The genjutsu test didn't happen.
Before that, Uchiha Fugaku brought Shisui to the medical ward, hoping Orochimaru could see if there was any way to save Shisui's eyes.
With them came two of the Hokage's advisors, Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura.
After a full day, they had a general understanding of how the war went, and they knew Shisui had played a key role.
But the two elders weren't here to praise Shisui. They had come for the Uchiha clan's forbidden eyes.
Twisted as he was, Uchiha Jinsuke would never let his guard down against his own clan.
"His vision loss is very severe. Most likely, he'll go blind."
Orochimaru pulled open Shisui's eyelids, studied them for a moment, then gave his conclusion.
Hearing this, the two elder advisors both let out a breath of relief at the same time, then quickly straightened their faces.
As if realizing their reaction looked undignified, Utatane Koharu forced a worried look and asked, "Orochimaru, do you have any way to fix this? Shisui made great contributions in this war, you'd better not hold anything back."
The real meaning was clear: whether there was a way or not, they had to at least go through the motions to comfort the Uchiha.
Since she was also from the Hokage's side, she believed Orochimaru would understand the unspoken rules.
Orochimaru glanced at her. "Of course I have a way."
At that, Utatane Koharu's expression froze, her forced concern no longer needed.
"Really? Orochimaru-sama?"
Fugaku, on the other hand, was delighted.
The war had ended quickly, the police force's losses weren't as bad as expected, and the merits earned were real.
And Shisui, fighting two Jinchuriki at the cost of his Mangekyou Sharingan, had to some extent cleared away suspicions from the clan.
If his eyes could now be saved as well, the Uchiha could claim a complete victory—gaining far more than expected.
"The simplest method is to replace his eyes."
Orochimaru flexed his fingers. "Eye replacement surgery is nothing difficult for me. As for Sharingan, with Shisui's standing in the clan, he should be qualified to request another pair."
Fugaku's smile froze. He had thought about that option, of course. But it meant Shisui would lose his Mangekyou Sharingan.
Hearing this, Utatane Koharu didn't look pleased either. She suddenly realized that Orochimaru's earlier half-hidden words were clearly meant to toy with her.
"As for a more complex method, I have one too. If it works, it might be possible to preserve his current eyes."
Orochimaru looked at Shisui, who lay with his eyes shut, and spoke slowly. "But unfortunately, with his condition now, surgery can't be done."
"Why is that?" Fugaku's hopes had gone up and down so many times that now he was clearly impatient.
The two elders, meanwhile, glared at Orochimaru as if blaming him for overcomplicating things.
"The surgery is meant to strengthen the ninja's body. I won't go into the details, you just need to know there's some risk."
Orochimaru swept his gaze across the room and explained, "The surgery requires the patient to have extremely strong mental strength. Normally, someone with the Mangekyou Sharingan would be a perfect candidate. But now, with Shisui blinded, his spirit has also been affected. If we force it, it could kill him."
Fugaku stepped forward and said in a low voice, "Orochimaru-sama, is there really no other way? If we gave Shisui a new pair of Sharingan, could he survive the surgery?"
"There's a chance, but failure is more likely."
Orochimaru gave Fugaku a sideways look and said deliberately, "Sharingan, as a bloodline organ, also carries part of its owner's spirit. After transplant, it takes time to adapt. How well it works depends on how compatible Shisui is with that pair of eyes. Too many uncertain factors."
"Maybe, with his talent, he could even awaken the Mangekyou again in the transplanted eyes. Or maybe, in the end, he'd have to change eyes again."
"But, if there's a blood relative, transplanting their eyes would greatly lower the risks…"
Sensing Orochimaru's gaze, Shisui gave a bitter smile. "In my line, there aren't even brothers, let alone close relatives. Very few even have Sharingan. And even if they did, I don't want to take their eyes."
"Fugaku-sama, Orochimaru-sama, thank you for the trouble. But let my eyes stay as they are."
"You don't need to be too discouraged."
Orochimaru curled his lips, dropping his cold expression and speaking loud enough for everyone in the medical room to hear.
"The surgery is so risky only because it's still not perfected. Maybe after another two or three years of research, even in your current condition, you'd be able to survive it."
Hearing Orochimaru's words of comfort, Shisui forced a smile, though he didn't truly feel hopeful.
Besides, this pair of Mangekyou Sharingan had always been his chosen price for the war. Now that Kumogakure had been driven back and the clan's strained relationship with the village greatly eased, Shisui had nothing more to ask for.
"Orochimaru-sama, if the surgery succeeds, will Shisui's eyes really see again?"
At this moment, Uchiha Jinsuke, who had been quietly lying on the bed listening, suddenly sat up and asked, his eyes full of hope.
Having reached elite jonin level, Jinsuke had woken up earlier than others from his coma. He had heard the entire conversation, his emotions swinging wildly.
Last night, he had seen with his own eyes Susano'o battling two transformed Jinchuriki. Like the other Uchiha, he had been thrilled.
But today, faced with the reality of Shisui's blindness, he couldn't accept it.
He had just sworn to tame a giant beast and beat Manda into the ground, but had no idea how to do it. To him now, Shisui's Mangekyou Sharingan was the only guiding light.
This light hasn't even been on for a day, and you're telling me it's going out? Are you kidding me?
Uchiha Jinsuke stared at Orochimaru like a drowning man clutching his last straw.
He had a strange kind of trust in Orochimaru. It came from all those times he was beaten half to death by Yamata no Orochi and then treated back to health, slowly building up over time.
Most mid-to-high-ranking Uchiha felt the same way about Orochimaru.
They admired his strength and respected his medical skills.
Hearing the doubt in Jinsuke's words, Orochimaru's face visibly darkened. At least to the two Hokage advisors, his presence suddenly turned cold and oppressive, making them very uncomfortable.
Orochimaru stared at Uchiha Jinsuke and said slowly, word by word, "Don't doubt my judgment!"
Jinsuke's face went pale, but deep down he felt a bit relieved. He spoke again, "If you use my body for the surgery, would that speed up your research?"
Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura's faces changed, and even Fugaku looked shocked. He didn't expect Jinsuke to go this far for Shisui.
But before the advisors could object, Orochimaru spoke first.
He glanced at Jinsuke lying on the bed, and a mocking smile curled on his lips. "You? You're not even qualified!"
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