Waterfall Village
The next morning, Shisui released Sasuke from the genjutsu.
"Well," Shisui murmured, looking down at the boy still sleeping. "It seems he won't wake up for some time. I should probably find something for him to eat."
Hidden Leaf Village
News of the massacre spread through Konoha like wildfire. Within a day, Itachi Uchiha's name appeared in the Bingo Book—ranked S-Class.
Villager 1: "I can't believe it… the entire Uchiha clan, wiped out in a single night by Itachi!"
Villager 2: "It's probably for the best. They were unstable anyway."
Villager 3: "Hey, don't be heartless! It's still a tragedy…"
Hidden Stone Village
Ōnoki stared down at the report in disbelief.
"What? The Uchiha clan wiped out overnight? Who did it?"
Kitsuchi bowed slightly.
"Itachi Uchiha. He killed them all."
Ōnoki frowned deeply.
"But he's just a boy… How could he accomplish something like this? He might be another Madara Uchiha. Those Uchihas are always dangerous."
He gritted his teeth. "Did that old fool in Konoha plan this?"
Hidden Sand Village
Rasa: "Indeed… a tragedy. We'll send our condolences to the Hokage."
Hidden Cloud Village
Ay: "Konoha is vulnerable now. We need to see how we can use this."
Dodai: "Should I send a recon team, Lord Raikage?"
Ay: "Do it. I want to know everything."
Hidden Mist Village
Yagura: "Interesting… It's always the Uchihas. I'll remember the name Itachi Uchiha."
With Itachi and "Madara" (Obito)
Obito stood at the edge of the boat, the mist curling around his mask.
"You took your time, Itachi."
Itachi: "Where to?"
Obito: "Akatsuki's base."
As the small boat glided through the fog, Obito spoke quietly:
"Within the organization, I'm known as Tobi. I'm just a newcomer—no great jutsu, nothing special. You should treat me that way."
Itachi: "Why hide your identity?"
Obito: "If the world knew Madara Uchiha was still alive, things would get… complicated. Only Akatsuki's leader knows the truth. Their hideout is just ahead."
When they arrived, Itachi met Pain and Konan and officially joined Akatsuki.
Waterfall Village
Shisui sat by the bed, watching Sasuke sleep.
"Why did it have to come to this?" he whispered. "Looks like you'll be the last son of Uchiha…"
Sasuke stirred. His eyes fluttered open, still clouded with exhaustion.
"Shisui… is that you? Did I die too?"
Shisui: "No, you're perfectly fine, Sasuke. At least, physically."
Sasuke suddenly grabbed him, clinging tight, tears spilling down his face.
"Shisui, Itachi killed everyone! He killed our family!"
Shisui: "I know, Sasuke. When I came back, it was already over. Forgive me… I couldn't help you when you needed me most."
Sasuke looked around, confused.
"Where are we? What is this place?"
Shisui: "This is our new home—for now."
Sasuke clenched his fists.
"Shisui, let's go! We have to kill him! With you here, we can definitely kill him!"
Shisui sighed softly.
"We can't, Sasuke."
Sasuke: "Why not? He killed our family! Aren't you stronger than him?"
Shisui: "I was stronger than him. But if he truly killed the entire clan by himself… I can't even imagine how powerful he's become."
Sasuke: "But he didn't kill everyone by himself."
Shisui: "What do you mean?"
Sasuke: "He wasn't alone. Someone helped him!"
Shisui froze. Did Sasuke somehow learn about Danzō? That can't be…
Sasuke: "He told me about another Uchiha! He said that man helped him kill everyone!"
Shisui frowned, his mind racing. Another Uchiha? Itachi never told me anything about this…
Shisui: "Sasuke, what are you saying? I saw every Uchiha's body myself. Itachi and us—we're the last of the clan."
Sasuke: "No! He told me himself when he talked about how to get the Mangekyō Sharingan. Itachi's not that strong. We can kill him!"
Shisui: "We can't, Sasuke. And that's exactly why we shouldn't. If Itachi truly has a partner with the Mangekyō Sharingan, there's no way we can face them alone."
Sasuke's gaze shifted to Shisui's face. His voice trembled.
"Shisui… what happened to your right eye? Itachi was accused of killing you. Did he do this?"
He activated his Sharingan—two tomoe in the left eye, one in the right.
Shisui blinked in surprise. He awakened his Sharingan already… After everything, it's no wonder.
Sasuke: "Tell me, did Itachi do this to you?"
Shisui hesitated. If I say yes, Sasuke will drown in hatred. I can't let that happen.
Shisui: "No, Sasuke! It wasn't him."
Forgive me, Itachi. If I follow your way, Sasuke will become a monster. I won't allow that. You both are like my little brothers… and I'll save you both. From now on, we do this my way.
Shisui: "It was a mission gone bad—that's how I lost my eye."
Sasuke: "But everyone says Itachi killed you!"
Shisui: "People don't know the truth. I was sent on a top-secret mission by the Hokage. Itachi had nothing to do with it."
Sasuke: "Then how can we kill him?"
Shisui: "For now, we can't do anything. Eat this and rest, Sasuke. We'll talk later."
Shisui stepped outside into the cool night air.
"Another Uchiha? Is Sasuke right, or did the genjutsu break his mind? If it's true, why didn't Itachi tell me? This is getting complicated…"
Hidden Leaf Village
The children were happy—no classes for a week.
They didn't yet know why.
The adults stayed silent, preparing for the funeral.
Waterfall Village – Night
Shisui dropped a set of new clothes and masks on the table. He wore one himself.
His mask was white with a red-and-black spiral—red outside, black inside.
Sasuke's was white too, marked by three red-and-black claw streaks.
Shisui: "Get ready, Sasuke. We're going home."
**End of Chapter 3**