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Chapter 90: Bloodline Mutation!
🕑 Added 2025-03-02 10:10:45 +0000 UTCChapter 90: Bloodline Mutation!
“Failed?”
Inside the Akatsuki base, Pain looked at the Venus flytrap-like figure before him, his expression turning strange.
Akatsuki members didn’t always stay at the base. After all, each of them was difficult to manage and had their own affairs to handle.
Nagato didn’t have the time to keep them all leashed, so he simply let them do as they pleased, as long as they showed up when missions were assigned.
So when Sasori and Kakuzu didn’t return immediately after the mission, he hadn’t thought much of it.
But what he hadn’t expected was for Zetsu, who carried an Akatsuki ring and followed that so-called Uchiha Madara, to show up with this kind of news!
They had lost. And they had lost terribly.
Strictly speaking, the mission had still been accomplished since they had gathered intel on Konoha.
But hearing Zetsu’s description of how badly Sasori and Kakuzu had been beaten left even Pain in disbelief.
“Yeah… and there’s one more troublesome issue.”
Half of Zetsu’s face, the Black Zetsu side, showed hesitation. He really didn’t want to bring this up.
But that bastard Tobi had chickened out at the last moment, throwing the problem onto him. Black Zetsu had no choice but to deal with it.
“What is it?”
Pain furrowed his brows and spoke coldly through his projection. “And where is that Uchiha Madara? Why isn’t he here?”
Because he chickened out, couldn’t handle the embarrassment, and left me to clean up the mess!
Black Zetsu cursed Tobi inwardly, but he kept his tone as calm as possible.
“He was… shaken. Wood Release is the power of his old nemesis. Seeing it again stirred up some emotions in him.”
“As for the issue we’re facing now, it’s serious. We need to come up with a solution quickly.”
Uchiha Madara and Senju Hashirama had been eternal rivals. The clash of Wood Release and the Mangekyō Sharingan was the defining battle of their era.
So Black Zetsu using this excuse to cover for Tobi wasn’t exactly a lie. Though even he felt a bit ridiculous saying it.
“What’s the problem? Just say it.”
“Well… it’s about Haruta Shigaru, or rather, Senju Haruta. It seems he has figured out some of our secrets… Specifically, our location.”
“Hmm?”
“That kid is incredibly smart. He once analyzed the current situation of Sunagakure and pinpointed their weaknesses, forcing them to lose some strategic advantages, so—”
“…”
“Also, that kid suspects Uchiha Obito might be within our organization because both Sasori and Kakuzu are rogue ninjas, so—”
At this point, even Black Zetsu couldn't continue speaking.
Because Uchiha Obito really was in their organization!
Even if they tried to explain that Obito wasn’t part of the Akatsuki, would Konoha actually believe it?
Obviously not. Uchiha Obito was the mastermind behind the Nine-Tails incident — Konoha would pursue the lead, useful or not.
And thinking a bit more darkly…
Even if Konoha doubted Obito’s presence, following this trail might give them an excuse to infiltrate a small nation. Why wouldn’t they take advantage of that?
They might even use it to balance some hidden accounts.
An independent investigation team surely had enough funding — wasn't this a perfect opportunity for some under-the-table work?
“So Konoha has set its sights on us?”
Nagato’s expression darkened. At this stage, the Akatsuki needed to keep a low profile.
The Gedo Statue hadn’t fully matured to devour the Tailed Beasts yet, and the process would take at least a few more years.
Staying low-key, recruiting new members, and gathering funds — those were their current priorities.
And now? A single mission had drawn Konoha's attention to them!
“Yes. They even captured Kitsuchi, probably to extract more information.”
Black Zetsu sighed helplessly. He glanced at Pain and continued, “Though I know we can't leak more information to Iwagakure, it’s hard to predict what that kid might figure out.
From what I know, he’s already focusing on the smaller nations, so—”
Nagato didn’t feel like talking anymore. That kid was this troublesome?
This was the kind of trouble he didn’t want. If left unchecked, it would definitely derail their future plans.
“What do you suggest? Assassinate him?”
Nagato pondered for a long time before controlling Pain to ask the question.
“No. Killing him would be difficult — he knows the Flying Thunder God Technique.”
Black Zetsu was clearly frustrated. That cursed jutsu was too broken — honestly, any space-time ninjutsu was.
Just like that idiot Obito, using Kamui to act all high and mighty.
“What we need to do is deceive him. We can’t let them suspect Amegakure.
Besides that, we need to speed up our plans — recruit more members and send them to other villages to divert Konoha’s attention.
So, to raise the stakes a bit, how about we recruit someone like… Biwa Juzo?”
“Biwa Juzo?”
Nagato frowned upon hearing the name. He knew who Juzo was — one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, wielder of the Executioner’s Blade. A formidable figure.
But Nagato also remembered that Juzo had long lost his fighting spirit. During the Third Shinobi War, he had been defeated by a mere Konoha genin.
Not just him — that same Konoha genin had practically dismantled the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, leaving them dead or gravely injured.
Would someone like Juzo still be of any use?
Nagato directly voiced his doubts.
“That’s not enough. His current condition is uncertain. I need more support.”
“What do you want?”
Black Zetsu furrowed his brow but didn’t refuse. After all, Obito had caused far too many problems already.
“I want to deal with Hanzo. I need more intel on him. Also, I want information on Shimura Danzo and Haruta Shigaru.”
“No problem.”
Hearing this request, Black Zetsu didn’t hesitate to agree — he didn’t even need Obito’s permission.
Gathering intelligence was his specialty, and he already had most of that information at hand.
“Honestly, there’s no need to go out of your way for Haruta Shigaru's intel. He’s one of Danzo's men — once you understand Danzo, you’ll pretty much have a grasp of who Haruta Shigaru is.”
“Hmph. I know that.”
Nagato sneered.
“Figuring out how to keep their eyes off us — that’s something you need to work on.”
He didn’t want to waste more words with this "carnivorous plant." Controlling Pain, he turned and left.
But even as he walked away, he couldn’t stop muttering to himself:
“Shimura Danzo…”
He could never forget that day — when Danzo and Hanzo worked together to corner and kill Yahiko.
It was a wound that would never heal — something he had to avenge.
As for Haruta Shigaru, being Danzo’s subordinate meant he was bound to be a future obstacle. Learning more about him was necessary.
“Yahiko, I will deal with Hanzo soon — I’ll make him pay for what he did to you.”
“After that, I’ll set my sights on Danzo… and create a world of peace!”
“I swear I will.”
---
“Relax, kid. Think of this place as home!”
In Konoha, within the Senju clan’s ancestral home, Tsunade sipped her sake and smiled at Karin, who was sitting beside her.
Her cheeks were flushed — clearly tipsy — while Karin, a bit awkward but touched, struggled to process this unexpected warmth.
“I-I understand, Lady Tsunade…”
Karin wasn’t yet the brash girl Haruta remembered. She was still cautious and wary — habits ingrained by years of being treated as a mere test subject.
That wasn’t something she could change overnight.
“Pfft.”
Tsunade didn’t push further. She downed another cup of sake, much to Shizune’s dismay.
“Lady Tsunade, you should drink less. It’s not good for your health.”
“Shut up.”
Tsunade shot Shizune a glare, then shifted her attention to Haruta.
“And you, kid — your Wood Release is coming along nicely.”
“Huh?”
Caught off guard, Haruta froze for a moment — giving Yugao the perfect chance to subtly pull her hand back from under the table.
She pretended to fix her hair and kept her head down, focusing on her food. But her flushed cheeks betrayed her composure.
Still, she stole a quick glance at Haruta out of the corner of her eye.
Seriously? Flirting right under Lady Tsunade’s nose?
“You…”
Tsunade raised a brow. She had clearly noticed Haruta’s little stunt.
But Haruta remained calm. After all, he was surrounded by beautiful women — and honestly, he thought he was showing remarkable restraint.
Clearing his head, he flashed a composed smile.
“It’s all thanks to the scrolls you gave me, teacher. I’ve learned a lot.”
“Oh?”
Tsunade leaned back, an amused expression crossing her face.
“I remember you didn’t have much time to study those scrolls — there was so much material, and you’ve been on missions nonstop. You even left the village recently.”
“I focused on the key points.”
Haruta kept a straight face.
Honestly, those scrolls didn’t matter much — but he knew how to play the game.
Flattering your teacher? Nothing wrong with that.
“But teacher… maybe you’ve had a bit too much to drink?”
Haruta still wanted to review his progress later — maybe even figure out a way to level up faster.
So, following Shizune’s lead, he subtly hinted at Tsunade’s overindulgence.
After handing off his reports to Hiruzen Sarutobi, Tsunade had dragged him, Yugao, and Karin back to throw a "small celebration" — though it felt more like an excuse for her to drink.
Konoha wasn’t like other places. Here, if Tsunade drank herself broke, she couldn’t just skip town — no expense reports, no "business trips."
She wasn’t even the Hokage anymore, so there was no reimbursement.
With no way to escape and an eye-rolling Shizune keeping watch, this was her rare moment of freedom.
“Mind your own business. I’m perfectly fine.”
Tsunade downed another cup. Her fair skin practically glowed, drawing Haruta’s gaze.
But just as he got a bit distracted, Tsunade suddenly leaned in — bringing that "distracting" sight dangerously close.
Their eyes met.
“By the way… what’s your dream?”
“Uh…”
Caught off guard, Haruta blinked, then straightened up, answering firmly:
“I want to be Hokage.”
He meant every word.
He’d been waiting for the right moment to tell Tsunade — and now was as good a time as any.
Whether she believed him or not was her problem.
“Tch. Another foolish brat.”
Tsunade snorted, her expression unreadable.
For others, being Hokage was a dream — but for her, it was a curse.
The names… Nawaki, Dan… these people… and the moments of their deaths were still deeply etched in Tsunade’s mind.
Looking at Haruta, who stood before her with a resolute expression, Tsunade could only shake her head in the end.
“Be careful… Becoming Hokage isn’t as easy as you think.”
“I understand, Sensei.”
Haruta nodded. Of course, becoming Hokage wasn’t easy — but the truth was, he didn’t want to be the Hokage.
Phrasing was important.
What he really wanted… was to become the man behind a future Hokage.
—
That night, in the Senju clan’s ancestral home, Shizune glanced at Tsunade’s room with a helpless expression before turning to Haruta, Yugao, and Karin.
“Lady Tsunade is already resting.”
It was obvious Tsunade had once again drunk too much — especially after hearing Haruta’s bold proclamation. From that moment on, she had gone all out, drinking with reckless abandon.
Neither Shizune nor Yugao — not even Haruta himself — could talk her out of it.
In the end, Tsunade simply drank herself unconscious, and they had no choice but to carry her to bed.
“Thank you, Haruta-kun. If it weren’t for you, I would’ve had a much harder time.”
Shizune offered a sincere thanks, but Haruta quickly shook his head.
“It’s nothing. It’s only right for me as her student. Besides… Lady Tsunade isn’t that heavy.”
Naturally, when Tsunade passed out drunk, someone had to carry her back to her room — a task that usually fell to Shizune.
But now that Haruta was here, it was only fair he took responsibility!
As for whether Tsunade was heavy… Well, that was hard to say.
All Haruta really noticed… was how soft and plush certain parts felt.
—
“Alright, it’s getting late. Everyone should get some rest.”
Shizune smiled, then added, “Especially you three — you just returned from the Land of Grass. It must’ve been exhausting.”
“Goodnight, Shizune-nee.”
Yugao nodded and smiled back at Shizune.
Over time, Shizune had taken great care of Yugao. Truthfully, without Shizune’s efforts, this place might’ve fallen apart long ago.
Tsunade’s lifestyle wasn’t exactly… organized. Many of the finer details were left to Shizune to handle.
And while Tsunade taught Yugao the basics, it was Shizune who often helped reinforce and guide her training.
Naturally, the two women had grown quite close.
After saying goodnight, Haruta, Yugao, and Karin headed to their respective rooms.
Of course, Shizune couldn’t rest just yet — she still had to look after a drunk Tsunade.
Seeing this, Yugao couldn’t help but sigh.
“Shizune-nee really is amazing… She takes care of everything.”
“Agreed.”
Haruta chuckled softly, then glanced at Yugao.
“That’s why you should learn from Shizune-nee, Yugao-senpai.”
“You—!”
Yugao’s cheeks flushed instantly.
She knew exactly what Haruta was implying.
This guy was getting bolder by the day… just like earlier at dinner, when he had the nerve to hold her hand under the table the entire time!
Then again…
She hadn’t exactly pulled her hand away, had she?
“Enough of this! Karin, let’s go wash up.”
Yugao didn’t want to keep this conversation going. She grabbed Karin’s hand and quickly led her away.
“She’s not a kid, you know,” Haruta teased, smiling mischievously. “Want me to help wash your back, Senpai?”
At this, Yugao’s pace quickened, practically dragging Karin with her — though Karin still found the time to wave back at Haruta.
“Goodnight, Haruta-nii.”
Haruta nodded, watching the two figures disappear down the hall before sighing softly.
“At least Karin’s well-behaved… But Yugao really needs to step up her game.”
—
His gaze briefly flicked to Tsunade’s room, and he let out another sigh.
In his memory, there was hardly anyone who could rival Tsunade’s assets.
Even after a few more years, when Yugao fully matured, she’d only have what could be called a "standard" figure.
But Haruta didn’t mind.
It was all good, really — each had their own charm.
After all, Yugao’s youthful vitality was something Tsunade’s more… mature appeal couldn’t replicate.
—
Returning to his room, Haruta quickly washed up before sitting cross-legged on his bed.
With a flick of his hand, he opened his system interface:
【Haruta Shigaru】
【Overall Physical Fitness: LV10】
【Chakra: LV9】
【Abilities: Wood Release LV6 (Water LV6, Earth LV6, Yang LV6), Flying Thunder God LV6, Curse Mark LV6, Wind LV6, Yin LV5…】
【Skill Points: 45】
【Special Ability: Kakuzu’s Fire Release (based on heart level)】
The results of his latest mission exceeded his expectations.
The Fire Release ability — which compensated for his elemental shortcomings — was a huge win.
And the sheer number of skill points…
It had been ages since he’d seen this many points!
As his level increased, his need for skill points grew exponentially.
Small missions might give him a point or two — sometimes none at all.
Bigger missions offered slightly more… but still not enough.
But this mission?
It felt like he had finally hit the jackpot.
“So… if I want more skill points… I need to escalate missions? The bigger the mess I cause, the more points I get?”
Haruta rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
“After all, the system doesn’t care how I finish a mission — just that I finish it, and how well I do it.”
In other words…
The system wanted him to maximize a mission’s potential.
His expression shifted into a sly smirk.
He had been using this exact strategy to make Danzo’s life miserable.
And so far?
He was doing a fantastic job.
Sunagakure probably hated Danzo’s guts by now.
As for the Akatsuki…
No doubt Sasori had already whispered Danzo’s name into Nagato’s ear.
Given Nagato’s blood feud with Konoha, there was no way he’d let Danzo off the hook.
Even Kumogakure, though Haruta hadn’t stirred up much trouble there yet, had already seen hints of his "connection" to Danzo.
And Iwagakure?
After capturing Kitsuchi, it wouldn’t take much for Onoki to add Danzo’s name to his hit list.
“Plus, with Kabuto and Nono Yakushi in Iwagakure, there’s another opening.”
At this rate, Danzo’s name would soon be legendary across the entire shinobi world.
The only village left untouched was Kirigakure…
But even that was just a matter of time.
After all, Haruta had long suspected Uchiha Obito’s involvement in Kirigakure’s affairs.
It was only a matter of waiting for the right moment to fan the flames.
“Kirigakure, huh…”
The last piece of the puzzle.
And there was a juicy bonus waiting for him — the Fourth Mizukage, Yagura, was still under someone’s control.
—
“Well… none of this is wrong, really.”
Haruta chuckled to himself.
“After all, helping Danzo ‘have some fun’ and escalating missions go hand-in-hand.”
He shook his head, smirking.
“I’m just not working hard enough. I need to bring even more ‘fun’ into Danzo-sama’s life.”
Because let’s face it — Danzo wasn’t famous enough yet.
If Danzo didn’t become a household name across the ninja world… how could Haruta’s dream of Hokage ever come true?
—
“Alright… Let’s use my points.”
Sighing softly, Haruta refocused on his system interface.
After all…
If he wasn’t strong enough, how could he inherit Danzo’s "legacy"?
“Let’s check out Kakuzu’s Fire Release first.”
Fire Release had always been on Haruta’s radar since he knew about the combination formula for Scorch Release.
The problem was his Fire Release had never been strong enough, and his attention was always split between other skills.
So even though he had already mastered Wood Release, Scorch Release was still out of reach.
But now, with Kakuzu’s Fire Release, he could finally start considering it.
“Plus… I really need to plan ahead and figure out which nature transformations I need to unlock for my ultimate goal — the Kekkei Tota.”
Currently, Haruta possessed Wood Release, which combined Water, Earth, and Yang Release — leveling up all three at once when he invested points.
Scorch Release, a fusion of Wind and Fire, seemed within reach now.
As for Yin-Yang Release, he had Black Zetsu’s insight scrolls. Whether he could fully master it remained uncertain, but at least he had a formula to reference.
So what was left?
He still needed to figure out the combination of Water and Lightning Release.
“Storm Release?”
It was the only fusion he could think of for those elements, but unfortunately, Storm Release was a hidden technique of Kumogakure.
The last time he met the Fourth Raikage, Darui hadn’t been with him — a missed opportunity for sure.
His plan was simple: level all his nature releases to LV10 — the system’s maximum level — before attempting any fusion.
After all, mastering each element would deepen his understanding and control, making the combinations smoother.
“With a solid grasp of fusion formulas, I can cut down on trial and error and save a lot of effort.”
Kekkei Tota had always been Haruta’s ultimate dream.
Sure, he had unlocked Wood Release, but he wasn’t a descendant of the Senju clan.
And without any ties to the Otsutsuki lineage…
The only path forward was to create his own Kekkei Tota — to forge his own destiny.
—
【Acquired Kakuzu’s Fire Release】
【Based on Kakuzu’s heart level, current Fire Release level: LV7】
“LV7? Not bad.”
After extracting Kakuzu’s Fire Release, Haruta raised an eyebrow at the level.
LV7 wasn’t low — in the system’s terms, it was elite jonin level.
But considering Kakuzu’s combat prowess, it felt a bit underwhelming.
Then, reading the system’s explanation, Haruta quickly understood why.
“So that’s why…”
Kakuzu’s heart levels varied greatly because when he took hearts from others, he didn’t care about their strength — only that they had the chakra nature he needed and strong life force.
Kakuzu’s own power came from himself — the hearts were just tools to channel elemental chakra.
“Guess I got lucky.”
Haruta’s mood lightened.
And honestly, an LV7 elemental release was already the highest he had for any single element — most of his points had gone into boosting physical fitness and chakra, keeping his elemental skills balanced but not over-specialized.
“Thank you for nurturing such a powerful heart… Kakuzu.”
Satisfied with his new Fire Release, Haruta instantly felt an influx of knowledge flooding his mind — insights on how to use and manipulate fire chakra.
In that moment, it genuinely felt like he had spent years mastering Fire Release, and his understanding of it had risen to an entirely new level.
“This feeling… it’s really something else.”
Haruta nodded approvingly, especially when he saw a new entry on his system panel:
[Fire Release: LV7]
Now, if anyone dared question whether he was a true Konoha ninja, his Fire Release would be enough to make his enemies tremble.
“Alright… now it’s time to figure out how to allocate these skill points.”
Forty-five points — quite a hefty sum.
But as Haruta glanced over his system panel again, it suddenly didn’t feel like that much.
After thinking for a bit, he decided to put some points into Wind Release. Since his Fire Release was now at LV7, balancing both elements would make it easier to fuse them into Scorch Release.
[Upgrade complete. Current Wind Release: LV7]
[Remaining skill points: 39]
Once again, a surge of information about Wind Release techniques poured into his mind. Haruta could feel his control and understanding of wind chakra deepening.
“This should make merging Scorch Release a lot simpler… Now then…”
He muttered to himself, his gaze shifting to Wood Release and Curse Mark.
Upgrading Wood Release wasn’t a simple task — it leveled up three chakra natures at once: Water, Earth, and Yang Release.
That meant using 18 skill points in one go.
It wasn’t an easy decision.
But Wood Release had already proven its worth.
At LV6, it had allowed him to wreak havoc in Kusagakure — a higher level could only mean more devastating power.
“Besides… leveling up all three elements together is efficient. It saves me a lot of trouble later.”
Getting all his chakra natures to LV10 would be key to unlocking Kekkei Tota down the line, so investing in them now made sense.
And if he was going to boost Wood Release, it only made sense to raise the Curse Mark too.
After all, he was still researching the Yang Release Chakra Mode.
The Curse Mark’s senjutsu seemed tied to Yang Release — their levels needed to stay in sync for him to fully master the mode.
[Upgrade complete. Current Wood Release: LV7]
[Upgrade complete. Current Curse Mark: LV7]
[Remaining skill points: 15]
Burning 24 points in one go stung a bit.
But the moment Wood Release leveled up, Haruta felt a familiar sensation — his blood seemed to boil.
It was the same feeling as when he first unlocked Wood Release!
[Due to the advancement of Wood Release, your bloodline has undergone slight mutation. Please observe carefully.]
As expected, the system immediately sent a notification — and Haruta couldn’t help but smile.
This world was all about bloodlines.
Even if he didn’t have the Otsutsuki clan’s innate talent, he was still carving his own path forward.
And the best part?
He was doing it all with his own strength.
“Well… the system is my cheat, so technically it’s still my power, right?”
Haruta muttered to himself, still feeling his blood simmering beneath his skin.
But something felt… off.
“This sensation… it’s a lot like when I upgraded my physical stats… but it’s not as intense?”
He would never forget the agony of pushing his Physical Attributes to LV10 — that was a pain burned into his memory.
But this?
This was milder in comparison.
—
“Fifteen points left… where should I put them?”
Once the heat in his blood finally cooled, Haruta took a deep breath and opened his system panel again.
Fifteen points could go a long way.
He could boost Yin Release, Flying Thunder God, or even Chakra.
Then there was the most tempting option — his Physical Attributes.
He was genuinely curious.
What would happen if he broke past the system’s Kage-level threshold?
“Even though I just hit LV10 not long ago… and technically, I should be focusing on adapting to my current strength…”
But the curiosity gnawed at him.
What lay beyond LV10?
What would it feel like to have a body stronger than what the system defined as "Kage level"?
“I have to know.”
After mulling it over, Haruta made up his mind.
He had to push his limits — if only to see what lay on the other side.
Even if it was reckless… curiosity killed the cat, after all.
“What’s the worst that could happen? A bit of pain, maybe more time needed to adapt… but nothing too serious.”
“System… upgrade my Physical Attributes.”
[Upgrade complete. Current Physical Attributes: LV11]
[Remaining skill points: 5]
The instant the upgrade hit, Haruta’s blood felt like it ignited.
Compared to the last change… this was intense.
His entire body trembled as a burning sensation coursed through him.
“Ngh…”
A low grunt escaped his lips as every muscle in his body spasmed.
The pain was far worse than when he reached LV10.
Suddenly, a wave of raw power erupted from within him, causing the entire room to shake.
—
CRACK!
The glass in his room shattered instantly.
Dust rained down from the corners of the ceiling as the wooden beams creaked under the sudden burst of chakra.
And just as Haruta struggled to suppress the raging heat inside him…
[Due to the advancement of Physical Attributes, your bloodline has undergone significant mutation. Please observe carefully.]
—
Meanwhile, in the Uchiha clan compound…
Uchiha Fugaku's expression darkened after listening to his eldest son, Itachi, recount the details of his recent mission.
“So… your first mission turned out to be this complicated.”
It wasn’t that Fugaku wasn’t proud that his son was involved in something so high-level — but there was something unsettling about all of this.
That Haruta Shigaru…
According to Itachi’s report, this boy was far too powerful.
Wood Release and Flying Thunder God — two abilities that, when combined, were utterly terrifying.
Wood Release alone made Haruta a monster in both one-on-one and group battles.
And his talent was undeniable.
Itachi had described how Haruta practically upended Kusagakure.
But the real problem?
It wasn’t just the power of Wood Release.
It was that Haruta also had the Flying Thunder God Technique — a jutsu perfect for both offense and retreat.
Fighting someone like that was incredibly difficult.
“To deal with someone like him… we’d have to get close, catch him off guard, and strike at the right moment.”
Fugaku's thoughts were grim.
He didn’t want things to reach this point — but certain precautions had to be taken.
—
“Father, that’s the full report.”
Itachi’s calm voice broke Fugaku’s train of thought.
“Although… Father… passing on information like this seems against ANBU’s rules…”
“The rules of ANBU?”
Fugaku frowned, studying his son for a moment before sighing.
“I understand your hesitation, Itachi… but sometimes, we have no choice. This is for the clan.”
“You must remember that — everything we do is for the family.”
“For the… clan…”
Itachi lowered his gaze.
He knew things within the Uchiha clan were growing more tense by the day.
The dissent… the whispers of rebellion… they were only getting louder.
Especially since Shisui had awakened his Mangekyo Sharingan — the atmosphere had become even more volatile.
And Itachi… hated it.
He hated how everything was always about the clan.
But he also knew his father wouldn’t explain further — Fugaku always left him to figure things out on his own.
“… Understood, Father.”
Fugaku nodded.
“Go rest now. Your brother’s missed you. He’s been waiting to see you.”
“Yes, Father.”
Itachi bowed slightly and left the room.
But instead of returning to his quarters, he headed outside.
His mind was a mess.
He didn’t want Sasuke to see him like this.
And there was only one person he could talk to right now.
It wasn’t long before he found Shisui sitting alone at the training grounds.
“… You’re here late, Itachi.”
Shisui blinked in surprise as Itachi approached.
“Can’t sleep?”
“Too many things on my mind.”
Itachi sat beside him, sighing deeply.
“The clan… things are getting worse, aren’t they?”
“… Yeah.”
Shisui nodded, gazing up at the moon for a long moment before speaking softly.
“But thinking about it too much won’t help. It’ll only make you more confused… and more upset.”
“Are we really just supposed to stand by and watch things get worse?”
Itachi’s brows furrowed as he spoke, his voice low.
Shisui turned to look at him, a faint smile appearing on his face.
“Actually… someone already gave us an answer. The solution is right in front of us — we just can’t act yet.”
After saying that, Shisui stood up, his gaze still fixed on the moonlight.
“Get some rest, Itachi. Instead of worrying about what’s out of your control, focus on what you can do.”
With those words, Shisui turned and walked away.
But as he left, a certain name echoed in his mind — something Haruta had once said to him.
“Shimura Danzo…”
Shisui clenched his fists slightly, taking a deep breath.
Now wasn’t the time — but that time would come.
—
“The answer is already there…?”
Itachi watched Shisui's retreating figure, his heart filled with confusion.
And for some reason, Haruta, Yamato, and Kitsuchi’s conversation in Kusagakure suddenly flashed through his mind.
"For the sake of the village… sometimes, you have to eliminate your own people."
