Chapter 2
1624 Words
Shisui finally returned from his mission in Kirigakure and was allowed a break from the Hokage. He decided to help Hikari that day with their new project. He named it the "Reincarnation Project" but Hikari had refused to let him baptize it that way. He still referred to it that way in his mind.
Shisui invited Hikari to his house for the day. He lived alone after his father passed away but her company allowed him to ignore the loneliness. "So," he stared at the girl sitting by the kitchen table, reading carefully a scroll he just gave her. "What do you think?"
Hikari met his gaze. Her obsidian eyes were serious. "Where did you find this? It seems legit."
The tips of his lips curled up into a smirk. "Oh, it is." He leaned back on the chair he was on, and shrugged. "I might have followed your sister's example and stole it from the Uchiha Library."
Hikari's eyes widened. "Are you crazy? What if Fugaku finds out about this?"
"He allowed me total freedom as long as I get results." His tone was calm. "Besides, we do have someone else to worry about."
Hikari focused back on the scroll Shisui stole. "Danzo?"
"Yes." Shisui sighed. "I think he's onto something, and I'm sorry to put you in this place Hikari, but I think your father's death was a set up."
The girl looked up. "He died on duty."
Shisui took a deep breath. "I should have told you this before, but I will now. When I caught up with Hanako and the Tsuchikage, he said that they had been warned by someone from Konoha about where your father would be. It was like someone was asking them to get rid of him." He chuckled. "I know this sounds crazy but I can only think of one person who wanted your father dead to clear his path."
Hikari felt everything crumble around her. "Does Hanako know it was Danzo?"
"No. It would be chaos if she or Fugaku found out."
"They would attack the village. They won't stop until they get the Hokage's head on a silver platter as a reward."
"Precisely." Shisui felt the tiredness in his body, slowing his movements. "Danzo doesn't know I know, or else I will also be a target."
"But he threatened you, didn't he?"
"He wants Hanako dead. That's all I know."
"I think he wants all of us dead," Hikari blurted. Shisui gave her a questioning look. "I mean, the cameras, the Anbu wandering the borders of the compound... They put the blame of the Kyuubi attack on us and cast us out of the village. I think all of this is part of a big scheme, Shisui."
"How did you know about the cameras?" Shisui narrowed his eyes. That was something only he and Fugaku knew about. If the senior police men knew about it, their uprising wouldn't be stopped. They had already enough reasons to disrespect the village.
"Hanako told me. She saw them on her patrol while on the police, but when she asked Fugaku about them he asked her to keep it a secret."
"She did a wonderful job keeping it to herself."
Hikari frowned. "There aren't secrets between Hanako and I. The bond we have as sisters is far more important than anything."
There was a ghost of a smile on Shisui's face. "A bond, huh?"
"I know you're an only child, Shisui, but I think that bond you and Itachi have is similar. You care about him like a little brother."
Shisui felt something warm in his chest when he thought of Itachi. The first time he saw him, Itachi made him remember his dreams as a kid. He wanted to be the best, the most powerful Uchiha, so he could look at his father and say: 'Hey dad! I did it! I became a famed shinobi just like you!'
Kagami Uchiha had been a veteran most of his life. He was never home but during the war he lost his leg and the trauma had made him lose his memory. Even though Shisui took care of him every day and made sure he was okay, his dad would only look at him and ask, "Who are you?"
Those three words broke his heart every time. Shisui lost his objective, he lost his reason to keep joining missions, and that uncertainty cost him the life of a teammate. But then he met Itachi, and he reminded him of his younger self. He didn't know the reasons why Itachi wanted so desperately to be so powerful, but he decided to help him.
"Yeah, I guess Itachi and I do share that kind of bond."
"Then you and Itachi shouldn't have secrets, either," Hikari sneered. "Get him to admit he has a crush on my sister."
Shisui scoffed. "You..."
A strong knock on his door stopped Shisui from finishing his phrase. He went to open the door. Inabi, Tekka and Yashiro, the three senior police men were standing at the other side. When Shisui opened the door, they invited themselves in.
"It's nice to see you again, Shisui. How was your mission?" Inabi asked. Shisui glared.
"You know very well I cannot speak about my missions, Inabi."
He laughed. "Of course, it was just common courtesy." His eyes wandered around Shisui's house until they fell on the girl in the kitchen. "Oh, I didn't know your girlfriend was here. Sorry to intrude."
Shisui appeared next to Hikari and crossed his arms over his chest. "She's not my girlfriend, and we both know you're not sorry. Why did you guys come here?"
The smirk on Inabi's face convinced Shisui that he was indeed looking for something. Hikari closed the scroll she was reading and tried to stand up. Shisui stopped her by putting a hand on her shoulder and pushing her back down. "Stay here, Hikari."
Inabi looked at both of them. The other two seniors stood behind him, discreetly covering all exits. "You see, I think you should know why I'm here."
"I'm asking you nicely, Inabi. You don't want to mess with me, right now."
"We want to know what the f**k is going on in the minds of the village's elders." The look in his eyes was that of a mad dog. "Anbu has been a lot more active ever since Hanako joined. Don't you think she knows something by now? It's been six damn months."
"Why would you barge into my house with such speculations?"
"You're Hanako's friend, aren't you?" Inabi's eyes posed on Hikari before turning into a bright red color. "Moreover, you have her sister here. This is even better."
Shisui's eyes matched his, his Sharingan firing with anger. "She has nothing to do with you or me, so keep your threats to yourself before I report to Fugaku."
Inabi chuckled. "Right, I guess I came to the wrong place. I think I should ask her myself then."
Shisui looked at the other two as they began to retreat, pressing his lips into a thin line.
"By the way," Inabi stopped in the middle of the room. "I know about the stolen transcript. Why Hanako has it is beyond me, but if you know anything about the Mangekyou Sharingan, you better not keep it to yourselves." He gave them a warning glance. "We are all a single clan, right? Anything that benefits you, benefits all of us."
Shisui narrowed his eyes. "Of course, but I'm afraid we haven't figured out anything about it."
Inabi stared at them for a long time before finally returning to look at his comrades. "Fugaku received an offer from Danzo. He's willing to accept Itachi into the Anbu as well." Shisui and Hikari looked at each other. "Knowing the leader, he probably accepted the offer. He...trusts his son a little too much and gives him the best opportunities. We are not sure if he deserves that spot, but we can't really say anything against it. Anyway, good day. It was nice to see you again, Shisui." The smile on Inabi's face was anything but friendly. "Keep an eye on your friends for us, will you?"
Shisui fell on the chair next to Hikari once the seniors were gone. "That was... intense."
Hikari kept looking at the scroll, with tears gathering in her sockets. "Do you think they will target Hanako next?"
"Probably." Shisui wasn't sure. The seniors started to act by themselves ever since they noticed Fugaku wasn't making any progress. Shisui didn't only fear for the Hokage's head, but for Fugaku's as well.
Fugaku let all of Konoha's discrimination slide in hopes of avoiding conflict, but the Uchiha Clan in general had had enough. The senior police were already feeding everyone with hatred and resentment. Changing their ideals was close to impossible the more time they wasted. If they didn't act soon, they would vote for Fugaku to step down as the leader and choose someone else in the next meeting. If they have enough followers, they can overstep Fugaku and control the clan as a whole.
Shisui closed his eyes and let himself fall over the table. Each day that passes, he could see the hope Itachi gave him fading once again.
Hikari looked at him with worry. She wished she could do something to help him, but she knew it was out of her control. Shisui had been more tired every day, and he wouldn't smile or joke as often as he used to. She was with him, but she could tell he was alone.
A single tear fell from her left eye as she grasped the scroll with more force. We will get out of this, Shisui.
- Writer
