Shisui lay on the bed, his mind struggling to understand why Kei had chosen to save him.
After all, their relationship had never been good. In fact, given the level of mistrust between them, especially on his part, they were practically enemies.
Trying to make sense of it, Shisui asked, "Why did you save me? Don't you hate me?"
"This has nothing to do with how I feel about you," Kei replied calmly. "I told you before, no one gets to owe me and walk away. You want to die? Fine. But only after you pay me back in full."
"Oh, and by the way, it was two favors before. Now that I've saved you again, that makes three."
Shisui found the answer absurd. But then again, this was Kei, somehow, it fit.
And yet… he hadn't faked his suicide. He'd truly intended to die.
After witnessing the betrayal of someone he trusted, and knowing that his clan would be dragged down with him, he couldn't find a reason to keep living.
But now Kei had made it clear, he wasn't allowed to die yet. Not until the debt was paid.
Shisui felt lost.
"I don't have anything left to repay you with," he said, laughing bitterly. The laugh pulled at his wounds, nearly knocking the breath out of him. After recovering, he added hoarsely, "I've got nothing left."
"You're right," Kei agreed. "You really don't have anything."
Then his voice dropped into something sharper, colder. "Which means from this moment on… your life belongs to me."
Shisui's lips parted to protest, but no words came. Deep down, he knew, he wasn't in any position to resist.
After a pause, he asked, "Can I ask you something?"
"Go ahead," Kei said. "We've got nothing but time now."
Back then, Kei had tried more than once to talk sense into Shisui, to warn him with words. But Shisui never listened.
And Kei had realized that until a man faced true despair, he wouldn't wake up.
Now was that moment.
"What do you really want out of all this?" Shisui asked seriously. "Don't tell me it's just about collecting debts. I'm not that naïve anymore."
Kei smiled. "At least you're self-aware now."
He pointed to his forehead, tapping it lightly. Even blind, Kei knew Shisui could feel it, his awareness sharp despite his injuries.
"What I want is simple," Kei said. "Freedom."
"Freedom?" Shisui echoed.
"That's right. Freedom."
Kei leaned back into his chair and took a slow sip of tea, savoring it before continuing. "Maybe that sounds strange to you. But to me, it's everything."
He tilted his head. "You've always thought your clan was too extreme in how they approached things, haven't you?"
Shisui nodded. "Yeah. Some of them are far too radical. All they ever talk about is rebellion. They never think about the consequences."
"You're not wrong," Kei said. "But I see it differently."
He set the teacup down with a quiet clink.
"Their behavior, your clan's, can also be seen as a form of resistance. A response to the injustice they've endured."
"Have you ever truly asked yourself why your clan members act so extremely? Are they just born that way? Or was something done to them?"
Shisui shook his head. He hadn't really thought about it.
"That's why you failed to stop the destruction," Kei said coldly.
"You oversimplify everything. When faced with your clan's radicalism, you never bothered to understand the roots of their pain. And yet, when it came to people you trusted… you believed their words without question."
"You're strong, Shisui. In ninjutsu, taijutsu… even your Mangekyō. But as I've told you before, you understand nothing about the human heart."
Shisui had no response. His thoughts drifted again to that moment of utter betrayal.
Sensing his silence, Kei pressed on. "You asked me a question, and I've answered. Now it's time to address your problem."
"My problem?" Shisui murmured. "Haven't I already been punished enough?"
"You have," Kei said without denying it. "And harshly. But do you really think it ends there?"
A cold smile tugged at his lips.
"I was nearby when it all happened. I 'saw' everything you did."
"You tried to kill yourself to delay the coup, to buy Itachi time. Am I wrong?"
Shisui didn't lie. "No. At that moment, I didn't think I'd survive. And I had no way left to save the clan. So I jumped."
Kei's voice turned icy. "Then what if I told you that your suicide won't prevent the destruction, it'll cause it?"
Shisui nearly shot up from the bed in shock, but pain immediately forced him to fall back down. Still, he ignored the agony.
"Why?!" he asked, desperate.
He didn't even think to argue. Too many times now, Kei's words had proven true. And this time… he was terrified.
"I'll make it simple," Kei said. "The problem isn't you anymore. It's Itachi."
"You remember what I said about mustelids? Their worst habit?"
"You mean that nonsense you said to insult him after he called you delusional?" Shisui asked.
"I won't deny I wanted to provoke him. But I wasn't lying."
"No. No way," Shisui whispered. "Itachi's just like me. He loves the village. He loves our clan. He'd do everything to stop the destruction!"
"That's the issue," Kei said flatly. "You said it yourself, he's just like you."
"So I ask you: the mistakes you made… you really think he won't make them too?"
"What do you think will happen when he realizes there's no peaceful resolution?"
"What will he do when he loses all hope in your clan's radicals?"
"When he's forced to choose between the village and the clan, what side will he pick?"
"And when he's pushed past the edge, what will he do for his little brother?"
Silence. The lab felt as still as a tomb.
Shisui's voice trembled. "Stop… please… stop talking…"
But it was too late. He understood now. He heard what Kei wasn't saying, and it shattered him.
The image formed in his mind, of what Itachi might do.
And it broke his heart.
If he could, he would've rather died for real. At least then, he wouldn't have to hear this truth.
"There's no point in running," Kei said coldly.
He'd made up his mind. After so many failed attempts to awaken Shisui's awareness, he finally realized, only despair could reach him.
And now was the time.
"When the time you bought with your life runs out, we both know what will happen."
Kei's voice became sharp as steel.
"Uchiha Shisui, you personally forged the blade of an executioner. That boy will become the one who destroys your clan, in front of everyone you once trusted and loved."
Shisui's soul collapsed. The future Kei described was too terrifying to face.
"You're lying… you're lying, aren't you?" he whispered.
Kei could feel the despair rising in him. He almost stopped there.
But he couldn't afford to.
Too many patients had fallen short, just one step from clarity, only to fall back into delusion.
If he softened now, everything would be for nothing.
So he leaned in and whispered:
"Am I lying to you… or are you lying to yourself?"
"You still have time. More than enough, in fact. Use it. When you're truly ready to understand, we'll talk again."
"This is your last chance. Because this is as far as I can take you."
"Remember: the only person who can save you… is yourself."
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200 P.S = 1 Extra Chapters