The day of the Uchiha coup... was drawing near.
It would happen on the day of next month's festival.
Itachi was lost in thought when Shisui caught up behind him.
A full moon hung in the sky.
After the assembly ended, everyone was heading back.
"Itachi... let's go talk somewhere familiar..."
Shisui had also realized the gravity of the situation and wanted to have a proper conversation with Itachi.
That familiar place naturally referred to a secret cliff near the Naka River.
Only he and Shisui knew of this spot.
"Mm, alright."
Itachi nodded. By chance, his gaze landed on Izumi, who had also come to the meeting and was now leaving.
Under the night sky...
Izumi, with her long black hair reaching her waist, looked like a spirit of the night.
Her graceful steps and every slight movement radiated an astonishing charm.
That intoxicating aura... Itachi didn't know how to describe it.
He simply felt that Izumi had been changing more and more these days.
She used to be just a normal beautiful girl, but now...
There was something mysterious about her. Even a bit cold.
She had become... more womanly.
The fragrance of youth she gave off was rich with feminine allure...
Sensing Itachi's gaze, Izumi slowly turned her head.
She kept walking.
But just that one glance over her shoulder made Itachi's heart pound.
What kind of expression was that?
Itachi swore he had never seen Izumi look like that before.
Her oval face had become cold, almost emotionless.
Her dark pupils carried a lifeless quality.
Izumi, without expression, was dark and ruthless.
Just one glance, and Itachi couldn't look away.
He even felt his mouth go dry, and his body heat up.
What's going on?
Itachi didn't understand.
Why was he losing control over his body?
"Itachi? Itachi?"
Shisui, who had been talking, noticed his friend's distraction.
"Sorry, Shisui..." Itachi immediately turned his eyes away.
His head still buzzing.
Shisui, of course, noticed Itachi's distraction.
He glanced at Izumi, but by then, she had turned around, showing only her back.
"Hehe..."
He let out a teasing chuckle.
Shisui reached out and patted Itachi on the shoulder.
"You rascal... you're growing up, huh?"
"What do you mean?" Itachi muttered.
"I mean, you're finally realizing the charm of girls," Shisui said with a mischievous glint in his eye.
"And what about you, Shisui?" Itachi countered.
Didn't Shisui have someone he liked?
"Well..."
Shisui stroked his chin as the two of them continued walking, gradually leaving the Uchiha compound and heading toward the Naka River.
Many faces of women he had known flashed through his mind.
But... how should he put it...
"Before the major issue is resolved, I don't have the heart to think about dating..."
His sudden melancholy threw Itachi off.
Yeah...
Shisui had been fighting for the reputation and future of their clan.
Carrying enormous pressure.
But their father, and the others, didn't understand Shisui's efforts—or even Itachi's.
Did the Uchiha Clan... really have a future?
Itachi couldn't help but recall his conversation with the masked man... Uchiha Madara.
Next month, when his father and the others planned to rise up during the festival... would be the day of their death.
He had to stop them.
He had to stop them from carrying out such a foolish plan.
About ten minutes later...
The two stood on the cliff.
The raging waters of the Naka River below were furious.
Even for a ninja, jumping down would mean certain death—perhaps not even a body would be found.
"I actually joined the ANBU too..."
Shisui suddenly said, surprising Itachi.
Clearly, none of their clansmen knew this.
"Secretly... I joined under the Hokage's command. I no longer take regular missions. I've been working for the sake of the clan's peace..."
Shisui looked down at the river below.
"I've been granted the authority to investigate the clan. The Hokage trusts me deeply..."
Why?
Itachi thought it was natural that the Hokage would trust Shisui.
After all, Shisui had the best reputation among all Uchiha in the village.
The reason he never joined the Konoha Police Force was due to the strong request of other Leaf shinobi—
They all loved working missions with Shisui.
But even so...
To think Shisui alone could save the Uchiha Clan was... too much.
"Because of my eye technique..."
Shisui's eyes transformed into Mangekyō Sharingan.
"Uncle Fugaku asked me before... Actually, your father also has the Mangekyō Sharingan..."
Itachi: "!!!!"
Itachi, who had thought his father would be easy to handle, suddenly realized—
If he had to go up against him, it would be a fierce battle!
Even though he only had two-tomoe Sharingan now,
he thought he could take on a three-tomoe user.
But this new revelation stunned him.
If that's the case, he wouldn't stand a chance against his father.
Gulp. Itachi swallowed and opened his mouth, unsure what to say.
"Uncle Fugaku hopes I'll help the Uchiha during the coup..."
Shisui's voice turned lonely and soft.
After all, his title as "The Greatest Genjutsu User" was intimidating.
He could even drive back the Two-Tails' jinchūriki and control Elder Koharu with ease.
"So... I'm a contingency."
If the power struggle failed, he'd just use his Mangekyō to control Koharu and force her to step down.
"But I never told your father about my true eye technique..."
Shisui pointed to his eye and smiled.
"Kotoamatsukami..."
He spoke a name full of mystery.
"A genjutsu that can alter a person's will..."
As Shisui explained, Itachi realized just how powerful it was.
Kotoamatsukami: Light was what he told others—it was an illusion meant to destroy the enemy's spirit.
But his real trump card was:
Genjutsu: Kotoamatsukami, which could completely rewrite someone's thinking.
"So before the festival next month... during the final clan meeting,
I'll use Kotoamatsukami to alter your father's mindset..."
Shisui paused, as if suddenly remembering something.
"Right, Itachi—you should change your attitude toward Naruto Uzumaki."
"Huh?" Why bring up Naruto?
"I misjudged him before. That child... is actually the son of the Fourth Hokage!"
"!"
Itachi was utterly stunned by this information.
"So..."
Shisui smiled and patted Itachi on the shoulder.
"You can let your sister, Sako, spend time with him without worry..."