"Senpai, the Hokage asked me to deliver this research material on the Uchiha clan's Sharingan. Along with it, three three‑tomoe Sharingan have also been sent."
Inside a hidden research facility, an operative from Konoha spoke to another operative stationed in the base.
"So the old man sent them, huh …"
The in the base accepted the documents and the three Sharingan suspended in nutrient‑filled test tubes.
Gazing at the three oddly ominous three‑tomoe eyes, Sarutobi Shinnosuke's expression flickered.
"Where did the old man get these Sharingan?" he asked, puzzled.
The visiting hesitated, but the man in front of him was the Hokage's eldest son, a veteran of , and one of the Hokage's closest aides. Revealing the source should be fine.
Quietly, he answered, "From Shimura Danzō in Root."
"Danzō, huh …" Shinnosuke nodded in sudden understanding. "Figures. The old man's always conflicted—curious about many things, yet thinking the Hokage shouldn't soil his own hands. He'd never steal Uchiha eyes himself.
"The only person in the village who'd do that is the so‑called 'Darkness of Konoha,' Root's leader Shimura Danzō."
Shinnosuke shook his head, speaking without reservation. "Still … he's half the old man's black glove. All the dirty work the old man won't do, he tacitly lets Danzō handle."
The visiting kept silent.
"Go back and tell him this: we'll study these Sharingan materials thoroughly."
"Yes, senpai."
Leaving the secret base, the looked back at an ordinary patch of forest. He reached out and touched the air; ripples spread across empty space.
"A brilliant genjutsu—worthy of the Hokage's eldest son."
He shook his head clear of stray thoughts and turned toward Konoha—when a sudden cat's meow rang out.
"Meow‑~"
The frowned and snapped his gaze toward the sound.
What a fat cat! was his first thought.
The next instant—
A sharp whoosh cut the air. Startled, he dropped into a crouch as three shuriken sliced past his face. One severed the strap of his mask, exposing a young countenance.
"Enemy?!"
As he lunged for his short sword, his vision filled with two scarlet three‑tomoe Sharingan.
"Uchiha …"
His pupils shrank; instinctively he tried to break eye contact.
Splurt!
A burning pain bloomed in his chest. Looking down in a daze, he realized his own blade had never left its sheath—the unsheathing sound had been the foe's. A sword now pierced straight through his heart.
Genjutsu!
[Ding! You have slain a "Red Name" villain! Chakra slightly increased! You obtained: "Konoha‑style Kenjutsu" EXP Book ×10!]
"The fourth one." Uchiha Chizumi withdrew his sword, voice cool. "Rookie, four chances in a row and you still missed. Your shuriken‑throwing needs to be rebuilt from scratch."
"S‑sorry, senpai …" Izumi stepped from the shadows.
Guilt‑ridden and trembling, she stared at the fallen . This was the fourth Chizumi‑senpai had killed tonight—the first three had been outer sentries.
Watching blood gurgle from the man's chest, seeing the lifeless face barely older than her own, Izumi grew confused. "Senpai … were they really all evil?"
"Yes."
Flicking the blood from his blade, Chizumi peered into the "forest" ahead. Before his three‑tomoe Sharingan, even high‑level illusions were child's play.
Izumi, somehow mustering courage, asked, "Senpai … how do you judge another's evil?"
"A heart as clear as a polished mirror," Chizumi replied.
Izumi blinked.
Chizumi walked toward a large tree; half his body melted into the trunk as his voice echoed to her: "I possess a special ability—my eyes perceive the 'evil' residing in all living things. Its foundation is the clarity of my own heart and conduct—my morality defines what counts as sin."
Izumi's eyes widened. Is this a power of the Sharingan?
"Rookie, tell me: a shinobi who takes up arms to protect family, killing many on the battlefield—are they evil in my eyes?"
By the time he posed the question, his body had vanished into the illusionary forest.
Izumi hurried after him, biting her lip. "Senpai, I don't think they are."
"Indeed, they are not," Chizumi said calmly. "The standard is what I believed before awakening this power. One must let ability be born of oneself, not live for one's ability—otherwise 'justice' becomes evil in sheep's clothing."
As his words fell, the scene before him changed completely.
A sizable secret facility emerged.
The air reeked of strange chemicals—with a faint trace of blood.
"Who are you people?!" a sudden cry came from ahead.
A Konoha shinobi stared in shock—especially when he saw Chizumi's crimson eyes. He froze, breath caught.
[Inuzuka Maki— secret‑research staff. Participated in 17 human‑experimentation projects over many years; once one of Orochimaru's assistants; directly or indirectly killed 11 war orphans. Sin Level: Red Name!]
"I remember you."
Chizumi's voice was like a death god from the netherworld. Step by step he advanced. "Years ago, when the Third Hokage raided Orochimaru's laboratory, I was there. Funny—I saw you then."
"Seems the Third didn't keep his promise to me—to have you people executed in secret. Instead he sheltered you, keeping you here as expendable tools."
" …It's you? That lava‑style ninja?!" Old memories detonated in Inuzuka Maki's mind like shells.
His eyes widened—face twisted in terror.
~~~
Thank you for reading! Please add this to your Library!
Patreon(.)com/Bleam
— Currently You can Read 70 Chapters Ahead of Others!