What Senju Haruto unleashed was not Shisui's most powerful genjutsu, Kotoamatsukami,
but rather an ordinary three-tomoe illusion.
As a genius of the Uchiha clan, Shisui had mastered every kind of genjutsu.
The moment those ANBU shinobi turned their attention entirely on him,
Haruto used Shisui's eyes to instantly drag them into an illusion.
If Hatake Kakashi had known about this in advance, he might—just might—have used Obito's Sharingan to resist.
But even then, it would have been only a minor resistance at best.
In terms of skill with genjutsu, Shisui was even more formidable than Uchiha Itachi.
And with Kakashi's focus entirely on countering Haruto's Wood Release,
he too—along with everyone else—was pulled into the illusory world in an instant.
From the very beginning, they hadn't launched any real offensive.
The training grounds weren't filled with ANBU—just a few scattered observers keeping an eye on the fight.
But in their eyes, what they witnessed was utterly incomprehensible.
Before Kakashi could even order his men to spread out, his subordinates collapsed one after another—
and then, finally, he himself fell.
"What did that guy just do?"
"I don't know… I couldn't even see him move…"
"Move? Did he even do anything? He was just standing there,
and then Kakashi and the others just… dropped, one after another."
The ANBU onlookers immediately began murmuring among themselves.
"Could it be genjutsu?"
Someone in the crowd suddenly gasped.
In his mind, if Haruto's speed wasn't so fast it exceeded the limits of human vision,
then the only possible explanation was genjutsu—
one of the three core tactical arts of the shinobi world.
But still…
"When did he even cast it?"
"This is ridiculous… Captain Kakashi has the Sharingan!"
"That's right—apart from Fire Release, genjutsu is the Uchiha clan's greatest strength.
And with the Sharingan, they can nullify both ninjutsu and genjutsu attacks entirely…"
Yet what truly stunned them all was that, even after the fight was over,
no one had actually seen Haruto make a move.
Even those who suggested it was genjutsu were only making an educated guess—
they couldn't confirm it,
nor could they determine exactly how or when Haruto had cast it.
"Did none of you notice?"
A deep, authoritative voice suddenly spoke.
The crowd turned their attention toward the man—a high-ranking ANBU captain,
his presence alone enough to command respect.
Analyzing the battle was none other than
Morino Ibiki, commander of the ANBU Interrogation Division.
He drew in a sharp breath,
his throat bobbing as he swallowed hard.
"If this had been on the battlefield…
Kakashi and the others' lives would not only be in his hands—
the most terrifying part is that he could use his genjutsu to extract critical intelligence."
"And the outcome of war…
is often decided by intelligence."
"Without question, Kakashi and Tenzo are among the Leaf's finest shinobi—
yet in front of this man, they were utterly defenseless.
They didn't even realize he'd cast genjutsu…"
"That… is true terror."
Ibiki was usually a master of concealing his emotions,
but this time, shock was written plainly across his face.
"When… did the village gain such a frightening individual?"
His fists clenched tightly.
Yet in his heart, he felt a rare wave of relief—
relief that Haruto stood as a shinobi of the Hidden Leaf,
and not another village.
Otherwise, this man would surely have become Konoha's greatest enemy.
And it wasn't just Ibiki—
even Uchiha Itachi was shaken by the sight before him.
In that critical moment,
he had instinctively activated his Mangekyō Sharingan,
barely fending off Haruto's genjutsu.
If not, he too would have been dragged into that illusory world.
In that instant,
Itachi caught a glimpse of the method Haruto had used to cast the illusion.
Though he could hardly believe it,
he could not mistake it—
as someone who had always regarded Shisui as an elder brother,
Itachi knew those eyes anywhere.
They were Shisui's eyes.
But… why were they in Haruto's possession?
Hadn't Danzō stolen them?
What on earth was going on here?
And Haruto—
this man not only possessed chakra reserves rivaling a tailed beast,
and the long-lost Wood Release of the First Hokage,
but now…
he also had Shisui's eyes.
"More importantly…
is he trying to show me his strength,
or is this a warning?"
Itachi's mind turned over the question.
"You seem surprised, Itachi."
Just as he was still unsure how to judge Haruto's actions,
the man who had just defeated everyone in an instant suddenly spoke.
"I thought…" Itachi deactivated his Sharingan,
but still kept a wary eye on Haruto,
his voice low and heavy,
"…you would use Wood Release to make them fear your power."
"Like you did before."
"Fear, huh?" Haruto hadn't expected Itachi to use that word.
The last time he'd displayed Wood Release in front of Itachi,
it wasn't meant as intimidation—
it was to make his intentions understood,
to show the sincerity behind his actions.
Not simply to cow others into submission.
A smile tugged at his lips.
"Who would go all out against their own subordinates?"
Itachi's expression darkened as he glanced toward Kakashi and the others.
From what he knew of Shisui's genjutsu,
those people would need days before recovering from it—
and Haruto was saying he hadn't gone all out?
Right. And Itachi was just about to believe him.
Haruto was about to explain his next plan to Itachi
when a long-lost, familiar voice suddenly rang in his ears—
clear and pleasant,
like wind whispering through leaves and birdsong in the morning air.
"Please proceed to the Land of Iron to complete your sign-in.
A reward will be issued upon success."
"The Land of Iron this time, huh?" Haruto murmured to himself,
quite pleased with the location.
It happened to be exactly where he was already scheduled to go—
to attend a meeting with the Raikage alongside Sarutobi Hiruzen.
The timing was perfect—
three days from now.
"Itachi."
Haruto took a deep breath,
motioning for Itachi to come closer.
Itachi studied him for a moment—
he didn't know what Haruto was planning,
but he complied.
He bore no resentment toward Haruto being made captain,
and had no intention of challenging him again.
"Do you want to know why Shisui failed?"
Haruto's voice was low,
meant only for him.
At the mention of Shisui's name,
Itachi's eyes widened instantly.
This man… really did know everything.