Chapter 62: Kaleidoscope [Seeking First Publication!]

Facing Shisui's gaze, the Great Elder kept scanning him up and down, finally noticing something amiss. After so many years, he thought he had only been misled by Fugaku, but today he realized he had also been misled by Shisui.

"Paying for Konoha's mistakes, and getting this far—what do you intend to do?"

He looked at Shisui, not angry; his yellowed eyes held wonder, anticipation, and even a hint of nervousness.

"No, I do it only for the Uchiha."

Shisui reiterated his purpose once more, adjusting his posture to stare straight at the Great Elder.

"I will save Konoha, and more so save the Uchiha. I will restore everything, I will restrain all clan members, I will become the clan head!"

"Hahaha~"

The Great Elder's hands trembled, three tomoe swirled in his eyes, and he looked at Shisui with excited, unrestrained, wild laughter.

His lingering worries finally eased; his mood was extremely complex, yet he thoroughly enjoyed the feeling, seeing the true essence of the Uchiha in Shisui.

"That is my second purpose today: I ask the Great Elder to help me replace Fugaku as clan head!"

"I see, so you already have such enlightenment? But Fugaku was the clan head we once supported together—why should I abandon him and choose you?"

After a long while, the Great Elder steadied himself and asked in a light tone.

"Because I can, and only I can. I will lead the Uchiha to reclaim their former glory. I will make Konoha's people know that only the Uchiha are truly reliable—they are the Uchiha's people!"

"That is the ancestors' wish—to build a Konoha where children can grow up safely!"

Shisui remained calm throughout, his gaze still steadfast; everything was handled with such composure and confidence.

"I acknowledge your enlightenment, but that alone is insufficient. Fugaku's position stems not only from our support but also from his battlefield prowess; the Uchiha leader must be a strong one."

"I possess more than just enlightenment!"

Shisui did not retreat; he closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, three tomoe swirled in his eyes, gradually forming a shape resembling a shuriken.

The Great Elder met his gaze; the terrifying ocular power seemed to erode his brain, plunging his vision into darkness, with only those eyes hanging high in the night sky.

"Kaleidoscope!"

The Great Elder trembled as he uttered the name, the Uchiha clan's forbidden power; the last time he saw such eyes was decades ago.

He rose shakily, stepped toward Shisui, and with his aged hands lifted Shisui's cheek, cautiously leaning in.

Shisui could even feel the other's aura; seeing the Great Elder's eyes flare with excitement, he feared something would happen, hurriedly sealing the Kaleidoscope and said, "Great Elder, please remain calm."

With the Kaleidoscope gone, as Shisui reminded him, the Great Elder gradually settled, though his hands still trembled slightly.

"You know what these eyes mean, don't you?"

"I have perused the clan records; this is the power from our Uchiha legend—Ancestor Ban once used it against the First Hokage."

The Great Elder shook his head, knowing Shisui understood little, but he did not explain immediately and instead asked, "Who else knows that you have awakened these eyes?"

Shisui replied calmly, "You are the second person to know this."

"Besides me... That's fine. Remember, for now keep these eyes hidden from others, whether the Third Hokage or any clan members."

The Great Elder knows much; though radical, he isn't a fool. Shisui is too young—if Konoha's higher-ups learned of this, the Elder truly feared they would ruin Shisui.

"Yes, Great Elder. With these eyes, I should be qualified to become clan head, right?"

"Of course, I cannot refute that. I will have Hachidai and Yangzhe fully support you. As for me, I will aid you only if your success seems possible."

"Uchiha must not split at this time."

The Great Elder has experienced an internal split once; that slaughter was far more brutal than the three Great Ninja Wars, and they have not recovered even now.

"That is enough, thank you, Great Elder."

After speaking, Shisui rose to leave, but the Great Elder also rose and said, "No rush, come with me first."

After speaking, he walked down the corridor to a bedroom; Shisui, though puzzled, followed closely.

Once inside, the Great Elder casually knocked a vase, then a wooden rack flipped, revealing a secret chamber.

"What is this?"

Shisui looked at the Great Elder curiously; the Elder gave no reply and walked straight in.

The secret chamber was small; the walls were covered with dense runes, and inside lay only a few well-preserved books and scrolls.

The Great Elder, with practiced ease, took out a book and a scroll, gently caressed them, then handed them to Shisui.

"These are the Book of Inheritance and the Forbidden Scroll; the insights of clan members who have awakened the Kaleidoscope over generations are here, some of which were left by Ancestor Ban. As for this scroll, it records some of the clan's forbidden techniques."

"So far only I and Fugaku have seen it; now that you have awakened these eyes, you are qualified to comprehend it."

Recalling the past, the Great Elder couldn't help but sigh, "If that internal conflict hadn't occurred, the Uchiha wouldn't have become like this."

Shisui took the book and scroll, comforting, "No need to sigh; the Uchiha's future is now in my hands."

He had expected the Great Elder to be pleased, but instead the Elder frowned and scolded, "Do not over-rely on those eyes; they will cause you to lose your sight. All this is recorded in the book; you must read it carefully and take it as a warning!"

"Yes, I will."

Shisui snapped his neck back and nodded repeatedly.

"You may attempt to cultivate the contents of the scroll, but do not let other clan members see. Unless absolutely necessary, never employ those forbidden techniques; the costs and effects are detailed there."

"Yes, Great Elder."

Speaking thus, the Great Elder babbled on with further instructions; only then did they leave the secret chamber, and before departing he called Shisui again.

"I'll cover the medical ninja's fee, in your name."

Shisui's expression softened; looking at the Great Elder, a hint of gratitude flashed in his eyes.

"I still have some savings, and your money should have other uses," the Great Elder smiled, returned to the main hall and sat down. He looked at Shisui standing in the corridor and said, "Go ahead, Uchiha—no, Konoha's future now rests on you."

Shisui fell silent, bowed slowly in respect, then turned and left.

After he left, the Great Elder took out several slips of paper from his coat, stared at them for a while, then burned them piece by piece.

He then summoned someone and ordered, "Go inform them: from now on, no more inquiries about Shisui's whereabouts."

"Yes."

(End of Chapter)