"Is it true?"
Uchiha Itachi couldn't help but question the news he had just heard.
After returning to the Hokage Tower and reporting the completion of his mission to the Third Hokage, he immediately asked:
"Lord Hokage, there's a rumor going around the village that my father has awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan and defeated a ninja with the Wood Release kekkei genkai. Is that true?"
"It's true."
The Third Hokage cast a complicated look at Uchiha Itachi.
Fugaku Uchiha had killed his second son, and now his eldest son stood before him—it stirred conflicting feelings in his heart.
He harbored resentment toward Fugaku, and that hatred extended to Fugaku's relatives as well.
But Itachi… Itachi was someone he had thoroughly indoctrinated, a shinobi utterly loyal to him.
That made his emotions all the more complex.
"So it's true…"
Itachi was shaken.
His father had truly awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan—and even repelled a ninja with the Wood Release bloodline.
That same Wood Release user had overpowered even Shisui and eleven elite jōnin working together, yet his father had defeated him.
His father was far stronger than he had imagined.
"Itachi, I have bad news for you."
The Third Hokage had composed himself.
Though Itachi was Fugaku's son, he was loyal to him. With that loyalty, he could use Itachi against Fugaku—to get his revenge.
He was already looking forward to the day Fugaku would discover that his own son had been an informant. He wanted to see his reaction.
"Bad news?"
Itachi's expression changed. A sense of dread welled up within him.
For the Hokage to call it "bad news"—it had to be something truly dire.
"What is it, Lord Hokage?"
"A few days ago, Shisui tried to use Kotoamatsukami to stop Fugaku and ease tensions between the Uchiha and the village. But he failed."
"Not only that... it's possible Shisui was killed by Fugaku."
The Hokage's voice carried a heavy sorrow.
He knew how close Itachi and Shisui were.
Telling him that Shisui may have died at his father's hands—it was no accident. It was meant to deepen the wedge between father and son.
So that one day, Itachi could be used against Fugaku.
He was eager to see the look on Fugaku's face when he learned the truth.
"Shisui... killed by Father?"
BOOM—
It was as if an explosive tag had gone off in Itachi's mind. His brain buzzed, blank with shock.
He stood frozen, overwhelmed with grief and disbelief.
The one who had cared for him most, who had guided him—Shisui—was dead. And the killer… was his own father.
A torrent of grief and fury erupted from his heart.
Grief for Shisui's death.
Rage at his father's actions.
"It's all my fault… I should have stopped Shisui back then. I should've kept him from going to Fugaku. If I had, this wouldn't have happened..."
The Hokage sighed, his face filled with self-blame.
"It's not your fault, Lord Hokage. It was Shisui's decision."
Itachi raised his tear-streaked face in sorrow. Two lines of blood-red tears streamed down his cheeks.
"Your eyes… Itachi?"
The Third Hokage stared in shock at Itachi's bleeding eyes.
The next instant, his expression turned to utter astonishment.
The Sharingan spun rapidly in Itachi's eyes, shifting—until a new pattern emerged, different from the three-tomoe Sharingan.
A tri-bladed pinwheel.
A mysterious, oppressive aura radiated from Itachi's eyes.
Despite being a Kage-level shinobi, the Third Hokage felt a faint sense of danger.
His instincts screamed—Itachi was now incredibly dangerous.
"Mangekyō Sharingan!"
He was stunned.
As someone deeply familiar with the Uchiha's bloodline, he instantly recognized that Itachi had awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan.
The shock of Shisui's death had triggered it.
He had always known Itachi had the potential to awaken it.
But to see him awaken it so early, even earlier than Shisui had…
"So this... is the Mangekyō Sharingan?"
Itachi wiped the blood tears from his face. His voice trembled with sorrow.
He had longed for this power. But now, there was no joy. No thrill.
Because its price was Shisui's death.
If he could choose, he would rather never have awakened it—if only Shisui were still alive.
But what was done was done. There was no turning back.
"To awaken the Mangekyō at this age… Itachi's talent surpasses even Shisui's."
The Hokage's heart surged with excitement.
Shisui's death had cost him his strongest asset. But now, Itachi had filled that void.
And more than that—he was younger, with even greater potential.
"Shisui… did you see? I've awakened the Mangekyō too."
Pain filled Itachi's voice.
"If Shisui knew, he would be proud."
The Hokage patted Itachi on the shoulder, offering comfort.
"Don't worry, Shisui. I'll carry on your will. I'll protect Konoha's peace… even if it means opposing my own clan."
Itachi clenched his fists, swearing his oath.
"I'm glad to hear you say that. Shisui would be proud too. But remember—don't act rashly and expose yourself as our informant."
The Hokage nodded in satisfaction.
"You may have awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan, but you're still no match for Fugaku—not yet. You're not strong enough to change the Uchiha just yet."
"You need time. You need to grow stronger."
Seeing Itachi awaken the Mangekyō, a new plan formed in the Hokage's mind.
Let Itachi hide this power, bide his time, and gain strength. One day, he would use that power to defeat Fugaku.
He believed Itachi could do it.
Having Fugaku's own son destroy him—that would be the ultimate revenge.
"I understand."
Itachi nodded solemnly.
Though he now possessed the Mangekyō, he wasn't arrogant enough to believe he could defeat the man who had killed Shisui.
"I'm glad you can remain calm."
The Third Hokage nodded in approval.
Was this not what it meant to lose something… only to gain something even more valuable?
He had lost Uchiha Shisui.
But in his place, he had gained someone with even greater potential—Uchiha Itachi.