On the shadowy rock.
Ren sat alone, letting the cold wind blow over him.
He had searched every corner around the village of Konoha, yet hadn't seen a soul.
The village below lay quietly in darkness, not a single light in sight.
This was the village he had painstakingly sought to change.
Now, what meaning was left in it?
"Ah... what meaning is left," he murmured to himself.
Perhaps it would be better to simply destroy it…
But that thought was fleeting, lacking any genuine interest to act on it.
It was as if he had returned to his previous state, indifferent to Konoha's fate, whether it thrived or fell.
He used to be just fine on his own, with no need to think about anything.
Then that guy had to go and drag him in.
Ren didn't know how long he sat there, watching the moon move far across the night sky.
Returning to his lodging, he suddenly noticed the window in his room was open.
Ren hesitated, reaching for the doorknob, his hand trembling slightly.
Tenten was still sound asleep on the bed, wrapped snugly in blankets.
A figure sat in the chair.
Ren closed the door quietly, leaning against it, lowering his head.
"You've broken in again."
"What does it matter?" came the response.
"After all…"
"I'm already a rogue ninja."
Ren looked up at him, but his expression was calm.
Taking a deep breath, Ren said, "I can fix all this. I can make everyone who was there that night keep quiet."
"Come back. You don't have to leave the village."
"Fix it? How?" Shisui simply asked.
"I have a way!" Ren insisted.
Shisui didn't respond to that, but instead said quietly, "Ren, I've come to realize that I don't truly understand you."
"You're far more terrifying than I ever thought."
"…" Ren was stunned and then fell silent.
"When we were young, you were more mature and dependable than others our age. People could trust you."
"Back then, I only saw you as a reliable guy worth befriending."
"But after Shan and Yao's deaths, you changed. It was like you became a different person. I thought you were pitiable, that someone like you shouldn't sink into despair like that, and I wanted to save you."
"But I was wrong." Shisui spoke calmly, as if recalling old memories.
"You never needed saving from anyone. That was only my wishful thinking."
"…" Ren remained silent, unable to respond to Shisui's words.
"When you first told me you wanted to plant spies near the Hokage, that's when I began to feel afraid," Shisui continued.
"To you, what does the village or the Hokage mean?"
"To speak such treacherous words so calmly… was it because Shan and Yao's deaths made you lose faith in the village, or was it that from the beginning…"
"…you never felt any sense of belonging to Konoha."
"If one day the villagers of Konoha stood in your way, could you kill them all without hesitation?"
As Ren looked at Shisui's face, he saw a flash of light in his eyes—a light filled with disappointment.
After a long silence, Ren finally asked, "Do you hate me?"
"I do," Shisui replied.
"…"
"But I can't say I would do better than you."
"If it weren't for you, I might already be dead, and Konoha could have suffered a far worse fate."
Shisui's face looked wistful as he spoke slowly.
"You achieved the best outcome with only a small sacrifice. From the start, I was the one who was too naïve, speaking grand ideals yet without a better solution."
"You were right. I was afraid, afraid to bear that guilt."
"Those people who died—they were innocent. They had flesh, blood, names, families, friends, cherished memories… every time I think of them, I feel I can't carry the weight of their lives."
"If anyone has to be sacrificed, let it be me alone."
"But in the end, I'm just a fool who can only talk."
His face showed anguish and self-blame.
"No." Ren shook his head.
"A lot of people don't even have that much awareness."
"What good is awareness when it changes nothing?" Shisui sighed.
"It can change things!" Ren argued, his expression serious.
"Look at Konoha now. Look at the Uchiha. Aren't they moving in a better direction?"
"The Uchiha will be reintegrated into the village, and the villagers' prejudices will gradually fade. Yes, there have been sacrifices, but those were my choices and have nothing to do with you."
"Shisui, you can stay and witness it all."
Shisui quietly shook his head.
"Why…" Ren murmured.
"…"
"Why!"
Bang!
Ren struck the door with his fist, a heavy thud echoing, his face twisted in frustration.
Shisui looked at him, unable to suppress a flicker of compassion.
"I can't let Itachi bear the consequences of everything you've done."
"Besides…"
Shisui paused, hesitating.
"Forget it," he sighed.
"Damn the consequences!" Ren snapped. "Who would dare hold you accountable?"
"Those who lost family and friends in this disaster," Shisui said quietly.
Ren froze on the spot.
"What, are you going to kill them, too?" Shisui asked.
"…"
Ren clenched his teeth, angered yet powerless.
"Damn it!"
He took a deep breath and said, "I did all of this. If anyone should be blamed, let them come after me."
"Do you think people are fools?" Shisui asked again.
"Today's incident involved all the clan heads. How will you make them forget it ever happened?"
"Threats, or killing to silence them?"
"Will you plant seeds of hatred in their hearts, or destroy Konoha?"
"It's too late for that." Shisui's voice softened.
Ren murmured, "I should have just killed him from the start…"
If only he'd killed Danzo early on, none of this would have happened.
"If killing could solve problems, the ninja world would have no wars left," Shisui said.
"Killing only brings you closer to the retribution you deserve."
Ren closed his eyes. "So you have to leave?"
Shisui's gaze shifted slightly. "I have no reason to stay."
"Then do you have a reason to leave?" Ren asked, anger evident in his voice.
"Yes," Shisui said calmly.
"I'm disgusted by what Konoha has become."
"Filled with power struggles, political oppression. The actions of those in power make me sick. Soon enough, these people will start fighting for authority again, and the Uchiha will once more face tragedy."
"Then there will be more sacrifices, more people like you and me who are forced into guilt, people who deserve to die like us."
Ren's voice cracked, "All of this can be changed!"
"With some time, I can make it happen. I can clear all the darkness out of the village!"
Silence.
Shisui watched him and then said, "Ren, doesn't this seem familiar?"
Ren froze.
Suddenly, he remembered a time when he and Shisui had argued like this, back then, he had tried to dissuade Shisui from believing in the leaders.
How familiar it was—only now, their roles were reversed.
At that time, Shisui wanted to save everyone. Now, he was trying to hold on to Shisui…
Ren stood still, dazed and speechless.
"Then go change it if you think you can," Shisui said. "We're different. Now, you have more time than I ever did."
"But if Konoha is still this filthy place by then…"
Shisui rose from his seat, his voice calm.
"I'll kill you, kill those in power, and atone to people like Itachi, and those who died."
"Then we…"
"…will die together."
Ren hung his head, his entire weight leaning on the door.
"Shisui…"
"We're… friends, right?"
Shisui didn't answer, but after a moment, he turned away, a flash of sorrow in his eyes.
In the dim room, moonlight filtered through the window.
The shadows of the two figures were separated by only a few steps, yet they seemed worlds apart.
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