Soon, Shao Yu returned to a relatively secluded courtyard within the Uchiha Clan Compound. This was the home he shared with his younger brother, Shisui.
Their parents had long since sacrificed themselves during a mission, leaving the two brothers to depend on each other for survival.
A faint light still flickered inside the house. Shao Yu landed silently in the courtyard, concealing all traces of his presence. He walked to the window and peered through a crack.
Inside the room, a young boy with green hair sat upright at a low table, focused intently on a basic Ninjutsu scroll by the lamplight.
His features were handsome, bearing some resemblance to Shao Yu's eyes and brows, though he appeared much more youthful.
Despite his young age, his gaze was exceptionally focused and bright, exuding a steadiness that surpassed his years. This was Uchiha Shisui.
He seemed to sense something and suddenly looked up toward the window. His small face was initially guarded, but as soon as he recognized the silhouette outside, it instantly transformed into joy.
"Brother!"
He jumped up, ran to the door, and pulled it open. Seeing Shao Yu standing in the moonlight, travel-worn but with bright eyes, the smile on Shisui's face grew even more radiant. However, he quickly and keenly sensed an unusual aura from his brother.
It was a sense of solemnity, resolve, and an urgency that felt like a burning flame.
"Brother, you're finally back! The Elder..."
Before Shisui could finish, Shao Yu pulled him inside, quickly shut the door, and set up a simple soundproofing barrier.
"My foolish little brother, listen to me. There's no time to explain."
Shao Yu crouched down, placing his hands on Shisui's small shoulders, meeting his brother's clear yet confused eyes with a level gaze.
"We are leaving Konoha. Now, immediately. Come with me."
Shisui froze, his large eyes blinking as if he hadn't quite processed it. "Leaving... Konoha? Where to? Why?"
"To a place where we can survive, a place where the Uchiha can gain freedom and respect."
Shao Yu spoke quickly, but every word was clear and powerful.
"Konoha is no longer our home. The high-ranking officials have been marginalizing and suppressing the Uchiha. If we stay here, life for us and our clansmen will only get harder, and there may even be danger. I can't wait any longer, and I don't want to leave you alone in this dangerous place."
Seeing a seriousness in his brother's eyes he had never seen before, along with a deeply hidden trace of Pain, the surprise on Shisui's small face slowly faded.
He had been intelligent since childhood and relied on his brother; he wasn't entirely oblivious to the oppressive atmosphere within the clan.
His brother returning late at night and urgently speaking of 'defection'... this was definitely not a joke.
He didn't cry or ask more questions out of fear; he simply pursed his lips tightly and then nodded heavily.
"I understand, Brother. Wherever you go, I go."
His crisp and decisive answer showed a level of trust and determination far beyond his age.
Shao Yu felt a warmth in his heart and ruffled Shisui's hair firmly.
Although he had the memories of the Original Owner, directly feeling the bond between himself and his dear little brother still moved him.
Furthermore, Shisui was still young and hadn't been brainwashed by the so-called 'will of fire' yet. The current Shisui had one hundred percent trust in his genius brother.
"Good brother. Go change into clothes that are easy to move in, bring your Ninja tool pouch, and... the short sword your mother left behind. Don't bring anything else; I'll buy you new things later."
"Mm!"
Shisui immediately ran to the inner room and soon changed into a dark-colored training suit, shouldered his small Ninja tool pouch, and carefully tucked a well-maintained short sword into his waist.
His movements were swift and orderly, displaying excellent Ninja discipline.
Shao Yu was also organizing quickly. He placed some important personal items, a small amount of money, and several scrolls recording his own insights into Fire Release and Genjutsu into a sealing scroll.
He looked around the home he had lived in for years, his gaze lingering for a moment on a blurred photo of his parents before turning firm. Lingering would only bring danger.
In less than ten minutes, the two brothers were ready. Shisui stood beside Shao Yu, his small hand tightly gripping the corner of his brother's clothes. He looked up, and though there was a bit of unease about the unknown in his eyes, there was even more total trust in his brother and a courage to 'face it together with Brother.'
"Are you afraid?" Shao Yu asked.
Shisui shook his head, then nodded again, whispering: "A little... but as long as I'm with Brother, I'm not afraid."
Shao Yu took Shisui's hand, feeling the warmth and strength of that small hand. "Hold on tight, let's go."
He removed the soundproofing barrier and, leading Shisui, they became like two shadows blending into the night, silently leaving the home that was about to become a part of the past, heading toward the planned rendezvous point.
They sped toward an abandoned watchtower that overlooked part of Konoha yet was sufficiently hidden.
In truth, it would have been much safer if he could have tamed a few more Shikigami of the Ten Shadows Technique before defecting. However, being in Konoha, the Uchiha Clan was under surveillance by the high-ranking officials, which was truly unfavorable for Uchiha Shao Yu to conduct the taming rituals here.
He would worry about that after leaving Konoha; his current strength was enough for now.
With Elder Setsuna providing cover, Konoha Village wouldn't discover their defection for a while. Furthermore, although the Ten Shadows Technique and Six Eyes hadn't been further developed yet, Uchiha Shao Yu could now use Susanoo. With Susanoo, Uchiha Shao Yu could be considered a legitimate Kage-level combatant.
Unless the Sannin teamed up or Hiruzen Sarutobi personally hunted him down, Uchiha Shao Yu didn't fear anyone else.
Wait, the current Sannin, even the three of them combined, were no match for Hanzou. Although Hanzou's strength was indeed terrifying—one could say he was among the first tier of powerhouses in the current Ninja World—he ultimately hadn't exceeded the Kage-level threshold.
The fact that he could defeat the Sannin meant that the current Sannin had not yet reached the Kage-level. It was unknown if Jiraiya had learned Sage Mode yet, so the three of them should currently be in the stage between Elite Jonin and Kage-level.
With his Susanoo, Uchiha Shao Yu could still put up a fight.
As for Hiruzen Sarutobi, the current Uchiha Shao Yu definitely couldn't beat him. After all, he was in his absolute peak; a cage combined with fire would likely break the Susanoo.
Although that old fellow Danzo was also Kage-level, the weight of his Kage-level strength was far, far inferior compared to Hiruzen Sarutobi in his peak. Moreover, Danzo's trump cards—the Sharingan and Izanagi—were things Uchiha Shao Yu knew all too well.
A Ninja battle, in the end, boils down to information disparity. If Jiraiya had possessed all the intel on Pain and had activated Sage Mode before entering, he might not have necessarily lost to Pain.
After all, Pain's control over the Rinnegan was far inferior to Uchiha Madara's.
However, Susanoo consumes one's eyesight, so it's better not to use it if it can be avoided.
Advance chapter available on pãtrêon Got1808