Saving Shisui

**Two months until the Academy entrance exams…**

Time was slipping through my fingers faster than I had ever imagined. I knew that today was the day Shisui Uchiha was supposed to die and Itachi would gain the Mangekyo Sharingan—a day that would set in motion a chain of tragedies. But I wasn't about to let that happen. Not if I could help it. My heart pounded in my chest as I quickly formulated a plan to save him. I couldn't let this end in bloodshed and sorrow.

I found Naruto outside, his bright grin a temporary balm to my anxiety. "Hey, Naruto! Do you want to go treasure hunting?"

His face lit up, eyes sparkling with excitement. "Dattebayo! Where are we playing?"

I forced myself to smile, trying to mask the urgency that threatened to seep through my voice. "I'll hide the clues, and you'll find them, okay? Give me an hour to set everything up."

"Yeah!" he agreed enthusiastically, completely oblivious to the storm that was brewing.

I hurriedly made my way to the Naka River cliff, where Shisui was destined to meet his end. Every step I took was heavy with the weight of what was to come, but I pushed through it. This wasn't just about stopping a death; it was about protecting a future that hadn't even begun yet. I scattered the clues, ensuring they led directly to the cliff, and finally placed the "treasure" at the end—a bundle of kunai that would mean nothing to anyone else but would serve as a reward for Naruto.

Returning home, I handed Naruto the first clue, my hands trembling slightly as I did so. I tried to appear nonchalant, but the looming sense of dread made it hard to breathe. All I could think about was whether I was already too late.

As we followed the clues, I kept a vigilant eye on our surroundings, ensuring that the ANBU were still trailing us. They were—thank goodness. This was going to work. It had to.

Finally, we reached the Naka River, and there he was: Shisui, locked in a fierce battle against Danzo and his ROOT agents. My heart skipped a beat, the sight more terrifying in reality than I had imagined. Naruto, bless his impulsive heart, saw the fight and ran toward it, shouting at the top of his lungs. I wanted to scream for him to stop, but my voice caught in my throat. I could only watch in horror as the scene unfolded.

From the corner of my eye, I caught sight of Itachi approaching, his expression a mix of desperation and determination. Shisui was badly injured, cuts marring his once-pristine form, but his eyes—those precious, powerful eyes—were still intact. My chest tightened as I realized that everything hinged on the next few moments.

Suddenly, I felt movement behind me. The ANBU who had been shadowing Naruto stepped out, revealing themselves. One had a dog mask and gravity-defying hair. My eyes widened in recognition. Kakashi… Of course. It made sense that he would be protecting his mentor's child. Two other ANBU emerged as well, one of them quickly creating a clone that dashed off toward the village—hopefully to get reinforcements.

The battle that followed was brutal. Between Kakashi, Shisui, Itachi, and the other ANBU, the ROOT agents were swiftly dealt with, and Danzo was restrained. I watched, holding my breath, as Itachi's eyes bled with the awakening of the Mangekyo. The pain of almost losing his best friend must have triggered it, and I felt a pang of sorrow for what that meant for him—power born from anguish.

Then, the system alerts chimed in:

[Ding! Hidden Quest accomplished]

[Save Shisui Uchiha

Rewards: Exp: +1500, Money: +5000 Ryo, Perk: Friend of Uchiha]

[LVL 8 >> 9

INT: 23

WIS: 20

STR: 15 >> 17

CC: 12

DEX: 7

SPD: 12

VIT: 500 (20/hr)]

Points: 18]

<< Perk >>

[Gamer's mind: Allows the user to calmly and logically think things through. Allows a peaceful state of mind. Immunity to mental disorder.

Gamer's body: Grants a body that allows the user to live the real world like a game. (He receives no physical damage from attacks, only pain for a few seconds and a loss of HP). After sleeping in a bed, it restores VIT, CC, and cures all status effects.

Friend of Uchiha: Allowed freedom in Uchiha compound. Any business ventures between Haruno and Uchiha are bound to be successful.]

Despite the victory, the tension in the air was palpable. The ANBU escorted us back home after the fight, but I could feel the unspoken questions hanging between Naruto and me. What had we just witnessed? What did it mean for the future?

The next day, I was summoned to the Hokage's office along with Naruto. Anxiety gnawed at my insides as we made our way there. What would they say? Had I crossed a line? When we arrived, the room was filled with some of the village's most powerful figures—Fugaku Uchiha, Itachi, Shisui, Jonin Commander Shikaku Nara, and Yamanaka Clan Head Inoichi. Even my mother was there. The atmosphere was heavy, charged with unspoken tension.

After the pleasantries were exchanged, the Hokage's gaze turned serious as he inquired about our mental state. We assured him that we were fine, that being mere onlookers hadn't left any lasting effects. But the truth was, I couldn't shake the images from my mind—the blood, the fear, the weight of what could have happened if we had been just a little too late.

Inoichi offered his services as a mind therapist, but I declined as politely as I could. I didn't want anyone rooting around in my head, especially given the secrets I harbored. Fugaku, meanwhile, did something unexpected. He declared both me and Naruto as Honorary Uchiha, even inviting us to visit the compound later. It felt like a door opening to a new world, one filled with both opportunity and danger.

But then Naruto, with his usual blunt honesty, asked the question that had been simmering in the back of my mind: "Why does the village hate the Uchiha like they hate me?"

Fugaku looked taken aback, but before he could respond, Naruto continued, "On the way here, there were a few Uchiha members outside. The villagers were looking at them the same way they look at me, but they also seemed afraid."

I could see the sadness in Fugaku's eyes as he answered. "The Uchiha are being ostracized because the villagers believe we were responsible for the Kyuubi attack, which we have denied countless times."

The Hokage nodded grimly. "I know. Danzo let slip some information during his interrogation. We'll discuss this further once the children have left. We need to find a way to improve the Uchiha's reputation."

An idea sparked in my mind, and before I could second-guess myself, I spoke up. "But isn't the police force made of Uchiha? Aren't they the ones who keep the civilians safe?" I paused, my heart racing. "I think I have an idea!"

All eyes turned to me, and I felt a surge of nervousness, but I pushed through it. "The Haruno clan owns several business properties, including some unrented shops. What if the Uchiha clan started a business, like an eatery or something? Wouldn't that help boost their reputation?"

To my surprise, Fugaku smiled—a rare, genuine smile that softened his usually stern features. My mother, her eyes twinkling with pride, chimed in, "Clan Head Fugaku, maybe we can discuss this in more detail. It looks promising from a business viewpoint as well. I remember eating pastries made by Aoiko and Miyoto Uchiha when I was in the academy. They were absolutely delicious."

The conversation took on a lighter tone, and I felt a flicker of hope. Perhaps this could work. Perhaps, in some small way, I could help mend the rift between the Uchiha and the rest of the village. But beneath that hope was a cautious wariness. I had shown more intelligence and understanding than I intended, and while Danzo was in custody, I knew the village's political landscape was treacherous. I would have to tread carefully from now on.

We were sent home with a promise of a visit to the Uchiha compound soon. As Naruto and I walked back, I couldn't help but feel a mixture of relief and apprehension. Today, I had altered the course of events, saving a life and potentially changing the future. But at what cost? Only time would tell.

As we reached home, Naruto looked up at me, his blue eyes filled with unwavering trust. "Sakura-nee, we're gonna be the best shinobi ever, right?"

I smiled down at him, ruffling his hair. "Yeah, Naruto. We're going to change the world—together."

But even as I said the words, I couldn't shake the feeling that the world we were trying to change was already starting to change us.