I'M NARUTO UZUMAKI

Sharingan Stolen

After the sound of approaching footsteps, Shisui's expression turned tense. He quickly said, "It must be a Jonin from the clan. If we're discovered, the plan to take the Sharingan will be ruined."

With that, he pressed a hidden mechanism, revealing a secret passage. Without hesitation, he pulled Naruto inside, concealing their presence.

Inside the passage, Naruto glanced around with curiosity. "I didn't expect there to be a secret passage here. It seems like you've been preparing for this for a while."

Shisui hesitated before replying, "Grandpa Kagami once told me…" He trailed off, his expression darkening as he recalled Danzo Shimura.

If Uchiha Kagami hadn't been so close to Danzo, perhaps he wouldn't have believed his lies. Perhaps he wouldn't have willingly walked into Root's trap, losing his right eye in the process.

Naruto smirked. "Some things you only see clearly after losing everything."

Just as Shisui was about to respond, voices echoed from outside the passage. He immediately fell silent, and Naruto instinctively listened in.

---

The Uchiha Meeting at Naka Shrine

Not many Uchihas had access to the underground chamber beneath Naka Shrine.

Among them was the clan head, Uchiha Fugaku, along with both radical and cautious Jonin. The so-called "conservatives" weren't against challenging the Hokage's rule; they merely feared the consequences of a failed coup.

Shisui had been missing for half a year—presumed dead. He had once sought peace between the Uchiha and the village, but his ideals had died with him.

Fugaku surveyed the assembled Jonin and nodded. "It seems everyone is here. Let's begin our strategy meeting for the coup. Speak freely—we must formulate the perfect plan."

One Jonin spoke up, "First, we need to secure control over the village's administrative sectors before making a move on the Hokage Building."

Another argued, "No. If we hesitate, we give them time to respond. We should strike the Hokage Building first—once we control Hiruzen Sarutobi, the other forces won't dare to oppose us."

A third voice added, "I suggest…"

As the discussion continued, Shisui's expression darkened.

He wasn't shocked that his clan was planning a coup. He was frustrated by the sheer power imbalance between the Uchiha and the village. No matter how refined their strategy, they stood no chance against the combined forces of Konoha.

Naruto, too, frowned in disappointment.

The plan hinged on releasing prisoners from the village's detention facilities, forcing ANBU and other security divisions to react. This would create a window of opportunity to storm the Hokage Building, assassinate Hiruzen, and seize power.

On paper, it sounded flawless.

But the flaw was glaring.

The Uchiha simply didn't have the strength to defeat the Third Hokage and his loyalists. The Sarutobi, Shimura, and other prominent clans would rally the village. The moment Uchiha lost their momentum, it would mean their annihilation.

Then, Naruto caught something alarming.

His name was mentioned.

To increase their chances of success, the Uchiha planned to control him in advance—exploiting the power of the Nine-Tails. Some even suggested using Sasuke as a means to win Naruto's trust.

Naruto stifled a yawn. This entire coup was doomed before it even began.

---

A Failed Gathering

After nearly an hour, the meeting concluded. Disappointed, Fugaku and the Jonin exited Naka Shrine one after another.

Only when their chakra signatures faded did Naruto and Shisui emerge from the passage.

Shisui's expression was unreadable, his thoughts weighing heavily on him.

Naruto broke the silence. "So? What do you think of their brilliant plan? Maybe we'll get to see the Fifth Hokage sooner than expected—assuming they can actually kill the Third."

Shisui didn't respond. He walked straight to an altar, retrieving a special container. Inside, a pair of preserved Sharingan gleamed in the dim light.

As he carefully packed away the stolen Sharingan, he finally spoke. "You're right. If the clan follows this path, it will only lead to its own destruction. The only way forward… is to leave Konoha."

Naruto raised an eyebrow.

"These Sharingan shouldn't be wasted on a hopeless coup," Shisui continued. "They should be used to secure our survival."

Naruto chuckled, "So what's next? Are you going to reach out to the moderates and convince them to join your escape plan?"

Shisui's eyes hardened. "The Shisui who sought peaceful solutions is dead. If my clan won't listen to reason, then I'll make them listen—with force."

His grip tightened around the container. His resolve was clear.

---

A Mysterious Omission

Before leaving, Naruto's gaze landed on the ancient stone tablet at the shrine's center. He stared at its inscriptions, deep in thought.

"Shisui, was the bottom of this stone tablet always blank?"

Shisui turned to look. "Yes. It's always been that way."

Naruto frowned. "Weird. Almost like something's missing. I wonder if there's a hidden message…"

But the truth already etched into the stone was disturbing enough.

"The way to awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan is through the death of a loved one," Naruto murmured. "Your clan is seriously twisted. Did anyone ever… you know, kill someone on purpose for it?"

Shisui's expression darkened. "Some tried. They all failed. A Mangekyō born from an empty sacrifice doesn't truly serve the clan."

He glanced at Naruto, concern flickering in his eyes. He feared Naruto might attempt to awaken a Mangekyō through unnatural means. That path could only lead to tragedy.

---

Fugaku's Discovery

After Naruto and Shisui vanished into the night, another figure entered the underground chamber of Naka Shrine.

Uchiha Fugaku.

His gaze flickered toward the stone tablet before turning to the storage chamber where the clan's Sharingan were kept.

With a practiced motion, he unsealed one of the containers.

His expression froze.

The Sharingan inside… were gone.

A deep scowl formed on his face.

Only a handful of people knew about this storage: himself, a few retired elders, and the highest-ranking Jonin.

Had an outsider infiltrated the shrine? Or was it an inside job?

But why steal the Sharingan? To an outsider, without the Uchiha's bloodline, a transplanted Sharingan was more of a curse than a blessing.

Unless… the thief had knowledge of the forbidden Uchiha techniques.

Fugaku's eyes narrowed.

Someone—somewhere—was making their move.

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