"I told them not to do this," Akio muttered, rubbing his temples in frustration. "Things were quiet for a whole month. I thought they'd finally dropped it. But instead, they doubled down."
He let out a dry laugh.
"Wasn't it supposed to be an accidental injury during a spar? And now Shisui's gone and pulled a full vanishing act. That just makes everything messier."
The three boys' original plan had been blunt but effective:
Step one, spark a dispute through an "accidental" injury during a sparring match between Itachi and Shisui.
Step two, the Senju would offer compensation. Obviously not Sasuke himself, but something else of equivalent weight.
Step three, reveal the truth.
At that point, the Uchiha would have gained enough to drop the matter, while the Senju despite technically taking a loss would be stuck blaming their own young clan head for mishandling things. No one would be in a position to push further.
In theory, Sasuke's issue would be resolved cleanly.
Akio had rejected the plan on the spot. It was too idealistic, and the three boys would've ended up alienating everyone involved.
What he hadn't expected… was for them to escalate it even further.
"Disappeared…" Akio sighed, glancing at Mikoto, who was being gently comforted by Kushina. "These kids really don't know how to stay out of trouble."
"Naruto," Akio said suddenly. "Training's off for tonight."
Naruto's grin barely had time to form before Akio added calmly:
"Get some rest. Tomorrow's workload doubles."
"D–doubles?!" Naruto finally showed fear but still puffed out his chest. "Fine! Double it! I can take it, Great-Grandpa!"
Akio chuckled, then turned to Mikoto.
"Since the Uchiha are already here, stay at Kushina's place for now. No rush. I'll go see what's going on."
Mikoto nodded quickly, then hesitated.
"Sasuke… he refused to come with me."
"Don't worry," Akio said with a wave of his hand.
As the night deepened, the Senju compound, long quiet buzzed with rare activity.
Outside the clan head hall, Uchiha Kagami stood with a group of Uchiha members. Across from them, Hiruzen and two elders had Itachi surrounded, each taking turns questioning him.
Senju clansmen stood nearby in force not interfering, but making sure their young clan head wasn't being pressured unfairly.
Akio slipped into the compound quietly, avoiding attention, and soon found Sasuke lurking in the distance, watching everything unfold.
Akio reached out and ruffled the boy's hair.
Sasuke stiffened slightly, then relaxed when he saw who it was. He turned back toward the scene, greeting him without much warmth.
"Good evening, Great Ancestor."
Akio raised an eyebrow. Not fond of me, huh?
Seems the kid hadn't quite absorbed the wisdom of that whole "future elite team doctrine" Akio had once rambled about.
Now wasn't the time for motivational speeches anyway.
Akio tilted his head, listening in as the discussion reached the important part.
"…We investigated reports of unknown shinobi activity near the Fire Country–River Country border. No findings. The two returned last night and camped in the wilderness. Shisui took first watch. By morning, he was gone."
"No signs of combat?" Akio murmured, relaying the summary quietly to Sasuke. "And Itachi didn't even wake up?"
Looking at Itachi's anxious expression in the distance, Akio sighed softly.
Congratulations, he thought. You're officially the next great actor.
The Uchiha clearly couldn't accept the explanation. Shisui was a Mangekyō Sharingan wielder, vanishing without a trace while Itachi returned unharmed? It strained belief.
"Enough," Kagami's voice echoed across the compound. "Itachi, think carefully. Is there anything you might've overlooked?"
Itachi shook his head.
"I searched the entire area. There were no traces of battle. If there had been a fight, I would've sensed it."
Kagami paused, then turned to Hiruzen.
"Hiruzen, can you tell me the exact details of the mission assigned to the two boys?"
Hiruzen nodded solemnly and handed over the mission records he'd prepared in advance.
From afar, Akio frowned.
I almost forgot… Kagami's sixty-four. He's not exactly in a position to calmly accept his only grandson pulling a disappearing act. These kids really are asking for trouble.
Just then, Obito's voice rose in agitation, demanding that Itachi take him to look for "his little brother."
Akio didn't hesitate. He flashed into the open.
Greetings rang out from all sides. Akio returned them with brief nods, his gaze lingering on Itachi for a moment before shifting to Obito.
"Obito, calm down. I'll go look myself."
"Master!" Obito blurted out.
"Master?" several people echoed under their breath. Very few knew about that relationship.
Akio smiled faintly, then turned to Kagami.
"Don't worry. Shisui's not the type to fall quietly. For someone of his level to vanish without warning… it'd take a sneak attack from Madara himself."
He snorted.
"And if Madara were really alive, ambushing a junior wouldn't be his style."
Kagami's expression eased slightly.
"Then we'll leave it to you, Senior."
"I left a Wood Clone near the Fire–River Country border," Itachi said quickly. "If you head northeast, you'll find it."
Akio paused, giving him a sidelong look.
Life imitates theater… or is it the other way around?
You're putting in way too much effort.
He shot Itachi a barely perceptible glare, then gave those nearby especially Nawaki, a reassuring glance before vanishing.
Fire Country, northeastern border.
After flashing through the forest for over ten minutes, Akio sensed the chakra of Itachi's Wood Clone and appeared in front of it.
"Great Ancestor!" the clone said immediately, face tense. "This is where Shisui and I camped last night. By morning, he was gone."
Akio stared at it.
"…This is a clone you made last year, isn't it? What kind of performance are you putting on in front of me?"
The clone froze, then shook its head rapidly.
"After you rejected our plan, Shisui really did want to go through with it, but I stopped him."
Akio's eyes widened.
"Wait so you're saying he's actually missing?! This is serious!"
He shot into the air, surveying the entire area while activating the Mind's Eye of the Kagura. After a moment, he landed, frowning deeply.
"No traces of combat at all. Vanished instantly… was he killed in one move? Or did I sleepwalk last night? Or did someone lure him away with genjutsu?"
Akio glared at the clone.
"Itachi, you little menace, did you really think you could fool me?"
The clone gave a bitter smile.
"I swear I didn't lie. It can't be genjutsu, Shisui is the strongest genjutsu user in Uchiha history. If anything… I'm starting to think he left on his own. And that's what worries me."
Akio shook his head.
"Strongest in Uchiha history? Every generation thinks that about its own prodigies. Don't underestimate the past."
He continued slowly:
"There were two truly exceptional genjutsu users in Uchiha history. One lived two hundred years ago, the one who created Izanagi."
His expression darkened slightly.
"And the other…"
Akio paused.
"Great Ancestor?"
Akio sighed.
"The other was my contemporary. Uchiha Chiri. She created Izanami, the counter to Izanagi. I crossed blades with her in my youth."
He shook his head, voice heavy.
"If she hadn't died so young, she would deserve the title of strongest genjutsu user in Uchiha history. What a waste… such a ridiculous end for someone so extraordinary."
He pulled himself out of the memory and shot the clone a sharp look.
"Now be honest with me, were you trying to rope your ancestor into this act too?"
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