[Naruto : Yellow Flash] Chapter 726 - 730

Chapter 726: Double Blade

"What!?"

Shisui's expression darkened instantly. Beside him, the Konoha ANBU drew his sword with a metallic hiss, pointing the gleaming blade at Mei Terumi's throat.

"She betrayed our position!" he snarled. "She led the Kirigakure forces right to us for an ambush!"

Mei Terumi stood shocked, her emerald eyes widening. While she understood their reaction, the suddenness of the accusation left her momentarily speechless.

Her hesitation didn't soften the Konoha ANBU's resolve. With practiced precision, he swung his blade toward her exposed face.

"She didn't betray us."

Just as the blade was about to slice across Mei's delicate features, Shisui's hand shot out, clamping around his teammate's wrist with iron strength, halting the attack mid-strike.

"Think about it," Shisui said, his voice calm yet firm. "If she intended to betray us, why warn us at all? She could have simply guided the Kirigakure shinobi to surround the island while we remained oblivious."

Shisui's brow furrowed as he released his grip on his comrade. In his experience working against Kirigakure's ANBU for over a year, he knew their system was even more stringent than Konoha's. For Mei Terumi to tip them off was to place herself in extraordinary danger.

He turned to Mei, his expression softening. "I apologize for my companion's reaction."

Mei Terumi waved the apology away, her long auburn hair swaying slightly with the motion. Her beautiful face grew serious as she replied, "We don't have time for pleasantries now."

She reached for her ANBU mask, securing it over her features once more. "I'll intercept the Kirigakure ANBU and buy you time to escape." She turned to leave but was stopped by Shisui's hand on her shoulder.

"No," Shisui said, his voice dropping to a grave timber. "If we follow that plan, we might escape safely, but you'll be placing yourself directly in harm's way."

"We've reached the point of no return," Mei countered, her voice muffled slightly behind her porcelain mask. "With my status and position in Kirigakure, my life won't be in immediate danger."

She explained that not only did she have the entire Terumi clan supporting her from the shadows, but also a considerable number of loyal confidants within the Kirigakure ANBU ranks—operatives she had carefully cultivated over years of service.

"As long as there's no conclusive evidence of my communication with Konoha shinobi," she continued, "the Fourth Mizukage cannot take direct action against me."

"Of course I know that," Shisui replied, his black pupils swirling into scarlet as his Sharingan activated. Three tomoe slowly rotated within each crimson iris. "But if you're implicated in this, no one will ever have the chance to expose the Fourth Mizukage's true identity."

He stepped closer, his voice lowering. "Instead of helping us escape, you should distance yourself from this dangerous situation as quickly as possible."

Shisui's mind raced through the implications. If the Fourth Mizukage had already discovered traces of their infiltration, he might also be aware of their larger plans. Should Mei Terumi's involvement be completely exposed, any ruler—especially one as ruthless as Yagura had become—would eliminate such a threat to their position without hesitation.

Not only would her life be in genuine peril, but all her previous efforts to expose the truth would be rendered meaningless.

Mei's expression flickered as she processed Shisui's words. Though she desperately wanted to ensure the safety of Minato's envoys, she couldn't deny the wisdom in what he said.

"We appreciate your kindness," Shisui said, turning away and drawing his sword in one fluid motion. The blade caught the dim light as he glanced at his companion. "I'll make sure the Hokage knows of your contribution. Now, let's go!"

With a barely perceptible hand sign, both shinobi vanished in a blur of movement, disappearing from Mei Terumi's sight.

"Minato-senpai," she whispered to herself, "the people under your command are truly extraordinary."

Admiring Shisui's decisive leadership, Mei turned and darted toward the opposite side of the island. With her formidable skills and years of ANBU experience, evading the Kirigakure forces wouldn't prove too difficult for her. For Shisui and his companion, however, the situation remained precarious.

Shisui and his fellow ANBU operative moved at maximum speed toward their predetermined escape route, their forms little more than shadows among the mist-laden trees.

"Someone's directly ahead," warned the sensor-type ANBU at Shisui's side, his voice tense.

Before Shisui could respond, the air before them erupted in violent explosions.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

Flames tore through the foliage, forcing them to skid to an abrupt halt as intense heat washed over them.

"As expected of the Bloody Mist," Shisui muttered, eyes narrowing as he observed their handiwork. "They're methodically dismantling the traps we laid."

He had known from the beginning that conventional traps wouldn't be enough to deceive Kirigakure's elite forces. That had never been his primary strategy.

The sensor-type ninja beside him closed his eyes briefly, extending his awareness outward. His eyes snapped open. "There are more than fifty enemies surrounding us," he reported grimly. "And judging from their chakra signatures, none of them are ordinary shinobi."

"Is that so?"

Shisui's expression darkened, his voice taking on a subtle tremor—not from fear, but from a cold, simmering rage. The situation they faced now eerily mirrored what had happened to Kakashi and Rin years ago.

Back then, Kirigakure ANBU, manipulated by some unseen hand, had gradually forced those two into an impossible situation. Rin Nohara, the girl who always wore a gentle smile, had died as a result of that manipulation—another victim in some shadowy conspiracy.

"Someone's coming!" The sensor shinobi's urgent warning cut through Shisui's thoughts.

Dark silhouettes emerged from the dissipating flames, their movements precise and predatory.

Five Kirigakure ANBU descended upon them, their killing intent palpable in the air. True to their brutal training, they attacked without hesitation or warning.

Facing these enemies who struck with the ferocity of wild beasts, Shisui's eyes grew cold. He held his sword in one hand while forming a seal with the other.

"Uchiha Style: Wind Sword!"

His figure vanished like a ghost, only to reappear an instant later—but now there were five identical Shisuis rushing toward the enemy.

The Kirigakure ANBU, elite as they were, braced themselves to engage one opponent each. Just as the two sides were about to clash, each Shisui split again, becoming two.

Ten afterimages!

This unexpected multiplication momentarily startled the Kiri ninjas. Before they could adjust their strategy, all ten images disappeared from their sight.

"BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!"

In the next heartbeat, the five Kirigakure ANBU found themselves engulfed by countless flaming blades materializing from all directions.

"How is this possible?" one of them gasped, eyes wide with shock behind his mask. None of them had even witnessed how Shisui had initiated his attack, yet they were already surrounded by his overwhelming offensive.

They frantically swung their swords in defense, but the flaming blades were too numerous, too dense. Even as they instinctively formed a defensive formation, their coordination quickly crumbled under the onslaught.

A black flash sliced through the chaos, and crimson blood bloomed across one ANBU's chest. His companion turned just in time to see a gleaming edge before his throat was severed in a single clean stroke.

The remaining three barely had time to register what had happened before their expressions froze in death.

Having dispatched all five Kirigakure ANBU in a matter of seconds, Shisui knew better than to linger. He immediately signaled to the sensor-type ninja, abandoning their planned route in favor of a more direct path through the enemy's weakest point.

They hadn't gone far before another group of Kirigakure shinobi intercepted them. Without hesitation, Shisui launched into attack, cutting them down and breaking through their ranks.

"So that's Shisui of Konoha," remarked a deep voice from behind them. "His teleportation truly lives up to its legendary reputation."

Shisui glanced back to see a tall figure unwrapping the bandages from an enormous blade. As the last bandage fell away, intense chakra radiated from the strange weapon, which suddenly expanded in size.

"Hiramekarei," Shisui whispered in recognition. "You're one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Hidden Mist."

This opponent would not fall as easily as the others. But time was running out—once Kirigakure completed their encirclement, escape would become impossible.

In one fluid motion, Shisui reached into the ninja tool pouch at his waist and pulled out a sealing scroll. He threw it forward, the scroll unfurling in mid-air as he pressed his palm against its surface.

"What's this guy planning?" The swordsman's eyes narrowed suspiciously as he watched Shisui extract a second sword from the scroll.

Now dual-wielding, Shisui held a blade in each hand. With startling coordination, he began executing two completely different sword styles simultaneously—his hands moving independently of one another in a display of masterful swordsmanship.

"Uchiha Style: Blast Flame Dance!"

"Hurricane Blade!"

The twin techniques erupted from his swords, a devastating combination of fire and wind chakra converging on his formidable opponent.

Chapter 727: A Difficult Decision

ROAR!

WHOOSH!

Shisui's movements were fluid yet distinct—his right hand slashed downward, unleashing a brilliant blade of flame that cut through the air, while his left hand swept outward, conjuring a miniature hurricane of chakra-infused wind.

The two elemental attacks surged forward, converging just before they reached the enemy.

BOOM!

Wind and fire collided in spectacular fashion, intertwining and multiplying in power as they transformed into a chaotic firestorm. The air itself seemed to ignite, burning with unnatural intensity.

Shisui continued the assault without pause, his dual blades weaving complex patterns as he unleashed attack after attack. Within moments, dozens of raging firestorms hurtled toward the wielder of Hiramekarei.

"You can use two different sword techniques simultaneously? And create sword beams of different chakra natures?" The Swordsman's eyes widened in disbelief. Being one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, he possessed extraordinary swordsmanship himself, which made his shock at Shisui's skill all the more significant.

So the famous Shunshin no Shisui possesses more than just legendary speed!

Gripping Hiramekarei with both hands, the swordsman let out a guttural roar. As he channeled more chakra into the weapon, the already massive blade expanded further, its distinctive shape morphing to meet his needs.

"BOOM!"

He swung the empowered Hiramekarei forward, meeting Shisui's attacks head-on. The firestorms detonated upon impact, flames erupting skyward and engulfing the swordsman in a blazing inferno.

"Go!" Shisui shouted, having no intention of prolonging the fight. He turned to his companion, only to discover the Konoha ANBU had become entangled with several Kirigakure operatives, clearly overwhelmed by their coordinated assault.

SWISH!

In an instant, Shisui became a blur of motion, surging into the heart of the battle. His blades flashed in all directions, parrying and deflecting the attacks of the Kirigakure ANBU with precision.

CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!

Sparks flew as metal struck metal. Shisui dispatched one of the ANBU with a decisive strike, creating an opening for his companion to break free. The two exchanged a knowing glance before rushing onward.

The sensor-type ninja extended his awareness once more. "Almost all of Kirigakure's forces have concentrated in one location," he reported, breathing heavily. "But I'm detecting two extremely powerful chakra signatures approaching from different directions."

"Two more of the Seven Swordsmen?" Shisui's brow furrowed. He had managed to hold back one of the legendary swordsmen with his Thunder Attack technique, but hadn't been able to defeat him outright. The confrontation had depleted a significant portion of his chakra. If they encountered another swordsman and couldn't dispatch them quickly, they would inevitably become surrounded.

The safest approach would be to burst through where the Kirigakure forces were most concentrated—if Shisui were alone. He cast a concerned glance at his injured companion.

"We should break through in the direction of the nearest powerful chakra signature," Shisui decided, adjusting their course. "It's our best chance."

They surged forward, pushing their bodies to the limit. It wasn't long before they encountered another of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen—this time, a woman.

She wasn't unattractive, but her features were hardened by years of bloodshed, her eyes glinting with practiced cruelty as she brandished twin blades.

"Kiba, the Thunder Fangs," Shisui murmured in recognition. "You must be Ringo Ameyuri."

Having operated against Kirigakure for so long, Shisui was intimately familiar with the current roster of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen. The twin fangs in Ringo Ameyuri's hands—along with the Kabutowari, Kubikiribōchō, and Shibuki—had all been captured by Konoha during the Third Shinobi World War when Uchiha Yoruki had defeated several of the Seven Swordsmen in succession.

Later, however, during a surprise attack on Konoha's forces, these legendary weapons had been reclaimed by Kirigakure. They appeared to have been repaired and redistributed to form a new generation of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen.

"Shunshin no Shisui?" Ringo Ameyuri's expression was solemn as she assessed her opponent. From the direction Shisui had approached, she knew he had already encountered one Swordsman and at least ten Kirigakure ANBU. The fact that he had made it this far with his companion was testament to his fearsome reputation.

SWISH!

Without wasting words, Shisui launched himself forward, both swords at the ready.

"Looking to finish me quickly and escape?" Ameyuri understood his strategy immediately. Under these circumstances, she had no need to engage him directly—only to delay him until reinforcements arrived.

CRACK!

She swung her twin Kiba blades with practiced precision, releasing arcs of lightning that spread outward like thin, electric pythons. The air crackled with charged energy as the lightning sought its target.

Such an attack, while formidable, posed little challenge to someone of Shisui's caliber. With several precise slashes, he dispersed the lightning, never breaking stride.

Recognizing the futility of a direct confrontation, Ameyuri suddenly pivoted away, using her exceptional speed—the greatest among the current Seven Swordsmen—to evade. Even as she retreated, she continued unleashing lightning attacks to disrupt Shisui and his companion's advance.

SWISH!

Just as she was congratulating herself on her strategy, a shadow materialized before her—Shisui, both swords poised to strike.

"Impossible!" Ameyuri gasped. They stood mere feet apart, and she realized with dawning horror that it was already too late to react.

FLASH!

The three tomoe in Shisui's Sharingan eyes seemed to freeze in place as they locked with Ameyuri's gaze. Her pupils contracted sharply as the genjutsu took hold.

Though Ameyuri prided herself on her speed, she was hopelessly outmatched by Shisui's legendary Body Flicker Technique. Before she could even process what had happened, she was ensnared in his illusion.

Having subdued Ringo Ameyuri with his ultimate speed, Shisui's expression grew somber. He raised his blade to finish her, knowing that mercy was a luxury they couldn't afford.

Just then, a shadowy figure emerged from the thickening mist.

Shisui could only exhale softly in resignation. With a quick glance at his companion, he abandoned the kill and pushed forward at full speed once more.

The two shinobi finally broke free from the interior of the island, reaching the shoreline at last.

"Now!" Shisui commanded without hesitation, and both men stepped out onto the water's surface, channeling chakra to their feet.

"Wait!" Shisui suddenly tensed, his instincts screaming warning. He quickly withdrew his foot from the water's surface, but his companion had already committed to the step.

"SPLASH!"

The previously calm sea surface erupted, water gathering and coalescing into a massive hand that clamped around the ankle of the Konoha ANBU.

"A Water Transformation Technique—the Hōzuki clan!" Shisui exclaimed, caught off-guard by the ambush. He hadn't anticipated enemies lurking beneath the water's surface.

Reacting instantly, he plunged the blade in his right hand into the water. Arcs of lightning chakra coursed down the metal and spread through the water.

Shisui wasn't particularly skilled with Lightning Release techniques, but he could channel basic Lightning chakra through his blade effectively enough.

"ARGH!" The Konoha ninja's scream pierced the air.

In the instant before Shisui's lightning reached its target, the Hōzuki clan member had viciously twisted the ANBU's ankle, snapping it with a sickening crack.

As lightning spread through the conductive water, the liquefied body of the Hōzuki clan member partially solidified, the electricity forcing a partial transformation. The water ninja's form wavered, caught between states as the lightning disrupted their technique.

Seizing the opportunity, Shisui dragged his injured companion back onto the shore.

"Damn it!" Shisui cursed through gritted teeth as Kirigakure ninjas began to converge on their position once more.

"Go," the wounded ANBU urged, his voice strained as he fought through the pain of his shattered ankle. "Leave me. They won't catch you if you're alone."

He understood all too well that if not for him, Shisui would have escaped long ago.

Shisui's eyes flickered with emotion, his expression hardening with resolve. "I will never abandon my companions!"

Memories of Obito's sacrifice flashed through his mind. Back then, Obito had been too weak to save Rin, forced to retreat with tears in his Sharingan eyes as Kirigakure forces closed in. Shisui had vowed never to let such a tragedy repeat itself.

Yet even as his determination burned bright, cold reality set in. Under their current circumstances, even if he stayed to fight, he might not be able to protect his teammate. The odds were simply too overwhelming.

With deliberate movements, Shisui reached into his arm guard and withdrew a specially-crafted kunai. Distinctive markings were engraved into its handle, glowing with a soft jade light.

This was the talisman Minato had given Shisui before the mission—a failsafe for dire emergencies. By channeling chakra into it, he could alert Minato, who would sense it even from as far away as Konoha and arrive in an instant using his Flying Thunder God Technique.

However, given the clandestine nature of their mission, if word spread that the Hokage himself had intervened in foreign territory, it would provide ammunition for those with political agendas to create diplomatic incidents. The Land of Fire could suffer tremendous political fallout and potentially even trigger another war.

But if he didn't use it, the comrade who had fought beside him for years would surely die here.

The choice that Shisui now faced was agonizingly difficult.

As the Kirigakure forces closed in from all sides, the weight of command pressed down upon him like a physical burden. Every second that passed brought them closer to capture or death.

Shisui tightened his grip on the marked kunai, the jade glow reflecting in his crimson Sharingan eyes.

Chapter 728: Sacrifice Your Life

An impossibly difficult decision!

Shisui's eyes flickered with uncertainty, his inner conflict evident in every tense line of his body. The jade-marked kunai trembled almost imperceptibly in his grasp.

The Kirigakure pursuit squad had already emerged from the island's interior, fanning out along the shoreline in a practiced formation. The wielder of Hiramekarei and Ringo Ameyuri at the forefront, their expressions contorted with rage. They glared at Shisui with such intensity it seemed they might devour him whole.

Yet despite their fury, it was clear these two Swordsmen weren't the ones commanding this operation.

"Hold."

Between the two members of the Seven Swordsmen stood a shinobi clad in the standard uniform of Kirigakure's ANBU. Unlike his masked subordinates, his face remained exposed, though his left eye was concealed beneath a black eye patch.

His visible eye fixed on the distinctive kunai in Shisui's hand, and his expression suddenly shifted.

During the Third Shinobi World War, one man had brought unprecedented terror to the entire ninja world. Though a decade had passed since those blood-soaked days, certain distinctive characteristics of Konoha's Yellow Flash remained etched in the memories of shinobi from all major nations.

"A kunai bearing the Flying Thunder God mark?" he murmured, raising his hand abruptly to signal his forces to halt.

"Why are we stopping?" the Hiramekarei wielder questioned, his tone heavy with barely contained fury.

"Look at the kunai he's holding," the eye-patched commander replied. "Those unique patterns inscribed on it—they're the coordinates the Fourth Hokage uses for spatial transportation."

With visual acuity far exceeding ordinary shinobi, even at a distance of several dozen meters, the two Swordsmen could clearly discern the markings on Shisui's kunai once they knew what to look for.

"So what?" Ringo Ameyuri challenged, her lips curling into a predatory grin as she kept her eyes trained on Shisui. "Even if that kunai allows the Fourth Hokage to teleport, this Uchiha won't have time to relay our position back to Konoha before we strike him down."

"That would be true if we were relying solely on intelligence from ten years ago," the eye-patched ANBU commander said, his voice dropping to a more somber tone. "But approximately six years ago, Kumogakure shinobi encountered a Konoha squad during a mission."

He paused, ensuring his words carried the appropriate weight. "Among the Konoha shinobi was the Fourth Hokage's wife. She appeared to be experiencing some kind of physical distress. Then, without warning, the Fourth Hokage materialized beside her."

His eye narrowed. "The Cloud ninja broke formation immediately, abandoning their mission and fleeing for their lives."

"What?!"

Both Swordsmen reacted with shock. They understood why the Kumogakure shinobi had abandoned their mission—but if this information was accurate, how had the Fourth Hokage arrived so instantaneously at his wife's side?

"Look carefully at the mark on that kunai," the commander continued. "It appears different from what our village intelligence has documented."

Their eyes scrutinized the weapon in Shisui's hand. Indeed, Minato's modified sensing seal differed from the standard markings they were familiar with.

"The Fourth Hokage has always been a prodigy in developing ninjutsu," the commander explained. "He created an S-rank technique at merely ten years of age. He later enhanced the Flying Thunder God Technique left by the Second Hokage, elevating it to legendary status throughout the shinobi world."

"Your assessment is sound," conceded the wielder of Hiramekarei grudgingly. If their commander's information proved accurate, the Fourth Hokage could appear at any moment, forcing them to abandon the pursuit and retreat.

"Before we embarked on this mission, Mizukage-sama personally warned me about such contingencies," said the eye-patched commander.

"Yet notice that until now, Uchiha Shisui has refrained from using the talisman given to him by the Fourth Hokage," Ringo Ameyuri observed, lowering her eyelids contemplatively. A grin spread across her face, revealing gleaming teeth. "He fears that if word spreads of the Fourth Hokage's direct intervention here, even Konoha's considerable might couldn't shield them from the political fallout."

She cast a sidelong glance at a Kirigakure ANBU positioned behind her. "Be prepared to relay information back to the village at any moment."

SWISH!

Behind the Kirigakure forces, among the dense foliage of the island, Mei Terumi alighted silently behind a broad tree trunk, expertly concealing her presence.

With her exceptional skills, even as a shadow of the Five Great Shinobi Nations, she could remain undetected if she chose to hide herself properly.

Rather than departing immediately, Mei observed Shisui's predicament from her concealed position. When she noticed the Konoha ninja's deformed right foot, she understood the situation completely.

Moreover, she deduced the function of the kunai Shisui clutched so desperately. Knowing Minato's character as she did, Mei realized that when he dispatched Shisui on this mission, he had naturally prepared an escape plan in advance.

However, ANBU from every nation conducted clandestine operations in foreign territories. If Minato's direct intervention in such a mission became known to other countries, while outright war might not erupt, the Land of Fire would certainly face severe diplomatic repercussions.

Both Shisui and Minato would likely face intense criticism and condemnation from their own village elders and council.

Minato-senpai, you truly haven't changed at all, Mei thought with an inward smile.

She remembered Minato from years ago, when he had infiltrated Kirigakure as a spy yet risked everything to save a Kirigakure girl he had never met. Despite the years that had passed and his elevation to the position of Hokage, his fundamental nature remained unaltered.

But given her own precarious position, Mei knew she couldn't intervene directly. Any exposure of her true allegiance would endanger not only herself but the entire resistance movement within Kirigakure.

The pursuit squad maintained their distance, wary of Minato's marked kunai, but they had effectively trapped Shisui and his injured companion. Their intent was clear—they would not allow the Konoha shinobi to escape easily.

After what seemed an eternity of internal struggle, Shisui's expression hardened with resigned determination. He returned the special kunai to his arm guard.

"I'm sorry, Kimura," he said, his voice low and heavy with regret. "Although this was entrusted to me by Hokage-sama, I cannot use it."

He gripped his dual swords more tightly, knuckles whitening from the pressure.

"But I will not abandon my comrade," he declared with quiet intensity. "If we cannot escape, then we will face our end together!"

A crimson tinge gradually spread across the whites of his eyes as his three-tomoe Sharingan began to spin wildly.

Against three shinobi of Seven Swordsmen caliber, Shisui might still have managed to retreat while protecting his injured companion. But with over thirty Kirigakure ANBU behind them, to be surrounded meant certain death.

"So you've made your decision?" The eye-patched commander's lips curled into a grim smile. "Facing death without flinching—admirable indeed."

With a subtle gesture from the commander, the two Swordsmen and the Kirigakure forces behind them surged forward toward Shisui's position.

"Heh, Shisui, there's no need to apologize." A bitter smile crossed the face of the Konoha ninja named Kimura. "If not for my carelessness, these pursuers would never have managed to corner someone of your caliber."

Shisui didn't turn, his attention focused entirely on the oncoming Kirigakure forces, readying himself for their assault.

"I understand what you meant earlier," Kimura continued, his voice taking on a strange, resolute quality. "As a Konoha shinobi, I have long been prepared to sacrifice myself for the village."

His eyes flickered with unwavering determination.

"So there is no need for you to sacrifice your life here for me!"

As the final word left his lips, Kimura raised the kunai in his hand and, without a moment's hesitation, plunged it directly into his left chest!

Shisui sensed something amiss in his comrade's tone and spun around—but it was already too late.

THUNK!

The kunai pierced through Kimura's chest with sickening finality. Blood erupted from the wound, spattering across Shisui's cheek as he turned.

Staring at the horrific scene before him, Shisui's pupils contracted to pinpoints of shock and disbelief.

"NOOOO!"

A primal, anguished roar tore from his throat, the sound more befitting a wounded beast than a human.

Simultaneously, the three tomoe in his scarlet Sharingan eyes began to spin with frenzied intensity, transforming with each rotation as an overwhelming grief consumed him entirely.

Chapter 729: Shisui's Mangekyo

"AAAHHH!!"

Shisui's anguished roar reverberated through the air, so primal and filled with grief that it momentarily stunned the Kirigakure ANBU surrounding him.

The eye-patched commander stared in disbelief. He had never expected a Konoha shinobi would willingly end his own life to protect a comrade. In his mind—in the minds of all Kirigakure ninja present—such an act was simply inconceivable.

In the Land of the Bloody Mist, survival meant killing, eliminating those who stood in your path. Self-sacrifice for another was an alien concept, a weakness to be purged.

Behind her tree, Mei Terumi's slender fingers clenched into tight fists as she witnessed Kimura's final act. She dug her nails so deeply into her palms that bright crimson blood trickled between her fingers, but she barely noticed the pain.

Memories flashed through her mind—how years ago she had helped release Kakashi and Rin because of Minato's influence. And yet, according to what Shisui had told her, one of them had still perished in some shadowy conspiracy.

These Konoha shinobi, with their unwavering loyalty... they all strove to protect their village and their companions, even at the cost of their own lives. If Minato hadn't touched her heart during her childhood, Mei realized, she too might have been molded into nothing more than a killing machine by the brutal training system established under the Mizukage's regime.

"Ha! So Konoha ninja are capable of this after all."

Ringo Ameyuri's grim laughter cut through the momentary silence. She saw not nobility in Kimura's sacrifice, but opportunity. With Shisui clearly devastated by his companion's death, his guard would be down—the perfect chance to strike.

Lightning crackled along the twin blades of Kiba as she lunged forward with lethal intent. Shisui of the Body Flicker had long been a significant threat to Kirigakure and ANBU operatives throughout the nations. This was their chance to eliminate him once and for all.

HISS!

The Thunder Fangs sliced through the air, electricity trailing in their wake as they descended toward Shisui's seemingly vulnerable form.

BOOM!

In a blur of motion, a flame-wreathed blade intercepted her attack. Lightning and fire collided in a spectacular display, the resulting shockwave sending ripples across the water's surface.

Without pausing, Shisui attacked with his second sword, this one enveloped in swirling wind chakra. Ringo Ameyuri responded instantly, bringing her second Kiba blade to bear against the incoming strike.

CLANG!

Metal struck metal, but this time, Shisui's wind-enhanced blade shattered through Ameyuri's lightning. The impact sent violent tremors up her arm, nearly causing her to lose grip on her prized weapon.

Seizing the opening, Shisui brought his wind-enhanced sword down in what would have been a decisive strike—

BOOM!

Just as victory seemed within reach, the massive form of Hiramekarei swept in from the side. Shisui was forced to redirect his attack, his wind-enhanced blade colliding with the legendary sword.

"Don't be careless!" the Hiramekarei wielder barked at his fellow Swordsman. "He's deliberately drawing you in!"

The sharpened wind chakra surrounding Shisui's blade sliced through the azure energy flowing from Hiramekarei, causing the Swordsman's eyes to widen in surprise.

Ringo Ameyuri fell back, suddenly alert to her near-fatal error. Both Swordsmen now faced Shisui directly, believing that together they could overcome any genjutsu his Sharingan might cast.

Yet as they met Shisui's gaze, they found something unexpected. Though his crimson eyes brimmed with profound sorrow, they also reflected a calm determination beyond ordinary comprehension. His grief for Kimura ran deep, but Shisui understood that surrendering completely to that sorrow would dishonor his comrade's sacrifice.

SWISH!

The three tomoe within Shisui's Sharingan began to rotate more rapidly, accelerating until they blurred. Then, gradually, the spinning tomoe merged together, forming an entirely new pattern—a four-pointed windmill design that seemed to pulse with hidden power.

Mangekyō Sharingan!

The moment the Swordsmen looked into Shisui's transformed eyes, their bodies froze. All motion ceased, as though time itself had stopped for them.

Is this the power of the Mangekyo? Shisui wondered, marveling inwardly at the sudden surge of energy flowing through his visual prowess. His Sharingan, which had seemed to reach its limit with the three tomoe pattern, now resonated with unprecedented strength.

Having participated in conflicts against Kirigakure more than a decade ago, Shisui immediately recognized what had occurred. He had awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan—the legendary evolution of his clan's dōjutsu.

With this enhanced ocular power, he had completely immobilized two of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen with nothing more than a glance. While Shisui had always possessed considerable talent with genjutsu, its effectiveness typically diminished against opponents of a certain caliber. But the Mangekyō changed everything.

"Have they fallen to his genjutsu?" The eye-patched commander's heart raced with sudden fear. With just a single look, Shisui had entrapped both Swordsmen in his illusion? According to all intelligence reports, his genjutsu abilities had never been this formidable!

After a moment of stunned indecision, the commander abruptly retreated. He recognized the futility of facing Shisui alone. Their earlier confidence had stemmed from Shisui's divided attention, his concern for his injured comrade weighing him down. Now, with that burden lifted through Kimura's sacrifice, they stood no chance.

Shisui turned his gaze toward the retreating commander. The eye patch the man wore appeared to contain some kind of protective seal, but such countermeasures were no longer sufficient against the power of his newly awakened Mangekyō.

"A dōjutsu?" Shisui whispered in shock.

Through his enhanced vision, he detected chakra patterns beneath the commander's eye patch—patterns consistent with another ocular technique. This revelation stunned him. Kirigakure possessed many clans with various kekkei genkai, but none were known to have dōjutsu.

In the current shinobi world, only two major eye techniques existed: the Sharingan and the Byakugan. Now possessing the Mangekyō Sharingan, Shisui could immediately identify the chakra signature—the man concealed the Byakugan beneath his patch!

A cold realization washed over him. In Konoha's recent history, the Byakugan had been compromised only once—approximately ten years ago during the Third Shinobi World War, when several Hyūga clan members had mysteriously vanished.

Shisui's expression darkened further as connections formed in his mind. That was the same period when Kakashi and Rin had been abducted by Kirigakure forces, when Obito had sacrificed himself on the battlefield to save his teammates.

"Everyone retreat!" The eye-patched commander shouted once he had put some distance between himself and Shisui.

SWISH!

Before the command fully left his lips, Shisui materialized directly before him, moving faster than the eye could track. The commander's face contorted in terror as those Mangekyo eyes reflected in his visible eye.

With a subtle pulse of chakra, Shisui cast a powerful genjutsu, sending the commander into a deep slumber. Turning back to survey the confused Kirigakure forces, Shisui's expression remained cold and focused.

SWISH!

His form blurred once more as he vanished from sight. With his unparalleled speed, the regular Kirigakure ANBU had no chance to react. One by one, he appeared before each operative, freezing them in place with precise applications of his genjutsu.

Within minutes, dozens of Kirigakure ANBU stood immobilized across the battlefield, trapped in illusory worlds of Shisui's creation.

After subduing the final ANBU member, Shisui shifted his gaze toward a specific location on the island—a seemingly innocuous tree some distance away.

"You discovered me?"

Mei Terumi stepped out from behind her cover, genuinely surprised. Though she knew Shisui was exceptionally skilled, his ability to detect her concealed presence despite everything else demanding his attention was remarkable.

She had observed his actions carefully—how he had controlled everyone with his illusions but had refrained from taking their lives. That restraint spoke volumes.

Mei approached, appearing before Shisui in a graceful movement.

"Thank you," she said softly, acknowledging his mercy. He had clearly known her location yet had chosen not to kill his enemies, instead subduing them with genjutsu—perhaps partly for her sake.

Shisui didn't immediately respond, the murderous intent in his eyes not yet fully dissipated. The pain of Kimura's death remained raw, fueling the dangerous power now coursing through him.

Mei Terumi's gaze fell upon the transformed pattern in Shisui's eyes, and she couldn't suppress a gasp of recognition and awe.

"Mangekyō... Sharingan?!"

...

Chapter 730: Other Gods

"Is it because of the Mangekyō Sharingan that you're capable of such feats?"

As her initial shock subsided, Mei Terumi contemplated the sudden transformation in Shisui's ocular prowess. This evolution explained the dramatic increase in his abilities.

Yet despite the legendary power his eyes now represented, there wasn't the faintest trace of joy in Shisui's expression. Only profound sadness and pain reflected in the Mangekyo pattern of his Sharingan.

"Is this the prerequisite for awakening those eyes?" Mei wondered, her heart constricting at the implication.

Though the conditions for awakening the Mangekyō Sharingan remained a closely guarded secret of the Uchiha clan, Mei recalled incidents from the Third Shinobi World War. Uchiha Yoruki had awakened his Mangekyō despite being at a severe disadvantage, subsequently defeating several members of the Seven Swordsmen and turning the tide of battle in Konoha's favor.

His transformation had occurred when his father, had intercepted a fatal blow from Shinpachi that was meant for him.

Given the circumstances of Shisui's awakening, Mei had already formed her suspicions about the pattern: witnessing the death of someone deeply cherished. This was the terrible price one paid for obtaining the Mangekyō.

If Shisui hadn't detected her presence nearby, she had no doubt he would have eradicated every Kirigakure shinobi present. Despite their opposing allegiances, Mei couldn't have remained idle while Shisui slaughtered her village's ninja—regardless of how justified his rage might be. After all, she remained a shinobi of the Hidden Mist.

The murderous intent that had surged through Shisui was now visibly suppressed, held in check by his iron will. He acknowledged Mei with a slight nod before speaking softly.

"You remained here because you were concerned for our safety."

"I'm sorry," Mei replied, her expression clouded with regret. "I couldn't provide any real assistance."

"You were right not to intervene," Shisui assured her. "Otherwise, all your efforts until now would have been rendered meaningless."

He paused briefly, his gaze shifting toward the eye-patched commander lying unconscious nearby, trapped in genjutsu. "However, I fear that man has already detected your presence on this island."

"What?" Mei's eyes widened in alarm.

"The eye beneath his patch is a Byakugan from the Hyūga clan," Shisui explained. "Its visual range extends approximately one kilometer in diameter. From the beginning, virtually everything occurring on this island was within his sight."

Shisui's implication was clear—under the penetrating gaze of the Byakugan, conventional methods of concealment were futile.

"So that's how it is," Mei whispered, her face paling at the revelation.

She frowned deeply as the implications sank in. Though the Mizukage's suspicions about her loyalty remained unconfirmed, this man had witnessed her meeting with Shisui. Even if Shisui spared his life, failing to eliminate this witness would not only endanger her personally but would collapse all her carefully laid plans.

The entire Terumi clan could face annihilation as a result. Secret collaboration with foreign shinobi, regardless of justification, constituted an unforgivable taboo in every hidden village.

Yet Mei found herself unable to eliminate a shinobi from her own village—at least not at this moment. She was trapped in an impossible dilemma.

Meanwhile, Shisui silently assessed the new power flowing through his awakened Mangekyō. Within his scarlet eyes, the four-pointed windmill pattern rotated almost imperceptibly.

Returning his attention to Mei, he spoke with renewed purpose. "This Byakugan user who led the operation against us—he must be a close confidant of the Mizukage, correct?"

"I—yes," Mei confirmed after a moment of surprise at his insight. "Fourth Mizukage Yagura rarely appears in public. Usually, it's the individual code-named Shō who executes his orders."

Under the Mizukage's strict regime, neither Mei nor anyone else in Kirigakure knew Shō's real name or background. He was identified solely by his single-character code name.

"If you had his assistance, could you expose the Mizukage's true manipulator?" Shisui asked suddenly.

His question cut to the heart of the matter. Since Shō acted as the reclusive Fourth Mizukage's proxy, he must have cultivated significant status and authority within Kirigakure over the years.

"What are you suggesting?" Mei asked, startled by the implication. Shō was a confidant the Fourth Mizukage had cultivated for years; his loyalty seemed beyond question.

Yet Shisui wouldn't raise this possibility without reason.

"I can use the power of these eyes," Shisui said deliberately, "to fundamentally alter Shō's allegiance—to make him your ally instead."

"What?!"

Such a claim would naturally be met with disbelief, but through their recent interactions, Mei understood that Shisui's words likely held truth. Especially now that he had awakened the legendary Mangekyō Sharingan.

"This is an ability of your eyes?" she asked, her voice steadier now though still betraying her astonishment.

Shisui nodded solemnly, his gaze briefly shifting to Kimura's lifeless form. "This is the power bestowed upon me by my best friend's sacrifice. I will use it to complete our mission."

After absorbing his words, Mei paused thoughtfully before responding. "The chances of success may be high, but the theory that the Mizukage is being manipulated remains speculative. We can't afford to act rashly."

"It's simpler than you might think," Shisui replied with a grim smile, glancing toward the unconscious Shō. "We can utilize this man's Byakugan abilities to our advantage."

He continued, his analytical mind piecing together the puzzle. "Anyone capable of controlling the Fourth Mizukage—who is a perfect Jinchūriki—must possess extraordinarily powerful ocular abilities. Even with the Mangekyō Sharingan, maintaining such control wouldn't be trivial. The controller must remain within a certain proximity to the Mizukage whenever exerting influence."

Mei quickly grasped the implications of Shisui's reasoning. If they could genuinely alter Shō's allegiance, they could use his Byakugan to confirm whether someone was indeed manipulating the Mizukage from the shadows—and then take decisive action.

It was an elegant solution, almost perfect in its conception.

After careful consideration, Mei nodded her agreement. "I accept your proposal."

"Thank you for your trust," Shisui said solemnly, recognizing the immense courage and resolve required for Mei to embrace such a risky plan. One misstep, and she would be branded a traitor to her village.

"No," Mei countered with a slight smile. "If our suspicions prove correct, then it is the ninja of Konoha who will have saved the entire Hidden Mist Village. I am the one who should express gratitude." She offered Shisui a respectful bow.

The Fourth Hokage's original intent in authorizing this mission extended beyond merely assisting Kirigakure—more critically, it aimed to dismantle the conspiracy of whoever manipulated the village from the shadows. With Kirigakure being one of the Five Great Shinobi Villages, enemy control of its resources and shinobi would pose a significant threat to the balance of power.

Acknowledging Mei with a nod, Shisui pivoted toward Shō. In the blink of an eye, he materialized before the man still trapped in his genjutsu.

Forming a hand seal, Shisui released just enough of his illusion for Shō to regain consciousness. The man's eyes opened, unfocused and disoriented.

Shisui stared directly at him, the power of his Mangekyō penetrating the restrictive seal beneath the black eye patch, striking directly at Shō's consciousness—at his very soul.

The four-pointed windmill pattern within Shisui's eyes spun violently before suddenly freezing in place.

"Kotoamatsukami!"