Chapter 43: You Don’t Want Itachi to Die Young, Do You?

At the top of the cliff, Yami and Shisui stood side by side.

From here, the entire view of Konoha stretched out before them—the faces of the Four Hokage carved into the mountain, and the domed Hokage building in the center of the village stood out prominently.

After Yami stated his purpose, Shisui fell silent.

Yami wasn't in a hurry. He simply admired the scenery. People moved about the crisscrossing roads below, so small and insignificant, like ants.

As the wind blew fiercely and the sound of the waterfall crashing against the rocks echoed beneath their feet, Shisui slowly drifted into deep thought.

Concealing this… is a kind of betrayal.

Was this a demand to take sides?

No. That wasn't possible.

Shisui immediately rejected the notion that had just crossed his mind.

Despite being called a genius, he was, in the end, still a mere Chūnin.

He had little real influence. At most, people praised his potential. In the eyes of Danzō and the Hokage, he was just a minor figure.

This had to be a highly confidential Root mission, so secretive that even the Hokage wasn't informed.

Things like this had happened before. With Root's authority, the Hokage didn't interfere in many of its actions.

"Yami-kun."

Shisui gathered his thoughts, turned slightly, and looked down at Yami beside him.

"Did Lord Danzō ask you to deliver this message?"

"No, this is my personal request."

Yami answered without hesitation, meeting Shisui's gaze openly.

"I see..." Shisui didn't believe it, but it only made him more certain of his assumption.

Smart people think independently. They don't blindly trust others, they form their own judgments.

But that's also their weakness.

They place too much trust in their own reasoning, and as a result, they lack trust in others.

To Shisui, Yami's words and behavior felt natural, as if he had been trained to say them. Which, in turn, made them feel unnatural.

So—

This must all be a message from Danzō.

Seeing Shisui's expression, a faint smile flickered in Yami's eyes.

Everything was progressing as expected.

His age, the identity of a child, the gravity that came with being a Root member, and the recognition he had already earned, these made Shisui think exactly as he wanted him to.

"Can I ask what the mission is, specifically?"

"No." Yami shook his head.

"Only if you accept it and promise not to inform the Third Hokage—will I tell you. But if you do tell him..."

A leaf blew over from the distance. Yami caught it and slowly tore it in half.

"Shisui, you've taught me before, so I won't do anything to you... but Itachi is different."

"You don't want Itachi to die young, do you?"

Shisui's eyes instantly sharpened.

[Host and Uchiha Shisui have reached the second stage of the Fear Bond. Reward: Talent 'Illusion Expertise']

Itachi held an irreplaceable place in Shisui's heart. He treated him like a younger brother and Itachi looked up to him the same way.

Yami—no, Danzō—was using Itachi to threaten him.

Shisui's once-gentle aura suddenly turned cold. The howling wind faded, and the world fell silent.

But Yami remained calm, still slowly tearing the leaf.

In terms of actual combat strength, he was no weaker than Shisui.

Yami was certain that Shisui hadn't awakened his Mangekyō yet.

There were still about four years left before his death. Only after obtaining Kotoamatsukami would Shisui develop the belief and confidence to resolve the village–Uchiha conflict.

Right now, he wasn't capable of that.

If he made a move now, he'd only die sooner.

Seeing that Yami remained unfazed, Shisui knew there was nothing he could do.

"Yami-kun… don't you think this is too despicable?"

Shisui said helplessly, "You're using Itachi to threaten me. He's a villager too, your comrade."

Yami remained unmoved. "Everything is for the greater good. Even villagers can be sacrificed."

"Everything is for the greater good..."

Shisui was stunned, carefully turning Yami's words over in his mind.

The more he thought about it, the more profound it sounded.

Could Danzō really have come up with something so philosophical?

Shisui couldn't help but feel a sense of admiration. The image of Danzō in his heart instantly grew taller and his attitude softened as well.

This mission must be extremely important and confidential. Otherwise, it wouldn't be hidden from the Hokage.

As long as the Hokage doesn't ask, there's no problem with not reporting it, right?

Convincing himself, Shisui nodded and said seriously, "As long as it doesn't harm the village's interests, I'll accept the mission and keep it secret."

A smile appeared on Yami's young face. "A wise decision, Shisui-senpai."

"This mission won't harm the village. On the contrary, it will strengthen it."

Shisui finally breathed a sigh of relief. "Tell me the details, then."

"Shisui-senpai, do you know about Scorch Release user Pakura?" Yami asked.

Shisui nodded. "Of course. She's a hero of Sunagakure who possesses the Scorch Release kekkei genkai. I've never fought her, but her reputation is well-known."

At this, he looked at Yami a bit nervously. "Don't tell me… you want me to assassinate her?"

Facing a seasoned ninja like her, even with his Body Flicker Technique, Shisui felt uncertain.

"Of course not."

Yami shook his head. "On the contrary, someone else wants to kill her. I want you to save her."

"What?!" Shisui stared at him in disbelief. His Sharingan almost activated from the shock.

"Not long ago, Root received intel that Sunagakure plans to abandon Pakura in order to reconcile with Kirigakure. They intend to use her life to appease Kirigakure's anger."

"Next month—no, actually, it's the 15th of this month. She'll be heading to the Land of Water on a mission. Kirigakure has already received the intel and will ambush her in a canyon, killing her with arrows."

After explaining everything, Yami said seriously, "Being betrayed by her own village, Pakura will definitely be filled with resentment. Even if we can't persuade her to submit, Root can still make use of her."

"Shisui-senpai, your Body Flicker Technique and genjutsu are the strongest in the village. Most importantly, you're loyal to Konoha. That makes you the most suitable person for this mission."

(To be continued.)

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