Monday, 6 AM.
On his way to school, Shishou gazed at the dawn sky, lost in thought.
He was contemplating whether to skip class today.
His Phosphorescent Destructive Insects had successfully evolved, but their numbers had dwindled to a third, urgently needing replenishment.
At the same time, Shishou's stinging insects and mutated healing insects had also evolved again through his chakra feeding, enhancing their toxicity and healing abilities, respectively.
These two also required the chakra feedback from the Phosphorescent Destructive Insects for nourishment.
Skip class or not, skip class or not...
"Well, it's not like I have to skip..."
"I'll write a leave note."
Shishou took out a piece of paper from his bag, wrote a leave note, and handed it to Kiba as he passed by.
Then, Shishou slung his backpack and headed straight for the Forest of Death.
Whether Iruka would approve it or not, he didn't care.
...
10 AM, Forest of Death.
After using the Phosphorescent Destructive Insects to subdue a giant centipede, Shishou collapsed on its back to rest.
Since it was a rare giant insect, Shishou decided to keep it as his summoning beast.
His height had noticeably increased again, a result of the feedback effect.
At this point, Shishou's Phosphorescent Destructive Insects had evolved once more.
However, this time it was just a normal evolution, and he chose to continue enhancing their vitality, increasing their survival time in the air.
The stinging insects and healing insects also evolved.
The stinging insects further enhanced their toxicity.
To his delight, the mutated healing insects gained a special evolution: Feign Death.
[Feign Death: The healing insect can parasitize a target's body. When the target suffers a fatal injury, the healing insect will autonomously activate, putting the target in a feigned death state, extending survival by five hours]
This was a very useful skill.
That was Shishou's assessment.
"Hmm? Is this the giant centipede's nest?"
"Let's see if there's any treasure inside."
Jumping off the centipede, Shishou approached the base of a towering tree and found a hidden cave beneath the roots.
Traversing the cave, Shishou arrived at an empty basement.
The basement was filled with various experimental equipment and jars.
This was evidently a secret laboratory built by someone, later abandoned, and subsequently taken over by the giant centipede as its nest.
"When was this lab built?"
Seeing the thick layer of dust on the table, Shishou grimaced in distaste.
...
By afternoon, Shishou's healing insects and Phosphorescent Destructive Insects had completed another round of evolution.
"Yo!"
"Isn't that Uchiha Itachi?"
Returning to school for class, Shishou noticed a figure in a distant tree and was puzzled.
"Still watching Sasuke, huh..."
Following Itachi's line of sight, Shishou saw Sasuke's face.
One obsessed with his brother, the other with his sibling!
These two are hopeless.
Shishou shook his head, then froze.
The Uchiha massacre... is it tonight?
Pressing his lips together, Shishou turned away from the school.
...
In the Hokage's office.
The Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, looked at the kneeling Uchiha Itachi before him. After a long silence, he spoke:
"Have you made up your mind?"
Regarding Itachi's decision, the Third Hokage neither agreed nor opposed, feeling deeply conflicted.
Exterminating the Uchiha clan would stabilize Konoha, reducing internal strife.
But it would also weaken Konoha's overall strength.
"Yes, Third Hokage-sama, I've made my decision."
"My only request is to take care of my younger brother."
Uchiha Itachi, kneeling before the Third Hokage, revealed his three-tomoe Sharingan, speaking calmly.
Steeped in the Will of Fire, the ideology of 'Konoha above all,' Uchiha Itachi, upon realizing the Uchiha rebellion could no longer be suppressed, chose to side with Konoha.
Additionally, the mysterious figure from the Nine-Tails' attack had approached him, inviting him to join the Akatsuki organization.
As a condition of joining, that figure would help him massacre the Uchiha and harvest the three-tomoe Sharingan.
In return, he would join the Akatsuki, intending to gather information on the organization.
His only concern was his younger brother, Uchiha Sasuke.
"I understand. As long as I'm here, no one will harm him."
The Third Hokage set down his pipe and sighed.
"In that case, I'll take my leave."
Uchiha Itachi respectfully answered, then vanished.
...
Outside the Uchiha compound.
Using his insects' senses, Shishou observed the Uchiha clan members coming and going.
He channeled chakra into the healing insects' breeding space.
Under Shishou's deliberate guidance, the number of healing insects quickly increased to about fifty.
Next, he attached the Phosphorescent Destructive Insects to the healing insects, hanging them on branches and gates. As the Uchiha clan members passed by, the insects dropped onto them. Once inside their bodies, Shishou ordered them into dormancy.
Activating the Sharingan consumed chakra, so Shishou wasn't worried about being discovered.
Shishou didn't know much about the Uchiha clan.
He didn't feel much about their impending massacre.
The only thing he felt was a pity for was Uchiha Mikoto, such a beautiful woman.
However, as a responsible young man raised under the red flag, he also wanted a share of the pie.
No, he wanted to contribute to Uchiha's bright future!
With the scheming of Danzo Shimura, Uchiha Itachi, and Uchiha Shisui, the Uchiha massacre was already set in stone.
Afterwards, Danzo and Shisui would divide the spoils of the Uchiha clan.
And Shishou planned to use the Phosphorescent Destructive Insects to pick up some leftovers.
Hmm?
Is that Uchiha Mikoto?
Shishou turned his head towards the Uchiha compound's entrance and saw Uchiha Mikoto cheerfully carrying a shopping basket, evidently heading out for groceries.
Tsk tsk, truly a model of a good wife and mother.
Uchiha Mikoto was the close friend of the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, Uzumaki Kushina, and also a Jonin with the three-tomoe Sharingan.
Surprised?
Unexpected?
Had Shishou not researched Uchiha Mikoto's information in the family archives, he wouldn't have known this seemingly gentle woman was a Jonin of the Uchiha clan.
Watching the healing insect with Phosphorescent Destructive Insects successfully burrow into Mikoto's clothing, Shishou's lips curled into a slight smile.