196-200

*Chapter 196: Piloting a Gundam? Who Can’t Do That?*

A surge of green chakra erupted from Shisui's body, quickly forming a massive armored giant. Wielding a spiraling lance, the giant thrust it fiercely at the city wall.

Having gained some experience from the first attempt, Shisui now controlled Susanoo with significantly greater ease.

*“Boom!”*

The terrifying power shattered a section of the city wall, creating a large breach. As the gap appeared, Shisui used the Body Flicker Technique again, attempting to escape the encirclement.

But just as he passed through the breach, three Root members charged out to intercept him!

Caught off guard, Shisui had no choice but to draw his ninja blade and engage in close combat.

Sparks flew as kunai clashed against his blade in an intense battle.

Despite being physically and mentally exhausted after numerous exchanges, Shisui managed to hold his ground and even came close to defeating one of his opponents.

Meanwhile, the two Wood Release users simply stood on the sidelines, observing without any intention of joining the fight.

Frustrated by their inaction, one Root member shouted angrily at them, “Kai! E! What are you two waiting for? Hurry up and help! This is a direct order from Lord Danzo!”

At the urging, Kai turned to Kaneki, as if seeking his approval.

“What are you looking at me for? Since it’s Lord Danzo’s order, of course, we must carry it out properly!” Kaneki replied matter-of-factly.

Shisui’s heart sank again. Based on the power this Wood Release user displayed earlier, combined with the coordination of these Root members, the odds of survival seemed slim.

The three Root members, reassured by Kaneki’s statement, sighed in relief. As comrades, they were well aware of Kaneki’s overwhelming strength. If he joined the fight, their victory would be assured.

Without forming any hand seals, Kaneki raised his arm straight ahead.

*“Wood Release: Explosive Spear Tree!”*

Kaneki’s muscular arm instantly transformed into wood and rapidly grew into a massive, fearsome tree. Resembling a colossal spear, it surged forward with unstoppable momentum, ripping apart the ground in its path.

Already battered and bruised, Shisui knew he couldn’t face such a devastating attack head-on. He quickly dodged to the side.

As he evaded, the terrifying strike barreled toward the three Root members behind him.

Shock filled their eyes beneath their masks.

*“Damn it, he’s aiming at us!”*

Caught off guard, they had no time to react before the enormous tree and its countless branches ensnared them, leaving them immobilized.

“You’re courting death by betraying Lord Danzo, E!” they cursed, assuming E was a traitor to Root.

“Oh? It was just an accident,” Kaneki said, his figure appearing from the trees behind them. “I never said I was betraying the great Lord Danzo.”

With a mocking smile, Kaneki added, “Don’t confuse your worthless lives with my loyalty to Lord Danzo. You insects aren’t even worthy to be his dogs.”

Sensing the murderous intent radiating from Kaneki, panic overtook the trapped Root members.

“E! If you kill us, Lord Danzo will never forgive you!”

Kaneki’s lips curled into a sneer. “You really think you’re that important, don’t you?”

With that, more branches surged forward like a tidal wave, engulfing the Root members in a sea of wood.

Shisui stood stunned, watching the scene unfold. Wasn’t this guy also part of Root? Why was he attacking his own allies?

Regardless of the reason, internal conflict was a welcome development for Shisui—it lightened his burden, at least temporarily.

For Kaneki, this was an excellent opportunity to weaken Root’s forces. Otherwise, dealing with the pressure of an Uchiha coup later would be too overwhelming.

Kaneki turned to Shisui and said something utterly unexpected:

“Regain your strength.”

*Huh?*

Shisui froze for a moment, as did Kai, who stood nearby.

“E, Lord Danzo’s order is—”

Before he could finish, Kaneki interrupted him decisively.

“I want to see the true power of the Uchiha clan.”

A fierce battlelust burned in Kaneki’s eyes. He was eager to experience the strength of the Mangekyō Sharingan firsthand.

Though Shisui couldn’t understand Kaneki’s motives, the opportunity to recover his strength was too good to pass up. Without hesitation, he pulled several soldier pills from his pouch and stuffed them into his mouth.

Kaneki immediately recognized the pills as products of the Higanbana Trading Company.

As Shisui consumed them, powerful Yang Release chakra surged from the pills, healing his internal injuries and restoring his severely depleted chakra reserves.

After about five minutes, Kaneki finally spoke.

“I’m ready to begin.”

If the fight dragged on any longer, Danzo would likely arrive on the scene himself.

Shisui opened his eyes. Though five minutes wasn’t much time, the soldier pills were remarkably effective, giving him enough energy to put up a decent fight.

At least, he now had a chance to go all out.

The moment of confrontation arrived. Kaneki clapped his hands together, unleashing a massive attack.

*“Wood Release: Deep Forest Emergence!”*

Vast amounts of Wood Release chakra spread into the ground. Moments later, countless towering trees burst forth, shattering the earth as if a massive earthquake had struck.

Vines and massive branches surged like tidal waves toward Shisui.

A terrifying sense of danger gripped Shisui’s heart.

His remaining eye instantly activated into its three-tomoe form.

“So this is the power of Wood Release? The might of the First Hokage himself,” Shisui murmured, catching a glimpse of the legendary strength of the God of Shinobi.

Such power was beyond anything an ordinary Uchiha could hope to withstand.

Facing the dense onslaught of branches and vines, Shisui realized that even with his mastery of the Body Flicker Technique, he couldn’t evade unscathed.

He would have to decide the battle with a single decisive move.

Three pitch-black tomoe in his eye merged into the unique pattern of the Mangekyō Sharingan. Vibrant green chakra erupted from Shisui, forming a colossal armored giant around him.

As soon as the Susanoo took shape, it was immediately entangled by countless branches and vines.

*“Susanoo: Form Ninety-Nine!”*

With a sharp cry, Shisui’s green giant opened its ribcage, revealing hidden crimson tomoe. These released a barrage of glowing green arrows, slicing through the incoming trees.

The arrows carved streaks of light through the air, cutting down the oncoming branches.

Shisui knew that his limited chakra reserves, even after recovery, wouldn’t last long. A prolonged fight would spell his doom—especially since Danzo likely had reinforcements on the way.

With that in mind, Shisui resolved to end the battle quickly.

Pushing his Susanoo to its limit, the towering armored figure charged forward with its spiraling lance, tearing through the path cleared by the arrows and lunging straight at Kaneki.

The oppressive aura of the attack bore down on Kai, leaving him gasping for air.

“So this is the suffocating pressure of an Uchiha’s might?”

---

It was hard to imagine what moves I would use to counter if I were in a battle against Uchiha Shisui myself. The heavy chakra armor could block almost all conventional ninjutsu attacks, while the long spear and the light arrows capable of long-range assaults were nearly impossible to defend against.

As Jia pondered this, Kaneki beside him casually rubbed his wrist.

"Using a Gundam? As if that’s something only you can do."

With that, he spread his hands out and clapped them together in front of him.

An overwhelming surge of chakra exploded in an instant.

"Wood Release: Wood Human Technique!"

Beneath Kaneki's feet, a massive number of branches grew wildly. They intertwined and compressed, ultimately forming a gigantic wooden humanoid figure almost as large as the Susanoo in front of him.

Kaneki stood atop the wooden giant’s head, the battlefield's turbulent air lightly lifting the hem of his clothes.

“Come on, let’s see whether Wood Release or the Uchiha’s power is superior!”

Under Kaneki’s control, the massive wooden figure charged toward the Susanoo without hesitation.

Uchiha Shisui’s face grew solemn.

He never expected that his opponent also possessed such terrifying Wood Release ninjutsu.

But there was no turning back now. Retreat was never an option for the Uchiha.

With unwavering resolve, Shisui directed the massive green Susanoo to thrust its gigantic spiral spear forward. The razor-sharp spearhead shot straight for the wooden giant’s head.

In just a glance, Shisui had already analyzed the wooden giant’s weakness: the wielder.

Unlike the Susanoo, which completely enveloped the caster within its chakra armor, the Wood Human Technique offered no such protection for its user. This vulnerability was the key to victory.

With a sharp whistling sound, the spear came crashing down.

Kaneki swiftly controlled the wooden giant to dodge sideways, narrowly avoiding the green spear as it whooshed past.

Due to the sudden movement, one of the giant’s feet stomped heavily into the ground, creating a deep crater under its weight.

At the same time, the wooden giant raised one arm, gathering power before delivering a punch straight at the chakra giant.

The spiral spear had already been thrust forward, leaving Shisui no choice but to use the Susanoo’s other arm to block.

Here, the Susanoo’s disadvantage became evident.

Without legs, the Susanoo’s mobility was severely limited. In moments like this, its only option when attacked was to rely on the heavy chakra armor to endure rather than evade.

The wooden giant’s heavy punch slammed into the Susanoo’s raised arm with a thunderous boom.

At the point of impact, the air seemed to explode. The immense force from the wooden giant’s fist surged relentlessly forward.

Shisui felt an unstoppable force pushing against him, and the entire Susanoo was forced backward, crashing through trees and snapping them apart like twigs.

Seizing the opportunity, Kaneki pressed his advantage.

The colossal wooden giant stomped across the ground, leaving massive craters in its wake as it charged straight for the retreating Susanoo.

Enveloped in green chakra, Shisui’s eyes began to bleed slightly—a clear sign of overusing the Mangekyo Sharingan.

“For the peace of the village and the clan, I absolutely cannot fall here!”

Gritting his teeth, he stared at the charging wooden giant. To prevent further attacks from Kaneki, he had no choice but to unleash another jutsu.

“Susanoo: Thousand Arrows!”

The green giant’s chest opened once more, releasing a barrage of light arrows formed from pure chakra.

Kaneki immediately commanded the wooden giant to cross its arms in front of it to block the attack.

While these arrows weren’t overwhelmingly powerful individually, their sheer quantity was overwhelming. Like a torrential downpour, they bombarded the wooden giant, chipping away its thick wooden exterior layer by layer.

Taking advantage of this opening, Shisui pushed his body to its limits, consuming vast amounts of chakra to close the distance. With a fearsome roar, he thrust the spiral spear forward again, this time aiming once more at the wooden giant’s head.

Shisui’s goal was clear—defeating the Wood Release wielder was his only chance of survival.

“Yi!”

At the edge of the battlefield, Jia watched this scene unfold with growing anxiety.

He knew all too well how terrifying Kaneki’s strength was, but this time the opponent wasn’t the usual Root underlings—it was the true Uchiha prodigy, Shisui of the Body Flicker! A single misstep could mean death on this battlefield.

Before Jia could process it further, the green spiral spear, imbued with unstoppable force, pierced through the wooden giant’s crossed arms. A burst of wooden splinters exploded into the air like the smoke from an explosion.

“Did I succeed?”

Shisui, his Mangekyo Sharingan fixated on the battlefield, refused to let his guard down for even a second until the outcome was clear.

As the dust settled, the upper portion of the wooden giant’s body was completely destroyed, leaving behind a headless husk. Yet, Kaneki was nowhere to be seen.

This realization sent alarm bells ringing in Shisui’s mind.

If Kaneki wasn’t on the giant’s head, then where was he?

As Shisui anxiously scanned the battlefield, Kaneki emerged from beneath the wooden giant’s feet, a sly smile playing on his lips.

“Got you.”

Clasping his hands together, Kaneki softly spoke:

“Wood Release: Wood Dragon Technique.”

The headless wooden giant suddenly began to tremble. Its abdomen bulged outward, and a fearsome dragon’s head emerged from within.

In less than a second, a massive wooden dragon was born, seamlessly building upon the remains of the wooden giant.

Shisui’s face paled with shock. His first instinct was to retreat.

But having just thrust the spiral spear forward, he was now far too close to the wooden structure. Coupled with the Susanoo’s clunky movements, escape was impossible in such a short time.

The wooden dragon surged forward, gliding effortlessly past the Susanoo’s defenses and coiling tightly around it.

“Damn it, I can’t move!”

Shisui gritted his teeth, desperately analyzing the situation.

Not only was the Susanoo immobilized by the dragon’s crushing grip, but Shisui’s precious chakra was also being rapidly drained and absorbed by the wooden dragon.

Uchiha Shisui was trapped in a desperate situation!

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 197: The News of Shisui's Death*

Creak.  

A grating sound that could make one’s teeth ache echoed through the battlefield.

Uchiha Shisui controlled his Susanoo as it struggled madly, but no matter how hard he fought, he couldn’t break free from the Wood Dragon’s binding grip.

To make matters worse, the Wood Dragon was rapidly draining the Susanoo’s chakra. The once-vibrant green construct quickly dimmed as it struggled, until it finally dissipated quietly, under Shisui's unwilling gaze.

Green chakra scattered into the air, signaling the end of this battle between Wood Release and the Sharingan.

With barely any chakra left, Shisui was no match for Kaneki.

However, Shisui refused to give up. As Susanoo vanished, he used his last bit of strength to flee toward the forest.

He had only managed to take a few steps before a tree beside him sprouted a branch that wrapped tightly around him.

“Damn it…”

Shisui struggled to move, but he no longer even had the strength to swing his blade, let alone sever the branches binding him.

“Give up already. No one can defy Lord Danzo’s orders.”

Kaneki appeared behind Shisui.

To be fair, Shisui was indeed a worthy opponent—if only he had been a bit smarter.

The act of walking into an ambush alone left Kaneki utterly speechless.

Was Shisui too naive, or had he underestimated Danzo’s cunning and power?

In any case, Shisui’s fate was now sealed.

At this point, his only remaining chance to turn the tables was Kotoamatsukami!

Shisui struggled to lift his head and prepared to unleash Kotoamatsukami on Kaneki. However, to his shock, Kaneki had already crafted a Wood Release spiral mask that completely covered his face and eyes.

“It’s over.”

Kaneki appeared before Shisui in a flash, striking him with a clean and decisive chop that knocked him unconscious.

Honestly, if time had allowed, Kaneki wouldn’t have minded restoring Shisui to his peak and fighting him again.

That would have provided him with even more combat data on the Mangekyo Sharingan.

What a pity…

Kaneki made a series of hand seals, and a large, pale, human-sized insect emerged from the ground. Without hesitation, the creature swallowed Shisui’s unconscious body whole.

Moments later, the insect disappeared into a puff of smoke.

It would now transport Shisui’s body as quickly as possible to one of their bases within the Land of Fire, where the analysis of the Uchiha bloodline and the Mangekyo Sharingan would begin.

Just as Kaneki finished his task, Kinoe arrived at the scene.

Kinoe surveyed the empty battlefield with suspicion and looked at Kaneki. “Where’s Uchiha Shisui?”

Kaneki spread his hands and replied casually, “He ran away.”

“He… ran away?”

Kinoe wore a look of disbelief.

“You were just pounding on him a moment ago, and now you’re telling me he escaped?”

Kaneki grinned cheekily. “Well, he ran away. That’s all.”

Kinoe sighed in exasperation. “Kaneki, you failed Lord Danzo’s mission. You do realize what punishment awaits you, right?”

This mission was likely Danzo’s top priority.

Yet Kaneki, who had been entrusted with this responsibility, had supposedly “let Shisui escape,” which would undoubtedly incur Danzo’s wrath.

Kaneki, however, merely shrugged with indifference. “At worst, I’ll just be thrown into confinement again. It’s not like Lord Danzo would kill me.”

Kinoe could only sigh at Kaneki’s nonchalant attitude.

Kaneki’s prediction was correct. A minute later, Danzo arrived at the scene, surrounded by several Root ninjas.

After surveying the shattered battlefield, Danzo’s expression darkened instantly.

“Kinoe, Kaneki—where is Uchiha Shisui?”

Unlike his earlier careless demeanor, Kaneki now showed three parts unease, three parts guilt, and four parts fear.

“Lord Danzo, I failed. Uchiha Shisui… escaped.”

“What?!”

Although Danzo had anticipated this possibility, hearing it confirmed sparked a deep, uncontainable rage. The oppressive atmosphere around him grew suffocating.

Danzo had sacrificed several elite Root members for this mission, yet all they had managed to secure was one of Shisui’s eyes.

This outcome was unacceptable!

But for now, all Danzo could do was cover up the traces of the battle and return to the Root headquarters.

With a chilling glare at Kaneki and Kinoe, Danzo ordered curtly, “We’re leaving.”

“Yes, sir.”

The remaining Root ninjas began quickly erasing all evidence of the battle.

Kaneki and Kinoe, meanwhile, followed Danzo back to the headquarters.

Once they had left, a crow emerged silently from the grass at the edge of the battlefield.

It flew across most of the Hidden Leaf Village, eventually arriving at the Uchiha clan grounds.

The crow landed at the lakeside training field.

There, Uchiha Itachi was sparring with Arima. The moment Itachi saw the crow, an ominous feeling struck him.

“What is that?”

Arima asked, puzzled.

“It’s Shisui’s messenger crow.”

Itachi extended his arm, and the crow landed on it.

The bird opened its beak and spat out a scroll.

Itachi unfurled it with trembling hands.

> “Itachi, by the time you read this message, I may already be gone.

>

> I fell into Danzo’s ambush. Both of my Mangekyo Sharingan eyes may end up in his hands. Be careful.

>

> Additionally, the Root has two Wood Release users, known as Kinoe and Kaneki. Kinoe seems weaker, but that could be a facade.

>

> The one I fought, Kaneki, can skillfully use large-scale Wood Release techniques, such as the First Hokage’s Wood Human Technique.

>

> This is all the information I could gather.

>

> Itachi, do not seek revenge for me. Stage my death as a suicide; otherwise, it will only deepen the divide between the village and our clan.

>

> Go to my desk—there’s a will inside.

>

> Lastly, ensure that peace is achieved between the village and the clan. I’m counting on you, Itachi.”

After reading the entire scroll, Itachi stood frozen, an indescribable surge of emotions flooding his mind and crashing against his consciousness.

“Shisui…”

A sharp, unbearable pain erupted within him as tears of blood began to stream down his cheeks.

The Uchiha’s cursed blood.  

Itachi’s Three-Tomoe Sharingan activated on its own, turning his vision crimson.

When he wiped the blood from his face and opened his eyes again, the three tomoe had connected seamlessly, forming a black pattern resembling a three-bladed fūma shuriken.

An ominous aura began to emanate from his eyes.

(End of Chapter)  

Chapter 198: What a Sorrowful Clan

“Itachi, your eyes…”

Arima gazed worriedly at Itachi, whose expression had drastically changed, emitting an intense and terrifying aura.

The two streaks of bloody tears made it evident that Itachi was enduring excruciating pain.

Hearing Arima’s concerned words, Itachi slowly drew a kunai. Using its reflective surface, he clearly saw his own eyes.

The three dark tomoe of his Sharingan had fused together, forming a shape resembling a three-bladed fūma shuriken.

At that moment, Itachi finally understood the words Shisui had once told him:

“I hope you’ll never awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan…”

Frustration, grief, agony…

All these emotions surged forth, emanating from Uchiha Itachi in a torrent of ominous and dreadful energy.

“Are you alright, Itachi?”

Arima asked with concern. To be honest, in all these days he had spent with Itachi, he had never seen such a terrifying aura from him.

To him, Itachi had always been the gentle, kind boy who loved eating tri-colored dango.

Once, that boy also existed in Itachi’s heart.

But now, that boy was gone.

After a long silence, Itachi finally reopened his eyes. The unusual aura had completely vanished.

He gently touched his eyes, gazing at the lake in front of him, as though answering Shisui under the moonlight that night:

“Shisui, I will fulfill your wish.”

He stood up and turned to Arima, saying, “Arima, the Uchiha clan might face serious danger soon. You’d better not come here anymore.”

“I see…”

Arima had already sensed the strange tension hanging over Konoha. However, after spending so many days together, he had come to regard Itachi as a close friend.

“Itachi, if there’s anything I can do to help, just tell me. I’ll do my best.”

Itachi gave Arima a faint smile and gently shook his head. “My only hope is for you to stay away from all of this. I’ve already lost one friend. I don’t want to lose another.”

Arima remained silent for a moment before resolutely nodding. “I understand.”

“Good. I’ll be going now.”

Itachi had no immediate plans to take revenge on Danzo—at least not yet.

As Shisui’s final words had warned, taking revenge now would only spark a war between the Uchiha clan and the village.

And that was exactly what Danzo wanted.

So, Itachi had to endure. He had to suppress the pain of losing his dearest friend and find a way to maintain a fragile peace between the clan and the village.

Shisui’s death would inevitably stir turmoil within the clan.

For now, Itachi’s priority was to return to the clan and follow Shisui’s plan—to fake his death as a suicide. Otherwise, the radicals within the clan might recklessly seek revenge against Danzo.

Leaving the training grounds, Itachi headed straight for Shisui’s home.

The familiar atmosphere enveloped him, making his lips tremble slightly. But he quickly suppressed his emotions.

Soon, he found the letter Shisui had mentioned on his desk.

“I can’t go on like this. There’s no future for the Uchiha…”

The familiar handwriting nearly carved itself into the paper. Itachi’s hands tightened around the yellowed letter, his clenched teeth making faint grinding noises.

In just two short sentences, Shisui had conveyed the unbearable agony of being torn between the village and the clan.

On one side was the village he had sworn to protect since childhood.

On the other was the family that had raised him.

That torment, that suffocating sense of hopelessness—perhaps only Itachi could truly understand.

And because he understood, his pain now was all the more profound.

So Shisui had harbored thoughts of suicide for a long time…

So Shisui, just like him, had been enduring this suffocating agony all along…

Itachi braced himself against the desk with one hand, his body trembling from grief. But in the end, no tears fell.

After two minutes, he straightened up again, his gaze sharp and resolute.

No matter what, he had to fulfill the promise he made to his best friend.

With this determination in his heart, Itachi took Shisui’s letter and returned home.

“Onii-chan!”

As soon as he stepped through the door, young Sasuke ran into his brother’s arms.

The warmth of his little brother briefly eased the pain in Itachi’s heart.

He affectionately ruffled Sasuke’s hair, just as always, and said, “I have something to discuss with Father. I’ll play with you later, okay?”

“Okay!”

Sasuke, as adorable as a doll, smiled sweetly in agreement.

Itachi gave him a gentle smile before turning away, his expression once again cold and composed.

He knocked on his father’s door.

“Father, it’s me, Itachi.”

“Come in.”

Fugaku’s weary voice came from within the room.

Itachi’s expression flickered slightly.

As an important figure within the Uchiha clan and the son of the clan leader, he was well aware of the recent unrest in the family.

The continuous procurement of supplies from the Ninja Cats and the Higanbana Trading Company was a clear sign of preparations for a coup.

His father had likely been preoccupied with these matters.

Itachi’s face grew colder.

It was this narrow-minded clan mentality that had led to Shisui’s tragedy…

Stepping inside, Itachi placed Shisui’s letter on Fugaku’s desk.

“What is this?”

Fugaku picked up the letter, his expression instantly darkening.

“Shisui committed suicide.”

Itachi closed his eyes, hiding his emotions.

Fugaku gripped the letter tightly, his hands trembling.

“No, that’s impossible. At such a critical time, why would Shisui take his own life?”

He abruptly raised his head and questioned, “Where is Shisui now?”

Itachi calmly shook his head. “His body hasn’t been found.”

Upon hearing this, Fugaku grasped at the sliver of hope. “If there’s no body, then there’s still a chance!”

Regaining his composure, he coldly ordered Itachi, “Immediately mobilize all members of the police force. Search for Shisui at all costs!”

“Yes.”

The full mobilization of the Uchiha police force caused a stir in Konoha.

Watching his clan’s frantic efforts, Itachi felt a deep sorrow.

He knew all too well that their determination to find Shisui had nothing to do with concern for him as a person.

They simply didn’t want to lose such a powerful asset, one that would increase their chances of a successful coup.

How pathetic.

A clan devoid of empathy, driven only by the pursuit of power and dominance.

Itachi recalled the words his father had said when he first awakened his Sharingan.

“They only care about your strength. Your feelings, ideals, and beliefs mean nothing to them!”

Strength was the only thing they valued.

Such a clan was truly tragic.

(End of Chapter)  

Chapter 199: Stop Fighting!

The Uchiha Police Force deployed a large number of personnel to conduct a wide-scale search throughout the village but still failed to find Shisui’s body.

Not only that, but due to a certain sense of urgency, the Uchihas involved in the search clashed with civilians and even other clans.

Technically, the Uchiha Police Force had the authority to enforce the law within Konoha.

However, there is always a gap between theory and practice.

For example, most prominent clans in Konoha had their own designated territories, and with the increasingly strained relationship between the village and the Uchihas, these clans were unwilling to accept Uchiha inspections.

The police force, desperate to find Shisui—a crucial asset to the clan—caused even more conflicts, throwing the entire village into chaos.

Fugaku Uchiha, the clan leader, was overwhelmed with stress.

But compared to managing these disputes, what truly bothered him was Shisui’s continued disappearance.

Offending other people in the village was trivial to the Uchiha at this point.

They had already antagonized most of the village anyway; one more enemy wouldn't make much of a difference.

The real issue was that they had lost Shisui Uchiha—the clan's strongest warrior.

Shisui, with his Mangekyo Sharingan, was a key piece in Fugaku’s plans. Only the unparalleled genjutsu of the Mangekyo could deliver a decisive blow by assassinating the village’s top leaders.

This was the Uchiha clan's only chance to win.

If they staged an open rebellion and fought a full-scale war against the village's numerous clans, the Uchiha had no hope of victory.

Their sole chance lay in a quick, surgical strike.

But now, the very weapon they intended to use for that strike was missing!

Fugaku stared at Shisui’s farewell letter, his clenched fists trembling and creaking.

"Why?

Why would Shisui choose such a path?"

After several minutes, Fugaku finally left his home.

Young Sasuke peeked from behind the door, sensing the shift in the clan's atmosphere even at his age.

It all started when his brother returned and said something to their father...

Leaving the house, Fugaku headed straight for the Naka Shrine, the symbolic heart of the Uchiha clan.

Shisui’s supposed suicide was a grave matter, and as clan leader, Fugaku had to provide an explanation to his people. Convening a clan meeting was inevitable.

"Elder Taka."

Arriving at the shrine, Fugaku greeted the elder.

Before formally gathering the clan, he needed to align his views with Elder Taka, an influential figure among the Uchihas.

The Uchiha were in disarray, and any disagreement between Fugaku and Taka during the meeting could lead to disastrous consequences.

Unity was their only source of strength now.

Elder Taka slowly opened his eyes, his sharp gaze and prominent hooked nose exuding an air of authority.

"Fugaku, I take it Shisui is still missing?"

Fugaku nodded. "We’ve searched most of the village, but there’s still no trace."

Elder Taka seemed unsurprised, his expression growing grimmer. "In that case, the plan to stage a coup must be postponed."

Hearing this, Fugaku nodded in agreement. "I feel the same. Without Shisui’s Mangekyo Sharingan, the chances of success are far too low."

"So, I intend to officially declare his death a suicide."

This was precisely why Fugaku had come to consult Elder Taka. On such a critical matter, they needed a unified stance to prevent further chaos.

Elder Taka looked at Fugaku, his stern demeanor softening slightly in approval. "It’s good that you think this way. At this point, whether Shisui truly committed suicide or not is irrelevant.

If the Uchihas were prepared to rebel, Shisui’s death could be attributed to Danzo—or even Hiruzen Sarutobi.

That would ignite the clan’s fury and give the Uchiha a legitimate reason to act, avenging Shisui.

But if the Uchihas were not ready, Shisui’s death must be framed as a suicide.

Declaring otherwise would unleash public outrage, forcing Fugaku into an impossible position.

Rebellion, when the timing wasn’t right, would fail.

Not rebelling, however, would alienate Fugaku from his clan, undermining his leadership.

The Uchihas were currently in the latter situation.

Thus, Shisui had to be declared a suicide.

After aligning with Elder Taka, Fugaku summoned the Uchiha elite to the shrine.

Every participant in the gathering was either a high-ranking jonin or an elite jonin, individuals who would be decisive in any future rebellion.

Each one of them arrived with solemn expressions, fully aware of what Shisui’s disappearance signified.

Seeing this, Fugaku announced the results of their investigation.

"After thorough examination, it has been concluded that Shisui’s death was, indeed, a suicide."

The statement was met with an uproar.

Suicide?

To the proud Uchihas, this was the most disgraceful way to die.

Only cowards, those unable to face reality, would resort to such an act.

The Uchihas were a proud clan, burdened with immense honor. Such an end was unthinkable.

Shisui, of all people?

He was the clan’s greatest genius, the one upon whom all their hopes rested.

And yet, he had chosen to take his own life at such a critical moment!

To many, this was nothing less than betrayal—an attempt to escape the looming rebellion.

“Coward!”

“I can’t believe Shisui turned out to be such a person!”

“What a disappointment.”

Amidst the angry jeers, Itachi remained silent, standing in the shadows and quietly observing the scene.

"This is Shisui’s farewell letter," Fugaku said, holding up the document Shisui had left behind and passing it around.

After reading it, the clan members became even more convinced.

Shisui Uchiha had abandoned the clan’s honor, refusing to participate in the rebellion, and had chosen death instead.

In no time, the meeting devolved into a chorus of slander and curses directed at Shisui.

Fugaku maintained his composure and continued, "Without Shisui, an important piece of our strength is missing. As such, our plans must be delayed."

This decision only fueled the clan’s frustration further.

They understood that without Shisui, their chances of success had plummeted, leaving them no choice but to accept the postponement.

This helplessness quickly turned into outrage toward Shisui.

If only he hadn’t taken his life, they might already be on the path to victory.

Arrogance and pride...

In the shadows, Itachi clenched his fists and silently left the shrine.

"Itachi!"

Just as he was about to leave, a familiar voice stopped him.

Itachi turned slightly, only to see Uchiha Inaho and his two companions walking over with a piece of paper in hand. It was, unmistakably, Shisui’s suicide note.

“Is there something you need?”

Itachi’s tone was cold, entirely devoid of his usual kindness and gentleness.

Inaho held up the note as he walked to stand in front of Itachi.

“Listen, Itachi. Shisui has betrayed the Uchiha and become a disgrace to our clan. You’re part of the ANBU now—you wouldn’t do the same, would you?”

The flames of the shrine, used for rituals, rose into the night sky, casting an oppressive aura as they lit up the darkness.

Itachi lowered his head slightly, his hair casting a shadow over half his face. In a calm but firm voice, he said, “Shisui did not betray the Uchiha, nor was he a disgrace to the clan.”

Hearing this, Inaho let out a sharp, derisive laugh.

“He was an Uchiha, and he chose suicide at a time like this. If that’s not betrayal, then what is?”

His voice grew mocking as he pinched the note between two fingers and read Shisui’s final words aloud: “I can’t keep going. The Uchiha have no future like this…”

“A coward like him dared to claim there’s no future for the Uchiha!”

Inaho’s expression began to twist with anger. As one of the clan’s staunchest hardliners, Shisui’s death felt like a betrayal of everything he stood for.

“You people don’t understand Shisui at all,” Itachi replied icily, his tone so cold it sent chills down their spines.

“Understand him? I don’t understand a coward’s thoughts at all—”

Before he could finish, Itachi appeared in front of him in an instant, his hand clamping tightly around Inaho’s neck.

“What are you doing, Itachi?”

Inaho’s pupils constricted in shock. His two companions immediately moved to flank Itachi on both sides.

“If you don’t understand Shisui, then stop spewing nonsense here. Talking about Uchiha pride… How arrogant can you get?”

Itachi’s otherwise calm face now showed clear disdain, a look that only further enraged Inaho.

He was older than Itachi by several years, and yet he was being held in place by just one of Itachi’s hands?

“Damn you! Don’t think I won’t fight back just because you’re the clan leader’s son!”

With that, Inaho ignored the hand at his throat and swung a powerful side kick at Itachi’s face.

But Itachi blocked it effortlessly with his other hand and swiftly countered with a brutal kick to Inaho’s stomach.

The sheer force sent Inaho flying, crashing heavily into the wall opposite them.

Seeing this, Inaho’s two companions activated their Sharingan and launched attacks from both sides, fists aimed directly at Itachi.

There was no room for Itachi to dodge—they had him!

When their fists connected, triumphant smiles flashed across their faces.

But in the next instant, their smiles vanished. The Itachi they had struck dissolved into a flock of crows that scattered into the air, their harsh cries echoing ominously above the shrine.

A genjutsu?

Before they could react, a heavy blow landed on their stomachs, answering the question for them.

With the same ease, Itachi dispatched all three of the Uchiha elite—a mix of jonin and special jonin.

“Damn it!”

Inaho, seeing his companions defeated, activated his Sharingan as well and began forming hand seals, ready for revenge.

Itachi slowly raised his head, his crimson eyes finally emerging from the shadow of his hair. The malevolent, overwhelming power of his Sharingan exploded forth and forced its way into Inaho’s mind.

Inaho froze.

More precisely, his brain shut down entirely.

The Mangekyou Sharingan’s awakening had granted Itachi an all-encompassing boost. His speed had increased, his chakra reserves had grown, and his visual prowess had evolved far beyond what he’d possessed with his three-tomoe Sharingan.

Even though he hadn’t activated his Mangekyou just now, the raw enhancement to his visual power was undeniable.

Despite Inaho’s jonin-level abilities, this overwhelming disparity was more than enough for Itachi to defeat him easily, especially since Inaho had overconfidently chosen to face him with the Sharingan.

Without a word, Itachi approached step by step. Ignoring everything else, he landed a heavy punch straight into Inaho’s stomach.

“Agh!”

Blood spewed from Inaho’s mouth. This time, it was clear that Itachi had truly gone all out.

“Stop this, Itachi!”

Fortunately, Uchiha Fugaku arrived just in time, having sensed the disturbance at the shrine. Otherwise, given Itachi’s current mental state, it was entirely possible he would have hospitalized Inaho for weeks, if not worse.

“Itachi, I know you can’t accept Shisui’s death, but that doesn’t justify attacking your fellow clansmen!” Fugaku reprimanded him sternly.

As the clan leader’s son and a strong contender to be the next leader, Itachi could not afford to carry the stain of harming his own people.

Itachi glanced at his father and let out a bitter laugh.

“You don’t care about Shisui’s death at all. What you care about is that the Uchiha lost a powerful asset!”

“You don’t care about the people. All you care about is power. And authority.”

Itachi’s low, hoarse voice carried the weight of all his pent-up resentment since Shisui’s death.

“Enough, Itachi!”

Fugaku’s face darkened as he tried to silence his son before he could say any more.

But this time, Itachi did not meekly back down. His gaze was ice cold and filled with unmistakable killing intent. A sharp kunai whizzed past Fugaku’s head, embedding itself in the shrine wall—right in the center of the Uchiha clan symbol.

The scene fell into a stunned silence.

In that moment, Itachi’s cold, unyielding determination seemed almost tangible, freezing everyone in place.

“Itachi, apologize to your clansmen!”

Fugaku glared at Itachi, pressing him under the weight of his authority.

Itachi stared back, his gaze unwavering, until a small voice broke the tension.

“Big brother, please stop fighting.”

Sasuke’s innocent plea pierced through Itachi’s defenses like a dagger to the heart.

The kunai fell from his hand, clattering weakly to the ground. As if all the strength had been drained from his body, Itachi dropped to his knees, his voice low and broken.

“I’m sorry, everyone.”

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 200: Root Belongs to Konoha*

The aftermath of Uchiha Shisui's death extended far beyond the Uchiha clan itself—it had a significant impact on Konoha's upper echelons as well.

The battle between Kaneki and Shisui that day, though not lengthy, caused quite a commotion.

Hiruzen Sarutobi had always kept an eye on Root's activities, either intentionally or unintentionally. Therefore, when Kaneki and Susanoo clashed in their epic battle, his gaze had already been drawn there through his crystal ball.

Although he could only see part of the action, even that was enough to leave an enormous impression on the aging Hokage. Kaneki's display of Wood Release and his terrifying strength shook Hiruzen to the core.

After all, Kaneki's use of techniques like Wood Human Technique and Wood Dragon Technique was strikingly similar to the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju.

This similarity made the Third Hokage instinctively realize one thing: this was an opponent he could never afford to face.

What concerned him even more was the fact that Danzo's Wood Release experiments had succeeded.

And yet, Danzo had chosen not to inform him and instead raised such a powerful Wood Release ninja in secret.

What was Danzo planning?

As a seasoned politician, Hiruzen Sarutobi's instincts kicked in immediately.

Danzo's ambition to seize the position of Hokage was nothing new. It had been simmering for years, even erupting into assassination attempts when the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, had died, leading to Hiruzen's return to office.

Now, Hiruzen's guard against Danzo had reached its peak.

However, the current situation was complicated. Despite losing Shisui, the Uchiha clan remained a formidable force. Hiruzen needed Root to help contain them.

Thus, it was not yet the right time to deal with Danzo.

Still, a warning was necessary.

---

At Root headquarters, Danzo received the Hokage's summons without surprise.

He had known from the moment Kaneki's battle caused such a commotion that the existence of the Wood Release ninja could no longer be concealed.

The only regret was that he had failed to recover Uchiha Shisui's body.

Upon arriving at the Hokage's office, Danzo found Hiruzen's face as calm and unreadable as ever.

"To think your Wood Release experiments actually succeeded, Danzo," Hiruzen remarked.

Having known Hiruzen for many years, Danzo felt a pang of unease upon seeing his impassive demeanor.

"Just a stroke of luck," Danzo replied, his face equally blank, though inwardly tense.

Hiruzen smiled faintly, took a deep drag from his pipe, and asked, "How many Wood Release ninjas does Root have?"

Before Danzo could respond, Hiruzen added casually, "This time, I want the truth."

The words were spoken lightly, but they instantly froze the atmosphere in the office.

Danzo could feel the displeasure radiating from his old friend.

He knew his repeated deceptions had tested Hiruzen's patience to its limit. If he continued to hide the truth now, not even their decades of friendship would save him.

"Two," Danzo answered decisively.

"Only two?"

"Only two!" Danzo said firmly. "Strictly speaking, the Wood Release experiments haven't been fully successful. Out of a hundred test subjects, only two survived."

When Danzo mentioned "a hundred test subjects," Hiruzen showed no surprise.

Human experimentation had always existed.

Not just for Danzo—Hiruzen's own teacher, the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, had conducted plenty of human experiments himself.

How else did Konoha's numerous forbidden techniques come to be?

Of course, such matters were not something to discuss openly.

The primary reason Wood Release experiments were banned was due to their extreme cost.

As Danzo had just admitted, out of a hundred people, only two managed to survive.

And in the dozens of experiments preceding this, hundreds, even thousands of test subjects had perished—without exception.

It was the staggering death toll that had driven Hiruzen to forbid further Wood Release experiments.

Clearly, however, Danzo had ignored that order.

To be fair, Hiruzen's tacit leniency over the years had also enabled Danzo to continue.

But regardless, Hiruzen, as Hokage, now had every right to intervene and impose penalties.

For once, Hiruzen decided to assert his authority as Hokage.

"If I remember correctly, I already issued an order to ban these experiments," Hiruzen said.

Danzo had no rebuttal.

He could claim that Hiruzen had allowed it to happen, but did he have any evidence?

At most, it would highlight Root's lack of oversight—and Hiruzen could easily use this opportunity to place even more surveillance within Root.

Thus, Danzo, knowing he was in the wrong, remained silent.

Hiruzen stood slowly, pipe in hand, and looked out the large window behind his desk, taking in the entirety of the village.

"Danzo, Anbu is currently short-staffed. Transfer those two Wood Release ninjas to them."

The command struck Danzo like a hammer. He looked up in disbelief. "Hiruzen, those two can only realize their full potential within Root!"

Hiruzen turned back to face him, his expression colder than ever.

"Danzo, I wasn't asking. That was an order from the Hokage!"

"Root is part of Konoha. And as part of Konoha, it will obey my commands."

"Besides, you were the one who violated my ban in the first place. Do you really want the public to find out that you used the First Hokage's cells for human experimentation?"

Hiruzen's words silenced Danzo completely.

He knew that if the truth about experimenting with Hashirama's cells came to light, his ambition for the Hokage's seat would be ruined forever.

Hashirama Senju was the spiritual symbol of Konoha. The idea of desecrating his legacy would turn the entire village against him.

"You're making a mistake, Hiruzen. You'll regret this!" Danzo finally spat bitterly, like a defeated dog.

Hiruzen, however, merely watched him leave without saying another word.

Wood Release was far too valuable a resource for the Hokage to allow anyone else to control it.

---

Back at Root, Danzo's fury was boundless, a storm cloud looming over his headquarters.

He had assumed Hiruzen would give him the usual half-hearted reprimand, but this time, the Hokage's decisiveness shocked him.

"Is he beginning to see Root as a threat?" Danzo wondered, his sharp political instincts immediately piecing things together.

The battle for power in Konoha was far from over.

(End of Chapter)