Shisui tilted his head slightly, curiosity flashing in his eyes.
"By the way, Kakashi-senpai… earlier, you said there were two matters. What's the second one?"
Kakashi, who had been momentarily lost in thought, returned to the present. His single visible eye curved lightly, though his tone remained calm.
"Oh, right. The second thing… Yuhi Kurenai wants to join Anbu. To evaluate her, I've set a test. If she can break free from your illusion by herself, she'll pass."
"Eh?"
Shisui blinked in surprise.
As he processed Kakashi's words, his gaze drifted past his senior toward the figure waiting quietly behind him. There, standing with a composed posture yet carrying an air of nervous determination, was a beautiful kunoichi with long black hair and striking ruby-colored eyes.
Kurenai Yuhi.
Shisui immediately recognized her. Though they had never spoken before, he remembered her vividly from the Chūnin Exams years ago. Back then, her mastery of genjutsu had been astonishing—her use of the Cherry Blossom Illusion had left a deep impression, even among competitors of greater physical strength.
Still…
Shisui frowned slightly.
Kakashi-senpai really expects me to test her with my illusions? Isn't that… a little unfair?
To Shisui, this felt like asking a swimmer to challenge the ocean itself. His genjutsu—backed by the power of the Sharingan—was infamous even within the Uchiha clan. Most jōnin would struggle to resist it, let alone break free. Was this really a test, or simply a polite way of rejection?
But then again, he mused, if they didn't want her to join Anbu at all, they could've simply refused outright. Why go through this?
The more he thought about it, the less certain he became. Did Kakashi truly want Kurenai to pass, or was this his way of discouraging her? Should Shisui hold back, give her a chance? Or should he go all out, as if it were a real mission?
Caught between conflicting thoughts, Shisui hesitated.
At that moment, a small voice broke the silence.
"Sister Kurenai, you should give up."
Itachi, who had been listening quietly at the side, spoke up with blunt honesty. His young face remained serious, his dark eyes calm as a still pond. "You don't stand a chance against Shisui-nii's illusions."
His words were not cruel in intent—merely factual. But to Kurenai, it was a challenge.
She arched an eyebrow, her ruby eyes narrowing. Then she crossed her arms, lips curving into a confident smirk.
"Oh? Little brother, don't underestimate me. Your sister's illusion arts are quite powerful."
Though her voice was playful, there was determination behind it.
Kurenai had been a little downcast earlier, but Itachi's casual dismissal lit a spark in her chest. She was Yuhi Kurenai, daughter of the Yuhi clan, known for their talent in genjutsu. Being looked down upon by a boy only four or five years old? That was unacceptable.
He's cute, she admitted inwardly. But after I win, I'm definitely going to pinch those chubby little cheeks and make him say it out loud—"Sister is the best!"
Itachi tilted his head slightly, unconvinced. To him, her confidence sounded more like naïve bravado.
Meanwhile, Shisui gave up trying to guess Kakashi's intentions. His senior had offered no hints, no signals whether to go easy or not. With no choice left, Shisui sighed inwardly.
"Alright then," he said gently. "Yuhi-senpai, please take a seat on the sofa. That way, if you faint or lose balance, you won't hurt yourself."
It was a kind suggestion, spoken with genuine consideration.
But Kurenai misinterpreted it immediately. Her lips tightened, her pride pricked.
"Hmph! There's no need. I won't fall. Just start already."
Shisui hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "Very well. Forgive the offense, then."
His pupils shifted—black turning into scarlet, the familiar tomoe of the Sharingan spinning into existence. Three magatama swirled and locked into place, glowing with a power that seemed to pierce through reality itself.
A wave of pupil force surged outward.
In an instant, Kurenai's vision was consumed.
Her consciousness was pulled into a vast, crimson space, where an enormous pair of three-tomoe Sharingan loomed before her. The oppressive power radiating from those eyes pressed down on her mind like a storm, suffocating and overwhelming.
So strong!
Kurenai's heart clenched, but she forced herself to remain calm. Quickly, she bit her lip and weaved her chakra with practiced precision.
"Genjutsu Release!"
Her eyes fluttered as she attempted to break free.
Nothing happened.
The massive eyes continued to stare at her, their presence unmoving, unyielding.
Impossible! My release didn't work?
Panic flickered in her chest. But she clenched her fists, refusing to accept defeat.
"No! I'm Yuhi Kurenai! My clan is known for genjutsu mastery. I won't lose here!"
Her voice trembled in the empty space, but her determination remained.
"Genjutsu Release!"
"Genjutsu Release!"
Again and again she tried. Chakra surged, her willpower straining to shatter the illusion. But no matter how hard she fought, the colossal Sharingan eyes remained fixed, their tomoe spinning endlessly, drowning her in their crimson light.
The pressure was crushing. Each attempt weakened her spirit further, leaving her body trembling. For the first time, Kurenai felt powerless before another's genjutsu.
Just as despair began to seep into her heart, a faint crack echoed in the void.
Her eyes widened.
One of the massive tomoe split slightly, as though a hairline fracture had appeared.
Now! This is my chance!
Gathering the last of her strength, Kurenai focused her willpower into a single strike. The bleak illusionary world around her blurred, and before her eyes, a field of red blossoms bloomed, filling her with courage.
With a sharp cry, she hurled her consciousness forward and struck at the crack with all her might.
Shatter!
The great eyes splintered, fragments bursting apart like glass scattering into the night sky. The suffocating pressure lifted instantly.
Light returned.
Kurenai gasped, her body jolting upright on the sofa. Her chest heaved, sweat dripping from her brow.
"I… I did it!"
She looked around triumphantly—only to realize the room was strangely quiet. The others were gone.
"Huh? Where is everyone? Why am I lying here on the couch?"
She blinked in confusion.
From the kitchen, a soft voice answered.
"You're awake, Sister Kurenai?"
Itachi emerged, wiping his hands, calm as ever.
"Finally?" Kurenai repeated, her brows furrowing. "Little brother… wait, were you implying I was unconscious for a long time?"
Itachi's lips pressed into a thin line. "Don't call me little brother. My name is Uchiha Itachi."
His tone was polite yet firm, a child's dignity refusing to be underestimated.
Kurenai raised her hands in surrender, a playful smile tugging her lips. "Alright, alright, Itachi-chan. Then tell me—how long was I out?"
Itachi glanced at the clock. "About twenty minutes. Kakashi-nii said if you could break the illusion within half an hour, you'd pass."
Kurenai froze. "Twenty minutes?! But… inside the illusion, it felt like only a minute passed."
The realization shook her. In an actual battle, she would've been killed many times over before she ever woke.
She clenched her fists. So this is the strength of Uchiha Shisui. His genjutsu is terrifying!
Her pride as a genjutsu specialist stung, but strangely, instead of despair, her heart ignited with renewed determination.
"Well… at least I passed," she muttered. "But I still feel like they underestimated me."
Itachi, ever honest, replied simply, "Yes. Both Kakashi-nii and I thought it was impossible for you to wake within the hour."
Pow!
Kurenai felt her heart take a critical hit. Ten thousand points of damage in one sentence!
Before she could retort, Kakashi stepped out of the kitchen carrying dishes, Shisui trailing behind with a tray. His visible eye widened slightly in surprise when he saw Kurenai conscious.
"Oh? You're awake already?"
Even he hadn't expected it. With Shisui's power, breaking free in less than half an hour was impressive. His gaze shifted subtly toward Shisui, questioning.
Shisui, feeling guilty, coughed lightly. "Ahem. Senior Kakashi, um… the food is ready. Should we call Sister Rin over to eat?"
Kakashi studied him for a moment. He understood immediately but chose not to expose him. Instead, he set the dish down and vanished in a blur.
Moments later, he reappeared with Rin gently in his arms.
"Hong, did you pass?" Rin asked eagerly as she hurried to her best friend's side.
"Of course!" Kurenai puffed out her chest, slapping it proudly. "I am Yuhi Kurenai. No illusion could keep me trapped forever!"
She had no idea Shisui had gone easy on her.
"I knew it! Hong's illusions are the best!" Rin clapped her hands happily. Relief shone in her eyes. She had been worried her friend's broken heart would leave her hesitant, but now Kurenai's spirit seemed rekindled.
Kurenai, however, added with a wry smile, "Still, Shisui's illusions are terrifying. I almost didn't make it out."
Kakashi chuckled lightly, setting the final dish on the table. "Since you passed the test, from this day forward you'll be a member of Anbu. Let me introduce you properly—Uchiha Shisui, captain of Anbu Team 1. He'll be your superior from now on."
"Eh?!"
Both Shisui and Kurenai exclaimed in unison, equally stunned.
But Kakashi simply waved them toward the table, his tone dismissive yet amused. "Enough. Come eat. We'll discuss work after dinner."
As they sat down, Kakashi's thoughts turned serious.
Shisui… I asked you to show her the gap, to make her retreat if she wasn't ready. And you still went easy on her. Very well. Since you let her through, she's your responsibility now.
A small smile curved beneath his mask.