Uchiha Clan Grounds.
Having just returned home, Uchiha Shion found Shisui sitting quietly in his courtyard.
"No one was around, so I just let myself in to wait for you," Shisui said calmly.
Shion pushed the door open and gestured for him to come inside. With a casual tone, he asked,
"The Clan Head is always so busy—how come you had the time to wait for me at my place today?"
The two sat across from each other. Shion didn't bother preparing tea, only poured him a glass of cold water.
Shisui couldn't hold back any longer. He leaned forward and asked directly:
"Orochimaru defected… you used Susanoo, didn't you?"
Shion nodded, replying with a faint expression,
"As expected of one of the Sannin—even Susanoo's arrows might not be enough to kill him. But… you should be able to guess why I did it."
Bang!
Shisui slammed the table with his palm. The cup tipped, and water spilled across the surface.
"I warned you—the Mangekyō's power must not be misused! My own eye can already barely see anything, do you understand?"
Shion calmly set the overturned cup upright again. After refilling it, he spoke evenly:
"ANBU's Sixth Division… you should know who's in it, right?"
"…Haa…"
Shisui exhaled deeply, then nodded.
"Directly under the Fourth Hokage. At first, Kakashi was the captain. But once he was needed to lead a jōnin squad, he left ANBU. Afterward, it was led by Tenzo."
Shion continued,
"Izumo, Kotetsu—those two connect to parts of the clans in Konoha. Using Susanoo once… wasn't exactly a loss."
Shisui lifted the cup and drained it in one go.
"Regardless, I hope you'll use your Mangekyō's power with more caution. For a shinobi, the price of blindness is far too great."
Shion replied steadily,
"As you've said, political struggles aren't about wiping each other out with brute force. But politics without power is nothing but a joke—it can be crushed at any moment.
The Uchiha's two pairs of Mangekyō… no matter what, at least one must remain to serve as deterrence."
Shion exhaled and answered,
"Don't worry. I know my limits. If I want to live peacefully in the village later, I won't let myself go blind."
Shisui looked at him seriously, then stood.
"There's plenty to handle in the Police Force—I'll get going. You're the brother I trust and rely on most. Don't make me worry."
With that, Shisui turned, slid the door open, and left.
For a long while afterward, Shion gazed toward the door Shisui had just closed behind him.
In the yard, a tiny insect shook its body, its wings as thin as a cicada's vibrating before it quickly flew toward a tree trunk.
Declining eyesight?
A Mangekyō possessed by someone with the Sage's body—how could it possibly go blind?
Uchiha Shion stood, returned to his bedroom, and retrieved a scroll, which he carefully tucked away in a hidden compartment under his bed.
The remains shed from Orochimaru's skin… should still be useful.
The next morning, sunlight spilled into the house.
"Big brother, I'm heading out!"
At the doorway, Izumi's voice rang out. Shion answered back as she hurried toward the Ninja Academy.
Shion, already dressed, turned to his mother.
"I'll be going out as well."
Uchiha Hazuki nodded.
"Shion, if you're going to the Memorial Stone, you'll need to stop at the flower shop and buy some chrysanthemums."
Shion paused, then turned to look at her.
"How did you know that?"
"…Haa…"
Hazuki sighed softly.
"Though not many know about ANBU operatives being memorialized there, I went early this morning. You'd just come back from a mission yesterday… so… was it one of your teammates?"
Shion gave a slight nod.
"He died during a mission. I can't give you the details—you understand."
He stepped toward the door, but behind him his mother called,
"Shion, take care of yourself. No matter what happens, I only hope you and Izumi grow up healthy."
"Mm!"
Nodding firmly, Shion left the house.
Since his early graduation, and especially because of the Fourth Hokage's support, he had shot straight into ANBU.
But his mother was clearly still uneasy. Once you became a shinobi, danger followed you forever.
"Haa…"
Letting out a slow breath, Shion quickened his pace. Before long, he arrived at a street near Konoha Hospital where flower shops lined the road. It was indeed the perfect place for such a business.
Hm?
The Yamanaka Flower Shop?
If he remembered correctly, this was owned by the Yamanaka family. At this time, Yamanaka Ino should be around three years old.
Ding-dong!
"Welcome!"
The bell chimed as Shion entered. A woman wearing an apron was trimming branches, but upon seeing him, she set her scissors aside and walked over.
"Looking to buy flowers, little one? Are they for a girl you like?"
Shion shook his head.
"Then… maybe for a teacher at the Academy?"
He shook his head again, eyes wandering curiously around the shop, hoping to catch sight of little Ino. So far, among the Twelve Young Genin, he'd only run into three.
"Then… don't tell me you're buying flowers for a boy classmate?"
Yamanaka Rino looked at him in shock. Are Academy kids really this wild nowadays?
Just then, a blond man peeked out from behind the counter.
"Rino, he probably needs chrysanthemums. Don't jump to conclusions…"
Chrysanthemums?
Rino froze. Those were for honoring the dead.
Did this child… lose a family member?
Her maternal instincts welled up, and she dabbed at the corner of her eyes.
"You need chrysanthemums, right? I just trimmed some fresh ones this morning. I'll go get them."
Without waiting for Shion's reply, she hurried into the flower room.
Yamanaka Inoichi emerged from the counter, scratching his head as he addressed Shion.
"Your age does make it easy for people to misunderstand. Back in the day, Kakashi used to come every week to buy chrysanthemums, and Rino always reacted the same way."
Shion looked up at him.
"Inoichi-senpai, you don't have work today?"
Inoichi chuckled.
"It's my day off. I wanted to spend time with my daughter."
Just as he spoke, a little girl with short golden hair ran excitedly from the back room.
"Papa! You're staying home to play with me today?"
Shion glanced at her—indeed, this was Yamanaka Ino, one of the future Twelve of Konoha.
The child wriggled in her father's arms for a while before turning to face the unfamiliar visitor.
"Ino, greet your brother."
"Brother!"
Shion smiled warmly.
"Hello there, little one."
At that moment, Rino returned from the flower room carrying a fresh bundle of chrysanthemums.
Handing them to Shion, her eyes were misty as she said softly,
"Poor child… ah, right—do you have money?"
Shion pulled out his wallet, paid for the flowers, and with a playful smirk, reached out to ruffle Ino's hair.
"Thank you, Auntie. Goodbye, little one!"