"Didn't expect Danzō to have so many traits."
"Just… kind of dark."
In the forest, Ren couldn't help replaying what he'd seen on Danzō a moment ago.
[Defeated Shimura Danzō. Attempting to copy trait.]
[Current copyable traits: Sharingan Collector (Black), Shadow Hokage (Black), 5.5th Hokage (Black), Bridge-Sealer (Black), Wood Release Cells · Fragment (Blue), Wind Release Mastery (Blue), Tongue Curse Root Severance (Green)…]
So many black traits that Ren couldn't help giving a thumbs-up.
"As expected of the Shadow Hokage. That kind of pitch-black might only be matched by someone like Obito… or Madara."
Wasn't that basically leaving everyone else in the dust?
He shook his head and kept reading.
[Copy successful. Congratulations, host, you have obtained Rare Trait — Wood Release Cells · Fragment (Blue): Increases physical energy and balances mental energy, but due to immature copying technique, using it will consume lifespan.]
So that was why it was incomplete.
The rank wasn't high, but the side effects were no joke at all.
Ren narrowed his eyes. He didn't care—he kept it anyway.
For now, this thing could maintain a balance between physical and mental energy.
In other words, it could keep him from ending up like Itachi—coughing everywhere he went.
People who knew would say it was the Sharingan wearing him down.
People who didn't would think he was just weak and sickly.
But with Wood Release, his body and mind could hold steady—at least for a while.
As for the lifespan drain…
Just level it up.
It was only blue right now. If he could raise it to purple—or gold—
Then it would become truly worry-free.
Thinking that, Ren glanced back the way he'd come and muttered,
"Looks like from now on, when I've got time… I need to go chat with Danzō more."
From now on, every dark, moonless night would be Danzō's personal brick concerto.
…
"Faster… faster!"
"Lord Danzō… why… why would you do this…"
"Ren… Ren was right…"
"Root, huh… they really won't let go."
Muttering to himself, Shisui clutched the ruined socket, and with only one eye—he forced Susanoo open.
A Susanoo blazing with green light erupted around him, towering seven or eight zhang high!
In the forest, it was impossible to miss.
And terrifyingly powerful.
Most of Root had never even heard of such a thing.
Faced with a godlike force, they could only scramble and struggle.
But Shisui didn't linger to slaughter them.
He swept them aside and kept running.
He didn't even know where he wanted to go.
Back to the clan?
In his current condition, there was no way he could hide what had happened.
Given the atmosphere inside the clan, the elders might push for a coup tonight.
A few of them could even overwhelm the clan head.
…No.
Better to go to the old place.
With that thought, he dismissed Susanoo and turned toward the cliff.
That was where he always went when he felt lost and helpless.
A place to soothe his heart.
But as he ran, the pain in his eye intensified.
His thoughts grew heavier and heavier.
Faster.
Just a little faster.
Thud.
At a certain moment, his strength ran out.
He toppled forward.
But just before he hit the ground, a pair of long, slender hands shot out and caught him.
"It's…"
Shisui froze, then lifted his head.
A tear-troughed boy about his height was looking down at him.
"Itachi…? Why are you here…"
Itachi shook his head without speaking.
He simply helped his friend sit beneath a tree.
Why was he here?
Lately, Ren's daily "updates" had always involved Shisui and Danzō whenever they talked.
So tonight, the moment Itachi saw Shisui leave, he followed on instinct.
Only…
He'd been one step too slow.
He took a deep breath, forcing down the agitation in his chest, and spoke in a low voice.
"Shisui, you—"
Before he could finish, two weak fingers pressed against his lips.
Shisui shook his head.
"Shh. Itachi, listen to me."
"This was Danzō's doing. He took my other eye too."
"But… don't tell the clan."
"Let them believe I died on the battlefield."
As he spoke, those two fingers flipped inward—
And plucked an eyeball free.
"Don't be sad. Take it."
"And remember to look after the village and the clan… and those two little ones, Ren and Sasuke."
"Maybe only if I die… will this invisible conflict finally end."
With death already written into his heart, he turned—
And leaped off the cliff he knew so well.
"Shisui…"
Itachi stared at the blood-soaked eye in his hand.
Then at his friend—wrapped in deathly resolve.
Inside his chest, an emotion he couldn't name began to spread.
Why did it have to be like this?!
Why did someone so pure, so naïve, have to become a sacrifice to political struggle?!
Why… why did it have to be Brother Shisui?!
His mind screamed. His blood howled.
Even his chakra began to churn violently.
The next instant, the three-tomoe Sharingan in his eyes spun madly.
Like an old scooter fueled with premium ninety-eight—so fast it was almost dizzying.
The tomoe stretched, lengthened, fused—
Forming a three-pointed shuriken-like pattern.
Mangekyō—awakened!
Because the brother-figure and friend he cherished had died, Itachi forced open the Mangekyō in fury and grief!
Tap. Tap. Tap.
At the same time, behind him, a Root operative crept closer.
Itachi didn't even look.
Black flames burst forth from his gaze.
Squelch!
Pitch-black fire ignited out of nothing, swallowing the ninja at terrifying speed.
He didn't even have time to scream before he was reduced to ash.
Amaterasu!
"So… this is my new dōjutsu… Amaterasu?"
Itachi watched the Root ninja burn alive. Two lines of blood-tears slid down his cheeks.
"You'll be the first person to die to Amaterasu."
"And the last."
The moment the words fell—
A flippant voice sounded beside him.
Young. Bright. Mocking.
That voice was—
Ren?!
Itachi snapped his head up. The scarlet in his pupils steadied in an instant.
Sure enough, Uchiha Ren stood there.
And on his back—
A painfully familiar figure.
"Hm? And Shisui too?"
Itachi's eyes widened, surprise—and a tightly restrained surge of joy—flickering beneath his gaze.
He hadn't expected Ren to actually save Shisui from the jump.
Then Itachi frowned, choosing his words carefully.
"But… Brother Shisui didn't want us to save him…"
Ren: ...
His temper flared instantly.
"Fool!"
He reached out and jabbed a finger hard against Itachi's forehead, disgust plain in his voice.
"He says don't save him and you just don't save him?! If he told you to assassinate the Hokage, would you do that too?!"
Damn it.
This was exactly why the Uchiha were a bunch of lunatics.
Even Itachi—the one with the best brain out of the lot—was still an idiot half the time.
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