CHAPTER 53

After the echo of approaching footsteps, Shisui's face turned pale, and he whispered urgently, "It must be one of the jounin from the clan. If they catch us, the plan to secure the Sharingan will fail."

Without hesitation, Shisui pressed a hidden switch and guided Naruto into a concealed passage beneath the shrine.

Inside the dark corridor, Naruto observed his surroundings with curiosity. "I didn't think there'd be a hidden passage here. Looks like you've been planning something involving Sharingan for a while."

"It wasn't my idea. Grandpa Kagami spoke about it once…" Shisui started to explain, but his expression darkened as memories of Shimura Danzo surfaced.

If Uchiha Kagami hadn't trusted Danzo, Shisui would never have believed his lies, willingly walked into the Root base, and fallen into his trap.

Naruto chuckled. "Some truths only become clear after death, don't they?"

Before Shisui could respond, muffled voices reached their ears. He fell silent, and Naruto, intrigued, strained to catch any useful information from the discussion.

…

A small group of Uchiha, including the clan's patriarch Fugaku, had gathered in the underground chamber of Nanga Shrine. Alongside him were both radical and conservative jounin. Among the so-called conservatives, few genuinely opposed the coup; most simply feared failure and its consequences for the clan.

To the group, Shisui had long been considered dead, missing for half a year after rumors of his demise spread.

Fugaku addressed the assembly. "It seems everyone has arrived. Let us begin finalizing our plans to seize the Hokage Building. Speak freely so we can craft the perfect strategy."

One jounin proposed, "We should first neutralize the village's defensive units before directly attacking the Hokage Building."

Another countered, "No. We'll lose momentum that way. A direct assault is better—no one will dare oppose us once we've taken the Hokage."

While the debate unfolded, Shisui's expression grew grim. He wasn't angered by the coup itself but disheartened by the clan's inability to understand their power deficit. No matter how well-planned, Uchiha had no chance of victory against Konoha.

Naruto, listening quietly, frowned repeatedly. "This is disappointing," he muttered to himself.

The coup's strategy revolved around releasing prisoners to divert Konoha's Anbu and defense forces. During the chaos, the Uchiha planned to storm the Hokage Building, eliminate the Third Hokage, and take control. While seemingly calculated, the plan overlooked a critical issue—defeating the Hokage and his powerful allies, including clans like Sarutobi and Shimura.

Naruto's attention sharpened when his own name came up. The Uchiha intended to capture him beforehand to leverage the power of the Nine-Tails. They even suggested Sasuke befriend Naruto to sway him.

Bored with the predictable scheming, Naruto yawned and mentally reviewed jutsu techniques instead.

After an hour, the meeting concluded. Fugaku and the other jounin departed the shrine, their footsteps echoing through the passageways.

Once the coast was clear, Shisui and Naruto emerged from their hiding place. Shisui's face was as dark as storm clouds.

Naruto smirked, feigning curiosity. "What do you think of their plan? Maybe the Fifth Hokage will rise sooner than expected—assuming they manage to kill the Third."

Shisui didn't respond immediately. He approached the shrine's altar, retrieving a container filled with Sharingan. After carefully securing the eyes, he spoke, his voice resolute. "You're right. The clan is marching toward self-destruction. If we want to survive, we must abandon Konoha."

"These Sharingan shouldn't be wasted in a futile coup. They should help us rebuild elsewhere."

Naruto grinned slyly. "So what's next? Will you persuade the moderates to join you or convince your best friend to help?"

Shisui's expression hardened. "The gentle Shisui is dead. If I must lead the clan, it will be with strength. I'll make them follow me, whether they like it or not."

With newfound determination, Shisui secured the Sharingan. As they prepared to leave, Naruto paused by the Uchiha stone tablet, examining its cryptic markings.

"Shisui, has this part of the tablet always been blank?"

Shisui glanced over. "Yes, it's always been unfinished. Maybe there wasn't time to complete it."

Naruto's eyes gleamed with curiosity. "A shame. I wonder what secret was meant to go here. Probably something shocking."

He turned back to the text. "The secrets already revealed are horrifying enough. Killing someone you love to awaken the Mangekyo Sharingan… Your clan's methods are brutal. Doesn't that mean someone might intentionally orchestrate tragedies just for power?"

Shisui sighed. "Some tried, but they failed. Anyone who gains the Mangekyo that way would never care for the clan."

He grew uneasy, worried Naruto might try something reckless. He couldn't bear another tragedy within the Uchiha.

…

After Shisui and Naruto left, Fugaku returned to the underground chamber. He inspected the shrine, then moved toward the containers of Sharingan. Opening one, his face darkened—its contents were missing.

Sharingan gone… Fugaku's mind raced. The secret of the stored Sharingan was known only to a few. Who could have taken them? If an outsider was responsible, what use would Sharingan be without Uchiha blood or forbidden techniques like Izanagi?

His gaze narrowed as suspicions brewed, his thoughts clouded with doubt and dread.

Visit patron.com/Akeyno to get 30+ chapters