Hiruzen Sarutobi had been a good disciple of Tobirama Senju, and Tobirama prided himself on understanding the Uchiha clan inside and out. Hiruzen, too, believed he understood the Uchihas well. That was why he went to such lengths today—putting on a grand display—to force Uchiha Rokuro into compliance.
Clan heads from every major shinobi family gathered…
Invoking "bonds"…
Finally elevating the matter to the level of Konoha's interests and even the Land of Fire.
In short, they lifted Rokuro so high that refusing simply wasn't an option.
Of course, there were ways for him to reject the mission if he really wanted to. His age—in fact—was his greatest shield.
A ten-year-old child.
Was Konoha out of people? Had everyone died?
Sending a ten-year-old to the battlefield was already outrageous
But sending him on a near-suicidal mission?
Anyone hearing this would think it shameful.
Naturally, to prevent Rokuro from playing the "too young" card, Hiruzen had prepared several contingencies.
But he never got the chance to use them
Rokuro simply agreed.
"Good! Rokuro, you truly are a shinobi of Konoha—knowing that the village's interests come above all!"
"Rest assured, I will have the ANBU cooperate with you. Whatever manpower you need, I will mobilize for you."
Before Hiruzen could finish, Hyūga Hizashi stepped toward Rokuro.
"Rokuro… you are not obligated to take this mission. The Byakugan—our Hyūga clan will take it back with our own hands."
Hiruzen's expression darkened, but Rokuro spoke first.
"Captain Hizashi, the Hokage is right. At present, I'm the only one in Konoha who can retrieve the Byakugan and escape alive. There's no need to worry."
"Then… let me at least send someone with you!"
Rokuro shook his head.
"If I need personnel, I'll only bring Uchiha Izumi. No one else needs to follow."
Many of the shinobi present had never heard Izumi's name before. Most didn't understand why Rokuro chose her—only someone like Nara Shikaku grasped the meaning instantly.
Perhaps worried that delays would breed complications, Hiruzen approved the mission on the spot and handed over the intel on Rerui.
Rokuro accepted it, wasted no more words, and left under the pretext of preparing.
Once he left, the other clan heads dispersed as well.
Uchiha Fugaku never spoke to Rokuro—not even once—acting as if the two weren't from the same clan.
Outside the Hokage's office, Nara Shikaku exchanged glances with Akimichi Chōza and Yamanaka Inoichi, and the three quietly went to the Nara compound.
"Shikaku… today's whole meeting was aimed at Uchiha Rokuro, wasn't it?"
Chōza, straightforward as always, was the first to speak once they sat down.
Inoichi answered first.
"Of course. This is the Hokage's response to the Mangekyō Sharingan. I never expected him to show no restraint."
Bang!
Chōza slammed a fist into the floor, cracking it—his features twisted with rage.
"Assassination, right? And they're really allowing something like this?"
Inoichi was surprised at Chōza's reaction—their trio had little personal connection with the Uchiha.
"What's gotten into you?"
"What's gotten into me? Back then, I got captured by Kumo's Six Treasured Tools. I survived only because of a hostage exchange—one involving the Two-Tails jinchūriki, who had been captured by Uchiha Rokuro. Meaning, if not for him, I'd be dead! I owe him my life!"
Inoichi finally remembered the connection. It was a bit of a stretch, but Chōza was a straightforward man—that very trait was why the Ino–Shika–Chō alliance rarely fractured.
If the three clan heads were petty, constantly calculating, with no complementary temperaments, the formation would've collapsed long ago.
"But this assassination is ordered by the Hokage—and the one executing it is probably Danzō. Chōza, you really mean to defy them?"
Inoichi's expression was grave.
The Ino–Shika–Chō trio had always been loyal to the Hokage—that loyalty was the foundation of their clans.
If Chōza acted now, he'd be breaking that foundation. This wasn't just his decision—it implicated all three clans.
"Don't worry. When I return, I'll immediately resign as the Akimichi clan head. I'll move alone. It won't involve anyone else."
He stood to leave, but Inoichi grabbed him, looking urgently toward Shikaku.
Shikaku, of course, couldn't allow Chōza to walk out, and used Shadow Bind to restrain him.
Chōza roared, his powerful yang-type chakra surging as he prepared to brute-force his way free.
"Shikaku! Do you want me to become an ungrateful coward?"
"Calm down first, Chōza. Listen to me—this assassination attempt is doomed to fail. In fact… from the very beginning, they already fell into Uchiha Rokuro's trap."
"What? What do you mean?!"
The two men stared at Shikaku in shock.
Once freed from the jutsu, all three sat again, waiting for the explanation.
Shikaku's face was heavy.
"You probably don't know this, but last night I received intel: the border forces stationed in the Land of Hot Water suddenly received orders to retreat two hundred li. Immediately after, Kumo forces pushed forward, slaughtering border civilians and looting heavily."
At this, both men understood instantly.
"So this was also for the assassination?"
"You're saying the assassins include ANBU, Root… and even Kumo shinobi?"
Shikaku massaged his temples—weary from overthinking.
"ANBU won't act. They're the Hokage's direct subordinates. Even if they often do dark work, it's always for Konoha. Ordering them to assassinate a fellow villager would create massive backlash and damage Hiruzen's authority. So ANBU won't move."
Inoichi nodded—Shikaku's reasoning was sound.
"If that's the case, it makes sense. Root alone can't beat a Mangekyō wielder like Rokuro, so they roped in Kumo shinobi—who already hate him. But…"
Bang!
Another crater formed under Chōza's fist—his hair practically standing on end with anger.
"Not only assassination—they actually sold out Fire Country civilians to gain Kumo's trust?! Hokage-sama… Third Hokage… Hiruzen Sarutobi has gone too far!"
He cycled through three forms of address—showing just how furious he was.
Inoichi cut in before he said something treasonous.
"Shikaku, according to everything so far, the Third has completely abandoned the bottom line to eliminate Rokuro. But why do you say he walked into a trap? Could it be that Rokuro already knows everything?"
Shikaku chuckled darkly.
"Most of the Uchiha's intel comes from the Cat Granny. She may be influential in the black market, but she plays all sides. Even if she knew the truth, she wouldn't openly help the Uchihas."
"Given how much the Third invested this time, he won't allow anyone to sabotage his plans. If the Cat Granny dared leak information, her life would be over."
"And with Fugaku's personality—do you really think he'd step in even if he knew?"
Both men shook their heads.
"Fugaku lost his spine ages ago. If he returns to the battlefield, he'll probably be stabbed by his own clan."
"A clan head as useless as he is… it's pathetic."
Shikaku nodded lightly and sighed.
"Fugaku may be trash, but think about this: why do Uchiha Shana and Uchiha Rokuro still keep him as clan head instead of replacing him? If this were earlier, Rokuro could claim he was too young."
"But now he has awakened the Mangekyō—the strongest eyes of the Uchiha. Even if he isn't an adult, he could easily overthrow Fugaku and become the new clan head. With Shana behind him, his personal power, background, and battlefield merit all surpass Fugaku."
Chōza and Inoichi waited in tense silence.
Shikaku finally spoke the conclusion.
"The only explanation is: they kept Fugaku because he's still useful—like his behavior today."
"Shikaku… you're saying Rokuro predicted Fugaku would support the Third? And if Rokuro were the clan head, the Third couldn't assign him such a mission!"
Clan heads did take missions
But never ones this dangerous.
Certainly never assassination missions.
And they always brought numerous subordinates.
You couldn't assassinate someone with a crowd behind you.
"So Rokuro anticipated the Third's action from the start… and used Fugaku? That's insane. He's actually confident he can survive Root and elite Kumo shinobi?"
Shikaku looked directly at Inoichi.
"Of course he's certain. That much is obvious. And the most terrifying thing is—everything is within his calculations. The Third and Danzō think they're in control, but they were in the trap from the beginning."
Inoichi shot to his feet.
"You're going to warn the Third?" Shikaku asked. "Don't bother."
"Why not? Are we just going to watch?"
Shikaku sighed.
"If you'd reported three days ago, maybe it could be stopped. But now it's too late. The border retreat has already caused massive casualties. Do you think the Third can still back down? They won't listen."
"Yeah, Inoichi. They won't listen. Everyone must bear the consequences of their actions. So many civilians died—someone must answer for that."
Chōza had calmed down—almost sounding satisfied at their impending downfall.
Inoichi slumped down.
"Shikaku… what do we do next? If everything happens as you predict, when Rokuro returns, Konoha will change completely. There may even be internal conflict. Where will the Ino–Shika–Chō stand?"
Shikaku sighed deeply and stayed silent a long time before speaking.
"The Ino–Shika–Chō have always stood with the Hokage…"
Chōza nearly exploded again
Until Shikaku finished the sentence:
"…Whichever Hokage it is, we follow."
The implication hit them like a hammer. Both fell silent.
"…Truly a turbulent era."
—
Meanwhile, Rokuro had no idea his plan had already been deduced by Shikaku.
But he also knew his plan wasn't flawless—it was only a matter of time before someone saw through it.
But so what?
History never lacked geniuses capable of seeing the bigger picture.
But just because they saw didn't mean anyone would listen.
A wise man without a patron is like a thousand-li horse without a Bole to recognize it.
As long as Hiruzen kept his thirst for power, he would eventually fall into the trap—if not now, then later.
Time was on Rokuro's side.
The longer it dragged on, the stronger he would grow.
Meanwhile, Hiruzen would only weaken.
He would strike—and sooner rather than later.
Back home, after sending away several Uchihas who came to persuade him to abandon the mission, Rokuro went to the basement with his parents.
"Mom, after we leave, carry the Flying Thunder God marker at all times. If anything feels wrong, escape immediately."
"Don't worry, I've lived in Konoha for over twenty years—I have plenty of friends. And as long as nothing happens to you two, no one dares touch me."
Uchiha Izumi, already determined to accompany Rokuro, packed her equipment as she spoke.
"Uchiha Rokuro, there's something I've wanted to ask for a while now.
In the past, you always emphasized keeping a low profile… so why be so high-profile this time? Did Hiruzen Sarutobi push you too far?"
Uchiha Izumi thought back to the recent chaos in Konoha's streets—brawls breaking out almost daily, and both the Uchiha and Hyūga facing mounting pressure.
She assumed Rokuro's decision to act must have been triggered by those incidents.
Rokuro burst into laughter.
"We've known what kind of man Hiruzen is for a long time.
As for the brawls in the streets—what do those have to do with us? I wouldn't lose sleep over something that trivial."
"Then what is it?"
"It's simple.
You keep a low profile when you're weak because you have no choice.
But when you stay low-profile after gaining strength—that's just self-punishment."
His seven-pointed Mangekyō Sharingan opened, the star-shaped pattern gleaming. Rokuro tapped the corner of his own eye.
"Izumi, even though you have the Mangekyō too, you still don't truly understand what it means. I'm bringing you along not just to give you combat experience—but to teach you something important."
"That from this day on, your personal power is enough to rank among the top three in the entire shinobi world.
From now on, act like a powerhouse.
You don't need to bow to anyone ever again."
His words sent hot blood surging through Izumi's veins.
Just as the two finished packing for their early-morning departure…
Shimura Danzō had already taken Root and left ahead of them—marching straight toward the Land of Lightning.
Almost all of Root's operatives followed him—excluding only logistics and researchers.
It was a full mobilization, a desperate gamble.
The next morning, Rokuro and Izumi set off from Konoha under the farewell of close friends—and accompanying them was Hatake Kakashi.
Kakashi did not wear his ANBU mask today. All three wore civilian clothing, since they were heading into the Land of Lightning.
From Konoha to Lightning, one would normally pass through the Land of Hot Water and then take a boat.
But to avoid the conflict-ridden border, Kakashi led them instead straight to the eastern coastline of the Land of Fire, planning to take a ship around Hot Water entirely.
During a rest break, Rokuro studied the map Kakashi had laid out, confusion on his face.
"Isn't this making the trip longer? Why not just go directly through Hot Water? With our strength, that would be the fastest."
This Kakashi—the one still trapped in the fog of self-doubt, the one not yet dragged out of the abyss by Might Guy—spoke with a flat, emotionless tone.
"This was ordered by the Hokage. ANBU operatives have already prepared the route. Before you enter the Land of Lightning, your presence will absolutely not be exposed."
"I see… and what about after we reach Lightning? Will ANBU still assist?"
"No. ANBU is only responsible for safely getting you there. After that, local informants will take over."
"So that's how it is…"
Rokuro nodded with a knowing smile and leaned back against a tree to rest.
An hour later, the three continued on their way.
By noon the next day, they reached the eastern coast and boarded a merchant ship.
After boarding, Kakashi handed Rokuro a slim booklet.
"When you reach Lightning, go to the location marked in the intel. Use the passcodes I taught you. The man you'll meet is an information broker. He works for money. He'll give you what you need."
Rokuro tossed the codebook to Izumi.
"Here. You memorize it."
Izumi shot him a glare but quietly began reciting the codes under her breath.
Meanwhile, Rokuro reclined in a deck chair, admiring the sea and night sky while talking with Kakashi.
"Kakashi, that Sharingan must be exhausting for you."
Kakashi looked over but said nothing.
"Come on, no need to hide it. The Sharingan is the Uchiha's kekeigenkai—no one knows its power better than we do. You're not an Uchiha. You transplanted an eye with great visual power. You can't deactivate it. The amount of chakra you burn every day is huge."
Rokuro gave him a sidelong glance.
"Have you never thought about replacing it with a normal eye? Or even going one-eyed? It wouldn't affect you that much."
"Thank you for the advice. But this eye was given to me by a friend. I won't abandon it."
"I know. It was Obito Uchiha, wasn't it? I heard elders of the clan talk about him. Despite being admitted into the elite class, he was always at the bottom. And you were its top student."
After chatting casually for a bit, Rokuro's tone suddenly shifted.
"There's a legend in the Uchiha clan: the more emotional a person is, the stronger their Sharingan becomes after awakening.
Your friend was that type.
If he hadn't died, he would've become one of the rare strong ones among us.
A real shame."
Kakashi's expression softened into quiet remembrance before settling back into calm.
Rokuro grinned faintly and headed toward the cabin to find food.
Two days later, the merchant ship finally reached a small harbor in the Land of Lightning—just before dawn on the third day.
"This is as far as I can escort you. I hope you return safely."
Kakashi hesitated, but ultimately offered only a blessing.
Rokuro suddenly added:
"Even if you don't want to give up that eye, sealing techniques can temporarily shut it down when you're not using it. If you're willing, come find me when I return—I'll help you."
Kakashi was silent for a long moment, then bowed deeply to Rokuro before ordering the ship to depart.
As the vessel slowly disappeared into the distance, Izumi tilted her head toward Rokuro.
"You seem to like him quite a bit. Don't forget—he's ANBU. Hiruzen's direct subordinate."
"Not all ANBU are Hiruzen's loyal dogs—especially Hatake Kakashi. Do you really think he doesn't know how White Fang died?"
"He knows? Then why serve the man who killed his father?"
Izumi was puzzled.
"A gentleman's revenge can wait ten years.
When you're weak, you hide your fangs and bide your time.
Not everyone is like us Uchiha—fighting more fiercely the crazier we get."
"Enough about him.
With all this time having passed, Danzō should already be in position."
"They've gone to all the trouble of setting the stage—so let's not keep them waiting.
Let's enter the game early and see how many big fish bite.
If it's just Danzō alone, I won't be satisfied."
The moment Rokuro and Izumi stepped into the Land of Lightning, several groups immediately picked up their trail.
Danzō's group.
Kumo operatives.
And two others.
"Obito, the two Uchihas have landed."
The plant-like Black Zetsu emerged from a tree trunk, addressing the figure behind it.
"I told you to call me Madara."
Footsteps echoed, and Uchiha Obito—wearing his swirling mask—stepped forward.
"Fine, Madara. The two Uchihas have walked straight into the trap. A dog-eat-dog show is about to start. You interested in joining?"
"Hmph. I'm no dog. Why would I participate?
But their eyes… I'm taking them.
Mangekyō of this rarity must never fall into Danzō's hands."
END OF CHAPTER
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