Who would truly care about forming bonds with their subordinates?
What Xu Fan had launched wasn't Shisui Uchiha's ultimate genjutsu—Kotoamatsukami, the famed illusion that could manipulate a person's thoughts without them realizing it.
Instead, it was a standard genjutsu cast using his Three-Tomoe Sharingan.
As a prodigy of the Uchiha clan, Shisui was widely recognized for his unparalleled skill in genjutsu. Xu Fan, now wielding Shisui's very eyes, demonstrated a glimpse of that power. The moment the ANBU operatives focused all their attention on him, Xu Fan activated the illusion—trapping them without hand signs or warning.
Had Kakashi Hatake anticipated this, he might have been able to resist with his Sharingan—though likely just barely. His experience with illusions was strong, but even Itachi Uchiha, known for his genjutsu prowess, considered Shisui superior in that field.
But Kakashi's focus had been diverted. He was concentrating entirely on defending against Xu Fan's Wood Release—a technique thought lost since the era of the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju. As a result, he and the other ANBU fell into the illusion before they realized what had happened.
There had been no coordinated attack, no overwhelming presence of ANBU surrounding the training field—just a handful of operatives watching cautiously from a distance.
Yet from their perspective, the battle was incomprehensible.
Before Kakashi could give the command to form up, his subordinates had collapsed one by one—and then he himself fell.
> "What did that guy just do?"
> "I'm not sure... I couldn't even see him move."
> "Did he actually move at all? He just stood there, and then—boom—Kakashi and the others were down…"
The observing ANBU whispered among themselves.
> "Was it genjutsu?"
One of them exclaimed suddenly. If Xu Fan wasn't simply too fast for the eye to follow, then genjutsu was the only plausible explanation—after all, it was one of the Three Great Ninja Arts.
> "But when did it even begin?"
> "That's insane… Captain Kakashi has a Sharingan…"
> "Yeah, and the Uchiha are second to none in genjutsu. Their Sharingan can counter most illusion-based attacks!"
What truly unnerved them was that even with all their training, none of them could say exactly when Xu Fan had activated the technique. It was a guess at best.
> "Didn't you notice?"
A calm, authoritative voice cut through the chatter. The speaker was none other than Morino Ibiki, captain of the ANBU Torture and Interrogation Squad.
Everyone turned, attention drawn.
> "If this were a battlefield," Ibiki said grimly, "then Kakashi and the others wouldn't just be unconscious. Their lives would have been forfeit. What's more terrifying is that this man could extract sensitive information through genjutsu—and no one would even know it was happening."
> "Information often determines the outcome of war."
> "Kakashi and Tenzo are among Konoha's elite… yet they couldn't resist or even perceive the illusion."
Ibiki was known for his stone-cold expression. But this time, his face was pale, his hands clenched at his sides.
> "When… did such a monster appear in our village?" he muttered, almost to himself.
Yet he felt relief. Relief that Xu Fan was on Konoha's side—not some foreign shinobi from Iwagakure or Kirigakure. If that were the case, he would be the village's most dangerous enemy.
It wasn't just Ibiki who was shaken. Even Uchiha Itachi, watching silently, was stunned.
At the critical moment, Itachi had been forced to activate his Mangekyō Sharingan to resist the illusion. Had he hesitated, even he might have been pulled into Xu Fan's genjutsu.
And in that instant—he saw it.
> Shisui's eyes…
He would never mistake them. He had once considered Shisui a brother. And now, those same eyes… were in Xu Fan's possession.
> But how?
> Weren't they taken by Danzo?
> What happened…?
Not only did Xu Fan possess a chakra reservoir comparable to a tailed beast, and wield the lost Wood Release, but now he also had Shisui's Mangekyō Sharingan.
Itachi's heart wavered for a moment.
> Is he demonstrating power… or sending a warning?
> "You look surprised, Itachi."
Xu Fan's voice pulled him from his thoughts.
> "I expected you to make them fear your Wood Release again," Itachi said, narrowing his eyes, tone quiet. "Like you did last time."
> "Are you afraid?" Xu Fan raised an eyebrow. He hadn't expected Itachi to use that word.
In truth, he'd used the Wood Release in front of them not to intimidate, but to show his intentions—to signal that he meant no harm.
Xu Fan gave a small, almost bitter smile.
> "Who really bothers forming bonds with subordinates, anyway?"
Itachi glanced at the fallen ANBU, a thin line forming between his brows. If those illusions were anything like Shisui's, it would take days for the victims to fully recover.
And Xu Fan had the nerve to say he wasn't even being serious?
> Unbelievable… Itachi thought.
Just as Xu Fan was about to explain his next move to Itachi, a familiar voice echoed in his mind, gentle and musical—like birdsong carried by the wind.
> "Please proceed to the Land of Iron to complete your sign-in. Rewards await upon successful confirmation."
> "The Land of Iron, huh…" Xu Fan muttered. He liked that destination.
It was, after all, where he would soon join Hiruzen Sarutobi for diplomatic talks with the Raikage. The meeting was in three days.
> "Itachi," he called softly.
Itachi stepped forward, wary but obedient.
He no longer felt threatened by Xu Fan's role as squad captain, nor did he intend to challenge it again.
> "Do you want to know…" Xu Fan leaned closer, voice low and deliberate, "…why Shisui lost?"
Itachi's eyes widened. The mention of Shisui's name pierced him like a blade.
> He really does know everything…