Three Days Later
Naka River Cliff
Itachi lay on his back atop a soft bed of grass, his dark eyes fixed on the sky as his thoughts drifted endlessly.
It had been three days since his transmigration. In that short span of time, he had finally adapted to the rules, dangers, and realities of the ninja world once more.
During those three days, Itachi had thought deeply about the future—his future, and more importantly, the future of the Uchiha clan.
Countless plans had taken shape in his mind, branching into different paths and possibilities. Yet no matter how much he refined them, every plan shared the same first step.
Shisui Uchiha
Shisui the Teleporter
A once-in-a-generation genius of the Uchiha clan. A Mangekyō Sharingan wielder, and the sole owner of the terrifying genjutsu known as Kotoamatsukami.
From his years of reading all kinds of novels, Itachi had learned two immutable rules of conflict:
Absolute strength reigns over all schemes, plans, and tactics.
If absolute strength is unattainable, then true strength lies in unity.
With Shisui as an ally, Itachi would gain far more than power—he would gain choices, freedom, and room to maneuver.
Just then, the sound of approaching footsteps reached Itachi's ears.
"Itachi, I heard you left the Root and applied to join the Konoha Military Police?"
The moment Shisui arrived, the question left his mouth without hesitation.
Shisui regarded Itachi not only as a comrade, but as a younger brother. They shared the same goal—to prevent the Uchiha coup d'état and mend the widening rift between the clan and the village.
In the past, any major decision was something they discussed together. Yet this time, Itachi had acted on his own, making such a drastic move without a word. Naturally, it had shocked Shisui.
"Brother Shisui, how was the mission?"
Instead of answering, Itachi calmly posed a question of his own.
Shisui paused. Hearing that, he immediately understood what Itachi was implying.
'You were on a mission.'
"It was the usual," Shisui replied with a faint sigh. "An assassination—some minor noble in the Land of Earth."
As Shisui finished speaking, he casually sat down on the grass beside Itachi, his posture relaxed.
He didn't ask any further questions—he knew Itachi well enough to understand that, when the time came, Itachi would explain everything himself.
And indeed, Itachi's next words proved him right.
"Brother Shisui, before I answer your question, allow me to ask you a riddle."
Shisui frowned slightly, puzzled by the sudden turn, unsure how a riddle related to their earlier discussion. Still, he nodded, his expression turning serious.
"There are two villages—A and B.
Village A has one thousand residents, while Village B has ten thousand. A tailed beast fires a Tailed Beast Ball at both villages at the same time.
You can choose to save only one village. If you hesitate, both will be destroyed.
Which one do you save?"
Shisui fell silent.
After several moments of contemplation, he finally spoke.
"I would save Village B."
Itachi nodded, his gaze calm, and continued.
"Now, let us change the conditions. If Village A is Konoha, and Village B is the entire Land of Fire without Konoha—and you can save only one—what is your choice?"
At first, Shisui's answer came instinctively.
"Konoha."
But almost immediately, doubt crept into his mind.
Konoha's population is roughly sixty to eighty thousand…
But the Land of Fire has twenty to thirty million.
His expression became complicated.
"I choose Konoha—Village A."
"Even if," Itachi asked quietly, "for every single person in Konoha who survives, three hundred people in the Land of Fire must die?"
"Hmmm…"
Shisui hesitated, his brows knitting together as discomfort surfaced in his eyes.
"I also chose Village A."
The moment Itachi said those words, Shisui understood everything.
The question had never truly been about Village A and Village B.
It was about Konoha and the Uchiha clan.
In the first scenario, when the choice was made purely on population, the logical answer was clear—Konoha should be saved.
But in the second scenario, when loyalty and identity were factored in, the answer changed.
The Uchiha clan, with its far smaller population, became Village A.
And Itachi had already made his choice.
But Shisui did not wish to choose between the two.
Even if, as Itachi had said, hesitation could lead to the destruction of both sides, Shisui wanted to exhaust every possible option before making such a choice.
"Itachi, I know you've already made your decision," Shisui said quietly, "but things have changed."
He looked directly at Itachi, his expression solemn.
"I have awakened my Mangekyō Sharingan. With it came a unique ability—Kotoamatsukami."
"This genjutsu allows me to alter and control a person's will without them ever realizing they were influenced."
Shisui clenched his fist.
"With this power, we can change the wills of those who oppose peace. We can finally mend the rift between the Uchiha and Konoha."
Hearing Shisui's words, Itachi felt the weight behind them—not just the proposal, but the trust embedded within it.
In the ninja world, below the level of the Six Paths, battles were not decided by brute force alone. They were battles of information, secrecy, and timing.
For Shisui to reveal his Mangekyō ability—especially one as terrifying as a will-altering genjutsu—was the proof of his absolute trust on him.
"That would only delay the inevitable," Itachi said quietly. "And if we are unfortunate… it may even hasten the destruction of both sides."
Shisui stiffened.
"Brother Shisui, do you know that Father has also awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan?"
Itachi continued. "He even awakened it several years ago."
Shisui's eyes widened slightly.
"Three days ago, I met him. He showed me the future—using his Mangekyō ability."
Itachi's voice remained steady, almost emotionless, as if he were reciting a report rather than a prophecy.
"A few weeks from now, we enter the Hokage's office together. You reveal your Mangekyō ability to Hokage-sama.
We form a plan—to use your Kotoamatsukami on Father and put an end to the Uchiha coup and rebellion plan aimed at Konoha."
"But before that can happen, you are attacked by Danzō."
Shisui's breath hitched.
"He steals your right eye. You are poisoned by an Aburame clan technique. Exhausted, cornered, and with no path left… you choose death."
Itachi's fists clenched imperceptibly.
"You entrust your remaining Mangekyō Sharingan—and your will—to me."
Silence swallowed the cliff.
"A year later, the situation worsens beyond control. Pressured from all sides, I make a choice."
His voice dropped.
"With my own hands, I exterminate the Uchiha clan."
Shisui felt a chill crawl up his spine.
"I—the young master of the Uchiha—destroy the very clan I was meant to protect."
Itachi exhaled slowly.
"And upon witnessing that outcome… I awakened my own Mangekyō Sharingan."
"My Mangekyō ability is Ketsugoku."
Itachi's voice was calm, yet every word carried an undeniable weight.
"It creates a life-and-death arena within a separate dimension. Once activated, the space remains sealed until one of the participants dies."
"During that period, no interference from the outside is possible. Summoning beasts, forbidden techniques—nothing can breach it. When Ketsugoku is invoked, the duel becomes absolute."
Itachi lowered his gaze.
"The moment I awakened this ability, I understood my answer. My choice was decided then—and it will not change."
He looked up at Shisui, eyes steady.
"Brother Shisui, I know you love both the village and the Uchiha clan more than I do. You have shed blood for them in the Third Great Ninja War."
"But now, you must choose between the two."
Silence stretched between them, heavy and suffocating.
"Whatever decision you make, I will respect it."
Itachi inhaled slowly, as if engraving the next words into his soul.
"And I promise you this—no matter the cost, no matter what path I must walk…"
"I will save the Uchiha clan."
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