Early the next morning, Uchiha Shisui was already up and moving.
From what he'd heard through clan whispers the previous night, Uchiha Ryosuke had undergone some startling changes. These days, he could often be found training alone in a nearby grove, focusing on taijutsu—a surprising choice for an Uchiha.
So, today, Shisui had one goal: find him and see it with his own eyes.
After a quick wash, he headed directly toward the wooded area outside the Uchiha compound. He scanned the terrain carefully until, sure enough, he spotted Ryosuke.
He was mid-run—no fancy chakra tricks, no flashy ninjutsu—just pure physical conditioning. That alone caught Shisui off guard.
Ryosuke wasn't built like a tank. His muscles weren't bulging, and he didn't have the stereotypical "powerhouse" physique. But something about him radiated strength. The way he moved, the energy in his frame—it was like a storm barely restrained beneath his skin.
This guy… What kind of freakish transformation has he gone through?
Ryosuke had clearly noticed someone approaching. And not subtly either—he was being openly watched. He slowed to a halt and turned.
His eyes narrowed slightly when he saw who it was.
Uchiha Shisui.
A flicker of both joy and concern crossed Ryosuke's face.
The joy came from admiration—Shisui was a legend, after all. But the concern? That came from what Shisui was now.
Mangekyō Sharingan… and worse, Kotoamatsukami—the most terrifying genjutsu in the ninja world. If he uses that on me, I could become a puppet for Konoha's higher-ups without even knowing it. I'd never live that down as a transmigrator.
So Ryosuke tread carefully, masking his wariness behind a casual smile.
Of course, he also knew something else: Shisui's strength was incredible. He could summon Susanoo with just one eye—a feat few could match. Maybe even more impressive than Uchiha Itachi himself.
If someone like that could be convinced to stand firmly with the Uchiha clan… our military power would skyrocket. And if I change his fate—prevent his death—it might stop that traitor Itachi from unlocking the Mangekyō in the first place.
Even if Itachi tried something, he'd only have a regular three-tomoe Sharingan. Nothing Ryosuke couldn't handle. But first, he needed to know where Shisui stood. Was he still loyal to the village… or was there room for persuasion?
Shisui, still wearing a faint smile, approached casually.
"Ryosuke, long time no see. I barely recognized you—you've changed so much. A taijutsu specialist now? And you've even mastered the Eight Gates?"
There was real astonishment in his voice. The Uchiha clan was famous for its Sharingan and genjutsu—not taijutsu. No one in clan history had ever followed this path with such success.
Ryosuke returned the smile.
"I just realized my body was especially suited for taijutsu, so I decided to lean into it. Nothing special. But you—you've made quite the name for yourself in the war with the Hidden Mist."
Ryosuke genuinely respected Shisui. After all, Shisui hadn't been the one to massacre the clan.
Itachi, on the other hand… That guy knew the higher-ups were manipulating Shisui, even driving him to suicide. Yet he still chose to side with them? Still helped them wipe out his own family?
Did he ever actually see Shisui as a true friend? If your best friend dies at the hands of those you now serve, and you feel nothing… was that even friendship?
Shisui, ever humble, waved off the praise.
"Just minor war achievements. Nothing compared to you, Ryosuke—leading a joint force of two clans to completely crush the Cloud Village's army? Even the Fourth Raikage and both the Two-Tails and Eight-Tails jinchūriki lost to you. That's next level."
Ryosuke chuckled softly. He'd wanted to impress Shisui a little—but also to gauge his Mangekyō. If it truly was Kotoamatsukami, he had to be cautious.
Still, now seemed like a good time to test something else.
"Shisui… how about a little sparring match? I've always wondered how strong 'Shisui of the Body Flicker' really is."
Shisui blinked in surprise.
"You want to fight me?"
Actually… he kind of did too. This would be his first time seeing Ryosuke's strength up close. And he wanted to know if the rumors were true.
"Alright," Shisui said with a nod.
Ryosuke didn't hesitate—his Sharingan flared to life, the three tomoe swirling in each eye.
Shisui's eyes narrowed. The moment he felt Ryosuke's chakra spike, he instinctively activated his own three-tomoe Sharingan.
Yet even then, he felt something odd: pressure.
Despite Shisui's eyes having evolved into Mangekyō, Ryosuke's base Sharingan held so much latent power that it actually intimidated him. It wasn't normal.
No wonder Itachi lost to him. His genjutsu was probably overpowered… and taijutsu? Let's not even go there. One look at his form, and you know—he's built for close combat.
Ryosuke noticed Shisui was ready.
"Let's begin."
He vanished.
Shisui barely reacted in time—Ryosuke was fast. He blocked just in time, but the force of the blow shocked him. Pain shot up both arms from the sheer impact.
This is crazy… That strength—if he lands a few more of those, I won't be able to block anymore.
Shisui quickly retreated and formed hand seals.
A puff of smoke exploded around him—four clones emerged, flanking him on both sides.
No way I'm trading blows with this guy. I'll need clones and deception if I want a chance.
The five Shisuis surged forward.
Ryosuke's eyes sharpened. He couldn't tell them apart—not even with the Sharingan. That alone told him everything. Shisui's clone technique wasn't just showy—it was top-tier.
If I could tell at a glance who the real one was, the Hidden Mist wouldn't have feared this jutsu.
The five attackers converged. Ryosuke ducked and weaved through them, eyes flicking wildly to track movement. He struck one—clean hit. But… his hand passed through it.
An illusion?
No. It didn't dissipate. The others immediately took advantage of his brief confusion, launching an ambush from all sides. Ryosuke dodged at the last second, pulling back fast.
He frowned. This was annoying.
Even with my Sharingan, I can't find the real one. He's likely swapping positions between himself and his clones mid-combat. This is… actually pretty troublesome.
As he put distance between them, he gave a rare warning:
"Shisui… I'm going to get serious now. Be careful."
All five Shisuis locked eyes on him. Up until now, Shisui had the upper hand. But even then, he hadn't been able to fully control the flow of battle.
If he's saying that now, it's not for show. He really might be about to unleash something.
Shisui smirked slightly, though his muscles tensed.
"Bring it on. I want to see just how powerful you really are."
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