3. Shisui’s Attempt to Help Itachi Handle the Uchiha Coup Conflict
Shisui held a meeting with the Third Hokage, expressing his concern about Konoha Village accusing the Uchiha clan of orchestrating the Kyubi incident. Therefore, Shisui requested permission from the Hokage to step down from his regular duties as a Jonin, as he wanted to focus on repairing the broken trust between Konoha and the Uchiha clan to foster mutual understanding. The Third Hokage granted Shisui’s request, allowing him to undertake a secret investigative mission and granting him full authority.
Next, Shisui met with Itachi. Shisui informed Itachi that his mission was to clear up the suspicions between Konoha and the Uchiha clan. He asked Itachi for his opinion regarding the growing tension between the two sides. Itachi told Shisui that the distrust between the Uchiha clan and Konoha was worsening. He explained that if one side—whether Uchiha or Konoha—started to trust the other, that trust would likely be reciprocated. However, if both sides continued to mistrust each other, the situation would only deteriorate.
Shisui then asked Itachi if Fugaku was serious about initiating a coup. Shisui disagreed with Fugaku’s plan, believing that the coup would lead to devastating consequences for both sides. Itachi admitted that he opposed the coup but found it difficult to prevent it. Shisui advised Itachi to refrain from taking action, as the Uchiha police force already suspected Itachi of being a traitor. Shisui even revealed that he had been assigned by the police force to monitor Itachi.
When Itachi asked his father for permission to skip the Uchiha clan meeting due to a secret mission, Fugaku became furious. He reminded Itachi that his duty was to act as an informational bridge between the Uchiha clan and Konoha’s leadership. Fugaku insisted that Itachi attend the clan meeting. Itachi could only respond briefly with a simple “yes” to each of his father’s words.
After receiving Itachi’s report about the Uchiha clan meeting, Danzo met with the Third Hokage. Danzo expressed his concern about the possibility of an impending coup led by the Uchiha clan. However, the Third Hokage had already prepared a solution by involving Shisui.
The Third Hokage informed Danzo that Shisui would attend the Uchiha clan meeting. If Fugaku tried to incite his clan members to revolt, Shisui would use the Kotoamatsukami technique to manipulate Fugaku’s thoughts. The Hokage trusted Shisui to influence Fugaku so that Fugaku could persuade the Uchiha clan members to trust Konoha. Then, the Hokage would urge Konoha’s leadership to reciprocate that trust, fostering peace between the two sides.
Danzo later held a private meeting with Shisui. During the meeting, Danzo attempted to seize Shisui’s Sharingan. However, Shisui managed to use his Genjutsu to make Danzo pass out. Unbeknownst to Shisui, Danzo possessed a Sharingan as well, allowing him to activate the Izanagi technique to rewrite reality. As a result, Danzo successfully stole one of Shisui’s Sharingan eyes. However, Shisui managed to escape.
While Itachi’s parents awaited his arrival at the Uchiha clan meeting, Itachi was waiting for Shisui at a designated place so they could attend the meeting together. When Shisui arrived, he informed Itachi that it was too late to stop the Uchiha clan’s coup. Shisui also expressed his fear that a civil war in Konoha would attract intervention from other nations and escalate into a large-scale war, similar to the Fourth Shinobi World War.
Shisui revealed to Itachi that Danzo had stolen his right eye. Thus, Shisui entrusted his left eye to Itachi to prevent Danzo from obtaining both. Finally, Shisui left Itachi with a final request—to protect Konoha and uphold the Uchiha clan’s honor. Shisui then chose to end his life by plunging into the Nakano River.
The next day, three Uchiha police officers stormed into Itachi’s home. They informed him that both Itachi and Shisui had been absent from the clan meeting. The police accused Itachi of murdering Shisui at the Nakano River. Enraged by the accusation, Itachi attacked the three officers, leaving them sprawled on the ground. Fugaku arrived and stopped the fight.
Fugaku admitted that he was puzzled by Itachi’s recent strange behavior and asked his son why he had not attended the clan meeting. In response, Itachi threw a kunai, piercing the Uchiha clan symbol on the wall, and declared that he was sick of the Uchiha clan. The police then requested Fugaku to issue an arrest warrant for Itachi, accusing him of dishonoring the clan.
However, Itachi suddenly knelt and apologized for his actions and words after noticing that Sasuke was watching. As the Uchiha police chief, Fugaku forgave Itachi, attributing his behavior to exhaustion from his numerous Anbu missions. Fugaku also assured the officers that he would take full responsibility for monitoring Itachi’s behavior.
Subsequently, Itachi reported to Konoha’s leaders that Shisui’s death had dampened the Uchiha clan’s spirits and weakened their military strength in the coup plans. Koharu believed that the coup had been thwarted thanks to Shisui’s sacrifice, but the Third Hokage lamented Shisui’s decision to sacrifice himself.
Danzo later confirmed the Uchiha clan’s rumor accusing Itachi of killing Shisui. However, Itachi did not confirm the accusation, as he and Shisui shared the same mission.
After Shisui’s death, Itachi awakened his Mangekyo Sharingan. He visited the Nakano Shrine, the place where the Uchiha clan usually held meetings. There, he attempted to read the Uchiha clan’s stone tablet, which he had previously been unable to decipher with his regular Sharingan.
With his Mangekyo Sharingan, Itachi discovered that the Uchiha stone tablet contained secrets about how to awaken the Uchiha clan’s true power. Unlike other Uchiha members who became obsessed with attaining this power, Itachi viewed the tablet’s teachings as a lesson in greed.
