CHAPTER 43
The Taste of Sharingan
"My brother Itachi has been weird lately, like a completely different person."
"Whenever I asked him to train with me before, even if he initially refused, he'd always make time the next day. But now, he keeps saying, 'Next time,' and doesn't keep his promises anymore."
"I wanted to ask Brother Shisui about it, but Shisui seems to have disappeared."
"People in the clan are saying Shisui is dead, claiming he died on a mission. But I can tell they're hiding something from me, refusing to tell me the real story..."
In the classroom, Sasuke Uchiha sat deep in thought, distracted and troubled. He vented quietly to Naruto Uzumaki, who was startled by Sasuke's unusual behavior.
Naruto stared at him with wide, curious eyes. Is this really the same cold and untouchable Sasuke I know?
Feeling Naruto's gaze, Sasuke quickly straightened his posture and returned to his aloof demeanor, pretending nothing had happened. Sasuke, who always saw Naruto as a rival, wasn't about to show weakness.
Nearby, Sakura Haruno noticed the change in Sasuke as well. Concerned, she reached out to ask what was wrong, only to be silenced by a sharp, cold glance from Sasuke. Hurt and confused, Sakura withdrew her hand, wondering bitterly why Sasuke would confide in Naruto and not her.
Meanwhile, Iruka Umino stood at the front of the classroom, observing the scene. A small smile crept across his face as he noted Naruto's recent improvements in behavior.
Naruto, once loud and disruptive, was now friendlier and more focused. Iruka thought, Perhaps it's the Uchiha Guard stirring up new tensions in the village that's distracting everyone... but at least Naruto isn't causing trouble anymore.
What Iruka didn't know was that the Naruto in the classroom was only a shadow clone.
---
In the Forest of Death, the forbidden zone filled with dangerous creatures that could threaten even Chunin-level shinobi, the real Naruto found solace.
For a ninja of Naruto's strength—already comparable to a Jonin—the forest was a haven. Here, there were no prying eyes, no ANBU lurking in the shadows, and no need to hide his growing power. He could freely hunt the dangerous beasts, harvesting their meat and using the experience to sharpen his survival skills.
After a successful hunt, Naruto returned to a hidden underground base, carrying raw meat. In a dimly lit room, he set to work cooking a simple meal of stewed vegetables and meat.
He brought a portion of food to a makeshift cell, where Shisui Uchiha sat, blind and restrained.
Shisui, once the pride of the Uchiha clan with his unmatched mastery of the Sharingan, now sat with bandages over his eyes, relying on his other senses to navigate his captivity. From the damp air and muffled sounds, he deduced they were still in the Land of Fire. But beyond that, Shisui had little information about his captor, aside from one thing: they were incredibly skilled.
"Who are you?" Shisui asked calmly as Naruto approached.
Naruto didn't answer immediately. He leaned against the bars of the cage, staring at Shisui with a faint smile.
"Why don't you kill me?" Shisui continued. "You already have my Mangekyō Sharingan. What more do you want?"
Naruto smirked. "Kill you? That would ruin the fun. I'm curious how the world will react when the Uchiha's hero reappears... without his Sharingan."
Shisui frowned but said nothing. Naruto chuckled and added, "Besides, don't you feel lighter now? Without the burden of the Sharingan, doesn't everything seem... clearer?"
Though he wouldn't admit it aloud, Shisui had indeed been reflecting deeply in the days since losing his eyes. Without the overwhelming influence of the Mangekyō, his mind felt clearer, his thoughts more rational. Yet he remained wary of Naruto's motives.
Naruto left Shisui in silence and moved to another room in the base. On a cold stone table lay surgical tools and a mirror. Summoning a shadow clone, Naruto began his next experiment.
His objective: to transplant Shisui's Mangekyō Sharingan into his own eyes.
---
The surgery was painstaking but successful. As Naruto adjusted to his new Sharingan, his vision sharpened, and the world seemed to slow. He gazed into the mirror, his reflection now sporting the signature tomoe pattern of the Uchiha clan.
But something was wrong.
When Naruto attempted to activate Kotoamatsukami, the ultimate genjutsu ability of Shisui's Mangekyō, he felt unexpected resistance. A sudden wave of feedback surged through him, leaving Naruto stunned.
What is this? he thought, staring at his reflection. The Sharingan stared back at him, unblinking, as if mocking him.
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