CHAPTER 45

The Necessary Sacrifice of the Uchiha

"Shisui, the idealized version of yourself that you cling to has long ceased to exist. It's time to embrace reality."

Hearing this, Shisui Uchiha froze, collapsing onto the ground with a vacant expression.

Days earlier, after losing his Mangekyo Sharingan, Shisui had sensed something amiss but chose to suppress his doubts. He avoided confronting his fears, reluctant to trust his instincts.

Now, as Naruto's words laid bare the truth, Shisui struggled to accept it. Acknowledging reality required a courage he wasn't yet ready to muster.

Naruto observed Shisui, his form weighed down by sorrow. Sighing softly, he left a shadow clone behind to monitor him discreetly and exited the dimly lit underground hideout.

"Shisui needs time," Naruto thought, walking through the dense forest. "That'll give me the chance to master Kotoamatsukami."

As Naruto ventured deeper into the wilderness, his thoughts circled back to Shisui. The legendary Uchiha had sacrificed himself for peace, throwing away his life to protect both his clan and the village. Yet the Shisui before him seemed far removed from that figure—weak and unrecognizable.

"But the real Shisui," Naruto mused, "was even more ruthless. He rewrote his own will to prioritize the greater good."

Arriving at a secluded valley, Naruto resolved to master the Sharingan. Despite only possessing one of Shisui's eyes, he was determined to unlock its full potential. He practiced its foundational abilities: enhanced dynamic vision, chakra flow detection, and augmented genjutsu.

Naruto's thoughts drifted to Susanoo. Unfortunately, a single Mangekyo couldn't summon the ethereal warrior. Though frustrated, he chuckled softly, thinking, "Susanoo is every guy's dream mech."

He continued training with renewed focus, his control over the Sharingan growing sharper. Naruto soon perfected the Uchiha clan's iconic shuriken techniques, hitting targets with pinpoint accuracy through complex ricochets.

"Shisui's eye is remarkable, but it's not a full Mangekyo," he muttered hours later while soaking in a cold stream to wash off sweat. Despite its usefulness, the Sharingan couldn't match Kurama's raw power, versatility, or companionship.

Drying himself with wind-style jutsu, Naruto donned colored contact lenses to conceal the Sharingan's unique design before heading toward a nearby town.

He wasn't worried about Hokage Sarutobi noticing during a home visit. The Third Hokage rarely paid attention to such details, leaving Naruto free to experiment with his newfound power.

Elsewhere, Danzo Shimura, head of the Root organization, lay on an operating table. Surrounding him were medical ninjas and armed guards, ensuring the procedure's secrecy. Danzo's body convulsed under the strain of the surgery as he underwent a transplant for Shisui's other Sharingan.

Unlike Naruto, whose Uzumaki heritage made him resilient, the aging Danzo found the operation torturous. The rejection from Kotoamatsukami's chakra caused severe discomfort. Yet, to achieve his ambitions, Danzo considered the pain a necessary price.

Once stabilized, Danzo wasted no time experimenting with the Sharingan's abilities. However, like Naruto, he discovered the ten-year cooldown of Kotoamatsukami, leaving him visibly enraged. His grand plans to manipulate the Five Kage and key leaders across nations were immediately hindered.

Danzo turned to his researchers, inquiring about the risks of implanting Hashirama's cells to gain Wood Release. The lead researcher hesitated before responding, "The First Hokage's cells are too dominant, and without another Sharingan, the chances of success are slim—only a 30% survival rate."

Frustrated, Danzo considered alternatives. Orochimaru, his former collaborator, came to mind. But obtaining the necessary Sharingan remained a problem. His thoughts darkened as he resolved to harvest Uchiha eyes from within the village.

"For Konoha's prosperity," Danzo murmured, "the Uchiha's sacrifices are justified."

Meanwhile, far from Konoha, Obito Uchiha stopped a carriage along a Fire Nation road. Ignoring the guards, he killed a high-ranking official and dragged the body into the forest, leaving Zetsu to handle the cleanup.

As Obito rested in the shade, he received a brief message: "Shisui is missing. Uchiha intelligence claims Itachi killed him."

Obito's single visible eye narrowed. The chessboard was shifting, and Shisui's absence meant new opportunities—and new threats.

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