"I can see that you're quite talented."
Isamu looked at Shisui with interest.
"How about it?"
"Would you like to work for me?"
"…Work for you?"
Shisui froze.
For a moment, he didn't know how to answer.
It wasn't because he was considering accepting.
It was because…
He didn't know how to politely refuse.
"Grandpa…"
Itachi looked at Isamu in confusion.
He couldn't understand why his grandfather had suddenly invited Shisui.
Seeing Shisui's hesitation, Isamu chuckled.
"Heh."
"Judging from that expression…"
"I'm guessing the answer is no."
"To think I'd be rejected the very first time I invited someone."
"I've really lost face."
Without another word, he took Itachi's hand, turned around, and began walking away.
He had genuinely wanted to recruit Shisui.
To Isamu, this was a rare talent worth cultivating.
Unfortunately…
Shisui had refused.
Without someone powerful enough to protect him…
Only one fate awaited him.
Death.
Some people simply seemed destined to die young.
Even if someone wanted to save them…
They couldn't always change fate.
Watching Isamu walk away, Shisui stood there awkwardly.
As a member of the Uchiha Clan…
He had already decided long ago that he would dedicate himself to Konoha.
He had never considered following anyone else.
When Isamu had walked several meters away, he suddenly stopped.
Without turning around, he spoke calmly.
"To be…"
"Or not to be."
"That is the question."
"In the entire Hidden Leaf…"
"No one but me has the power to truly change everything."
"Not even the Hokage."
"If one day you change your mind…"
"Come find me."
"I'm at the northern border of the Land of Fire."
"The true secrets of the Uchiha Clan…"
"Are waiting there."
Although Shisui had rejected him…
Isamu still chose to leave him one final path.
Then—
A space-time portal opened.
Holding Itachi's hand, Isamu disappeared into it.
Just before vanishing, Itachi looked back at Shisui apologetically.
"…Space-Time Ninjutsu…"
Shisui stared blankly at the place where the portal had disappeared.
"And…"
"The true secrets of the Uchiha…"
"…at the northern border of the Land of Fire?"
Shock filled his eyes.
He quietly repeated Isamu's words over and over.
No one knew what Shisui was thinking.
Nor did anyone know what decision he would ultimately make.
Meanwhile…
Isamu returned home with Itachi.
"We're back."
Mikoto smiled.
"Welcome home, Father."
"Mm."
"We're back."
Garuda looked curiously at Isamu.
"Tian Qi."
"What took you so long?"
"It wasn't anything."
"I just met a very interesting little genius."
"I invited him to join me…"
"But the little fellow turned me down."
Garuda blinked.
Then suddenly burst into laughter.
"Hahaha!"
"I never imagined…"
"Back then you rejected my second brother…"
"And now you've been rejected by a little boy."
"My, how the tables have turned!"
The corner of Isamu's mouth twitched.
Being rejected was admittedly embarrassing.
But…
It simply meant the other party lacked vision.
That was hardly his fault.
Itachi looked curiously at the beautiful woman laughing beside his grandfather.
She didn't seem afraid of Isamu at all.
After calming down, Garuda crouched before Itachi with a warm smile.
"You're little Itachi?"
"Y-Yes…"
"I'm Itachi."
"And… who are you?"
Before Garuda could answer, Mikoto spoke sternly.
"Itachi."
"That's rude."
"Hurry and greet Grandma Garuda."
"…Grandma?"
Itachi became even more confused.
Another grandmother?
Where are all these grandparents suddenly coming from?
Besides…
She looked barely thirty years old.
How could she possibly be his grandmother?
Garuda laughed softly.
"It's alright."
"The child is still young."
"There's no need to be so strict."
She gently pulled Itachi closer.
After carefully looking him over, she nodded repeatedly.
"Very good."
"Very good."
"One look is enough to tell…"
"You're definitely Tian Qi's grandson."
"The family resemblance is obvious."
Then—
She leaned over and kissed Itachi's cheek.
The little boy immediately blushed with embarrassment.
"Alright."
Isamu clapped his hands.
"Let's stop standing around."
"We're going out to eat."
"And while we're at it…"
"I'll show Garuda what Konoha looks like today."
Just as everyone prepared to leave, Itachi hesitated.
"Um…"
"Shouldn't we invite Father too?"
The moment those words left his mouth…
Everyone stopped.
Mikoto hurriedly covered Itachi's mouth.
"Itachi."
"If you don't know what to say…"
"Then don't say anything."
Garuda looked puzzled.
"That's true."
"Tian Qi."
"I haven't even met your son yet."
"If we're eating together…"
"Shouldn't we invite him?"
Isamu answered without hesitation.
"Forget about that brat."
"We'll eat without him."
"He knows how to find his own way home."
With that, he walked out first.
Garuda exchanged a glance with Mikoto.
Neither of them said anything further.
They simply followed him outside with Itachi.
Night gradually fell.
The streets of Konoha lit up with lanterns.
The evening market was bustling with life.
Walking through the lively streets, Garuda looked around with amazement.
Smiling people.
Children laughing.
Merchants calling out.
After a thousand years…
Seeing such peaceful scenes once again stirred something deep within her heart.
"I never thought…"
"That after so many years…"
"I would still see ordinary people smiling so happily."
"It truly wasn't easy."
Isamu gave a faint smile.
"So-called peace…"
"…is only an illusion."
"The Hidden Leaf today…"
"…is more dangerous than ever."
"Far more dangerous than it was during wartime."
Mikoto looked surprised.
"Father…"
"How can you say that?"
"How is today's Konoha dangerous?"
"Heh."
"I don't believe you can't see it."
Isamu's voice remained calm.
"The most terrifying thing isn't war."
"It's the human heart."
"When there's no external enemy…"
"People begin fighting over power and interests."
"Do you know what's truly tragic?"
"The strongest shinobi don't die protecting their village."
"They die…"
"…at the hands of their own people."
"That…"
"…is today's Hidden Leaf."
"Every faction is fighting for its own interests."
"They appear united on the surface."
"But beneath that smile…"
"They're constantly plotting against one another."
"The moment you stand in someone's way…"
"They'll drag you into the abyss without hesitation."
This…
Was the darkest era of Konoha.
The great clans.
Danzo's Root.
The Hokage's faction.
Every side was carving up the village's power and influence.
On the surface…
Everything seemed peaceful.
In reality…
Everyone was engaged in an invisible struggle.
Anyone who blocked another's ambitions could become the next sacrifice.
Among all periods of Konoha's history…
This was the one Isamu despised the most.
Without exception.
Mikoto fell silent.
As someone born into one of Konoha's great clans, she already understood many of these truths.
The difference was…
No one had ever spoken them so openly.
Garuda sighed softly.
"The human heart…"
"It truly is frightening."
"If everything is really as you say…"
"Then this village is indeed dangerous."
"Dangerous?"
Isamu shook his head.
"It's far worse than that."
"It's extremely dangerous."
"My son…"
"Uchiha Senba…"
"…is already standing on the edge of a cliff."
"He holds too much power."
"Someone in his position is always the first target."
"The saddest part…"
"…is that he doesn't even realize how close he is to the abyss."
"That's nothing short of foolish."