CHAPTER 44
The Real Shisui
"Insufficient pupil power. Kotoamatsukami has entered its cooldown time!"
Naruto, now wielding Shisui's Mangekyō Sharingan, attempted to use its ultimate genjutsu several times, only to discover the technique was already on cooldown.
This baffled him. As he examined the situation, a thought crossed his mind: Did Shisui use Kotoamatsukami on himself during the battle where I took his eyes? But Naruto found no signs of being under genjutsu, and Kurama, the Nine-Tails sealed within him, hadn't alerted him to any unusual manipulations.
If Shisui had truly been capable of controlling both me and Kurama simultaneously, he wouldn't have needed to prevent the Uchiha coup indirectly. He could've simply seized control of Konoha and made himself Hokage.
Naruto's thoughts raced. If he didn't use Kotoamatsukami on me, then who?
The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi? Shimura Danzo? Uchiha Fugaku? He quickly dismissed each possibility.
The Third Hokage allowed the Uchiha massacre to occur. Danzo was an active participant in it. And if Fugaku had been controlled by Kotoamatsukami, the coup wouldn't have gone forward at all.
Naruto shook off his diverging thoughts. He brought Shisui's Mangekyō Sharingan into his mindscape, presenting it to Kurama.
Kurama growled upon seeing the swirling tomoe pattern. "Naruto, I hate those eyes. Don't bring them near me! Did you take these from some Uchiha ninja to use them against me?"
Naruto chuckled, shaking his head. "Of course not. We're partners now, aren't we?"
Kurama snorted, but Naruto pressed on. "Still, I'm curious. You're so strong, so why are you afraid of the Sharingan?"
Kurama's expression darkened. "You don't understand the power of the Mangekyō Sharingan. Those accursed eyes are capable of controlling even me. But if you've acquired one, it won't be long before we're free from this cage."
Naruto nodded. "Yes. But before we leave, there's still a lot I need to do."
Kurama tilted his head, suspicion flickering in his eyes, but he said nothing.
Leaving his mindscape, Naruto reflected on his discovery. Shisui's eyes no longer emitted the overwhelming malice and despair typical of Uchiha. Even Kurama's negative emotions were less intrusive, granting Naruto greater access to the Nine-Tails' chakra. Yet a lingering question haunted him: Who was the target of Kotoamatsukami?
Naruto returned to the operating room. As he walked past the cage holding Shisui, he paused and looked directly at the man. Suddenly, the truth hit him like a lightning strike.
Shisui… you used Kotoamatsukami on yourself.
Everything made sense now: Danzo using Kotoamatsukami at the Five Kage Summit, Itachi not using it to control Konoha's elders, and the peculiar residual chakra Naruto had felt in Shisui's body even after taking both eyes.
Naruto stared at Shisui with his own Mangekyō Sharingan. Shisui, sensing the familiar cold chakra, frowned.
Naruto didn't hold back. "Shisui, your eyes are truly remarkable. But after transplanting them, I've discovered something interesting."
Shisui's heart sank. He could feel the weight of Naruto's words.
Naruto continued, "Kotoamatsukami—a genjutsu that can rewrite someone's will without them even noticing. But after being used, it needs a cooldown of about ten years. And when I transplanted your eye, it was already on cooldown. So tell me, Shisui: who did you use it on?"
A flicker of realization crossed Shisui's face.
Suddenly, a sharp pain shot through his head. Clutching his temples, he collapsed, writhing on the ground. Memories buried deep within him surged to the surface, tearing through his mind like a whirlwind. After what felt like an eternity, he looked up at Naruto, trembling.
Naruto's voice was calm but piercing. "You used Kotoamatsukami on yourself. You are the one controlled by your own genjutsu."
The words hit Shisui like a hammer, shattering his composure. "No… no, that's impossible! I would never…" he muttered, shaking his head in disbelief.
But the memories rushing through him said otherwise.
---
Shisui had never believed in the Will of Fire. From childhood to the Second Shinobi World War, he had dismissed it as hollow propaganda. For Shisui, survival and loyalty were selfish pursuits. Only personal strength mattered.
But during one mission, his best friend had died protecting him. As Shisui cradled his friend's lifeless body, guilt and grief overwhelmed him. In that moment, his Mangekyō Sharingan awakened.
Devastated by his failure and consumed by guilt, Shisui turned to Kotoamatsukami. He used it on himself, rewriting his own will to embrace the ideals of the Will of Fire. It made him the perfect shinobi—selfless, devoted, and loyal to Konoha.
From then on, Shisui dedicated himself to protecting the village, even at the expense of his clan. But the conflict between his genjutsu-induced ideals and his true self eventually broke him. Overwhelmed, he entrusted his remaining eye to Itachi before taking his own life.
---
Now, stripped of his eyes and freed from the genjutsu's influence, Shisui's suppressed memories flooded back. He gripped the iron bars of his cage, his voice trembling with anger and despair.
"Why, Naruto? Why did you make me remember? Couldn't you let me die as the ideal version of myself? Why expose the truth?!"
Naruto looked down at Shisui, his voice steady but cold. "Because, Shisui, you've already died in your fantasy. It's time to face reality."
Shisui slumped against the bars, his body trembling as he muttered, "I don't even know who I am anymore…"
Naruto turned to leave, but paused, glancing over his shoulder. "Then maybe it's time to figure that out."
Shisui sat in silence, the weight of his past pressing down on him, as Naruto disappeared into the shadows.
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