Chapter 51: As Expected, Shisui’s True Love Is Itachi

After several minutes of sprinting, Kaze arrived near Naka Shrine.

In his memory, on this timeline, Shisui had only one conflict with Root.

That was when Danzo learned about the Kotoamatsukami.

On one hand, he feared Shisui would use such power against him.

On the other, he believed only he was worthy of the Kotoamatsukami's strength.

So he struck first, seizing Shisui's right eye.

Then he dispatched Root ninja to relentlessly hunt Shisui,

Trying to get the other eye as well.

Later on, Shisui awakened his Susanoo with one eye,

Defeated the Root ninja, met with Itachi at the agreed location,

Gave his left eye to Uchiha Itachi, and then took his own life by the river.

However...

Kaze recalled there were two versions of the story about Danzo taking Shisui's eye.

One was Shisui's iconic Susanoo solo battle.

The other had Itachi arriving just in time to save him.

Either way, Shisui's death was inevitable.

And Kaze never really intended to alter Shisui's fate.

(T/N: Why? You stupid author you are giving me a headache.)

For Danzo to obtain the Kotoamatsukami was simply destiny.

But...

"According to the original story, Danzo only made his move after learning about the Kotoamatsukami."

"Yet last night's clan meeting had nothing to do with an armed coup."

"No matter how eccentric Shisui's thinking is, he wouldn't have easily revealed the secret of the Kotoamatsukami."

Kaze's eyes flickered as he considered a possibility in his mind.

"Could it be... that my battle with Shisui caused Danzo to develop an obsession with Susanoo?"

It wasn't impossible.

After all, the last person known to activate Susanoo was the legendary Madara.

And the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, suspected Uchiha Madara was the mastermind behind the Nine-Tails' attack.

Susanoo naturally ranked among powers rivaling the Kotoamatsukami.

Of course...

These were Kaze's personal speculations.

To know the truth, he needed to find Shisui himself.

"Almost there."

Using the newly built mind network, Kaze detected Shisui hiding behind a rock, gasping heavily.

Although losing an eye wasn't a fatal injury in the Naruto world,

After continuous fighting and running,

Shisui's chakra was seriously drained.

He was in a weakened state.

"Who's there?"

Suddenly, Shisui rose from behind the rock, gripping a small tanto.

His left eye remained in the three-tomoe Sharingan form.

Despite his weakness, his vigilance did not waver.

This was near Minaga Shrine,

Surrounded by Uchiha clan barriers.

Normally, even Danzo's subordinates wouldn't recklessly provoke conflict with the Uchiha.

But exceptions always existed.

Wary that those Root ninja might lose their heads,

Shisui remained cautious of his surroundings.

"It's me, Kaze."

Seeing Shisui's tense expression, Kaze immediately reassured him, also noticing the blood pouring from Shisui's right eye.

No matter how you looked at it, Shisui had only just escaped Root's pursuit,

With no time to stop the bleeding.

From just one glance, Kaze understood the situation.

Shisui was still cruelly toyed with by fate.

Even with loyalty to Konoha, he never earned Danzo's trust.

It was truly tragic.

"Kaze? What are you doing here?"

Shisui used his Sharingan to check the chakra and confirmed it was Kaze.

"I sensed your chakra was weak, so I came to see how you were."

Without hesitation, Kaze explained, "What happened to your eye?"

Shisui didn't lower his guard, so Kaze simply stopped moving and kept his distance.

The two locked eyes.

A light breeze stirred their hair, rustling the silence between them.

In the end, Shisui gave in — he let his small tantō drop and collapsed to the ground with a thud.

But even now, Shisui didn't tell Kaze the truth about Danzō taking his eye.

In his mind, even though Kaze was also a member of the Uchiha clan, he hadn't truly moved beyond narrow clan loyalty.

If Kaze found out that Danzō had turned on him, it would be as good as telling the whole clan.

And considering how strained the relationship between the Uchiha and the village already was, even a single snowflake might trigger a full-on avalanche.

If that happened, the coup Shisui feared the most... might really come to pass.

Yes, even after losing his right eye to Danzō—

Shisui still believed the Third Hokage could change things.

He still clung to the Will of Fire.

To him, Danzō's betrayal was just Danzō's short-sightedness.

It didn't represent the Hokage's failure.

"Kaze, can I ask you for a favor?" Shisui's voice was hoarse as he swallowed hard.

But even as he asked, there was hesitation in his eyes.

He didn't trust Kaze.

"What kind of favor?" Kaze raised an eyebrow, taking the question seriously.

Could it be…?

Did losing his eye finally shake Shisui's faith in the village elders?

Was he planning to hand over his left eye — the one with Kotoamatsukami — and entrust Kaze with the power to take revenge on Danzō?

That thought flashed through Kaze's mind like lightning.

But that was just his emotional side talking.

Every time he thought about Kotoamatsukami, he'd toss and turn in bed at night.

If Shisui ever had a mental breakdown and cast the genjutsu on him, molding him into someone like Itachi…

He might as well just die right there.

Honestly, with all that in mind, Kaze had considered taking Shisui's eyes for himself more than once.

If Shisui offered it up willingly, he'd accept it without hesitation.

But—

His rational side told him that wasn't going to happen.

In the original story, after losing one eye, Shisui only did two things:

First, he entrusted Kotoamatsukami to Itachi.

Second, he jumped off a cliff and ended his life.

Even when betrayed, even when he saw how little Danzō trusted him, Shisui never abandoned his beliefs.

That unwavering commitment to the Will of Fire—

That, Kaze thought, was Shisui's most magnetic trait.

Even if they stood on different sides, with different ideologies—

He still respected Shisui. As a man.

"I have something really important to tell Itachi."

While Kaze's mind raced with possibilities, Shisui finally spoke.

Compared to Kaze — someone he hadn't interacted with much — he trusted his younger brother Itachi far more.

If he had to choose between the two…

He would never give his eye to someone like Kaze.

After weighing everything, Shisui made his request:

He asked Kaze to bring Uchiha Itachi to him.

"Please, Kaze."

There was no mistaking it—

Shisui's tone, his expression, even the look in his eyes — they were all sincere.

But from Kaze's perspective, looking at the entire Uchiha clan…

The last person he could trust — apart from Shisui — was Itachi.

If Itachi got his hands on Kotoamatsukami…

Then Kaze could kiss his peaceful future goodbye.

"As I thought…"

"Shisui really is in love with Itachi."

Kaze tilted his head up, gazing at the drifting clouds in the sky.

The next moment—

"Shave!"

(T/N: So that's why, Well since even I feel that Shisui will never give up on the will of fire, I am not going to save him either. Or do you guys want me to save him? Let me know. Anyway hope you all enjoyed the chapter.)

100 Stones = Two Extra Chapters

200 Stones = Three Extra Chapters

That was quite fast. Anyways, here's your bonus chapter. Keep the power stone coming lets see if we can break last weeks record i.e. 82 Power Stones.