When Uchiha Shisui and Uchiha Fugaku arrived at the Anbu prison, Chiyu was still quietly seated on the ground, meditating.
All around him lay severed limbs, scattered everywhere. Blood had splattered across the entire prison floor and walls, turning dark now that some time had passed…
Such a hellish scene caused both the Police Force and the Anbu to frown. At the prison entrance lay the corpse of Aburame Kenpei…
Seeing Chiyu in the midst of this mountain of corpses, everyone felt profound dread and awe.
Uchiha Shisui was beside himself with rage.
"Chiyu! What on earth have you done?!"
Chiyu did not open his eyes, only responded with cold indifference:
"I did nothing."
Shisui roared, "What do you mean, 'nothing'? You've killed so many—criminals and Anbu alike—and you say you haven't done anything?!"
Chiyu spoke calmly, "I wasn't the one who arranged a group of criminals to ambush a comrade ninja.
"I wasn't the one who illegally unsealed those criminals' chakra, restoring their powers.
"I didn't break any rules by striking first.
"All I did was one thing…
"Carry out justice.
"Everyone I killed was someone who deserved to die."
Shisui's eyes flared with fury.
"You're just twisting logic to justify yourself!"
At last, Chiyu slowly opened his eyes.
"Am I?
"Uchiha Shisui, according to your 'logic,' I was supposed to sit there while your so-called Anbu and criminals tortured me to no end, leaving me begging for death.
"That's the justice you believe in?"
Shisui's heart wavered, but he'd already come too far to back out.
Knowing full well his actions were wrongful, yet not wanting to call himself a villain, he had only one path left: self-deceit, painting his deeds as righteous.
"T-that's because you killed the Hokage's son!"
Chiyu gave a small, mocking laugh.
"After all, he schemed to set up my subordinates.
"Attacking one's fellow Konoha ninja is Konoha's gravest crime, is it not?
"So the Anbu and Sarutobi Shinnosuke may plot, but we must calmly endure and do nothing?
"And even though I killed him, I accepted the Hokage's arrangement: I chose to be locked in the Anbu prison, awaiting proper investigation. But you people…
"What did you do?"
Shisui had no words for that. Chiyu pressed on:
"Shisui, I originally thought you were merely a fool, but now I see you're both foolish and corrupt.
"You see exactly what you're doing, yet you lie to yourself, covering it up, growing sentimental, even colluding with the enemy. You willingly became their lapdog, an Anbu captain…
"You truly disappoint me."
Shisui snapped, "Shut up!
"I won't let your slick words manipulate me! I am Uchiha Shisui of Konoha, an Anbu Commander under the Hokage!
"Uchiha Chiyu, your crimes are beyond measure. Today I'll bring you to justice!"
In that instant, Shisui released the terrifying power of his Mangekyō Sharingan anew.
Whereas before, he'd only shown it to intimidate Fugaku and the others, now he meant to kill Chiyu.
Fugaku and his police officers gasped in alarm, ready to intervene. But—
Chiyu only gave a slight laugh, shaking his head.
"So… the Mangekyō Sharingan?"
As Shisui's fierce chakra and killing aura flooded the area, Chiyu rose from the floor at a leisurely pace under the dim prison lights. Then he, too, opened his eyes—
Buzz!!!
In his gaze, the triple tomoe swirled, transforming, evolving, awakening! All at once, they turned into a six-pointed star shape—
The Mangekyō Sharingan!
For a moment, everyone—Shisui, Fugaku, the Anbu, and the Police Force—stood dumbfounded and stunned.
"T-that's the…
"Mangekyō Sharingan?!
"H-how is that possible…?"
A similarly terrifying aura of Mangekyō ocular power burst from Chiyu's eyes, bathing the prison in a bloody red glow that seemed capable of devouring everything.
Fugaku, beyond his initial shock, was overjoyed.
"The Mangekyō Sharingan!
"Chiyu awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan as well!
"Perfect… Just perfect…
"It seems the heavens favor the Uchiha clan.
"On the day Shisui betrays us, Chiyu also awakens Mangekyō!
"My instincts were right all along…
"Chiyu truly is the savior of the Uchiha!"
Shisui's face, on the other hand, was filled with disbelief.
"How—how could you possibly awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan…?"
Shisui had triggered his Mangekyō long ago after witnessing his parents die on the battlefield and being consumed by grief. But Chiyu… He was an orphan from birth, with no relatives or genuine "friends." Even his two subordinates, Aoki and Yamakaze, were severely injured but not killed. And with Chiyu's own steeled heart, there shouldn't have been strong-enough emotional trauma to awaken the Mangekyō. Yet here he stood—
A moment that felt eternal. A historic milestone for the Uchiha: two Mangekyō Sharingan users glaring at each other. Yet they stood on opposing sides. While Fugaku felt gladness, he also felt deep regret.
If only… these two could have fought side by side for the Uchiha—would any goal remain out of reach?
Chiyu, of course, gave no answer to Shisui's question. Shisui remained in shock, but he did not back down. Drawing a deep breath, his voice trembled with anger:
"I don't care if you've awakened the Mangekyō, Chiyu.
"You must still pay for what you've done today!"
Chiyu smirked coldly:
"All my actions have been transparent, guided by a clear conscience: pure justice.
"I killed only those who deserved it.
"I willingly followed procedures, locking myself in an Anbu cell, waiting for a formal inquiry, but they tried to murder me behind the scenes—and so I killed them in self-defense. Where's the crime in that?
"As for you? You aid villains, stubbornly blind… That sin cannot be forgiven!"
In a heartbeat, they faced off, their respective Mangekyō Sharingan clashing with seething intensity, filling the prison with crushing pressure. Even those who weren't directly in the crossfire could feel a bone-deep fear. Fugaku swallowed nervously.
Here stood, without question, the two strongest members of the modern Uchiha clan.
Which of them would prevail?
~~~
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