After receiving Shinju-sama's very first assignment, Shisui bowed without hesitation.
"Understood, Shinju-sama. I'll see it done."
Shinju turned to Minato and Kushina. "Tou-san, Kaa-san, please go rest for now. I still have other arrangements to make—I'm taking Shisui to see something."
Minato and Kushina exchanged a look. They knew Shinju had his own plans, so they didn't press him. They rose and left the chamber.
Only Shinju and Shisui remained.
"Come with me. I'll show you a place you'll find interesting… and it'll make your return feel worth it."
Shinju walked to a stone wall at the back of the chamber. He pressed several inconspicuous sigils in a particular sequence.
With a low rumble, the wall slid apart, revealing a narrow, downward corridor.
Shisui followed. The passage stretched on for quite a while; complex fūinjutsu (sealing arts) were etched along both walls, perfectly masking all chakra fluctuations.
After about five minutes, the space opened up.
A vast underground expanse spread out before Shisui.
It was far larger than the secret room beneath Naka Shrine—several times larger, bright as day, divided into distinct zones: an intelligence analysis wing, a ninja-tool forging bay, a medical and research section, and a massive indoor training hall.
Dozens of shinobi in black close-fitting uniforms moved with silent precision, each wearing a uniform white mask.
Their steps were soundless, their work efficient—the air itself seemed taut with cold focus.
Shisui could feel it at a glance: none of these people were ordinary. At minimum, they carried the presence of chūnin; many radiated the sharp poise of elite jōnin.
What a formidable force in the shadows…
"This is what I mentioned before," Shinju's voice came from at his shoulder. "A clandestine intelligence-and-assassination organization I built with my own hands—Shintei."
"It exists for a single purpose: to extend my will into the places Konoha's light cannot reach and resolve the darkness that the light leaves behind. Think of it as something like Root—only we don't do Root's filth. We have our own goals and our own faith."
A figure flickered into place before Shinju, dropping to one knee.
White hound mask. A mop of unmistakable silver hair.
"Shinju-sama."
"Kakashi?" Shisui blurted, surprised. Hatake Kakashi—the Fourth's student, Konoha's genius jōnin—he was part of this as well?
Kakashi lifted his head. Through the eyeholes, he gave Shisui a brief, equally surprised look, then said nothing—waiting for orders.
"Kakashi," Shinju said, "from today, Uchiha Shisui serves as Shintei's deputy commander—your equal in authority."
"Yes, Shinju-sama," Kakashi answered without a hint of objection.
"Shisui's first mission is to investigate Akatsuki," Shinju continued. "You're to mobilize all of Shintei's intel assets and support him fully."
"Understood."
"And," Shinju's gaze shifted toward the training hall, "bring him here as well. It's time the two of them met."
Kakashi nodded and headed off toward the training grounds. He returned moments later with another figure in Shintei uniform, a white crow mask upon his face.
As he drew closer, he removed the mask.
Shisui's body jolted. "Itachi?! You joined too… or rather, you were already a member."
It was Itachi.
Seeing his living, breathing closest friend standing here, Itachi felt the swell of emotions he'd tried to keep dammed up. Formally joining Shintei meant Shinju-sama's complete acknowledgment.
"Shisui… you really…"
"I'm in too, Itachi." Shisui stepped forward and clapped his hand firmly onto Itachi's shoulder.
To fight side by side again—that had been their greatest wish. Now, realized in a way neither had ever imagined.
Shinju watched the reunion, a satisfied smile touching his lips. He'd brought the two brightest Uchiha prodigies together again—this time, in the same unit.
"Itachi, from today you'll serve as Shisui's right hand and jointly lead the Akatsuki investigation," Shinju said, then issued the new orders. "You two will work one in the light and one in the dark. Itachi, continue to act as an ANBU captain inside the village—pull from the top for information. We need the fullest, freshest intelligence on day-to-day affairs within Konoha as well.
"Shisui, you'll lead Shintei's operations unit to pursue and infiltrate outside the village. It'll be more dangerous—but for you, it should be manageable. Even so, don't get cocky. There are still plenty of truly strong shinobi out there."
"Yes!"
Their voices overlapped, steel-bright with resolve.
Off to the side, Kakashi watched his two new "colleagues" and couldn't help a quiet exhale.
Shunshin no Shisui (Body Flicker Shisui), wielder of Kotoamatsukami (Distinguished Heavenly Gods), the pinnacle of genjutsu (illusion arts).
Itachi—the deep, unfathomable tactician whose battle sense and strength were easily kage-class, if not beyond.
With these two added, Shintei's overall power surged by several tiers.
Kakashi could clearly foresee it: this organization Shinju-sama had forged… it far outstripped the Root of old. It would become an invisible net cast over the entire shinobi world—loyal to one man alone: Shinju-sama. Any foe lurking in darkness would find nowhere to hide inside that net.
Shinju looked at the three—the execution team any village would dream of.
Kakashi, all-rounder and steady hand, fit to coordinate the whole board.
Shisui, unmatched mobility and Kotoamatsukami for intel breakthroughs and precise eliminations.
Itachi, kage-level might and an ANBU captain's cover for frontal strikes and inner infiltration.
A perfect iron triangle.
"Alright," Shinju clapped once, drawing their focus. "There'll be time to catch up later. You can trade toasts over shōchū after the work is done."
"Now—our first ops briefing begins."
He stepped to a massive sand table in the analysis zone, a three-dimensional relief map recreating the Land of Fire and its neighbors in meticulous detail.
"Based on what I have so far, most of Akatsuki's core members come from Amegakure. It's a minor village in a small country—you've at least heard the name."
Shinju's finger tapped the section of the board—rain-lashed, shut off from the world, a country perpetually under cloud.
"Our first goal is to infiltrate and uncover the identity of their true leader."
"And learn the real purpose behind their hunt for the bijū."
Shisui and Itachi's eyes sharpened as one.
In Shintei's hidden base, a never-before-seen intelligence war against the greatest terror organization of the shinobi world quietly began.
(End of Chapter)
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