Chapter 24: Izanagi

Hokage Office...

The Konoha Council—comprising the Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi, Danzo Shimura, Homura Mitokado, and Koharu Utatane—was locked in a heated debate over the growing tension between the Uchiha Clan and the Village.

"Hiruzen! The Uchiha issue must be dealt with swiftly and without mercy. Have you forgotten the teachings of our Sensei? The Uchiha cannot be trusted!"

Danzo's voice boomed. His body was swathed in bandages, and one eye was concealed beneath heavy wrappings. An oppressive aura clung to him, but the others in the room had long since grown used to his presence.

"Danzo, don't be so aggressive. The Uchiha are still part of this village," Hiruzen replied calmly, taking a long drag from his pipe before exhaling a cloud of smoke.

Koharu stepped forward, her tone soft. "Danzo, the Hokage has many factors to consider. This matter requires careful deliberation."

Homura, who rarely sided with Danzo, unexpectedly spoke up. "Still, Koharu, Danzo isn't wrong. He's thinking about the safety of Konoha. The Uchiha... they are a volatile element."

Hearing Homura's support, a rare smirk flickered across Danzo's face.

"Hiruzen," Danzo pressed, "I am the Root of Konoha. Let me deal with the Uchiha. For the Village's future, certain... necessary actions must be taken."

"Danzo," Hiruzen's expression darkened slightly, "control yourself. Don't think I'm unaware of your dealings with Orochimaru. This situation will be resolved through diplomacy. Shisui and Itachi are already working hard from within. The Uchiha are still our people."

Danzo's expression turned stormy. With a sharp glare, he turned to leave.

"You'll regret this, Hiruzen!" he snapped.

"Danzo! I am the Hokage!"

Hiruzen's voice, though calm, echoed with finality.

Danzo's fury simmered as he stormed out of the office.

Root Headquarters, Underground Base...

Back within the depths of Root, Danzo seethed.

A nearby Root operative hesitated, then stepped forward. "Lord Danzo... is something wrong?"

Danzo's bloodshot gaze snapped toward him. The suffocating pressure of his killing intent filled the room. The ninja froze, a chill running down his spine—then, just as suddenly, the oppressive aura vanished.

"Summon Uchiha Shisui," Danzo ordered flatly.

The ninja swallowed hard. "Y-Yes, my lord!" He quickly retreated, trembling.

He was new to Root, and although he had heard the stories about Danzo's merciless temperament, he had not truly believed them—until now.

Left alone once more, Danzo muttered bitterly, "Sarutobi, you sanctimonious hypocrite… playing the wise old sage while making me the villain. You're just avoiding the hard decisions."

He clenched his fists.

"Hmph... But once I obtain the Mangekyō Sharingan, the seat of Hokage will be mine. Just you wait."

Danzo's rage slowly cooled. Alone in the dim chamber, only his shadow danced on the walls.

He already knew—Uchiha Shisui had awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan.

The power of that man…

A power hailed as godlike.

He had no doubts about its potency.

From the darkness, Danzo's voice slithered like a viper.

"Shisui… Don't blame me. Blame yourself—for awakening a cursed power you weren't meant to wield."

"Kagami… your grandson will be joining you soon."

His form faded into the gloom, devoured by shadow.

Training Grounds, Outside Konoha...

"Uchiha Shisui! Lord Danzo summons you."

A masked Root operative appeared silently, standing before Shisui, who had been mid-training.

"Understood," Shisui replied without hesitation, ceasing his movements and following.

They moved swiftly through the dense woods, eventually arriving at an unremarkable tree. The masked operative tapped out a coded rhythm on its bark. A hidden staircase opened from the forest floor, and the two descended.

The air grew colder the deeper they went. Eventually, the corridor branched off. The Root ninja vanished into the darkness, leaving Shisui to continue alone.

He reached a large steel door and pushed it open.

Inside stood Danzo, alone.

Shisui stepped forward and respectfully dropped to one knee.

"Lord Danzo."

Danzo nodded slightly.

"Shisui... how are things within the Uchiha Clan lately?"

His voice was calm, but there was an edge to it—impatience, tightly leashed.

Unaware of the trap he was walking into, Shisui began to report.

"Apologies, Lord Danzo. The Uchiha Clan is currently split into two factions," Shisui reported calmly.

"One side is advocating for the use of force to seize control of the Village, while the other seeks peaceful negotiation. If you could grant me just a little more time, I believe I can resolve this peacefully."

As he spoke, Shisui's eyes began to spin—his fully matured Three-Tomoe Sharingan slowly morphed into a unique four-pointed shuriken pattern.

The Mangekyō Sharingan.

"Lord Danzo," Shisui continued, voice solemn and firm, "if the situation truly reaches a point of no return, then please allow me to use the ultimate Genjutsu—Kotoamatsukami. I will cast it on Fugaku-sama and end this rebellion before it begins. The Uchiha will remain Konoha's loyal protectors."

His voice carried conviction, but also a desperate plea for understanding.

Danzo's expression remained unreadable. Then, he took a step forward.

"Shisui," he said slowly, "this old man believes in your intentions. However... you should still hand over your eyes."

Shisui's eyes widened. He hadn't expected Danzo to be so direct—let alone hostile.

In that moment of tension, Danzo lunged, but Shisui's Mangekyō flared to life. A wave of chakra surged as Danzo was instantly trapped in a powerful illusion—a Genjutsu cast through the Mangekyō Sharingan.

"I'm sorry, Lord Danzo... but the Uchiha Clan will not become a threat to the Village."

Though Danzo's betrayal shocked him, Shisui—naïve in his loyalty—still harbored no hatred for the old war hawk.

"AAARGHH!!"

Suddenly, a wave of searing pain shot through him. Shisui staggered backward, clutching his face—one of his eyes had been torn from its socket.

Danzo stood before him, blood dripping from his hand.

"Shisui! Don't blame me—blame your Clan!" Danzo barked. "I don't trust them. Even if you stop this rebellion, what's to stop the next one? Your vision is too narrow! But don't worry... I'll keep your eye safe—for Konoha."

Shisui gritted his teeth, pain and disbelief flashing in his remaining eye. Around them, masked Root operatives emerged from the shadows—each one a seasoned Jōnin or Elite Jōnin.

Shisui's heart pounded. How... how did Danzo escape my Genjutsu? That was Mangekyō-level—he shouldn't have broken free...

But there was no time to think—he had to escape!

"Wind Release: Vacuum Great Sphere!"

Danzo formed hand seals and released a powerful sphere of compressed wind chakra. His mastery over Wind Release was formidable—among the strongest in Konoha.

"Wind Release: Vacuum Serial Waves!"

Multiple blades of wind shot forth, tearing through the training chamber as Shisui's body shimmered, splitting into a blur of afterimages.

The Body Flicker Technique.

This was the true strength of "Shisui of the Body Flicker"—his movements left behind a swarm of clones, illusions indistinguishable from his real body.

Danzo narrowed his eyes.

"Wind Release: Thousand Faces Gale!"

Hundreds of wind blades burst forward in a wide arc, tearing through Shisui's afterimages one by one.

Danzo's battlefield instinct was sharp. With a single jutsu, he was trying to shrink the space Shisui could move through, limiting his options.

The Root operatives joined the assault, launching simultaneous attacks from all angles.

But Shisui was too fast.

One operative's sword slashed through an afterimage—but the afterimage struck back, wounding his shoulder.

"Careful! His Body Flicker isn't just an illusion—it can counterattack!"

He shouted a warning, clutching his bleeding shoulder. If he had reacted a moment slower, he might have lost the arm entirely.

Danzo's face darkened. Even with one eye, Shisui was overwhelming his elite troops.

Enough.

Danzo reached over with one hand and ripped the bandages from his right arm.

Dozens of red Sharingan eyes were revealed—embedded along his arm like a grotesque collection of trophies. A faint seal pulsed near his elbow.

Shisui froze.

So that's how...

He broke free from my Mangekyō...

"Izanagi," Shisui whispered, realization dawning in horror.