— Anyway... I should leave the Akatsuki...
Coughing made it even harder for him.
But leaving the Akatsuki wasn't easy.
The leader, Pain, was far more terrifying than Yagura.
If he wanted to escape, he had to disappear—far, far away...
— If I remember correctly, the "Mōryō" from the Land of Demons will awaken soon... The most dangerous place is the safest. Maybe I should hide there...
Dragging his wounded body, Jūzō walked off toward an unknown destination…
---
Northeastern Border of the Land of Fire
Uchiha Outpost
Frontline against Kumo
Fighting at the border continued, but with the arrival of the Nibi's jinchūriki, Konoha's forces suffered a crushing defeat.
A girl barely fifteen years old, from a distant land, left death in her wake.
No one could stop her.
Though the Uchiha outpost, a central strategic point, had not yet been attacked, the morale of the front-line troops was at rock bottom.
To solve this, Fugaku Uchiha called for an emergency meeting and devised a specific plan to counter the enemy.
The main executor of that plan would be Shisui Uchiha, nicknamed "Shisui the Teleporter."
Only he could match the speed of the Nibi.
Only he, with his Sharingan, might be able to counter a bijū's power.
The night of the Kyūbi's rampage hadn't allowed them to test this theory.
But now, that power would finally be put to the test.
Just as the plan was about to be launched, scouts brought alarming news:
Kumo's main forces, led by the Nibi's jinchūriki, were charging straight toward them!
— !
Fugaku and the others rushed outside.
Kumo's troops had already entered the Hyūga detection range—10 kilometers away.
— Captain!
Shisui, who had initially been assigned to a secret mission, immediately understood that a decisive battle was imminent.
If the fighting started, the losses would be catastrophic.
So...
— Let me try.
Without waiting, Shisui dashed forward.
— Shisui!
Fugaku tried to stop him, but Shisui was far too fast.
Only a few were able to keep up.
As both armies neared each other, the cries behind him grew more urgent.
— Shisui Uchiha, stop!
Members of the ANBU and Root tried in vain to halt his reckless charge.
— Only I... can end this war...
In his heart, Shisui had made his decision.
He would use his hidden power.
The true power of the Sharingan.
Moments later, the two forces stood face to face.
At the head stood a blonde-haired, blue-eyed girl, her braid falling down her back.
There was no doubt—it was the Nibi's jinchūriki mentioned in the reports: Yugito Nii.
— Oh? You really think you can stop us alone? Even if you are that famous "Shisui the Teleporter," isn't that a bit presumptuous?
Yugito raised her hand, signaling her troops to halt.
She wanted to see if this Shisui was truly as impressive as the rumors claimed.
---
Uchiha Outpost
Fugaku and the others watched anxiously from afar.
The dense forest blocked their view.
Just as Fugaku was considering going to reinforce him...
A Hyūga ninja suddenly shouted:
— They're retreating... The enemy is withdrawing!!
His voice trembled with disbelief.
For some unknown reason, Kumo's troops were pulling back like a receding tide.
What had happened?
— A genjutsu! It must be a genjutsu!
Once the situation was confirmed, cheers erupted at the outpost.
Though the details were unclear, one thing was certain:
"Shisui Uchiha used a genjutsu to repel the Nibi's jinchūriki, forcing Kumo to retreat."
When Shisui returned, he was welcomed with joyful cries, hailed as a hero.
But beneath their masks, the ANBU and Root members wore grim expressions.
— Shisui Uchiha...
— I'll explain myself directly to the Hokage.
Shisui said coldly.
The secret of his dōjutsu, Kotoamatsukami, would be revealed to the Hokage.
---
Back in Konoha
The news of the Nibi's sudden retreat spread like wildfire.
The Raikage, humiliated, had no choice but to accuse Konoha of foul play.
Shortly after, a new title was granted to Shisui:
In addition to "Shisui the Teleporter," he became known as "The Greatest Genjutsu Master."
Only a genjutsu of unparalleled power could force the Nibi's jinchūriki to retreat against her will.
Thus ended the conflict between Konoha and Kumo.
The reputation of Shisui Uchiha—the "Teleporter", the "Greatest Genjutsu Master"—spread throughout Konoha.
When Naruto heard the news, he immediately understood:
Shisui, in his great wisdom, had likely revealed the existence of Kotoamatsukami to the higher-ups.
And Danzō, of course, wouldn't ignore such a revelation.
Shisui Uchiha's death was now inevitable.
And with his death...
The fall of the Uchiha clan would soon follow.
But before that...
Naruto still had a few preparations to make.