The sealed chamber beneath the Namikaze estate felt solemn, but not oppressive.
Following Shinju's lead, Shisui stepped inside for the first time. This was Konoha's true nerve center—the place where strategic decisions were made. The Hokage's office handled village affairs; this room decided the shape of the shinobi world.
The design was clean and functional. A massive operations map covered an entire wall, colored pins and lines marking the power blocs of the Land of Fire and the wider ninja world—precise down to the smallest detail.
Minato and Kushina were already waiting.
When Shisui entered, Minato's gentle smile met him. He stepped forward and offered a hand.
"Shisui, welcome aboard," he said. "I heard about last night. With your eyes, you saved the Uchiha—and you saved Konoha's peace. On behalf of the village: thank you."
Shisui clasped Minato's hand, earnest and respectful. "Fourth-sama, you overpraise me. I only carried out Shinju-sama's order. Without him, I'd still be a withered bone at the bottom of the Naka River."
Kushina came over with a warm grin, giving the famed Uchiha prodigy a frank once-over, admiration bright in her eyes. "Good kid. From now on, treat this as your home," she said, the easy warmth in her tone loosening tension he hadn't realized he held. "We're family now—Shinju's most trusted companions."
Family.
Companions.
The words sent a quiet heat through Shisui's chest. He nodded, feeling a sense of belonging deeper than any he'd known.
When the greetings settled, Shinju gestured for everyone to sit.
"Shisui, before you start on your missions, there are things you need to understand," Shinju said. His calm voice drew all attention.
He didn't circle the point.
"You—and Father and Mother—are no longer merely 'revived,'" Shinju said, stating a truth that could upend any worldview. "By my power—details later—you were summoned back from the long river of history as 'Heroic Spirits,' the einherjar of my Valhalla."
"As Heroic Spirits, you retain your full personalities and past memories. But there are a few things I must make clear."
"First, absolute loyalty. Your will is linked to mine. My command to you is absolute. You've already felt this, I'm sure. I almost never invoke it—even with my parents. I believe giving you the greatest freedom is what makes this truly living."
Shisui inclined his head. From the instant of his return, he had sensed the unshakable connection to the boy before him. If he ever dared turn a thought against Shinju, even the thought alone—he knew the boy could crush him with a twitch of a finger.
Yet this was fundamentally different from chains or slavery; it was a trust and devotion that rose from the soul.
"Second, undying and unending," Shinju continued. "So long as I live, you will not truly die. Even if your body is destroyed, your spirit returns to a certain place to await my resummoning. Each summons has a cost—I spend a portion of my strength."
Minato and Kushina traded stunned looks. Years ago, Shinju had returned them to the living; they had guessed at parts of the truth. But hearing they bore a form of immortality still struck like thunder.
Mortal bodies, stepping alongside the divine—not many ever stood so far. And the "divine" was right here in the room with them.
Shisui could only stare, breath caught. Undying and unending… even the Sage of Six Paths had not truly reached that. Sage he might be, but at most his life had stretched long—not to eternity.
And now, through the youth before him, they had touched that godlike state.
"Last, and most important," Shinju said.
A pale blue overlay shimmered to life before Shinju alone—an unseen window only he could view.
"Your strength can be enhanced—through me."
On the pane, Shisui's profile was crisp.
[Name: Shisui]
[Title: Shunshin Shisui]
[Tier: Legendary]
[Loyalty: Absolute]
[Core Abilities]
[Shunshin no Jutsu (Body Flicker Technique) — S+]: Ultra-high-speed taijutsu that weaves speed and genjutsu into one, peerless in the shinobi world.
[Kotoamatsukami (Distinguished Heavenly Gods) — SSS]: The strongest genjutsu—alters another's will permanently without their awareness. Current state: flawless, no side effects, cooldown vastly reduced.
[Katon: Gokakyu no Jutsu (Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique) — A]: Foundational Uchiha fire ninjutsu; range and power optimized to A-rank.
[Genjutsu: Karasu (Genjutsu: Crow Swarm) — A+]: Crow-mediated compound illusion for attack, confusion, and division.
[Uchiha-ryu Kenjutsu (Uchiha-Style Swordsmanship) — S]: High-speed swordwork synergized with Sharingan.
[Mangekyo Sharingan — SS]: Ocular power at a historic apex; no blindness risk.
"Shisui," Shinju said with a small smile, eyes on the pane only he could see, "don't tell me you don't want to grow stronger. Stronger opens many doors."
"Kotoamatsukami, as it is, is formidable—but still short of its ceiling. With enough energy, I can push it further—affecting multiple targets at once, even elevating it toward a 'Divine Word' that sways the will of nations."
Divine Word.
The phrase made three Kage-class shinobi feel their scalps prickle.
They looked at the youth who spoke—so calmly—about forging gods, and finally understood the scale of what Shinju had become.
Shinju dismissed the interface.
"Do you understand your new identity now, Shisui?"
Shisui drew a deep breath, pressing the storm in his heart into stillness. He rose, lowered to one knee, and bowed—precise and unwavering.
"Yes, Shinju-sama. I understand." His voice held a fervor and resolve he had never felt before. "I am no longer merely Shisui. I am your blade—the extension of your will."
Shinju nodded, satisfied. "Good."
He turned to the great map, eyes resting on a name circled in red.
"Then here is your first assignment as a formal member of Valhalla. I'll brief you on the other members later; for now, focus on your task."
"Shisui, I need your eyes to locate every member of Akatsuki."
"I want to know who they are, where they are, and what they intend."
"I will drag every rat from the shadows—one by one."
(End of Chapter)
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