Chapter 1: Brother Shisui, May I Borrow Your Eyes

Year 56 of the Konoha era. Six years after the Nine-Tails Rebellion, the loss of their strong and capable Fourth Hokage was not the only tragedy to befall the Hidden Leaf Village; it also pushed the Uchiha clan, one of the village's founding families, into an increasingly precarious position. After all, the Sharingan imprint seen in the eyes of the Nine-Tails during that catastrophe six years ago was not something that could be easily dismissed.

Facing the increasingly radical members during clan meetings, Uchiha Shisui, who harbored the Will of Fire, was consumed with anxiety. The Uchiha clan was now like a powder keg, ready to explode at any moment. Fortunately, the clan meetings had never resulted in any actual plans, but at this very moment, Shisui had already decided to resort to his final measure.

"It seems there is no other choice," Shisui muttered after leaving the meeting, looking up at the moon before touching his left eye.

Time was of the essence. Shisui planned to head to the Hokage Building under the cover of night to report his intentions to the Third Hokage. To avoid detection, he chose to take a detour through the Forest of Death.

However, just as he entered the forest, a figure suddenly appeared before him. At first, Shisui braced himself for an enemy ambush, but as the moonlight revealed the intruder's face, he let out a sigh of relief, his expression softening.

"Douhuan? Why are you here?"

Uchiha Douhuan was no stranger to Shisui; he was a genius of the same generation, just as renowned as he was. While other Uchiha were known for their mastery of Fire Style and genjutsu, Douhuan was an anomaly. He had invested all his talent into Lightning Style. During the Third Great Ninja War, on a battlefield where he summoned a heaven-shattering "Kirin" of lightning to wipe out fifteen Mist Ninja squads in one strike, he had earned the title "Pale Lightning Douhuan."

In Shisui's eyes, this clansman, one year his junior, was a rare Uchiha who possessed the Will of Fire. In his work for the Military Police Force, he was always kind to the villagers and almost never attended clan meetings—a fact that drew frequent criticism from the clan's radicals.

"I just finished my daily training. But what brings you to the Forest of Death at this hour, Shisui-san?" Douhuan asked with a gentle smile.

"Couldn't sleep, so I came out for a walk," Shisui explained; he could hardly admit he was heading to the Hokage Building to leak clan intelligence.

"Is it because of the situation between the clan and the village?" Douhuan asked.

"Yes," Shisui sighed deeply. "You must understand, Douhuan. If the clan rebels, we would be no match for the village, and the village would suffer a grievous blow. The peace we have fought so hard to maintain would vanish into thin air."

Shisui did not harbor much suspicion toward Douhuan. The younger man’s gentle demeanor in the police force had even made Shisui consider pulling him onto his side.

"Those who live in peace often fail to realize its true value," Douhuan replied. "Furthermore, the vision of the clan members is limited to the clan itself; naturally, they find themselves in such a predicament."

Hearing this, Shisui felt a wave of relief. He had not expected that, apart from Itachi—whom the Third Hokage praised for having the mindset of a Hokage—there was another young man in the clan with such foresight.

"However, I do have an idea regarding the current plight of the clan and the village. But this method requires your help, Shisui-san." The clear moonlight filtered through the canopy, falling upon Douhuan’s pure white haori. To Shisui, Douhuan looked like a deity.

"What is your plan?" Shisui asked seriously. "What do you need me to do?"

"I ask that you lend me your eyes, Shisui-san." Douhuan's words sent a chill down Shisui's spine. In the next instant, a flash of blue lightning surged in Shisui's vision.

The sound of clashing steel rang out across the Forest of Death. At the critical moment, Shisui had drawn his ninja blade, barely blocking the lethal blow.

"Douhuan? Why?" Shisui demanded as they stood locked in a standoff.

"You intend to side with the village, don't you? You even took this long detour to report to the Hokage just to avoid detection by our clansmen," Douhuan said, his voice as cold as frost.

The two retreated and stood opposite each other, blades drawn, their three-tomoe Sharingan staring intensely at one another.

"So, your vision is just as limited to the clan as theirs? And here I thought you were a fellow traveler who shared the Will of Fire." Shisui’s eyes turned cold as well; Douhuan’s previous strike had been intended to kill.

"Hahaha!" Douhuan threw his head back and laughed wildly. "Ridiculous. You and Itachi think you possess the vision of the entire village, but your eyes cannot help you see the future of the clan and the village. Aren't you just a frog in a well looking at the moon?"

Lightning crackled around Douhuan, his body wreathed in blue light. "My vision is no longer limited to this corner of the world. What I see with these eyes goes far beyond what you can perceive. This sick world needs a total, thorough revolution!"

"Are you planning to incite a war? You lunatic!" Shisui gritted his teeth. "I thought you avoided the clan meetings because you loved peace, but you are even crazier than the elders. I was truly deceived by your disguise."

"No, no, no. The reason I don't attend those meetings isn't that complicated. It’s simply because I don't want to associate with insects," Douhuan said coldly. "They scream about rebellion all day but never discuss a single feasible plan. How can one handle politics while surrounded by such vermin?"

"I see. I understand now." Shisui took a deep breath, as if making a firm decision. "Douhuan, your ideas are too dangerous. For the sake of the village, I must stop you!"

The three tomoe in Shisui's eyes spun rapidly, merging into the pattern of a pinwheel.

"Is this your trump card?" Douhuan watched with cold eyes. "The genjutsu that can rewrite a person's will—Kotoamatsukami."

Shisui’s eyes widened in shock. Since the awakening of his Mangekyo Sharingan, he had never revealed it. Why was Douhuan able to identify his ocular ability so easily?

"You look surprised?" Douhuan laughed, then pointed to his own eyes. "I already told you, my eyes see further than you can imagine."

With that, the three tomoe in Douhuan's eyes began to shift, three sharp, lightning-bolt patterns circling his pupils.

"Mangekyo Sharingan?" Shisui stared in disbelief; he had never imagined that Douhuan was hiding such a trump card as well.