NOVEL NEXT Chapter 17: CHAPTER. 14
Chapter 14
After Shisui's death, Ryuga refrained from training with the Uchiha brothers. The loss of Shisui, renowned as "The Teleporter," spread like wildfire across the lands, reaching every village. Yet the Uchiha clan bore the brunt of this loss. Already burdened by their declining influence and strained relations with Konoha, losing Shisui—their strongest member and a wielder of the Mangekyō Sharingan—was a devastating blow.
For Ryuga, Shisui's death became a turning point. He realized that even if he chose not to influence the people around him for personal gain, his actions and decisions would inevitably ripple outward, shaping events and lives. Shisui's death exposed him to an emotion he had never experienced before: the pain of losing someone. It was a feeling he despised and never wished to endure again.
This understanding sparked a shift in Ryuga's outlook. He couldn't remain on the sidelines any longer, passively observing as events unfolded. Shisui's dying wish had been entrusted to him, and Ryuga had his own aspirations in this second life—dreams he refused to suppress. He vowed never to stagnate as he had in his previous life, watching others move forward while he remained stuck. This time, Ryuga would ensure he stayed ahead.
A week passed since Shisui's death, and Ryuga's days fell into a steady rhythm. Each morning, he woke up, ate breakfast, and went to school. Though he avoided training with Itachi and Sasuke, he spent his free time playing with Shikamaru and his friends, finding solace in their carefree camaraderie.
However, Sasuke's behavior during this time did not escape Ryuga's notice. At school, Sasuke frequently glanced in Ryuga's direction, as though debating whether to speak. But despite his clear intentions, he never said a word. Today was no different. As Ryuga took his usual seat, his sharp gaze swept across the classroom.
The scene was familiar. Shikamaru was already napping, Choji munched on potato chips, and Naruto endured yet another beating from Sakura. Meanwhile, Sasuke sat quietly, his eyes once again fixed on Ryuga.
When Iruka-sensei entered to begin the lesson, Ryuga brushed off Sasuke's stares, focusing on his surroundings instead—a habit he had developed over the years. The morning passed uneventfully, and Ryuga had lunch with Shikamaru as usual. Despite Sasuke's lingering glances, no words were exchanged between them.
After the afternoon classes ended, Ryuga went to Shikamaru's house, where they played board games until sunset. It was only when he began walking home that he noticed someone trailing him.
Ryuga remained calm, his chakra senses confirming the identity of his pursuer. Though he made no effort to confront them, he grew more certain with each step. By the time he reached his front door, he stopped and said without turning around,
"Sasuke. I know you've been following me since I left Shikamaru's house. Stop hiding and come out if you have something to say. If not, go home."
Ryuga's chakra mastery was exceptional, allowing him to sense the unique signatures of anyone he had met before. Even without his physical senses, he could perceive the world around him through chakra alone, detecting even the tiniest particles within a ten-kilometer radius. This ability left no doubt in his mind that Sasuke was his pursuer.
After delivering his message, Ryuga entered his house, leaving the door open. Moments later, Sasuke hesitantly stepped out of the shadows and followed him inside.
Ryuga was already preparing dinner when he sensed Sasuke enter. Without looking back, he said, "Take a seat anywhere you like. I'm making dinner. Want some?"
Sasuke sat at the dining table, shaking his head. "No." He watched Ryuga in silence, his gaze unwavering.
Ten minutes later, Ryuga joined Sasuke at the table, a plate of food in hand. As he began eating, he asked, "So, what's been on your mind this past week? You've been staring at me in class, and now you're following me. Speak up."
Sasuke's expression darkened. After a brief silence, he said, "Why haven't you been coming to train? Is it because of Shisui's death?"
Ryuga continued eating, unfazed by the question. Sasuke's frustration boiled over.
"You're acting like you don't care! Shisui died, and here you are, playing games and acting normal! Don't you feel anything?" Sasuke demanded, anger lacing his voice.
Finishing his meal, Ryuga met Sasuke's fiery gaze. His voice was steady as he replied, "I know what happened to Shisui. He didn't die on a mission. He was killed because he stood in the way of someone's plans."
Sasuke's eyes widened in shock. Before he could respond, Ryuga activated his Sharingan, the crimson glow silencing any doubts.
"I've learned everything I needed to," Ryuga continued. "You're too weak to understand what I'm saying now. Come find me when you've grown stronger, and maybe then you'll be ready for answers."
With that, Ryuga vanished, leaving Sasuke alone to grapple with the truth.
Stunned, Sasuke sat in silence, replaying Ryuga's words in his mind. The implications were staggering: Shisui had been murdered, and Ryuga possessed the Mangekyō Sharingan—a power Sasuke thought exclusive to the Uchiha clan.
Lost in thought, Sasuke finally rose and began walking home. The moonlit streets of the Uchiha compound were unusually quiet. The usual buzz of activity and patrols was absent, but Sasuke, preoccupied with Ryuga's revelations, failed to notice.
When he arrived home, he called out, "I'm home, Mother."
Silence greeted him.
As he stepped inside, he found his parents—but not as he expected. His mother and father lay lifeless in a pool of blood, and his older brother Itachi stood over them, a blade in his hand.
Sasuke froze, his mind reeling. His Sharingan awakened in response to the trauma, its crimson glow reflecting the horror before him. Before he could act, Itachi appeared in front of him and delivered a swift blow to his stomach, knocking him unconscious.
One Hour Earlier
Ryuga appeared before Fugaku Uchiha and his wife, Mikoto, in their home. Without preamble, he declared, "I'm here to fulfill my promise and make Shisui's wish come true."
Fugaku met Ryuga's gaze without flinching. He had already resigned himself to the fate of his clan and the choices his eldest son, Itachi, had made. "Are you here to make the same choice as Itachi, or do you have a different path in mind?" Fugaku asked, activating his Mangekyō Sharingan.
A notification echoed in Ryuga's mind:
'NOTICE: MASTER. INDIVIDUAL FUGAKU IS TRYING TO SHARE HIS VISION THROUGH GENJUTSU.'
ACCEPT. DECLINE.
Ryuga accepted without hesitation. A vivid vision of destruction filled his mind—a future where the Uchiha clan unleashed the Nine-Tails on Konoha, resulting in catastrophic losses for both sides.
As the vision ended, Ryuga fixed Fugaku with a piercing stare. "What are you willing to sacrifice to change this future?"
"Everything," Fugaku said firmly. "For the survival of the Uchiha clan and the peace of Konoha."
Ryuga activated his Mangekyō Sharingan. "Then so be it. Unlimited Genjutsu: Yume Kotoamatsukami."
End of Chapter