The streets of Konoha were quiet at this late hour, the usual hustle of the village replaced by the occasional flickering lanterns and the rustling of the wind through the trees. Shisui Uchiha walked towards his home, his body sore from the day's mission. Babysitting had been more exhausting than any battle he had faced, but the memories of the children's laughter brought a small smile to his lips.
As he neared his home, a familiar presence stopped him in his tracks.
"You're late, Itachi."
Perched on the railing outside his door, Itachi Uchiha gazed at him, his expression unreadable. The moonlight cast sharp shadows across his face, emphasizing the change since the last time Shisui had seen him. It had been months—longer than usual—since they had last spoken. And now, standing before him, Itachi wore the dark uniform of the newly appointed Konoha Military Police Force head.
"I didn't want to disturb you earlier." Itachi's voice was as quiet as ever, but there was an urgency beneath it. "But we need to go. Now."
Shisui arched a brow, stepping forward. "It's been a long time, and the first thing you say to me is an order? What's this about?"
"It's urgent. The Hokage has called a meeting for all the jōnin. You need to be there."
Shisui's easy expression turned serious. Itachi wouldn't have come in the dead of night if this wasn't important. Without another word, he nodded and followed his friend into the darkness.
The Hokage's office was fully illuminated when they arrived. Inside, nearly all of the village's elite jōnin were gathered. Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, stood at the center of the room with his usual composed demeanor. Beside him were Kakashi Hatake, clad in his ANBU uniform; Fugaku Uchiha, Itachi's father and a newly appointed council member; and Hiashi Hyūga, head of the Hyūga clan, his normally unreadable expression replaced with something approaching unease.
Shisui frowned. "A meeting with all the jōnin? What's happened?"
The Hokage exhaled, his wise gaze settling on the crowd. "We have a serious matter to discuss. Hiashi, please explain."
Hiashi stepped forward, his posture rigid. "We have confirmed that a member of the Hyūga clan, Kuruto, has defected from the village."
The room tensed.
Hiashi continued. "This is not merely a case of a rogue shinobi. Kuruto has awakened the Tenseigan."
A murmur spread through the jōnin, and even Shisui felt his stomach tighten. He had heard of the Tenseigan, but only in ancient texts.
"The Tenseigan?" Kurenai Yuhi echoed. "I thought that was just a myth."
"It is not a myth," Hiashi said grimly. "The Tenseigan is the ultimate evolution of the Byakugan, a power that can rival even the Rinnegan. It is an extremely rare phenomenon, unheard of in our clan's history… until now."
Shisui narrowed his eyes. "So, what caused this?"
Hiashi hesitated, his voice growing colder. "Kuruto's mother was executed by the main family. She was accused of trying to remove the Caged Bird Seal placed on him. When he learned the truth, he retaliated. He killed the elders responsible and fled the village."
Silence filled the room. The implications of such an event were heavy.
Kakashi's single visible eye sharpened. "And now he's with the Akatsuki?"
Hiashi nodded. "Reports suggest that he has been seen alongside their operatives."
Hiruzen sighed. "This makes him a severe threat. The Akatsuki is already dangerous, but with a Hyūga who has unlocked a legendary dōjutsu? We cannot ignore this."
Fugaku Uchiha folded his arms. "What do you propose, Hokage-sama?"
Hiruzen's gaze swept across the room. "We must track him down. Our objective is to assess his true intentions and, if necessary, neutralize him before the Akatsuki can fully utilize his power."
Shisui crossed his arms. "You're asking us to go after someone with a dōjutsu that may rival the Rinnegan. That's a dangerous mission."
"I understand," Hiruzen said. "That's why this meeting was called. We need our best strategists and fighters working together. This will not be a mission assigned to just a single unit. It will be a coordinated effort."
Hiashi straightened. "Kuruto is a threat to Konoha, but he is also a Hyūga. I will personally take responsibility for leading efforts to capture him."
Fugaku met Hiashi's gaze. "And if he refuses to return?"
Hiashi's expression darkened. "Then we will do what is necessary."
The air in the room grew heavier. Everyone understood what those words meant.
Hiruzen nodded. "We will begin preparing immediately. The safety of the village comes first. If anyone has insights or strategies to offer, now is the time."
The jōnin began discussing tactics, potential tracking teams, and the risks involved. The mission ahead was daunting, but one thing was clear—Konoha could not afford to let this threat go unchecked.
Shisui exchanged a glance with Itachi, who remained quiet through most of the meeting. For the first time in a long while, he felt a weight settle on his shoulders. This was not just another mission; it was the beginning of something far greater. And something told him that this was only the beginning of the storm.