discord.gg/q5KWmtQARF
Join my Discord!
**************
Horyu looked at Himawari and asked, "May I put you under a Genjutsu? Do you allow me?"
The room turned its attention to her, then back to Horyu, curiosity and uncertainty mingling in their eyes. Horyu didn't elaborate, just waited for Himawari's response.
After a moment of hesitation, Himawari nodded. "Go ahead," she said, her voice steady.
Horyu formed a series of hand seals, and in the next second, Himawari's eyes dimmed. Above her head, a screen appeared, displaying what she was experiencing in the illusion.
Inside the illusion, Himawari saw herself as a young girl growing up in the Uchiha clan. She heard stories about her grandfather, Uchiha Kagami, and his heroic deeds. The villagers spoke of how Kagami was close to the Second Hokage, to the point of sacrificing himself for the village. These tales filled her with pride and admiration for her grandfather. She wanted to inherit his will, to be someone who could bridge the gap between the Uchiha and the village.
But as she grew older, she noticed the whispers and the glances from the clan members. They spoke of Kagami in a different tone, calling him a traitor who had sided with the village against his own clan. The conflict inside her grew. She wanted to make her clan proud, to be a true Uchiha, but she also wanted to uphold her grandfather's legacy of loyalty to the village.
The scenes shifted rapidly, showing her training under the stern gaze of the Uchiha elders, who constantly reminded her of the clan's honor and the need to reclaim their power. The pressure was immense. She felt torn between her love for her family and her duty to the village.
Himawari's emotions fluctuated as she relived these memories. She felt pride, confusion, anger, and sadness all at once. The illusion was vivid, making every moment feel real.
Outside the illusion, the others watched the screen, witnessing the internal struggle of the Uchiha girl. Tsunade's eyes softened, understanding the weight of legacy and expectations. Naruto looked conflicted, his fists clenching and unclenching as he saw his sister's pain.
Hashirama observed silently, his expression grave. "This is the burden the Uchiha clan carries," he said quietly. "A history of conflict and divided loyalties."
As the illusion continued, Himawari saw herself standing before a council of Uchiha elders. They were demanding her allegiance, urging her to lead the clan to greatness and reclaim their honor. The pressure was suffocating. She wanted to scream, to find a way to reconcile the two sides of her identity.
Soon her genius shone. The Third Hokage and Danzo often summoned her, persuading her to spy on her clan. They told her it was for the good of the village, to maintain peace. If not, many would die. She was torn, undecided, but the weight of their words and the pressure of her dual loyalties bore down on her.
In the illusion, Himawari saw herself standing before Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo Shimura. "Himawari," Hiruzen said, his voice gentle but firm, "your unique position gives you an opportunity to bridge the gap between the Uchiha and the village."
Danzo's gaze was colder. "You understand the risks, don't you? If tensions continue to rise, it could lead to civil war. Innocents will die."
Himawari's heart ached. She didn't want bloodshed. She wanted peace. "What do you want me to do?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper.
"Gather information," Danzo instructed. "Monitor their meetings. Report any signs of rebellion."
Himawari nodded, feeling the weight of her decision. She knew the risks. If her clan discovered her betrayal, they would consider her a traitor.
Days turned into weeks, and weeks into months. Himawari reported regularly, her heart heavy with each revelation she passed on. She saw the distrust growing in her clan, saw their preparations for what they believed was an inevitable conflict. She felt their suspicion, their whispers about a traitor among them. Each night, she questioned her choices, wondering if she was truly doing the right thing.
Despite her growing doubts, she couldn't ignore the consequences of inaction. If she didn't act, the village would be plunged into civil war. Innocents would die, and the Uchiha clan could be wiped out. She steeled herself, convincing herself that she was doing the right thing, even as the guilt gnawed at her.
Her efforts weren't in vain. The tensions in the village eased slightly as her information helped the Hokage's administration anticipate and counter the Uchiha's plans. It wasn't perfect, but it was a step towards preventing outright war. Yet, the cost was immense. Her clan's suspicion grew, and she found herself increasingly isolated, both from her family and the village.
Then came the day she dreaded. Danzo called her in, his expression unreadable. "You've done well, Himawari," he said, his voice cold and calculating. "But there is one more thing we need from you."
She braced herself, knowing that whatever he asked would be difficult. "What is it?"
Danzo's eyes gleamed with a sinister light. "Your eyes. The Sharingan. They would be better used in my hands. For the sake of the village."
Her heart sank. Despite everything she had done, despite her loyalty, he still saw her as just another tool. "After everything I've done... you still don't trust me?"
"It's not about trust," Danzo replied, his tone devoid of any empathy. "It's about power. The power to protect the village."
Himawari felt a wave of anger and despair. She had sacrificed so much, and now they wanted to take the very thing that defined her. Yet, she knew that resisting would only lead to more conflict. For the sake of peace, she made her decision.
"Fine," she said, her voice trembling but resolute. "Take them."
The procedure was excruciating. Danzo was efficient, but the pain was beyond anything she had imagined. As the light faded from her eyes, she felt a part of herself die. She had given everything for the village, and in return, she was left broken and blind.
When it was over, Danzo left her alone, a hollow shell of her former self. She couldn't see, but she could feel the cold, sterile air of the room around her. She lay there, her mind reeling from the loss and betrayal.
Her demise soon followed, but the illusion didn't break. Those watching outside felt how real it all seemed, once again shocked by Horyu's unprecedented mastery over Genjutsu. Despite dying, Himawari watched what happened as a ghost.
After taking her eyes, Danzo didn't use them for peace. One after another, he continued to isolate the Uchiha, as if he wanted them to act, rebel. When they finally showed their fangs, Danzo ordered the extermination of the clan. One night, everyone was killed.
Himawari suddenly snapped out of the illusion, gasping for breath. Her chest heaved as she tried to process what she had seen. The room was silent, the others staring at her with a mix of concern and curiosity. She looked around, her eyes wide with horror and realization. The room was silent, everyone absorbing the weight of what they had witnessed.
"That... was what Shisui experienced?" Himawari asked, her voice trembling. Her hatred for him wavered, replaced by a mix of pity and understanding.
Horyu nodded, "I didn't affect your choices; those were yours, based on what you experienced. Shisui was also about to give up and give away his eyes, but in the end, he resisted. I am not telling you to forgive him; you have every right to hate him. Everyone is entitled to their own selfishness. He took away your parents, your peace, and your happiness, but at least know why he did what he did."
The room was heavy with tension, the weight of Horyu's words settling in. Himawari's eyes were filled with conflict, the anger in her heart clashing with the new understanding she had gained. She took a deep breath, trying to process everything.
Tobirama, standing a few steps away, was visibly conflicted. He had been proud of Danzo's ruthless actions in maintaining order, but seeing how those actions had spiraled into such deep-rooted hatred made him realize the consequences of his decisions. He stared at the floor, lost in thought.
Hashirama placed a reassuring hand on his brother's shoulder. "Tobirama, our actions have far-reaching consequences. We must be careful about the paths we choose."
Tobirama nodded slowly, his stern expression softening slightly. "I understand, brother. Perhaps I have been too rigid in my approach. For peace, I should be more sacrificing."
--
It is the start of the new week. Please support me with Power Stones! Much appreciated!
-----
To Read up to 50 advance Chapters (25 for each novel) and support me...
patreon.com/thefanficgod1
Please drop a comment and like the chapter!