Chapter 52: The Gaze from the Mangekyō

'The Memorial Stone?!'

In that instant, everyone present, except Koharu Utatane, turned to look at Hiruzen Sarutobi, including the Third Hokage's personal Anbu who had followed him here.

Unlike Root, the personal Anbu, such as the Fourth Hokage's squad now led by Jia, were capable of independent thought.

Though absolutely loyal, they still had minds of their own.

As members of Hiruzen's personal Anbu, they had long harbored suspicions about certain matters, even knowing that the Third often went soft out of old friendships.

But now, everything had been laid bare by the enemy, Uzumaki Ku.

And yet... Danzo's name would still be added to the memorial stone?

Among the masked Anbu, a few glanced toward the grotesque mass of flesh before Shisui. The monster's massive tumor-like body had hollow, empty eye sockets.

"Kill…"

"Kill... me…"

The faint voice rang out like thunder across a silent plain.

Perhaps it was the change of environment, or perhaps some fleeting awareness through blindness, but Uchiha Hika, despite being mutilated and blind, had retained just enough clarity to plead for death.

Shisui's eyes flew open. His Mangekyō, shaped like a cross-shuriken, spun violently in his sockets. The contrast between past and present had driven him to the brink of fury.

But then, "Hika... Uncle Teshou and Auntie Dashi are doing well. To them, their son died a hero, a ninja who gave his life for Konoha. Your name is on the memorial stone."

Silence blanketed the ruins of the Root Headquarters. Every Anbu ninja present held their breath.

Tears fell from Hika's empty sockets. In a hoarse, trembling voice, he whispered, "Then... good… kill... me…"

Tears also welled up in Shisui's blood-red eyes. He slowly drew the short blade from his back.

Crouching beside him, he said quietly, "Danzo is dead, burned to ash. Though it wasn't the Uchiha who avenged you... If this is…"

"…For... Konoha…" Hika murmured, barely audible.

Shisui nodded solemnly. "And for the Uchiha. Your soul will forever be one with the clan."

Shhk!

With the precision granted by the Sharingan, Shisui's blade pierced straight into the malformed heart inside the tumor of flesh.

Ravaged by Hashirama's cells, Hika's already inhuman body began to swell rapidly, and in an instant, it transformed into a towering tree, rooted deep within the rubble.

Shisui stepped back, sheathed his blade, and resumed his place behind the Fourth Hokage.

That act alone said everything, and pushed Minato Namikaze to the edge of a necessary decision.

The Third Hokage's earlier words had revealed that he was tired and simply wanted his old comrade to rest with dignity.

But Shisui's action clearly told Minato: The Uchiha would respect whatever choice the Fourth Hokage made.

Now that Hika's body had become a tree, his brain and memories were gone.

And with his final words, he had also made his intent clear: he wanted a swift death. Partly because he was already dying, unable to show his face to his parents without traumatizing them…

And partly because, by dying, he could bury this dark chapter of Konoha's history, leaving the Uchiha's hardliners with no excuse to rise up.

Not far away, Uchiha Yun stared at the tree.

Uzumaki Ku had told Hika before the end: The ones who saved you and killed Danzo... were your own clan.

"Even a ninja who experimented on his own village's people can get his name on the memorial stone? Third Hokage… your skin must be thicker than the Hokage Monument."

Uzumaki Ku's voice rang out again as he turned to Minato, whose brows were furrowed tightly.

"So then, current commander of Konoha, what do you think of this old man's proposal?"

Then, turning to the shadows nearby, Ku added coldly, "The Byakugan of the Hyuga really is useful... But Hiashi, are you scouting enemy movement... or eavesdropping on a high-level meeting?"

Three direct strikes in a row, Minato's headache worsened.

He had sensed Hyuga's presence earlier but chose not to expose him. So far, the discussion had just been between him and the Third.

But now, if the other side, represented by the Hyuga, were forced to step into the open…

Swoosh!

Hiashi Hyuga had no choice but to appear and bowed toward Minato. "Lord Hokage."

Then he turned to Hiruzen. "Lord Third."

Minato nodded and sighed, about to speak, when Hiruzen beat him to it.

"If Hiashi has been here for a while, then you must know what's happened. Danzo made many mistakes, yes, but ever since the time of the Second Hokage, he also rendered great service to Konoha."

Hiruzen sighed again, looking at Shisui.

"As for the Uchiha, I've always believed we should relocate them to a better place. Back in the First Hokage's time, the Uchiha played a key role in founding Konoha."

Hiashi awkwardly scratched his head and chuckled, "I only just arrived, but that guy floating in the air kind of blew my cover…"

Clearly, Hiashi wanted to stay out of trouble.

If it hadn't been for the shocking use of Wood Style and the Uchiha connection, he might've slipped away after hearing just the first part.

No clan in Konoha was slipperier than the Hyuga.

But Uzumaki Ku had no intention of letting him off that easily.

"The Sharingan is good for close combat, but the Byakugan is perfect for large-scale battlefield surveillance. Hiashi Hyuga, are you sure that once this matter is swept under the rug... no one will set their sights on the Byakugan?"

Ku chuckled coldly. "I hear the Mist Village found a good use for the Byakugan. And someone from the Cloud Village even proposed a 'special plan.'"

"The branch family has curse seals, but what if they just go after the main family instead? How does that sound to you?"

Hiashi's face flushed as veins bulged from his temples. If it weren't for the towering tree before him forcing him to calm down, he might have already unleashed a barrage of Gentle Fist strikes.

The Hyuga were cautious, but also patient.

Hiashi's white eyes scanned the crowd, and his gaze landed on the Fourth Hokage.

Then… another pair of special Mangekyō Sharingan, Shisui's cross-shaped ones, appeared in his vision.

'The Mangekyō?!'

'Wait!'

Uchiha Yun, standing silently beside Shisui, also opened his eyes, revealing a pinwheel-shaped Mangekyō.

Two Mangekyō Sharingan users from the Uchiha, plus the already-famous Kakashi, now said to effectively lead a Jonin squad…

At some point, under the Third Hokage's weakness, the Fourth had grown this powerful?

"Buzz!"

Suddenly, Kakashi, standing silently behind Minato, lifted his forehead protector, revealing a transformed Sharingan.

'Two and a half Mangekyō?!'

.....

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