Chapter 17: Shisui's Death, Hinata's Heart

With the conflict between Third Hokage and Danzo intensifying, Shisui found himself in a tragic situation. After losing one of his Sharingan eyes, Shisui fought his way to Itachi, who was waiting for him.

On a cliff, Itachi held Shisui, who had lost an eye, and looked devastated. "I'm sorry, Itachi. I failed," Shisui's voice was weak, his right eye still bleeding. He refused Itachi's offer to take him to Tetsuya for treatment. Shisui knew that with Tetsuya's ability, he could be saved, but surviving with one Mangekyō would bring more trouble to the young boy. This was Shisui, a man who thought of others even in his final moments.

With his remaining strength, Shisui handed his left eye to Itachi. "After my death, the clan will be shaken, and there will be no rebellion for a while. You're the only one I can trust, Itachi. Protect the village and the Uchiha name." With those words, Shisui jumped off the cliff, disappearing into the abyss.

"Shisui!" Itachi's eyes bled as he screamed. The three tomoe in his Sharingan spun rapidly, eventually forming the Mangekyō Sharingan.

The news of Shisui's death spread quickly through the village. Many were shocked, as Shisui was known as one of Uchiha's strongest. The Uchiha clan was furious and launched an investigation. They found Shisui's suicide note, but the clan members didn't believe it. Suspicion fell on Itachi, who did not attend the clan meeting that day, but they could do nothing due to his status as the clan leader's son. This event created a rift between Itachi and his clan.

With Shisui's death, the Uchiha clan's power dwindled, and the impending rebellion was halted. Tetsuya also heard of Shisui's death and was not surprised, though he regretted losing a source of valuable training. However, there was a silver lining. The burden of Mangekyō on Itachi's body meant he visited Tetsuya more frequently for treatment.

One day, after treating Itachi, the Uchiha prodigy returned home. "Nissan!" A young Sasuke ran to Itachi, jumping into his arms. "You're back late again!" Sasuke complained, dissatisfied with the decreasing time his brother spent with him. Itachi apologized, explaining he had many tasks to complete as a double agent, working for both the Third Hokage and Uchiha Fugaku.

"Okay, Nissan. I learned the Great Fireball Technique! Will you train with me tomorrow?" Sasuke asked eagerly. Itachi praised him but explained he was too busy. To distract Sasuke, Itachi mentioned Tetsuya. "I met a new kid recently. He's your age and a genius. You might be classmates at the Ninja Academy next year."

Sasuke was not pleased. "What's his name?" he demanded. "Tetsuya Kamiyo," Itachi replied. "He's the same age as you. Maybe you'll be friends." Sasuke silently vowed to outshine this Tetsuya.

Meanwhile, Tetsuya was having dinner with Hinata. He rubbed his nose, wondering who was talking about him. "Tetsuya-ku , are you alright?" Hinata asked with concern. "I'm fine, just an itchy nose," he reassured her. Hinata trained hard every day, and it was a rare treat for them to have dinner together. Seeing the bandages on her hands, Tetsuya felt a pang of guilt. He held her hands and began healing them.

"Tetsuya-kun..." Hinata's voice was soft, her face flushing. She was aware he was treating her, but the intimate gesture made her shy. Despite her usually introverted nature, Hinata's feelings for Tetsuya were different. Her heart raced whenever he was near. "Hinata, I know you want your father's approval, but you need to take it easy," Tetsuya said gently. "It's okay, Tetsuya-kun. This is my choice," she replied, warmed by his concern. She worked hard not just for her father but also to keep up with Tetsuya.

After dinner, Tetsuya walked Hinata home, despite knowing the branch house guards were nearby. He worried about her safety. They chatted casually, discussing the upcoming school year and their plans.

As they walked, Tetsuya felt a renewed sense of purpose. He was determined to grow stronger, not just for himself but for those he cared about. The future held many challenges, but with friends like Hinata and his own resolve, he was ready to face them.