Itachi wandered home in a daze, his thoughts in turmoil.
He could no longer remember how he had parted ways with his uncle Uchiha Duan, nor how his feet carried him back to the clan district.
"Uncle, I just want to watch this world burn."
That chilling sentence echoed endlessly in his mind. Even beneath the heat of the summer air, Itachi's body trembled, his hands and feet cold as though gripped by winter frost.
It took a long time for him to recover some composure.
But one thing was clear—he would not tell his father. Fugaku would never understand his turmoil, nor his uncle's madness.
The only one he could confide in was Shisui.
---
That night, on the edge of the Nanhechuan cliff.
"Shisui, please," Itachi said solemnly. "At tomorrow's clan meeting, if my uncle acts out of line, you must stop him."
His tone carried both fear and desperation.
"I understand, Itachi," Shisui replied, exhaling slowly. His face turned grim. "I never imagined he harbored such dangerous thoughts."
Shisui accepted the burden without hesitation.
Then, Itachi revealed everything he knew about Duan—his duel with the masked man at the Naka Shrine, how he had shrugged off Root's assassination attempt, forcing Aburame Ryoma into retreat.
"Uncle Duan only respects strength," Itachi pressed. "The only way to reach him—or change him—is to defeat him outright. Show him he is not invincible. Do not hold back."
Shisui placed a reassuring hand on Itachi's shoulder, his expression both warm and confident.
"Don't worry. I'll win," he said. Then, with a faint smile, he added, "Because I too possess the Mangekyō Sharingan."
---
Under Itachi's astonished gaze—
Shua.
Shisui's black pupils shifted into three tomoe, and then rotated further, transforming into a new pattern. A distinct square-shaped pinwheel bloomed in his eyes.
"According to your description, the masked man relied only on a single Mangekyō," Shisui explained. "That's why he underestimated Duan and lost to a mere three tomoe."
He narrowed his gaze, voice low and certain.
"When two Mangekyō are wielded together, their power multiplies beyond comparison. That is the true power of our eyes… the power of a god."
---
"The power… of a god?"
Itachi was shaken, but also comforted. After all, Shisui had never failed him before.
Yet, in the depths of his heart, a new desire stirred.
If the masked man and Shisui both bore Mangekyō, then to reach the Hokage's seat, to become strong enough to end war itself, he too would one day need that power.
Shisui, sensing his thoughts, smiled faintly.
"Itachi, I believe you will awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan as well. Each pair is unique, with its own design and abilities. Perhaps yours will surpass even mine."
He offered encouragement, though he kept silent about how he himself had awakened it. That was a truth too painful to recall.
---
The night passed quietly.
By the following afternoon—inside the Hokage Building.
Bang!
The door slammed open. Danzo entered, leaning on his cane, his face dark. Sarutobi Hiruzen stood by the window, pipe in hand, gazing at the village below.
"Even now, you stand idly enjoying the view?" Danzo's tone was biting. "The situation is critical!"
Hiruzen turned slowly, his face calm. "What is it, Danzo?"
"There is a man named Uchiha Duan—you know him," Danzo spat. "After luring four of my men outside the village, he ambushed and killed them without mercy! Root is an extension of the Anbu, the Hokage's own blade. This was no simple act of defiance. This is treason, orchestrated by Fugaku himself. The Uchiha are declaring war!"
He slammed his cane against the floor, his voice rising.
Hiruzen, however, only exhaled a ring of smoke, his eyes sharp.
"Itachi already reported everything to me. You attempted to recruit him. He rejected you outright. Out of wounded pride, you sent assassins. And they failed."
Danzo froze, his face stiff.
That little rat, Uchiha Itachi… he had exposed everything.
But Danzo's skin was thick. He adjusted his tone, dismissing his blunder as if it had never been said.
He leaned forward. "Regardless, tonight is the Uchiha clan's assembly. You and I both know how dangerous their current course is. At a time like this, we must surround the compound. If they rebel, we must be ready to crush them immediately. And if necessary…"
His eyes glinted coldly. The meaning was clear.
"You presume too much, Danzo," Hiruzen snapped, slamming his hand on the desk. "I am Hokage!"
Danzo's face hardened. "You'll regret this," he hissed, then turned sharply, slamming the door behind him.
---
Silence lingered in the office.
"Come out," Hiruzen said at last.
From behind the screen stepped Uchiha Shisui, his expression grave. He had heard everything.
Hiruzen gave a bitter laugh. "Some Hokage I am—unable to control even my own subordinate."
But Shisui bowed deeply, his voice steady and sincere.
"Lord Third, you are the greatest Hokage in Konoha's history. Without your leadership, the village would not be what it is today."
For nearly forty years, Sarutobi Hiruzen had carried the title of Hokage. He had guided the village through two Shinobi World Wars, ensuring its survival, and had built the peace and prosperity Konoha now enjoyed.
In the eyes of many, his legacy had already surpassed even that of the First and Second Hokage.