Although this single clash was matchlessly brief, it was conversely exceptionally perilous.
Even if Minato had been slightly slower by a single fraction, Shisui would have either already been sucked into the Kamui space by the other party or had his body directly blasted open by that tree trunk!
Fortunately, the worst of everything did not happen.
"Senpai!" Minato called out with a bit of anxiety.
"I understand."
Takuno nodded his head, bit open his finger, and formed seals with both hands.
"Summoning Jutsu!"
Instantly, a human-sized slug was summoned right here, covering over Shisui's body.
Takuno also did not remain idle, beginning to use medical ninjutsu to treat Shisui.
Fugaku was also at the side watching Shisui whose face was pale like paper, his face carrying a look of worry.
That scene just now happened far too quickly; even before he could react, the matter had already concluded.
And the appearance of that masked man also let him understand why this strand of power within the Uchiha clan would breed out inexplicably; he had already been working hard to suppress all of this, yet it had near-entirely no effect.
It turned out that someone had been directing all of this behind the scenes the entire time.
Furthermore, it was an existence possessing such a bizarre power; the other party's capability was perhaps precisely the power belonging to the Mangekyō Sharingan recorded upon the stone tablet.
To be capable of achieving all of this was not strange.
Even more, he previously also heard the other party claim to be Madara, who might still be the clan leader of the Uchiha clan back when Konoha had not yet been established.
He had also read that segment of historical records.
Regarding the degree of contradiction before and after the matters Madara performed, he was completely unable to understand it.
Even for the Uchiha clan to have this kind of situation, to a massive extent, it was precisely the other party's "contribution."
If he did not wish to join Konoha, then right at the very beginning he should not have joined; establishing a ninja village of their own side was also not necessarily impossible, and at that time basically all the people of the Uchiha clan would not object.
However, Madara chose to abandon the previous hatred, establishing Konoha together with the First Hokage, while the Uchiha joined within it as a massive wealthy clan of Konoha.
Up to here, there was also nothing wrong, but the problem was that not long after joining, Madara actually wanted to withdraw from the village again?
The Uchiha at this time was already different from before; the previous Uchiha was situated in a chaotic situation where morning could not guarantee evening, and they believed Madara could lead them to live a better life, so they would all listen to the other party's leadership.
But now, they already had a relatively stable environment, and furthermore, it was a shelter you, Madara, personally brought them to join; having already distanced themselves from the chaos of war, they naturally did not want to change again, to once more live those previous days where morning could not guarantee evening.
Therefore Madara left the village, yet the Uchiha clan did not leave the village.
When matters reached this point, it was actually still fine; after all, the Uchiha clan was a large clan, and furthermore a wealthy clan that joined at the initial creation of Konoha; even if lacking Madara, their treatment would also not be poor—even if Senju Tobirama were unwilling, it would also not do, as he always had to set an example for others to see.
However, the greatest problem came: Madara brought the Nine-Tails to launch an attack upon Konoha, and furthermore, this was perhaps still an important reason why the First Hokage died in his prime!
At this time, the clan leader of the Uchiha clan was already no longer Madara.
But could the Uchiha clan completely tear away their relationship from Madara?
Even if it were the Uchiha themselves, it was impossible to think they could!
Madara within everyone's minds was the clan leader of the Uchiha clan; the matters he performed, could it be that they completely did not know?
Yes, it was possible he had already left the Uchiha clan and was also no longer the clan leader, but what if?
Was it possible for them to work from the inside in coordination with Madara from the outside?
This kind of suspicion—the Uchiha at this time could by no means shirk it off regardless; it could be said that Madara by his single handed power dragged the Uchiha clan into the water; even if it wasn't feces, it was feces now.
After this matter, the Uchiha clan's status within the village became even more awkward.
Their relationship with the village also drifted further and further apart, right until today.
It could be said that if Madara had not performed that matter, the Uchiha clan would perhaps have walked another path; even if they could not, their situation in Konoha would boundingly be far better than now.
Fugaku let out a sigh; he conversely also did not wish to blame the other party for anything.
He was merely acting as a clan leader, feeling matchlessly puzzled toward the other party's choice at that time, that's all.
Even more, he also did not believe this masked man truly could be their ancestor Madara.
If the other party were alive, he would also already be around ninety years old at this moment; at this stage, even if he had not yet died of old age, his body would boundingly have already begun to wither, and his strength could also not possibly be maintained at the peak!
Fugaku at this time looked toward Minato, opening his mouth to say, "Hokage-sama, next we still have matters to do."
Minato also nodded his head, looking at Shisui who was within treatment, and said, "We absolutely must not let Shisui's efforts be wasted in vain!"
Fugaku also nodded his head solemnly; he had a premonition that after this single time, the relationship between the Uchiha and the village would perhaps truly have an earth-turning-and-sky-overturning change!
When Minato and Fugaku each led their subordinates, throwing themselves into the complicated post-war aftermath matters.
Itachi's figure finally appeared upon this land that was once familiar, yet now completely changed beyond recognition.
The scene before his eyes caused him to instantly hold his breath, his pupils vibrating minutely due to the massive impact.
Was this still that Uchiha clan ground that carried his countless memories and where his clansmen had inhabited for generations?
Lifting his eyes to gaze all around, there were only broken walls and remaining ruins.
The houses that were once neatly arranged and the streets where people came and went were at this moment entirely transformed into powder and rubble, leveled to the ground.
The earth beneath his feet looked as if it had been repeatedly bombarded by artillery shells, covered everywhere with massive craters, the air diffused with the scorched flavor remaining subsequent to the fierce collision of gunfire, dust, and chakra...
This eye-striking devastation silently narrated the terrifying intensity of that battle just now.
Even over at the village's side, that ear-deafening booming and the shockwave sufficient to shake the earth had also clearly traveled into his perception.
He had a bit of doubt within his heart at that time; within the Uchiha clan, besides Shisui, there actually still hidden a powerhouse capable of triggering such an earth-shaking battle?
This power... to whom did it belong after all?
Within his heart, Shisui and Minato were naturally companions of the same side, so he naturally would not think that the ones clashing would be the two of them.
Very quickly, Itachi's sight locked onto a relatively intact patch of ground over there.
That place was currently being guarded by several ninjas standing ready in strict formation, the atmosphere exceptionally solemn.
Judging from their attire and standing positions, they seemed to be protecting some important figure; that figure inside appeared to be the Anbu Chief Commander.
His heart moving, Itachi's figure instantaneously moved and arrived.
However, when he clearly saw that figure lying at the center of the protective circle, a strand of winter-chill instantly seized his heart.
It was Shisui!
Itachi's double eyes abruptly widened, looking with difficulty to believe at that face which was familiar yet had already lost blood color, wax-white as if covered over by a layer of frost.
Shifting his sight downward, that picture furthermore caused his heart to violently shock.
A ferocious and terrifying penetration wound ran through Shisui's chest and abdomen, the edge flesh turned outward;
At the side-abdomen position, a large patch of scorched black burn was ferocious and eye-striking...
Where was this still that genius youth within his memory? Exactly what kind of opponent could let him pay such a tragic and severe price?
Itachi's throat tightened, thousands of words blocked at the edge of his mouth, urgently wishing to inquire about the reason.
But when he lifted his eyes to see Takuno currently concentrating his attention fully on treating Shisui, even failing to notice his approach, all sounds were forcefully swallowed back.
He did not dare to emit the slightest sound, deeply fearing that a tiny fraction of minor disturbance would affect the other party's emergency rescue regarding Shisui's life.
Takuno at this moment indeed endured a massive pressure.
Shisui's injury far exceeded his expectations.
That eye-striking side-abdomen burn, among this pile of fatal trauma, actually counted already as the most minor.
What was truly troublesome was that penetration wound caused by the power of Wood Release; the violent chakra tore apart the internal organs and Tenketsu, bringing about destructive damage.
However, with Takuno's medical attainments, repairing these physical traumas, although consuming mental effort, was conversely not unreachable.
What caused his heart to feel most heavy was that Shisui, in order to perform this "play" well enough to gain the trust of everyone, had forcefully squeezed out his own very last sliver of potential.
Whether it was the life force of his flesh-and-blood body or the foundation of his mental will, both had been overdrawn to the境地 (situation) of oil-exhausted-and-lamp-dry.
This led to the most fatal state: his body's natural recovery power had withered to the rock bottom, and his spirit had also fallen into extreme depression.
Under this kind of absolute desperate situation of double exhaustion of body and soul, even if lacking those eye-striking external injuries, it would also need a matchlessly long period of years and meticulous nursing before it could be possible to have a thread of life breath.
Even more to say, at this moment he still had superimposed fatal injuries sufficient to cause an ordinary person to die.
Takuno's fingers operated steadily under the light of the treatment chakra, yet within his heart bottom there churned complex emotions.
"Is this truly worth it?"
Within his personal values, he would perhaps forever be unable to truly understand Shisui's choice.
But this will of not hesitating to burn out oneself also to carry through his conviction conversely caused Takuno to feel a kind of respect from his inner heart.
That was a sublime character that he had never possessed, nor did he want to possess.
After a long time, Takuno's treatment finally stopped, while the slug still remained covered over Shisui's body.
"Chief Commander," Itachi took a step forward near-immediately, his voice carrying a forcefully suppressed urgency, "Shisui... how is his situation?"
The worry within his eyes was near-desiring to overflow out completely.
Takuno turned his head, gazing toward this youth who was a genius yet appeared a bit fragile at this moment.
Within his deep gaze traveled a sliver of complexity, ultimately transforming into a heavy sigh, gently shaking his head.
This single sigh smashed onto Itachi's heart-mouth, causing his face to instantly turn white like ash.
"I have temporarily stabilized his basic vital signs." Takuno's voice was low and solemn.
"But in the previous battle, his body's potential and spirit were both excessively squeezed; his injury is extremely severe, near-hanging by a thread of life. Right now his body and spirit are both situated within an extreme state of weakness."
He paused, his gaze sweeping across Shisui's face that was pale like paper, "As for when he can awaken... this is completely unable to be predicted; we can only rely on his own will and recovery power. The situation... does not count as optimistic."
Hearing this, Itachi's pupils abruptly shrank tight, but simultaneously he also let out a sigh of relief.
At least it was not the worst result; as long as there still remained a thread of life breath, as long as the heart was still beating...
He believed that Shisui who guided him like an elder brother would absolutely not sink down just like this.
Takuno at this time also began to issue orders to the Anbu members waiting for orders nearby.
"Immediately deliver Shisui carefully to the specially designated medical room of the Anbu base; you must guarantee the journey is smooth and steady, there must not be any bumping! Subsequent to arrival, activate the highest level of monitoring and nursing procedures, use the best medicine and nutritional agents!"
Watching the Anbu members exceptionally carefully fix Shisui—as well as the slug continuously treating him—upon a specialized stretcher, the doubt within Itachi's heart could finally no longer be held back.
He looked toward Takuno, his brow minutely furrowed: "Chief Commander, forgive my direct words.
I know the Anbu base possesses medical facilities, but according to what I know, its conventional medical configuration and scale ought to be unable to match the completeness of the Shinobi Hospital.
Shisui's injury is so dangerously critical; why not deliver him straight toward the hospital? The equipment and professional medical ninjas there might..."
His words were not finished, but the sentiment of worry was expressed fully beyond words.
Takuno turned his body, straightly looking at Itachi, lacking any dissatisfaction of being questioned; conversely, he carried a kind of steady confidence.
"Your observation is not wrong, Itachi. The conventional hardware of the Anbu base medical room is indeed inferior to the hospital."
He shifted his words.
"But equipment and medicine can both be deployed over at any time; this is not the key. What is truly important is—I am in the Anbu."
Looking at Itachi's dazed expression, Takuno continued to say: "In the entire Konohagakure, unless it is Tsunade-sama personally returning to sit in command, otherwise, in the domain of medical ninjutsu... I still possess a slight amount of confidence."
"So that's how it is..." Itachi was struck with realization; prior to this, he had all along not known about this matter, and furthermore, even within the Anbu, this news had also not been circulated.
A strand of heartfelt respect and gratitude surged onto his heart.
He no longer hesitated, bending his waist deeply toward Takuno, bowing all the way to the bottom, his posture humble and earnest.
"A thousand thanks! Chief Commander, Shisui... I entrust him to you! Please, no matter what, you must save and awaken him!"
"Responsibility resides, naturally I will do my best." Takuno's tone was calm, "Without you specially entrusting, I will also pour out all power to treat him."
His gaze once more cast toward the stretcher being carefully carried away, his sight dark and unclear.
He indeed admired Shisui's character, and also genuinely hoped he could survive.
But... it should still be fine for him to just borrow it for a bit, right?
Anyway, with Shisui's current state, it was also impossible for him to discover it.
He was also merely borrowing it for a small period of time, that's all; what he wanted was a Mangekyō Sharingan belonging to himself, not someone else's, so he would return it back later.
After all, even if he wanted this pair of Mangekyō Sharingan, it was also impossible to let him open the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan; between them there also did not exist any relative relationship.
It was slightly a bit of a pity.
However, perhaps experiencing the power of the Mangekyō Sharingan in advance would be helpful toward his own Sharingan's evolution, it could not be said for sure.