*In Waterfall Village*
Shisui and Sasuke started running toward the Hidden Leaf Village.
**Sasuke:** "Shisui, why do we have to stay here instead of our house?"
**Shisui:** "It's for your safety. I'll tell you everything later."
Shisui was impressed. Sasuke's speed and chakra reserve had increased nearly fourfold since awakening his Sharingan. His chakra was now comparable to that of an elite Chūnin.
By morning, both of them arrived near the Leaf Village.
**Shisui:** "Sasuke, you've gotten really strong. We reached the village in a single night—even though I carried you a little."
Sasuke, out of breath, replied,
**Sasuke:** "Hmph, why are we stopping here? Let's go."
**Shisui:** "Wait, Sasuke. We can't enter the village like normal people."
**Sasuke:** "I know, that's why we have these stupid masks."
He tapped his mask a couple of times in annoyance.
**Shisui:** "I'll take you in through a shortcut. But first, take a rest for a few minutes."
After a short break, Shisui teleported both of them to a secluded place where they could secretly see the funeral from a distance.
Everyone had gathered to pay their respects to the Uchiha clan. Hiruzen stood before the crowd and gave his final speech about his failures and how his incompetence led to this painful tragedy.
---
### *In the Cloud Village*
**Dodai:** "Lord Raikage, we can't do anything to the Leaf for the time being."
**Ay:** "Why not? They've lost an entire clan of powerful shinobi!"
**Dodai:** "My lord, Jiraiya and Tsunade—two of the Legendary Sannin—have returned to the village. If we try anything now, we will fail."
Ay grunted and smashed his table in frustration.
**Ay:** "They lost almost half of their strength… yet we're still not good enough to face them. How did we fall so low?"
He clenched his fists.
**Ay:** "One day… I *will* crush them all."
---
### *Back in the Leaf Village*
Shisui and Sasuke watched quietly as people came and went, offering their prayers. Once everyone left, the two of them approached the graves to pay their own respects.
**Shisui:** "Forgive me… everyone."
Sasuke knelt at his parents' grave and broke down in tears.
**Shisui:** "Sasuke…"
Just then, they heard footsteps behind them. They turned and saw the Hokage himself.
**Shisui:** "Lord Hokage…"
**Hiruzen:** "Shisui, Sasuke… did you—" he hesitated, "—did you need something? Just ask me."
**Shisui:** "No, Lord Hokage. We don't need anything. We'll be leaving in a bit."
**Hiruzen:** "Shisui, let me speak with Sasuke."
He turned toward the boy.
**Hiruzen:** "Sasuke, don't lose hope. The Uchihas will get their justice. Until then, you can rely on this old man."
**Sasuke:** "I'll get that justice with my own hands. I'll kill that traitor, Itachi."
**Shisui:** "Sasuke…"
He looked away, his heart heavy. *Itachi… what have you done?*
**Shisui:** "Lord Hokage, if you give permission, we'd like to take a few things from our clan compound before the village loots everything."
**Hiruzen:** "Take anything you want. I'll have the security loosened this evening so you can enter. Put your masks on and come along—you must be hungry. And Sasuke, use a transformation jutsu to look like an adult."
Sasuke transformed into his father's likeness, placed his mask on, and walked behind Hiruzen alongside Shisui—looking like one of the Hokage's Anbu escorts.
**Hiruzen:** "Sasuke, you're really good at jutsu. Before you two leave tonight, I'll teach you one or two myself."
**Sasuke:** "Thank you, Lord Hokage."
**Hiruzen:** "You know, Sasuke… my father's name was also Sasuke. I still remember when your father asked me to name you after him. You're like a grandson to me—you can call me 'Grandpa' if you want. And remember, you're not alone."
**Sasuke:** "Alone? To everyone, I'm not even alive anymore…"
---
After they ate, Shisui and Hiruzen spoke privately while Sasuke rested in the next room.
**Hiruzen:** "He doesn't trust me. He's wary of everyone."
**Shisui:** "He doesn't know who to trust."
**Hiruzen:** "But he trusts you. Make sure he walks the right path."
**Shisui:** "Yes, Lord Hokage. But he's not like Itachi. We can't let him know the truth… he won't forgive the village."
**Hiruzen:** "I know."
**Shisui:** "What happened to Lord Danzō?"
**Hiruzen:** "I've placed him under house arrest."
Shisui thought to himself, *He destroyed our clan… and this is his punishment?*
**Hiruzen:** "I know you're disappointed in me, but right now, in this dark time, I can't make any big moves. I hope you understand, Shisui."
**Shisui:** "I understand, Lord Hokage."
Sasuke soon entered the room, and the conversation shifted to lighter topics. They rested until evening.
---
### *Evening – Uchiha Compound*
**Hiruzen:** "Let's go."
Hiruzen called for another Anbu, instructing his squad to patrol around the Uchiha compound and ensure no members of Root could enter. Then, the trio—Hiruzen, Shisui, and Sasuke—headed to the Uchiha district.
They stopped by the lake where Itachi and Sasuke once practiced the Fireball Jutsu with their father.
**Hiruzen:** "I'll wait here. You two go and take whatever you need."
The duo split up. Sasuke returned within five minutes while Shisui went from house to house, collecting items. He even entered Naka Shrine, taking everything valuable he could find. Finally, he reached Sasuke's home—his lone Sharingan glowing faintly in the dim light.
**Shisui:** "Finally, the clan head's house. There should be something valuable I can pass on to Sasuke. I wonder what he took…"
He walked through every room until he entered Fugaku's. There, he saw a broken photo frame on the floor. The family photo inside was torn—Itachi's part ripped out.
Shisui sighed, carefully picking up the shattered glass and burning the evidence.
Then he continued searching the room until he found several scrolls—and one sealed with a powerful technique.
**Shisui:** "What? I can't open this…"
He activated his Mangekyō Sharingan.
"I see. It's Auntie's blood seal. Only Sasuke or Itachi can open it."
He tucked the scroll away and left the house quietly.
**End of Chapter 4**
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