The morning air was thin and sharp, brushing across Shisui's skin like cool silk. Mist rolled down from the mountains, gathering at the edges of the river near the waterfall where he stood. The sound of water crashing over stone was a rhythm he'd grown used to—steady, endless, indifferent.
He pulled his cloak tighter and closed his lone eye, feeling his chakra stir. For days, he'd been training Sasuke, refining the boy's control, pushing him just enough to grow without breaking. But this morning wasn't for Sasuke.
It was for himself.
He exhaled slowly, flexing his fingers before forming a half-seal. Chakra surged through his network, responding instantly to his call. His vision blurred, then sharpened, and the tomoe of his Sharingan spun into life. The single Mangekyō bloomed—crimson, brilliant, and heavy with memory.
The rush was familiar—comforting, dangerous. The forest around him shifted under the weight of his killing intent, leaves trembling like they remembered the legend of the Uchiha's Phantom.
But this time… it was harder to breathe.
A pulse of pain hit behind his eye, stabbing deep into his skull. His knee almost touched the ground before he steadied himself.
"Tch… still the same," he muttered, wiping a trace of blood from the corner of his mouth.
He pushed harder, darting forward with his signature **Body Flicker**. The world blurred. In a flash, he was twenty meters away, slicing through the mist, movements near invisible even to trained eyes. His body was still light, responsive, but the strain followed every motion like a shadow.
When he finally stopped, panting slightly, he looked down at his shaking hand.
"Guess… ninety percent of my former self," he said softly, half-laughing at the words. "With one eye, a poisoned body, and this damned medicine barely holding me together."
The medicine he'd taken last night was doing its job—keeping the poison at bay, stabilizing his chakra network. But he could already feel it thinning at the edges.
"Ten days," he murmured, eyes fixed on the water. "If I don't get more within ten days, I won't be able to use chakra properly again."
The thought didn't scare him. It simply… existed. A fact of his life now.
He deactivated his Sharingan, exhaling in slow control before heading back toward their small cabin near the edge of the forest.
---
Sasuke was already awake when he returned, his hair still messy from sleep but his eyes alert. The boy was trying to boil water with fire release—barely managing to keep the flames steady.
"Morning," Sasuke greeted, noticing the faint fatigue in Shisui's step. "You're up early."
Shisui smiled beneath his mask. "Habit."
He sat opposite Sasuke and watched him for a moment as the boy proudly lifted the steaming pot. The water wasn't evenly heated, but it was enough. Sasuke looked up, hoping for approval.
"Not bad," Shisui said simply, taking the pot to pour tea. "You're improving."
Sasuke's face brightened at the words. "Of course! I've been training hard."
"Good. Keep that up."
They ate quietly after that—simple rice, dried fish, and tea. Sasuke talked occasionally about his new training ideas, his Sharingan, and how he wanted to master both lightning and wind simultaneously. Shisui nodded along, his mind half-elsewhere.
He had to leave soon.
When Sasuke paused, Shisui finally spoke, tone light but firm.
"Sasuke, I'll be gone for a day or two."
The boy's chopsticks froze mid-air. "A mission?"
"Yeah," Shisui said, lying smoothly. "Something minor. Little far into the Fire Nation, but nothing serious."
Sasuke frowned. "Can I come?"
Shisui shook his head. "No. Keep training here. I want you to keep practicing chakra flow through your dagger. Alternate between wind and lightning. Don't mix them yet. And try to add flame to your blade without my help."
"But—"
"No buts." Shisui smiled faintly. "When I come back, I want to see your progress. Understood?"
Sasuke sighed, frustrated but obedient. "Fine… you better bring me something back."
"I'll see what I can do," Shisui said, hiding his quiet amusement.
After breakfast, he cleaned his cup, checked his gear, and tucked a few kunai inside his cloak. Sasuke followed him to the doorway, watching him adjust his gloves.
"Be careful," Sasuke said, voice small.
Shisui glanced back. "Always."
Then he was gone, his figure vanishing into the trees with a soft gust of wind.
---
The path to the nearest settlement was long and silent, weaving through narrow trails surrounded by pine and fog. It was one of the many unmarked routes he knew by heart—a remnant of old ANBU days when secrecy meant survival.
The village itself was small and dusty, more an outpost than a true town. Merchants whispered, travelers avoided eye contact, and shinobi came here when they didn't want to be found.
Tucked away in a side alley stood a modest hut built from dark oak and moss-covered stone. A faint herbal smell drifted from its half-open door.
Shisui stepped inside, the bell above the frame ringing softly.
The herbalist, an older man with thin gray hair tied back and sharp, assessing eyes, looked up from a counter cluttered with jars.
"You again," he said flatly. "Didn't expect you this soon."
"I need more of the same," Shisui replied, his tone polite but distant.
The herbalist studied him briefly, gaze lingering on the faint sheen of sweat on Shisui's temple. "You're burning through them too fast."
"I've been using more chakra than planned."
"Hmm. You shinobi never learn." The man turned, rummaging through his shelves. "How many doses?"
"Three."
The herbalist paused, then glanced back. "That's a lot. You planning to fight an army?"
Shisui's expression didn't change. "Something like that."
The man shrugged and continued working. "You know the price."
Shisui nodded and placed a small pouch of ryo on the counter. The herbalist opened it, counted the coins, then pushed three small glass vials forward. The liquid inside shimmered faintly green, glowing under the candlelight.
"Keep them sealed until needed. You know the routine."
Shisui took the vials carefully, storing them in a reinforced pocket inside his cloak.
The herbalist finally looked at him again. "You know this medicine isn't a cure. It's a delay. Eventually, it won't help anymore."
"I know," Shisui said quietly. "But it buys time. That's all I need."
"Time for what?"
Shisui met his gaze for a heartbeat. "That's none of your business."
The man didn't press further. "Then I hope whatever you're buying time for is worth it."
Shisui paused at the door. "It is."
With that, he left, the faint jingle of the bell marking his exit.
---
The journey back was slower. The day had warmed, cicadas singing faintly in the forest. Shisui took a longer route—through the cliffs overlooking the valley. From there, he could see the endless green of the Fire Country stretching beneath him, peaceful and unaware of the battles fought in its shadows.
He stopped for a moment, resting against a tree. His breathing was steady but shallow. The medicine inside his veins was working, keeping the poison quiet for now.
Ten days. Maybe less if he used too much chakra again.
He closed his eye and smiled faintly to himself. *Ten days is plenty.*
When he returned to the cabin, the sun was already beginning to dip. Smoke curled lazily from the chimney—Sasuke must've started cooking something simple again.
Shisui didn't go inside right away. He lingered outside, looking toward the waterfall where he'd trained that morning.
The sound was the same—steady, endless, indifferent.
He let the silence sink in, then whispered under his breath,
"Just a little longer… until he doesn't need me anymore."
Then, with that quiet thought, he turned back toward the house, the faint clink of glass vials echoing softly with each step.
---
**Power Levels**
* **Sasuke** — 7,850 → 7,950
* **Shisui** — 45,000 → stable output 40,000
**End of Chapter 29**