> "Shisui's favorability toward you has reached the level of recognition. You have obtained the 'Uchiha-Style Fire Release Compilation.' As a top-tier Jonin of the Uchiha clan, Shisui is extremely skilled in Fire Release."
The system notification echoed in Naruto's mind, and he stood frozen in place, his expression turning a little strange.
He had just ambushed Shisui and even stolen his Mangekyō Sharingan, yet Shisui's favorability toward him hadn't dropped—in fact, it had increased to the point of recognition. Was this the so-called "love" unique to the Uchiha clan?
Naruto was at a loss for words. Still, he accepted the system's reward and gained a vast trove of knowledge related to Fire Release techniques.
It would take at least a week to fully digest and integrate these memories into his own fighting style and use them fluently.
This made Naruto sigh in realization—his body was becoming increasingly "Uchiha."
Not only had he mastered the Uchiha-style taijutsu and signature Fire Release jutsu, but he also now possessed Mangekyō-level Sharingan. At this point, he was practically a living, breathing Uchiha shinobi.
Shisui noticed the look in Naruto's eyes and mistook it for murderous intent, feeling a little tense for no reason.
As a competent ninja, he had long accepted the possibility of death. But to die now, just when he'd finally seen a glimmer of hope for saving his clan, felt too cruel.
After a brief pause, Shisui cautiously said,
> "Maybe we should call this off? Honestly, life as a prisoner isn't all that bad…"
Inside the sealed space, the Nine-Tails, lounging with his chin resting on one paw, commented with amusement:
> "Naruto, you really know how to toy with people's hearts. This kid is already half-confused. Still, I have to admit, your plan to manipulate Shisui into leading a Uchiha rebellion is a good one. With the Uchiha drawing attention, no one's going to notice us slipping out of the village."
> "Of course," Naruto replied casually. "But more importantly, this is going to be fun to watch."
Then he turned to Shisui and said,
> "No, I'll help you get the Sharingan. This plan is far too interesting to pass up."
Hearing that, Shisui breathed a sigh of relief, a trace of hope flickering in his eyes.
If they really could escape Konoha with their clan, maybe—just maybe—they could restore the Uchiha's former glory.
---
Night fell across the land.
Naruto and Shisui appeared outside the Konoha city limits.
Naturally, the "Shisui" here wasn't the real one, but a shadow clone carrying about 50% of the original's power.
Standing before the towering wooden walls of the village, both of them paused. A wall of this height—over ten meters—wasn't much of an obstacle for ninja.
But near the wall lay an advanced sensory barrier—one of Konoha's highest-level seals. It could instantly detect intruders or deserters, and it covered the entire village.
Even someone like Pain couldn't bypass this barrier undetected. Naruto, likewise, had no way through and turned to Shisui instead. As a member of the Third Hokage's personal ANBU squad, he should know a method of passing through undetected.
Noticing Naruto's gaze, Shisui sighed and revealed the technique to cross the barrier safely.
Soon, the two of them had bypassed the barrier and slipped past the Chūnin sentries, making their way into the village and heading straight for the Uchiha district.
Standing just outside the clan compound and gazing at the familiar streets, Shisui was filled with complex emotions.
He hadn't returned here in months—and now, he was coming back as a dead man to steal from his own clan.
That's right—Shisui's plan to obtain a new Sharingan was theft.
Although there weren't many Sharingan users in the village, that didn't mean the clan lacked stored Sharingan. Many elder members of the Uchiha who had awakened their Sharingan would donate them to the clan before death.
This tradition dated back to the founding of the village. Over the decades, the clan had accumulated a sizable collection of Sharingan.
As the only person in recent years to awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan, Shisui naturally knew the exact location of the storage vault—and its defenses.
Whether Naruto already knew the vault's location, Shisui wasn't sure. But he was seriously starting to suspect that Naruto was actually some senior Uchiha in disguise.
After all, who else would stop him from taking his own life, be so familiar with Uchiha-style taijutsu, and have such deep knowledge of the clan's history?
Naruto, too, was observing the Uchiha compound. This was his second time here.
Having already memorized the map of the area, he moved confidently and began leading Shisui forward. Naturally, Shisui took note of this.
After dodging several patrol squads, the two of them reached the vicinity of the Naka Shrine.
Although located in a remote corner of the village, Naka Shrine was one of the Uchiha's most important gathering places. It was protected by numerous barriers that blocked surveillance, and the Sharingan were stored in a vault beneath it.
Before long, the two spotted an Uchiha Jonin along their route.
Shisui recognized him instantly: Uchiha Hachidai, a veteran elder of the clan who possessed a fully awakened three-tomoe Sharingan. Shisui frowned slightly.
> "That's Elder Hachidai. He has a three-tomoe Sharingan and is very powerful."
Three tomoe… Naruto showed a flicker of interest. He hadn't fought a fully-powered Uchiha Jonin before.
Still, he had no intention of starting a fight and instead asked,
> "Do you want to handle him, or should I? Or… we could just use his eyes—they're probably good enough."
Shisui's expression shifted slightly, then he replied,
> "No need to fight. Elder Hachidai loves to drink. He should leave soon."
After waiting a bit, Uchiha Hachidai indeed left the shrine, and the two of them slipped into Naka Shrine without further issue. Shisui activated a hidden mechanism, and a secret underground passage slowly opened.
Peering into the pitch-black tunnel, Naruto had the Shisui clone enter first to scout ahead before following after him.
At the end of the passage was an altar room, filled with jars and containers.
Shisui opened one, only to find it empty. He frowned in confusion.
> "That's strange. Where did the Sharingan stored here go?"
Naruto walked over.
> "What's going on?"
Shisui didn't respond immediately. Instead, he checked all the containers one by one, his brows furrowing tighter with each one.
> "There were supposed to be dozens of Sharingan here. About a third were three-tomoe. But after counting them, I found that most of the three-tomoe are missing—and even the basic ones have been stolen."
Naruto's expression also darkened slightly.
> "Could another Uchiha Jonin have taken them for use?"
Shisui shook his head.
> "Impossible. Every three-tomoe Sharingan is carefully documented by the clan…"
Then he suddenly paused, a grim expression overtaking his face.
> "I should've realized sooner where his Sharingan came from… There's a traitor in the clan."
If we rule out legitimate use by other Jonin, then there's only one explanation:
A mole within the Uchiha had stolen the Sharingan and handed them over to Danzo.
Otherwise, how would Danzo possess a three-tomoe Sharingan and know Izanagi, one of the clan's forbidden techniques?
That was how Shisui had been ambushed and defeated.
Naruto also considered who the culprit could be—but he didn't suspect Danzo.
In his mind, the likely culprits were Madara or Obito.
Both of them had the ability to infiltrate the Uchiha compound and steal the Sharingan. Madara likely wouldn't bother with such an act, but Obito? That was much more plausible.
Reeling in his wandering thoughts, Naruto said calmly to Shisui:
> "Don't think too much. You're technically a traitor now too. Just take all the Sharingan and let's go."
> "Take all of them?" Shisui hesitated.
> "Of course," Naruto said coldly. "You already know there's a mole—why leave anything behind for them? Besides, you're officially dead. Who's going to suspect a dead man?"
Just then, the sound of approaching footsteps echoed through the corridor—heading straight toward Naruto and Shisui.
(End of Chapter)
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