With a bang, Itachi was knocked straight out.
Shisui gritted his teeth and gasped, eyes flaring with rage.
Itachi hit the ground hard, groaning as he pushed himself up slowly, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.
Shisui stood tall, Mangekyō Sharingan spinning in his eyes. Itachi knew this wasn't just anger—it was the manifestation of emotions long buried. Shisui stepped forward. Itachi followed suit and stood up.
In a flash, Kisame appeared beside Itachi, his face grim. "You're not allowed to hurt Mr. Itachi."
Shisui frowned, his voice cold. "Step aside. This is a matter between members of the Uchiha clan."
Naruto moved between them. "Shisui, what's done is done. There's no point in dwelling on the past."
Itachi gently pulled Naruto aside. "Kisame, Naruto... step back. This is between me and Shisui. I failed to keep my promise to him. I betrayed his trust."
Naruto frowned, clearly conflicted. He sighed and stepped aside.
Seeing this, Kisame reluctantly backed off.
Shisui walked up and grabbed Itachi by the collar. Then came a barrage of punches.
"I asked you to protect the clan, but you massacred them!"
"The eyes I entrusted to you... the hope I entrusted to you... what did you do with them?!"
"Look at the clothes you're wearing. Is it blue or white?!"
"How dare you call yourself my comrade!"
With a final roar, Shisui slammed a brutal punch into Itachi's face, sending him flying. Itachi crumpled to the floor, his face swollen and bloodied, his nose broken, mouth full of blood.
Shisui stood over him, panting, fury etched across his face.
Naruto clenched his fists. He wanted to stop it, but he understood. This was something that needed to be resolved between the two of them.
Itachi lay on the floor, eyes staring blankly at the ceiling, his face expressionless.
Once Shisui had caught his breath, he approached again. He looked down at Itachi, then crouched beside him.
"Your father... Uchiha Fugaku. I knew his strength. I'm guessing you didn't kill him outright. He probably allowed you to take his life."
Itachi's eyes trembled. His mind flashed back to that night. The image of Fugaku sitting upright, blade to his chest, Mikoto beside him, and his own trembling hands.
Shisui sighed. "He chose to believe in you. Just like I did."
Itachi gritted his teeth, lifting a trembling arm to shield his eyes, desperately trying to hold back his emotions.
Seeing this, tears welled up in Shisui's eyes. He sat beside Itachi and said softly, "You must have been in so much pain back then."
Itachi let out a choked groan. His body began to tremble uncontrollably, teeth clenched tightly.
Shisui gently placed a hand on the arm covering Itachi's face. "It's all over now, Itachi."
That single sentence was the final key. The dam holding back Itachi's emotions finally burst. Tears flowed freely, without restraint. He began to sob openly.
Like a man who had carried a lifetime of pain alone, he finally broke.
Naruto watched quietly, warmth swelling in his chest.
On the surface, it looked like Shisui was punishing Itachi. But in reality, every blow, every word—they were the key to releasing Itachi's guilt.
Shisui knew Itachi better than anyone. He understood what kind of person he was.
When Naruto spoke earlier, Shisui realized something: only Itachi could make such a decision. Only someone with that level of compassion would be willing to shoulder the hatred of an entire clan to protect the village, Konoha, and more than anything else—his younger brother.
Danzō knew this, which is why he manipulated Itachi into making that tragic decision.
In this light, it was no surprise that Sasuke eventually killed Danzō.
Itachi carried too much. No one had ever truly let him express his pain.
Shisui—his best friend and older brother in the world of shinobi—acted not just as an accuser, but also as a representative of all those who perished. Every fist, every word, cracked open the emotional armor Itachi had worn for years.
And so, Itachi's emotions were finally released.
Even Kisame, watching from the side, felt moved. A pang of sorrow hit him.
He had always known that Itachi lived not for himself, but for his brother. Even during their final battle, Itachi's thoughts were with Sasuke.
Naruto placed a hand on Kisame's shoulder. "Let's give them some space."
Kisame nodded and followed Naruto outside.
Outside the door, Naruto asked, "What kind of person do you think Itachi is?"
Kisame thought for a moment before answering. "Mr. Itachi once told me that a shinobi only sees his true self in the moments before death. I think he realized who he was when he fell to his brother.
"But in my eyes, Itachi is a tragic man.
"Just like me."
Naruto nodded. He looked up, determination gleaming in his eyes.
"Before, my ambition was to become Hokage—to surpass every Hokage before me. But now... my goal is even bigger."
Kisame raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"
"I want to create a world where people like Itachi won't exist anymore. Where no one has to hide in the shadows to protect others. Where no external force can plunge this world into darkness again!"
Kisame blinked, then grinned. "You're crazier than that masked man."
Naruto scoffed. "Obito? He's just another poor soul. But he hasn't been snapped out of it yet."
Ten minutes later, Shisui and Itachi emerged from the lab, with Orochimaru following.
Seeing Shisui's bandaged face, Naruto raised a brow.
Orochimaru huffed. "If you're going to fight in my laboratory again, I won't be healing anyone next time."
With that, he shut the door behind him.
Shisui turned to Naruto. "I haven't properly thanked you yet."
He bowed.
"Itachi and I need some time. We have a lot to catch up on."
Naruto nodded. "Go ahead. Itachi can tell you everything that happened while you were gone."
The two shared a small smile. Itachi followed Shisui, his expression still somber, but his eyes clearer than before. A burden had lifted.
Kisame pouted. "What about me?"
Naruto pulled him along. "Learn to take a hint. Go help Killer Bee train the kids. You wanted to master Lightning Style, right? Get to it. Let those two have their moment."
Kisame's heart: Not very happy
------------------
Check out other novels
Naruto: l Aspire To Become Hokage Man
🚨🆕Haikyuu: To The Top 🆕🚨
To Get This Week Bonus Chapter - 100 Power Stones
Dear Readers
For 120 Advance Chapters Join My Patreon
https://www.patreon.com/NF25
-------
Please Support My Patreon 🥺