In the evening, at the Uchiha clan compound.
Outside Uchiha Fugaku's house, Uchiha Mikoto knelt down and looked at Uchiha Itachi with a smile. "Let's go out and play. I'll take you to try some ramen today!"
"Okay." The mother and son walked out side by side.
Not long after they left, one by one, elders and Jonin entered their home.
"Fugaku, you invited us over today…"
"Don't be anxious. I know about some of the voices and ideas within the clan recently. This time is precisely to tell everyone about some of the intelligence we've obtained. When everyone has arrived, we'll talk slowly."
"Good, good." The elders chuckled and sat down around him. In fact, these past few days, they had been waiting for Fugaku's attitude, frequently holding gatherings and meetings precisely to force Fugaku to take a stance. Now, it seemed to have worked. Several elders exchanged glances and nodded secretly to each other.
After waiting for a moment, Uchiha Yashiro finally returned from the Police Force and sat down in an empty seat. Only then did Fugaku speak. "I have heard about some of the rumors within the clan. I've invited everyone over this time so we can speak openly and thoroughly, to avoid having to talk about it again next time."
"Of course."
"And also to prevent everyone from having different ideas, which would disperse the clan's strength." As Fugaku spoke, his gaze swept around, his face turning serious.
"First is Madara… To all the clan elders, you should have personally experienced or indirectly experienced that era. Back then, when Uchiha Madara wanted to leave, didn't you all not follow him?" Fugaku sighed, a look of helplessness on his face.
"Why is it that after all this time, you have changed your minds?"
A group of elders looked at each other. This question had hit the mark. The group fell silent. Finally, an old man coughed lightly. "Fugaku, that's not how it's said…"
"Elder Yoshinori, please speak." Fugaku didn't stop him from speaking.
Uchiha Yoshinori was silent for a moment. "Back then, Senju Tobirama hadn't risen to power yet, hadn't revealed his evil nature. We were deceived by the Senju brothers!"
"Elders, do you all think so?" Fugaku looked at the others.
Once the first spoke, there was a second. Soon, another spoke up. "Fugaku, what happened back then is in the past. The situation is different now; we can't generalize."
"Yes, yes, why discuss what happened back then?" The elders spoke up one after another. They had reacted and didn't want to talk much about the past.
A look of helplessness appeared on Yashiro's face.
"Elders, the person behind Obito now is very likely Uchiha Madara. Are you sure Madara will not hold a grudge? Back then, not a single one of you went with him." He finally understood. This group of elders was truly foolish, thinking that what happened back then could be written off by everyone. But for Madara, why should he forgive them?
"Just because we are of the same clan, he will forgive us?" Uchiha Yashiro continued to ask.
The old men were weakly silent. Elder Yoshinori said, "No matter what, everyone is of the same clan. For the continuation of the family, he shouldn't be so harsh, right? Besides, Madara needs helpers too!"
"What if the other party isn't Madara? Or rather, what if he isn't the real Madara!" Fugaku said faintly.
"What do you mean? Fugaku, do you know some inside story?" The one who had spoken second just now immediately brought the topic back.
Fugaku gave the other a deep look. Uchiha Shinji. Among the clan's elders, he was considered one of the younger ones. He had made many contributions in the Second Great Ninja War. In addition, he was the father of Uchiha Inabi and Tekka. He smiled.
"Shinji, it seems your opinion was very helpful in the elders' discussions. Why don't you come and sit in the front?"
Uchiha Shinji hesitated for a moment, then gritted his teeth, stood up, and moved one seat forward. Before sitting down, he didn't forget to bow, not losing his manners. After sitting down, he said, "Fugaku-sama, I am not trying to stir up trouble. It's just that the Uchiha clan and Konoha are indeed drifting further and further apart. For the future of the clan, it's not impossible to consider another future."
"I understand, Shinji. You don't have to be too nervous." Fugaku smiled faintly. Uchiha Shinji's words would not have any impact on his plan. On the contrary, having a smarter person to cooperate with could make this exchange simpler. He smiled. "Elders, Shinji's attitude should be able to represent your opinions, right?"
"This…"
"Yes." Yoshinori nodded. He understood. This group of old men couldn't compete with the young ones in terms of brains and reaction time. It was better to let the younger Shinji debate with Fugaku.
Uchiha Shinji said, "Fugaku-sama, you mentioned earlier that the other party might not be the real Uchiha Madara. What does that mean?"
"We don't know much about Madara's situation back then, but one thing is certain. Of the Senju brothers, Senju Hashirama aside, Senju Tobirama…" Fugaku looked up at him. "Do you think he was a careless person?"
"No." Uchiha Shinji thought for a few seconds, then finally shook his head. Senju Tobirama… putting aside their hostile standpoint, the other party was indeed very smart and cautious, rarely making mistakes. To say that he would be careless about the matter of Madara's life and death was basically impossible.
"Everyone thinks Madara might be alive because they think Izanagi might be able to bring the dead back to life. But Izanagi has a time limit. Would that guy Senju Tobirama make a mistake?" Uchiha Fugaku's face was serious.
Everyone was silent.
"So, who do you think is assisting Obito's defection?" Uchiha Shinji didn't answer, but asked back.
Fugaku said, "Genjutsu can be used to transform and control a person's memory and thinking, making them believe they are 'Madara.' And if Madara started hypnotizing from a young age… gentlemen, what do you think a child who grows up like this, coupled with the subtle influence of Madara's secret techniques and genjutsu, will think he is?" Fugaku threw out "his own" idea.
Uchiha Shinji didn't dare to answer and turned to look at the elders behind him. This question was really difficult to answer.
Yoshinori said, "Fugaku, this is also just your conjecture…"
"No one can live that long. Even Senju Hashirama died. Even if Uchiha Madara were alive, he would be very old now. Where would he get the ability to do such a thing?" Fugaku looked at Uchiha Yoshinori. These clan elders simply thought that Madara was very strong and could stand up for the Uchiha clan, so…
"Today's meeting is mainly about these things. I hope everyone can be a little clearer and not just think that Madara is strong and can help us. The person now may not be Madara; he may just be a fake. How could a fake have a sense of identity with the Uchiha clan? He won't necessarily help the Uchiha clan. Even if it were the real Uchiha Madara, perhaps he would hate us more than identify with us. After all, we once betrayed him." After Fugaku finished speaking, he stood up to see the guests out.
Uchiha Shinji immediately asked, "Fugaku-sama, then where is our clan's future?"
"Konoha, and it can only be Konoha."
***
In Konoha, at the Anbu base. Kyohiko was processing documents while experimenting with the Amber Jutsu. However, the frequency of Orochimaru's visits had increased quite a bit from before.
"Senpai, don't you need to do research recently?"
"I am also interested in the matter of Madara and the Uchiha, so I came over to hear some new intelligence." Orochimaru sat down with a smile. For them, sending out a shadow clone was not difficult. To put it bluntly… he came over just to hear some gossip, with no other intentions.
Kyohiko tossed him a scroll. Orochimaru caught it, then couldn't help but laugh out loud. The scroll was very simple. The Uchiha elders were "having a meeting" again at the Naka Shrine, and under the surveillance of a group of Anbu.
"These old men, one by one, corrupt and stubborn, still thinking they are right. Truly foolish and laughable." Orochimaru's mouth curled up. Then, he leaned back in his chair and smiled.
"Every clan, organization, and village will have such a group of foolish and corrupt people. And yet, war can't even weed out this group…"
"According to your theory, they should be the sludge, deposited at the bottom of the river. Ordinary currents can't wash them away, unless there's a flood." Kyohiko continued Orochimaru's train of thought.
Orochimaru's eyes showed excitement, his tongue licking the corner of his mouth.
"Will a flood come to the shinobi world?"
"I didn't know before, but now, I think there will be such a flood sooner or later. But before the flood comes, some people may have to go to the underworld first," Kyohiko said faintly. Not everyone in the Uchiha clan was a talent that Konoha needed. Some stubborn, corrupt people full of desire for power were not suitable to be included in the category of collaborators. For example, these foolish hawks.
Orochimaru chuckled lightly. "I'm quite interested in the Sharingan."
"Give it up." Kyohiko shook his head.
Orochimaru's face became serious. "You're not interested?"
"Of course I'm interested, but the Uchiha clan's emphasis on their eyes is beyond doubt. That's one thing. Second, the Sharingan puts a very large burden on non-clan members." Kyohiko explained his reasons for opposing.
Orochimaru understood the logic, but—that was the Sharingan! Although he was not yet as obsessed as he would be after meeting Uchiha Itachi, he was still full of curiosity and research interest in unknown things. In the past, he might have directly made a move in secret to research it, but now he couldn't make a move on his own people… A shackle was firmly placed on Orochimaru. He sighed deeply. "Bloodline, what an enviable and hateful thing!"
"I agree with your point of view." Kyohiko nodded. Naruto, I initially thought it was inspirational, but in the end, it was all about competing over fathers, competing over bloodlines.
"About Madara's matter…"
"Within the Uchiha, there probably won't be any major chaos. As for Uchiha Madara, there's a very obvious direction, isn't there?" Kyohiko pointed to the east on the map. The Land of Water, Kirigakure.
***
A village surrounded by deep mountains, wrapped in a thick fog. This was the village's normal state. In the past, although Kirigakure was chaotic, it had not deviated from the basic framework, and everyone was trying and working hard to make the village better and correct some wrong rules. But recently—
"Genji-sama, look at this…"
"Mangetsu, have a seat." Genji sighed. He glanced at the scroll in his hand, then threw it to the side, silent. Although this was the first time he had seen this scroll, it was not the first time he had heard the news. Two more of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen were gone. The good news was that Hozuki Mugetsu had also gone, so they at least hadn't lost those two swords yet, and still had six swords in the village. It's just—attacking Konoha. Such a decision was truly insane.
"Elder…"
"There's nothing to be done." Genji sighed.
Hozuki Mangetsu was stunned. "What do you mean, nothing to be done?"
"I can't change Mizukage-sama's mind. Perhaps this is his retaliation for Konoha's previous actions," Genji replied.
Hozuki Mangetsu was full of questions. "But, sending three people to attack Konoha, isn't that just sending them to their deaths?"
Genji looked at him, this time not speaking. Hozuki Mangetsu was stunned, then couldn't help but fall silent. That's right! That Mizukage had never valued "lives" much, otherwise the current Kirigakure wouldn't be called the "Village of the Bloody Mist." Besides—if Genji could persuade the Mizukage, he would have persuaded him to change his strategy before.
Hozuki Mangetsu was ashamed. He stood up and bowed in apology. "Genji-sama, I…"
"No need to apologize, Mangetsu. You are a rare genius of our new generation in Kirigakure. Live well, hone your abilities well, and sooner or later you will be a contender for Mizukage." Genji patted his shoulder. He didn't say much, but he had said everything.
Hozuki Mangetsu's heart was heavy, but looking up at Genji's expectant expression, he nodded emphatically.
"I will!"
"Go and do your work. Just keep this news to yourself. The current Konoha probably won't make a move on us for the time being." Speaking of which, Genji chuckled.
"Even if they do make a move, it's just that. Everyone needs a rest, and they also have to be wary of threats from other ninja villages."
Every village had its own difficulties. This time, with the "Guardian Shinobi," Konoha had undoubtedly played a trick on them, using the conflict between their village and the two great clans to push the situation and create a bad outcome. Then, they used this bad outcome to solve the Guardian Shinobi problem within the Land of Fire. It had to be said, this was a beautifully played hand.
However, Danzo's connection with the Cloud Village, and the conflict between Konoha and the Cloud Village, would surely restrain Konoha's subsequent actions. Kirigakure would have a period of respite to slowly solve its internal problems. This was also why Genji was not in a hurry.
After hearing this, Hozuki Mangetsu pondered for a few seconds. Although he didn't quite understand, he still nodded lightly and exited the office. He hadn't walked a few steps when a splash of water appeared, and then the water turned into a mirror.
"Mangetsu, come to my place as well."
"Yes, Mizukage-sama!" Hozuki Mangetsu was startled and immediately responded, then headed upstairs. A few seconds later, he knocked on the door. Yagura sat in his chair, indifferently tossing him a scroll.
"You will complete this mission. Do not leak it to anyone."
"Yes!" Hozuki Mangetsu accepted, then opened the scroll. A trace of surprise appeared on his face. The Three-Tails Jinchuriki is at risk of going on a rampage, and I am to monitor it at all times?
"Mizukage-sama, if I leave…"
"Do I need to tell you the importance of the Three-Tails? In the village right now, you are the only one suitable for this task. Someone else will temporarily take over the Anbu."
"Yes!"