"So Danzo really had quite a few traits on him."
"Just… way too black."
Deep within the forest, Uchiha Kai recalled the traits that had surfaced on Danzo's body moments ago.
[Target defeated: Shimura Danzo. Attempting to copy traits.]
[Currently copyable traits:
Sharingan Collector (Black),
Pot-Shadow Hokage (Black),
5.5th Hokage (Black),
Bridge-Sealer (Black),
Wood Release Cells · Fragment (Blue),
Wind Release Mastery (Blue),
Tongue Curse Eradication (Green)…]
So many black traits that Kai couldn't help raising a thumb in admiration.
"As expected of the Pot-Shadow Hokage. Someone this black… only Obito or Madara could compete with him, right?"
Wasn't this the very definition of leaving everyone else in the dust?
He shook his head and continued reading.
[Copy successful. Congratulations, host has obtained Rare Trait:
Wood Release Cells · Fragment (Blue).
Effect: Increases physical energy and balances spiritual energy. Due to incomplete replication, usage consumes lifespan.]
"No wonder it's incomplete."
The rank wasn't high, yet the side effects were brutal.
Kai narrowed his eyes, but without hesitation, he kept the trait.
For now, it could stabilize the balance between physical and spiritual energy.
In other words—
It could prevent him from ending up like Itachi, coughing everywhere he went.
You'd hear the man before you saw him.
Those who knew understood it was the Sharingan draining him dry.
Those who didn't would think the guy was just weak.
With Wood Release supporting him, physical and mental energy could at least be maintained—temporarily.
As for the lifespan cost…
That could be solved.
Traits could be upgraded.
Right now, it was only blue.
But if it reached purple—or gold—
Then he'd truly have nothing to worry about.
At that thought, Kai glanced back toward where he'd come from and muttered,
"Looks like I'll have to chat with Danzo more often in the future…"
From now on, every dark and stormy night would be Danzo's personal brick-tapping symphony.
"Faster… faster…"
"Lord Danzo… why… why would you do this…"
"Kai… Kai was right all along…"
"Root?! They really won't let go!"
Amid his muttering, Uchiha Shisui clutched his eye—and with one eye blazing, forcibly manifested Susanoo!
A towering green Susanoo, over twenty meters tall, erupted within the forest.
It stood out starkly among the trees.
Overwhelming.
Divine.
Most Root members had never even heard of such a thing.
Facing power like a god's descent, they could only defend themselves in panic.
Yet Shisui didn't fight them seriously.
He swept them aside and kept running forward.
But where was he going?
Back to the clan?
In his current state, he couldn't hide what had happened.
Given the tension within the clan, a coup could erupt tonight.
Especially with the elders involved—even the clan head might not be able to stop it.
…Forget it.
The old place.
He dismissed Susanoo and sprinted toward the cliff.
That place—
Where he always went when he was lost and helpless.
But his eye throbbed harder and harder.
His thoughts grew heavier.
Faster.
Just a little faster—
Tap.
At some point, his strength finally gave out.
He collapsed forward.
But just before he hit the ground, a pair of slender hands reached out.
"Ah—"
Shisui froze.
Looking up, he saw a tear-troughed boy of similar height staring down at him.
"Itachi…? Why are you here…?"
Uchiha Itachi shook his head silently and helped his friend sit beneath a tree.
Why was he here?
Lately, after reorganizing his thoughts every day, Kai had often brought up Shisui and Danzo during their chats.
So when Itachi saw Shisui leave that night, he followed—on instinct.
Still, he'd been one step too late.
He took a deep breath, suppressing his emotions.
"Shisui, you—"
Before he could finish, two weak fingers pressed gently against his lips.
Shisui shook his head.
"Shh. Itachi, listen to me."
"This was Lord Danzo's doing. He took my other eye as well."
"But—don't tell the clan. Let them think I died on the battlefield."
As he spoke, those two fingers turned inward—
And plucked out an eyeball.
"Don't be sad. Take it."
"Protect the village. Protect the clan. And take care of you, Sasuke… and Kai."
"Maybe only if I die… will this invisible conflict finally end."
With that, filled with resolve to die, he turned—
And leapt toward the cliff etched into his memory.
"Shisui—!"
Itachi stared at the blood-soaked eye in his hand.
Then at his friend's fading figure.
Something indescribable spread through his chest.
Why did it turn out like this?
Why did someone so pure and kind become a sacrifice to politics?!
Why did it have to be Shisui?!
His mind screamed.
His blood howled.
Even the chakra within his body began to spin violently.
In the next instant—
The three-tomoe Sharingan in his eyes began to rotate wildly.
So fast it was almost absurd.
The tomoe stretched, fused—
Forming a triangular shuriken-like pattern.
Mangekyō Sharingan—awakened!
Because the man who was both teacher and friend had "died,"
Uchiha Itachi awakened the Mangekyō in fury!
Step. Step. Step.
At the same time, a Root operative crept up from behind.
Itachi didn't even look.
Black flames erupted from his gaze.
Fwoosh!
The fire appeared from nothing and instantly engulfed the man.
He didn't even have time to scream before being reduced to ash.
Amaterasu.
"So… this is my new dōjutsu."
Itachi stared at the remains, blood-tears streaming from his eyes.
"You are the first to die by Amaterasu."
"And the last."
Just as his words fell—
A light, casual voice sounded beside him.
Young. Lively. Infuriatingly flippant.
"That voice—Kai?!"
Itachi snapped his head up.
His crimson eyes calmed instantly.
Standing there was Uchiha Kai.
And on his back—
A very familiar figure.
"…Shisui?"
Itachi froze, a suppressed flicker of joy flashing through his eyes.
Kai had saved him.
But then Itachi hesitated, frowning as he searched for words.
"But… Shisui didn't want us to save him…"
Kai: ...
His temper exploded instantly.
"Idiot!"
He reached out and jabbed Itachi hard in the forehead, full of disgust.
"He says don't save him, so you don't save him?! If he told you to assassinate the Hokage, would you go do that too?!"
Damn it.
No wonder the Uchiha were all lunatics.
Even the smartest one—Itachi—
Was still a fool when it mattered most.
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