Naruto: Starting with Tsunade

Chapter 334 Uchiha Itachi (Part 2)

Upon hearing this name, Mikoto's gentle gaze immediately dimmed.

It was just a fleeting glance, but Itachi still managed to catch it. Realizing he had spoken out of turn again, he apologized and then said that it was alright if it was inconvenient.

Mikoto shook her head: "Actually, it's not that the name is inconvenient to mention, it's just that this person is rather special."

"Special?" Itachi became even more interested.

"Yes, to your father, he's probably like an older brother."

Itachi was taken aback: "Brother?"

Mikoto said with a touch of nostalgia, "Yes, that includes Mom too..."

Itachi was very surprised: "Then where is he now...?"

He's gone...

gone?

Itachi's mind raced, and combined with the conversation he had overheard in his father's room earlier, he immediately understood what was going on.

"Feel sorry……"

Mikoto tilted her head, puzzled, and asked, "Why are you apologizing?"

"Because I reminded my mother of bad memories."

Itachi said with an apologetic expression that he would not ask any more questions and that he would find the answers to Aokiji's questions himself.

Hearing her son's surprisingly mature answer, Mikoto pulled Itachi into her arms and gently patted his head: "Itachi, you really are a gentle child."

Itachi nestled in her mother's arms, feeling the baby's movements in her belly, her gaze lowered: "Mommy, I want a little brother..."

Mikoto was taken aback. Her son had said the same thing to her during their last visit to the hospital, and she had laughed, "Why does it have to be a younger brother? Isn't a younger sister cute too?"

"I don't know, it's probably just a feeling..."

Mikoto smiled. Although her son was far too mature for his age, almost unlike a child, he did occasionally show a childlike side...

After this incident, Itachi began to pay special attention to things related to Aokiji.

It's not hard to find out about Aokiji within the clan; a little inquiry is all it takes. He's a super genius with three bloodline limits. If it weren't for the accident, his father would probably not be the current head of the Uchiha clan.

What does a bloodline limit mean? Itachi, who is from a family with bloodline limits, knows very well what Aokiji is like.

Itachi didn't think he was anything special, but as he grew older and faced with more and more realities, he gradually realized that he might actually be a special being.

But even he had to admit defeat in front of this Uchiha Aokiji.

Furthermore, the more information he gathered, the more surprised he became by Aokiji.

Even disregarding his three bloodline limits, he is still the first perfect Jinchūriki in history.

The perfect Jinchuriki that Kumogakure is so proud of now is nothing compared to Aokiji...

However, what's truly shocking, even more so than these things, is his love life...

……

Shisui sighed, "If that person were still alive, the Uchiha clan would probably have been completely integrated into the village by now."

Itachi nodded.

Putting aside the issue of strength, what truly made all the Uchiha clan members believe that as long as he lived, he could definitely change the current situation of the Uchiha clan was that his girlfriend was Tsunade, the granddaughter of the First Hokage.

But with the deaths of both of them, all of that vanished like smoke in the wind.

Tsunade also has a corpse.

Aokiji, on the other hand, was nowhere to be found, not even his body.

At first, some members of the Uchiha clan still held onto the illusion that he might still be alive, just recuperating somewhere.

However, so many years have passed and there has been no news of Aokiji. Gradually, the Uchiha clan completely lost hope in this super genius and reluctantly accepted the news of his death.

After a brief moment of reflection, Shisui warned Itachi, "You need to be careful of Danzo."

Itachi clenched his fist so tightly that his knuckles turned white.

He had some understanding of Danzo; this man was very extreme in his actions and would only choose to protect the village in his own way.

Even so, should we still target Shisui, who loves the village like everyone else?

Itachi felt utterly heartbroken.

"That Danzo guy stole my right eye, and his next target will definitely be my left eye. You are the person I trust most, and now I intend to entrust this kaleidoscope to you..."

Upon hearing this, Itachi seemed to anticipate what was about to happen; his chest tightened, and his pupils dilated.

Before anyone could stop him, Shisui reached out and poked his fingertip into his eye socket, gouging out his eye right in front of Itachi.

Itachi turned his head away, seemingly unable to bear looking.

Blood kept flowing from her dark eye sockets, and Shizuku closed her eyes.

He slowly opened his left hand, which was holding the eye, and a perfectly intact eye was in his palm.

After Shisui completed these actions, it signified that he had already resolved to die, and a deep sorrow welled up in Itachi's heart, a sorrow that was about to be buried within him.

A warm current, different from tears, was stirring in my eyes, and this warmth was growing hotter and hotter, threatening to burn them.

"Please..."

Shisui's weak voice told Itachi that there wasn't much time left for him to grieve.

Freshly dug-out eyes must be treated properly immediately, otherwise problems may arise.

Despite his grief and pain, Itachi gathered his chakra and summoned a crow to perch on his shoulder.

At this moment, the eye in Shisui's palm floated up, flew towards the crow's right eye, overlapped with it, and then was absorbed into the crow's eye.

The Sharingan is an extremely precious eye, and the Uchiha clan has developed many methods for its preservation. One of these methods is the preservation of the eyes of animals like Itachi, who can absorb their own eyes.

Itachi released the summoning jutsu, and the crow and Shisui's eyes drifted away into the white smoke: "I've already taken good care of my eyes."

Although he couldn't see Aokiji's condition clearly, judging from the feel of his palm, his eyes must have been safely kept safe by his friend. Shisui smiled with relief: "As expected, entrusting them to you was the right decision."

Is there anything else you need to explain?

These words were barely in his throat when Itachi swallowed them back; he still couldn't accept Shisui's impending death.

Saying this means accepting the fact that your friend has died.

Even after losing his eyes, Shisui could still sense Itachi's state of mind. In fact, losing his eyes made him see things more clearly than he could normally see.

Shisui took a deep breath: "Before we say our final goodbyes, there's something I need to tell you."

Itachi listened quietly, his heart heavy.

Shisui slowly began to recount a story from the past: he had a childhood friend whose talent even surpassed Shisui's.

During the mission, Shisui, out of jealousy of his friend's talent, did not choose to help him immediately, which resulted in his friend's death.

This caused Shisui great guilt and pain. It was at this time that he noticed Itachi, because behind him, Shisui saw the shadow of his former comrade.

It was the first time Itachi had ever heard of Shisui's past, and he was somewhat surprised, but he didn't think it was Shisui's fault.

Everyone has weaknesses, especially since Shisui was only a few years old at that time.

Moreover, Zhi Shui did not intend to abandon the cause.

At that time, his companion was killed by the enemy when he was almost able to escape. A slight difference in luck could determine life and death, so Shisui cannot be entirely blamed.

Itachi silently defended his friend.

Perhaps because he was so confused at the moment, he, who was usually very perceptive, did not notice why his friend had deliberately brought this up.

It wasn't until Shisui said what followed that Itachi suddenly realized the special meaning behind his friend's words.

Instantly, I had a very bad feeling.

Soon, the premonition came true.

"Itachi, kill me..."

Shisui's calm words shocked Itachi, who opened his eyes wide: "W-what...?"

"Kill me and you'll get the Mangekyou Sharingan. That way you can quickly become stronger and surpass me. Protect your people, protect your village."

"This kind of thing..."

He was forced to kill his beloved older brother, whom he regarded as his elder brother. Itachi's chest was gripped tightly.

Shisui gave a bleak smile: "Anyway, I'm beyond saving, so I might as well entrust this to you before that happens."

A strange sadness welled up in Itachi's heart.

The Uchiha clan's most revered power actually concealed such a secret.

"Come, Itachi, kill me..."

The words of his respected elder brother were urging him to make a decision as soon as possible.

Itachi's legs seemed to be filled with lead, making it difficult for him to walk. He trembled as he drew the Japanese sword from behind him, but the moment he lifted it, it was like a deflated balloon, his limbs becoming powerless.

For the first time since he was old enough to understand, Itachi Uchiha's eyes welled up with tears, and he let out a low, whimpering growl: "I can't do it—!"

"You're so gentle..."

"I……"

"Forgive me, Itachi..."

Shisui's eyes were destroyed, but he still managed to find Itachi's forehead by instinct, nodded, and left a bloody mark.

Itachi stared blankly at the other person: "Shisui..."

"I entrust the Uchiha clan to you... Use your Mangekyou Sharingan and mine to protect them..."

Shisui gave Itachi a smile, then kicked his foot and jumped backward.

Behind him was a cliff; his leap would plunge him into an abyss.

"Shisui—!"

Itachi could only watch helplessly as Shisui continued to fall.

Soon, Shisui, with a smile on his face, disappeared completely from sight.

Blood flowed from Itachi's closed eyes. When Itachi opened his eyes again, they were filled with hideous blood vessels, and the three tomoe gathered together to form a curved triangular dart-shaped mark.

(End of this chapter)