Naruto: The Nine-Tails' Legacy Chapter 24: Change

"…This is far enough, Itachi."

Shisui Uchiha suddenly spoke, stopping the still-moving Itachi Uchiha.

The two figures finally halted at the edge of a cliff.

Supporting Shisui's body, Itachi glanced around the area uneasily.

"This place is too open. There aren't any good hiding spots. Do you have another preparation—"

Before Itachi could finish speaking, Shisui slowly straightened himself.

Looking toward Itachi, he shook his head.

"There's no need to stay alert. There are no ambushes or pursuers anymore."

"…I see."

Hearing that, Itachi finally let out a breath of relief.

"Then wait here. I'll imdiately notify the dical unit and have them send soone—"

But Shisui raised a hand and stopped him from leaving.

By now, he had completely regained his calm.

"My eye was taken by Danzo Shimura."

Itachi froze in place.

"The Uchiha clan's coup has already reached the point where it can no longer be stopped. Ever since the Nine-Tails incident, the clan has been isolated by the village because the culprit was believed to possess the Sharingan. Danzo's actions prove that the village leadership never truly trusted either. In this situation, even if the Third Hokage genuinely wishes to maintain peace, there's nothing he can do alone."

Shisui calmly analyzed the situation as though he wasn't the one gravely injured.

"I originally intended to use my Mangekyō Sharingan's Kotoamatsukami to correct everything. But now… even if I survive, I no longer possess enough ocular power to change the situation."

"And more importantly, the existence of Kotoamatsukami itself has beco an even greater threat to the village leadership than the Uchiha rebellion. If word of it spreads, it won't just invite foreign nations to invade. Konoha itself will collapse from within."

"I want to entrust my left eye to you, Itachi."

As he spoke, Shisui reached toward his remaining eye socket.

Then—

Without hesitation—

He tore out his own eye.

Even such unimaginable pain failed to change his expression.

He remained calm.

Watching this scene, Itachi's heart trembled violently.

Just as Shisui understood him better than anyone else in the world—

Itachi also understood Shisui.

Like the Will of Fire he had always upheld, Shisui was still burning away every last part of himself to protect the village.

A crow descended from the sky.

Then instantly shattered between them.

Along with the crow's disappearance, the Mangekyō Sharingan in Shisui's hand also vanished.

"I've accepted it."

Looking at his best friend—now blind, blood still endlessly flowing from both empty sockets—Itachi felt his heart shake uncontrollably.

At this mont, Shisui no longer trusted anyone except him.

Yet even now, he continued sacrificing everything he had for the village.

What exactly was the path he sought?

"Itachi… have you found your answer yet?"

Although he had lost both eyes, Shisui still seed able to see the confusion on Itachi's face.

"…I…"

Itachi stopped himself halfway through speaking.

"I see…"

"Itachi, it's unfortunate… but I won't be able to accompany you in searching for it anymore."

After waiting for several monts without receiving an answer, Shisui felt a trace of regret within his heart, though none of it appeared on his face.

"Next, I will die."

"And for the sake of changing the situation surrounding the Uchiha rebellion, news of my death will beco an important piece of the puzzle."

"Even if the clan refuses to acknowledge , everyone knows I am the strongest mber of the Uchiha clan. Even those radicals secretly believe that if the coup begins, I'll ultimately participate for the sake of the clan."

"Once such thoughts ignite within people's hearts, they beco impossible to extinguish."

Shisui stopped at the very edge of the cliff.

"The mission entrusted to by Lord Hokage was to stop this civil war."

"And I'll use my death to carry out that mission."

"Itachi… don't stop . And don't try to save ."

"You are my closest friend and the companion I value most. Walk forward on your own path and create the future you believe is right."

"No matter what the outco may be…"

"I believe in you."

"And one more thing…"

"Be careful of Danzo."

"He possesses a strange technique capable of twisting reality itself. It resembles one of our clan's forbidden arts…"

"Unless absolutely necessary… do not co into contact with him."

After saying those words, Shisui fell backward into the abyss.

So decisive.

So accepting.

But was his determination to protect the village truly that overwhelming—

Or had his heart already completely died?

Itachi didn't know.

All he knew was that the mont Shisui's body disappeared into the darkness below, his own body moved uncontrollably.

The usually emotionless Itachi shed tears of blood as he lunged forward, watching helplessly as his friend continued falling into the abyss.

His outstretched hand froze in midair.

Because he knew—

Shisui would never take his hand.

And if Shisui saw him acting this way, he would only feel even more disappointed.

At that exact instant, the three tomoe within Itachi's eyes spun violently.

Then—

A Mangekyō Sharingan shaped like twisted blades blood within his crimson eyes.

Afterward, Itachi stood up and silently left the area.

Without drawing anyone's attention, he quietly returned to the Uchiha compound as though everything had nothing to do with him.

He rely stopped outside his father's room.

Separated by the thick wooden door, he softly spoke a single sentence:

"Shisui Uchiha is dead."

Then silently walked away.

Inside the room, what little noise remained vanished completely into silence.

Itachi did not know how many people were inside.

But he knew—

Those words would change the Uchiha clan tonight.

At the very least, it would pour freezing water over the heads of those madn—

And suspend a sword above them like the Sword of Damocles.

anwhile, at the cliffside after Itachi departed, Root shinobi finally arrived.

Looking at the bloodstains on the ground and the seemingly bottomless abyss below, they fell silent for a mont before speaking:

"Search below."

"Dead or alive, we need the body."

The following morning, almost simultaneously, both Danzo Shimura within Root headquarters and the Hiruzen Sarutobi seated inside the Hokage's office received the sa chilling report—

"We could not find Shisui Uchiha's body."

At this mont, the masked man sat calmly upon a chair.

Beside him stood a strange figure split half-black and half-white.

Both of them stared at the unconscious Shisui laid across the table before them.

"The famous Shisui of the Body Flicker?"

"You saved him?"

The creature known as Zetsu spoke in a hoarse, unpleasant voice, though surprise was still evident within it.

"Not exactly."

"At least for now… he hasn't escaped danger yet. He could die at any mont."

"That can't really be called saving him."

The masked man replied coldly, his gaze never leaving Shisui's body.

"True enough."

"And let remind you—if you don't make a decision soon, he really will die."

"You need new allies to deal with that person in Kirigakure, don't you?"

Zetsu chuckled darkly before continuing:

"But according to my intelligence, his loyalty to Konoha is unwavering."

"And compared to the injuries you suffered back then, his condition is even worse."

"Not to ntion he doesn't have Madara helping him…"

"Enough. I know."

The masked man coldly interrupted Zetsu's mockery.

He rose from his seat and walked toward Shisui.

Narrowing his eyes as he stared at the faint rise and fall of Shisui's chest, he suddenly thrust his hand directly through Shisui's heart.

The unconscious Shisui instantly stopped breathing.

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