"What on earth is that!?"
The members of Root were stunned as they watched Shisui Uchiha standing alone, surrounded by a green, skeletal flame-like figure that had just blocked all their attacks. The eerie presence of that spectral skeleton sent chills down their spines.
"Don't let him escape!" Danzo commanded, his eyes narrowing with determination. Although he had successfully taken one of Shisui's Mangekyō Sharingan, he knew that the Sharingan's full potential could only be unleashed when both eyes were intact. Sensing that Shisui was on the verge of collapse, Danzo urged his men forward.
Without hesitation, the Root members charged at Shisui. Even though the green flaming skeleton looked terrifying, Root operatives were trained to follow Danzo's orders without question, even if it meant their deaths.
Shisui's left eye glinted with sorrow as he observed the advancing Root members. His original plan had been to use Kotoamatsukami to erase the conflict between the Uchiha clan and the village of Konoha. It was the best solution he could think of.
But he had underestimated Danzo's deep-seated hatred for the Uchiha. Upon learning of Kotoamatsukami's power, Danzo had become so fearful that he resorted to treachery, attacking Shisui.
The Sharingan's true power lies in the synergy of both eyes. Now, with only his left eye remaining, Shisui knew he couldn't use Kotoamatsukami to alter the minds of the Uchiha leaders. Worse, despite everything, he still couldn't bring himself to hate Danzo enough to kill him. If he were to kill Danzo, the rift between the Uchiha and the village elders would only deepen, leaving no room for reconciliation.
As several top-tier Root ninjas rushed toward him, Shisui, unwilling to fight, turned and activated his Body Flicker Technique to its fullest extent, vanishing at an astonishing speed.
Known as "Shisui of the Body Flicker," Shisui's mastery of this technique was second to none.
In less than a minute, Shisui encountered two familiar figures: Itachi and Akira Uchiha.
"It's Shisui!" Akira thought as he saw Shisui approaching with his right eye closed and blood seeping from its corner. He knew, at that moment, that Shisui had already lost one of his eyes.
...
Uchiha Shisui, Uchiha Itachi, and Uchiha Akira—three of the most talented members of the Uchiha clan—now stood side by side. However, compared to the other two, the six-year-old Akira still appeared like a child.
Meanwhile, the Root ninjas had formed a standoff, and Danzo slowly walked forward. Seeing the three Uchiha prodigies standing together, Danzo's brow furrowed slightly. He hadn't expected to encounter Itachi and Akira while ambushing Shisui.
Itachi glanced at Shisui, seeing the state he was in. Rage flickered in his eyes. Shisui had indeed been attacked, and judging by his current state, if Itachi had arrived any later, Shisui's fate might have been sealed.
Although Itachi would eventually slaughter his own clan for the sake of Konoha, Shisui held a special place in his heart. It was Shisui's death that had triggered Itachi's awakening of the Mangekyō Sharingan.
"Let's go, Itachi, Akira…" Shisui said through bloodied lips, his right eye closed as he addressed the two.
Itachi hesitated for a moment, then nodded. He had inherited Shisui's deep love for Konoha and understood why Shisui didn't want to escalate the conflict between the Uchiha and the village leaders. Thus, he was ready to leave without further conflict.
However, while Shisui and Itachi were prepared to retreat, Akira had no intention of leaving. His eyes narrowed as the two-tomoe Sharingan activated, and he took a deep breath. The chakra within him began to surge, as if ignited by some catalyst.
"First Gate, Gate of Opening, open!"
"Second Gate, Gate of Healing, open!"
"Third Gate, Gate of Life, open!"
Boom!
In an instant, Akira's chakra flared wildly as he opened the first three gates of the Eight Gates technique. His aura exploded, and his skin turned bright red, as though he had been boiled alive, giving him a fearsome appearance.
Akira's chakra levels had already been near those of a Jonin. Now, with the first three gates open, his chakra output skyrocketed.
"Akira!" Shisui called out, alarmed by the immense chakra radiating from Akira. He tried to stop him.
Normally, Akira would heed Shisui's words, but today, he was like a wild horse that had broken free of its reins. He charged straight at Danzo with unbridled fury.
There are some things you can suppress when they're just words on a screen in a simulator. But when you witness them firsthand, it's impossible to hold back.
Note: If you are interested, you can read up to chapter 93 at patreon.com/Emik01.