CHAPTER 52

Theft

"Shisui's affection for you has been recognized, and you have obtained the 'Uchiha Unique Fire Release Collection.' As a Uchiha Jonin, Uchiha Shisui is a master of Fire Release."

When the system's notification sounded, Naruto froze, his face twisting into an odd expression.

He had attacked Shisui, even stolen Shisui's Mangekyō Sharingan, yet Shisui's favorability toward him had not decreased but increased, reaching a level of recognition. Was this the infamous "curse of love" unique to the Uchiha clan?

Unable to suppress his disbelief, Naruto received the system reward, gaining knowledge related to Fire Release techniques. However, it would take at least a week to fully absorb these memories and master the application of Fire Release in combat.

This made Naruto feel increasingly like an Uchiha. Not only had he mastered the Uchiha's taijutsu style and signature Fire Release, but he also now wielded Mangekyō Sharingan. He was, in essence, a walking Uchiha ninja.

Shisui, sensing Naruto's eyes on him, became visibly tense. He assumed Naruto was plotting to kill him. Though prepared for death, the timing felt cruel; he had just begun to hope he could save his family.

After deliberating, Shisui cautiously said, "Why not leave it alone? The prisoners seem to live well enough now."

From the sealed space, Kurama rested his chin on one paw and commented, "Naruto, you're good at manipulating people's emotions. This kid is practically losing his mind, but your plan to use Shisui to lead the Uchiha's defection is clever. With the Uchiha drawing attention, no one will focus on us leaving Konoha."

"Of course," Naruto replied casually. Then he added aloud to Shisui, "No, I'll help you get Sharingan. This plan is too interesting to abandon."

Shisui exhaled with relief, a flicker of hope lighting his eyes. If the Uchiha could leave Konoha, perhaps the clan could rebuild its former glory.

---

Night blanketed the land. Naruto and Shisui, or rather Shisui's shadow clone containing 50% of his original strength, approached Konoha's gates.

The towering wooden wall before them, though over ten meters tall, was hardly an obstacle for shinobi. However, the barrier surrounding Konoha—a high-level sensory seal capable of detecting intruders and defectors—was formidable. Even Pain had failed to bypass it undetected.

Naruto glanced at Shisui. As a trusted Anbu under the Third Hokage, Shisui knew the method for bypassing the barrier. Under Naruto's gaze, Shisui sighed and explained how to proceed.

Soon, they breached the barrier and slipped past Chūnin sentries, navigating toward the Uchiha compound.

Upon reaching the edge of the clan's territory, Shisui paused, his gaze sweeping over familiar streets. Emotions churned within him. He had not set foot here in months, and now he returned as a dead man—stealing from his own family.

Yes, Shisui saw no other way to describe it. To retrieve Sharingan from the clan's secret storage, he had to commit theft.

The Sharingan was not as rare as outsiders believed. Many deceased Uchiha elders, upon unlocking their Sharingan, would leave their eyes to the clan before passing. Over the decades, this practice had amassed a considerable number of Sharingan, all stored securely.

As the only member of the clan to awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan in recent years, Shisui knew the location of the storage and its defenses. However, he couldn't shake his growing suspicion that Naruto was no ordinary outsider. His mastery of Uchiha techniques and knowledge of clan traditions was uncanny.

Naruto, meanwhile, surveyed the Uchiha compound with familiarity. This was his second time here, and thanks to memorizing the clan's map beforehand, he navigated confidently. Shisui noticed and grew increasingly wary.

The two avoided patrols and made their way to Naka Shrine. Though secluded, the shrine was vital to the Uchiha and heavily protected. It also housed the clan's Sharingan storage.

Near the shrine, the pair encountered an Uchiha Jōnin. Shisui recognized him as Uchiha Yatsushiro, an elder with a fully matured Sharingan. Shisui whispered, "That's Yatsushiro Jōnin. He's strong, with a Three Tomoe Sharingan."

Naruto, intrigued, considered confronting Yatsushiro but refrained. Instead, he asked, "Will you deal with him, or should I? Or… should we just take his eyes?"

Shisui stiffened and hissed, "No need. Yatsushiro often drinks; he'll leave soon."

After a brief wait, Yatsushiro departed, and the two slipped inside. Shisui activated a hidden mechanism, revealing a passage to an underground chamber.

The passage led to an altar surrounded by jars containing Sharingan. Shisui opened one, only to find it empty. "Strange… Where are the Sharingan?"

Naruto approached. "What's wrong?"

After checking more jars, Shisui frowned deeply. "Dozens of Sharingan were stored here, including several Three Tomoe pairs. But most are missing. Someone has already stolen them."

"Could another Uchiha have taken them?" Naruto suggested.

Shisui shook his head. "Impossible. Every Three Tomoe Sharingan is meticulously documented. The only explanation is an inside traitor."

As realization dawned, Shisui's expression darkened. "I should have known. Danzo's Sharingan and his mastery of Izanagi… it all makes sense now. Someone in the clan has been aiding him."

Naruto considered this but had another suspect in mind—Madara or Obito. Both had the strength and motives to steal Sharingan. Obito, in particular, seemed the likelier culprit.

Pushing these thoughts aside, Naruto addressed Shisui. "Don't overthink it. You're stealing from the clan too. Take the remaining Sharingan and leave nothing behind."

Shisui hesitated. "Take all of them?"

Naruto's voice was firm. "If there's an inside traitor, why leave anything for them? Besides, you're technically dead. Who would suspect a dead man?"

Suddenly, footsteps echoed in the underground chamber, drawing Naruto and Shisui's attention.

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