The warm morning sun, carrying the dampness of dew, quietly spilled over the Hidden Leaf Village.
Uchiha Itachi, however, could not enjoy the morning tranquility like a typical youth. His figure was a blur as he sped across the rooftops of the clan compound, his footsteps heavy—a mirror to the weight in his heart.
That burden did not stem solely from the exhaustion of a sleepless night, but from the anxiety brought by the secret visit of Uchiha Hikari and Shura, coupled with his father's plea—a request laced with desperation and helplessness.
To conceal the presence of two mysterious powerhouses whose goals regarding Konoha remained unknown was undoubtedly irresponsible to the village. More importantly, it was a betrayal of his core mission as a shinobi and an ANBU: to maintain the peace of the village.
Yet, if he disclosed the clan's secrets to the higher-ups, would it trigger a chain reaction? Would it push his already precarious clan, teetering on the edge of a precipice, one step closer to the abyss?
Eight-year-old Itachi was lost. He needed a confidant—someone who could understand him and provide the right guidance. He needed Uchiha Shisui.
Shisui's residence was, as always, clean and modest. Itachi tapped on the door, sounding a code that only a shinobi would notice. Soon, the door opened silently, revealing Shisui's face—initially surprised, then quickly regaining its calm.
He was dressed in simple loungewear, his left eye covered by a black patch, clearly disturbed from his morning rest by Itachi's sudden arrival.
"Itachi? It's so early. Did something happen?" Shisui's voice held a hint of drowsiness, but his right eye was already sharp and clear.
Itachi said nothing, merely nodding as Shisui ushered him inside. Once they were secure from any eavesdropping, Itachi recounted everything that had occurred since he returned home that morning.
He detailed the sudden visit of Hikari and Shura, his father Fugaku's apparent clash of ocular power with them—which seemingly ended poorly—and finally, Fugaku's request to keep the encounter a secret. Though Itachi was unaware of the specifics of their conversation, his tone was calm, yet his deep eyes betrayed the agonizing struggle within.
Shisui listened in silence. His expression shifted from surprise to gravity, until finally, his brow furrowed with unprecedented vigilance. When Itachi mentioned the name "Uchiha Hikari," Shisui's heart skipped a beat.
He was almost certain this was the Uchiha girl who had called herself "Nanashi" back in the Land of Stars. At the mention of her, his empty left socket throbbed with a ghost of pain. He knew better than anyone that this woman's strength was far from ordinary; he had been defeated in mere moments, paying the price of a Mangekyo Sharingan.
And then there was Shura! A man who repeatedly breached Konoha, attacked the Hyuga twice, and just days ago, had gouged out the eyes of four Main House elders.
"She's actually allied with Shura..."
"And they went directly to Patriarch Fugaku..." Shisui murmured, his voice laced with concern. He walked to the window, staring out at the distant village with a thousand thoughts racing through his mind.
"Itachi, your decision to come here was correct." Shisui turned back, his gaze full of affirmation. "I know this is painful—being caught between your bloodline and your duty. But you must realize that the appearance of Hikari and Shura has far exceeded what the Uchiha clan can handle alone."
Though Shisui had not fought Shura personally, the fact that the man could enter and leave Konoha or Kumogakure at will suggested he was a monster on par with Uchiha Madara. In this era, there was no 'God of Shinobi' to suppress such a threat.
"Their mere existence is a massive challenge to the current order of Konoha—and the entire shinobi world." Shisui's tone grew even more solemn. "Patriarch Fugaku wants you to hide this to protect the family; he fears that escalating the suspicion will lead the Uchiha into a worse situation."
"But precisely because the enemy is too strong, we cannot hide it. If the village higher-ups are left in the dark and things spiral out of control, it will be a disaster for the entire Leaf. And when that happens, the Uchiha will be the first to fall."
Shisui stepped closer, a flicker of doubt in his eye. "For some reason, I don't feel like they were the masterminds behind the Nine-Tails Incident. I suspect there are other mysterious shinobi watching from the shadows."
He then patted Itachi's shoulder. "We need the village's resources to conduct a deeper investigation. Reporting this to the Hokage isn't just about loyalty to the village; it's about looking out for the future of our clan."
Looking at Shisui, the crushing weight on Itachi's heart finally lightened. The understanding and support of his best friend gave his tormented soul a moment of peace. He wasn't an outcast within his own family; Shisui shared his vision.
"I understand," Itachi nodded, his resolve hardening.
After parting with Shisui, Itachi's figure blurred into a shadow as he sped directly toward the Hokage Building.
When he stood once more before the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, the air in the office was thick with the scent of tobacco and ink. Itachi integrated Shisui's insights into his report, emphasizing the urgency of the situation.
Hiruzen listened silently, his pipe glowing intermittently in the dim light.
Whoosh—
Once Itachi finished, the old man exhaled a cloud of smoke and spoke slowly, his voice carrying the rasp of age. "Itachi, you have done well. Your judgment is correct, and it reflects both your loyalty to the village and your care for your family."
Hiruzen rose slowly and walked to the window, overlooking the village as it was bathed in the morning light.
"It is now essentially confirmed," Hiruzen said, his voice grave, "that Shura and this 'Uchiha Hikari' are the masterminds behind the rebellion in the Star Village and the upheaval in the Land of Bears."
"As for Shura, his actions are cryptic and his power unfathomable. Even Kumogakure suffered at his hands. He gathers the strong, topples nations, and builds his own state... what is his ultimate goal?" The Hokage's eyes sharpened. He recalled the battle from a few days ago; Shura hadn't even struck personally, yet his unknown ocular jutsu and nine mysterious summons had neutralized the elite Jonin force and humiliated the Hyuga.
"And Uchiha Hikari..." Hiruzen mused. He had begun to wonder if she was a descendant of Madara left in the outside world.
The appearance of these two provided Hiruzen with a new perspective. Perhaps the Nine-Tails Incident truly had nothing to do with the Uchiha within the village.
He turned back to Itachi, his eyes filled with trust and expectation. "Itachi, you must secretly participate in the follow-up of this matter. Keep a constant watch to see if Shura and Hikari establish deeper ties with the clan."
"At the same time, the surveillance on the Uchiha must be tightened. But remember, everything must stay in the shadows. We cannot cause unnecessary panic or provoke further conflict."
"Understood."
Itachi knelt on one knee, the lines of sorrow on his young face etching a little deeper.