body.
The agonizing pain in his shoulder eased almost immediately.
“Thank you, Advisor…
I’m alright.”
Yu nodded before turning back toward Danzo.
“You’ve coveted the Uchiha’s eyes for a long time now, old man.”
A faint smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.
“I wonder…”
“Would you like to experience the enhanced Kotoamatsukami for yourself?”
It was nothing more than a bluff.
Although he had obtained the enhanced Kotoamatsukami from the System, he had no intention of abusing its power.
Even so…
Danzo’s expression changed dramatically.
He knows?
He even knows about Kotoamatsukami?
Just how many Uchiha secrets has this man uncovered?
No.
This wasn’t the time to dwell on that.
Yu’s strength was unfathomable.
That Wood Release…
It had already surpassed every historical record left behind by the First Hokage.
There was no chance of winning through force.
“Shingetsu Yu!”
Danzo’s voice turned icy.
“Are you openly siding against Konoha now?
Sheltering Uchiha traitors?”
“Traitors?”
Yu laughed softly, as though he’d just heard the greatest joke in the world.
“Do you even know who the real traitor is?”
He tilted his head slightly.
“Or are you planning to pin yet another crime on the Uchiha?”
His words struck like blades.
In his previous life, Danzo had earned a notorious reputation for making others shoulder the blame for his own schemes.
“Today’s incident ends here.”
Yu’s voice became frighteningly calm.
“But if you ever lay another finger on an Uchiha…”
“…next time, it won’t just be your arm.”
The killing intent behind those words sent chills through everyone present.
Danzo stared at him in silence.
Then at the devastated forest.
Then at the Root operatives trapped within the endless sea of trees.
He understood.
Tonight’s operation…
Had failed completely.
Worse—
He had provoked someone he never should have crossed.
“We’re leaving.”
Without another word, Danzo gave the order.
The surviving Root shinobi hurriedly supported him as they prepared to retreat in disgrace.
“Wait.”
Yu’s voice stopped them in their tracks.
Danzo froze.
“When are you planning to return all the Sharingan you’ve stolen?”
Danzo never answered.
Without looking back, he disappeared into the darkness of the forest.
Shisui watched his retreating figure, his emotions impossibly complicated.
He turned toward Yu, intending to offer his heartfelt thanks.
Yu merely waved him off.
“We’ll talk later.”
“Let’s get out of here first.”