Uchiha Xia Yin also stared intently at Uchiha Setsuna, a slightly bloodthirsty smile curling at the corner of his mouth: "What do I want? You ask me what I want?!"
As the suppressed Uchiha nature gradually revealed itself, even Uchiha Xia Yin, with his memories from a previous life, gradually became manic.
He did possess memories of his past life, but the madness ingrained in the Uchiha Bloodline was difficult to erase, even with over twenty years of memories from his previous life!
"Hahahaha! Well said! What I want is this world! The entire Ninja World!"
With a gradually crazed smile, Uchiha Xia Yin looked ferociously at Uchiha Setsuna, who was momentarily stunned by his words, and said, "Those lowly mongrels claim to be descendants of gods based on their so-called Bloodline?! But we are the true gods! Those low-class mongrels who only know how to eat, drink, and be merry are destined to become ants beneath my feet!
You ask me what I want?!
I want everyone to bow at my feet!
I want everyone to become a slave of my Uchiha Clan!
Ninja Clans or Ninja Villages! Or those damned Daimyo!
I don't care! What I want is this entire Ninja World! I want to become! The sole ruler of this Ninja World!
The Will of Fire will prevail?! Of course! Because only the victors are worthy of the Will of Fire!
The so-called Will of Fire! It's nothing more than a lowly thing to be humiliated by anyone!
As long as I win, whatever I say it is! That's what it is!"
Uchiha Xia Yin's insane remarks instantly froze Uchiha Setsuna, who was already somewhat crazed.
He had thought that Uchiha Xia Yin might want to seize the position of Clan Chief of the Uchiha Clan, or perhaps stage a coup to become Hokage.
But he never expected this guy in front of him to be so utterly insane!
"What?! Grand Elder, are you stunned?" Looking at the bewildered Uchiha Setsuna, Uchiha Xia Yin suppressed the madness in his heart and said with cold eyes, "Now... it's time for you to make a decision! Uchiha Setsuna! Rise with me! Or... fall beneath my feet?!"
As Xia Yin's right eye trembled continuously, Uchiha Setsuna clearly felt a chill on his neck.
And as a Ninja who had fought from the Sengoku period until now, Uchiha Setsuna knew very well that this was not a sign of anything else!
It was killing intent! Uchiha Xia Yin's absolute killing intent!
If he dared to say no, Xia Yin would not hesitate to slit his throat, and he would have no ability to resist whatsoever!
However, this only made Uchiha Setsuna even more excited.
Only this kind of person!
Only such a person!
Only such an existence!
Is worthy of him, Uchiha Setsuna!
To follow to the death!
Indecisive cowards, bullies who prey on the weak, fawning lackeys!
Being with those people would only lower his own standing!
"Hahahaha! Uchiha Xia Yin! You truly make me look at you in a new light!" Looking at the young man in front of him, Uchiha Setsuna couldn't suppress the trembling excitement in his heart.
"But I like this kind of madness!" Setsuna suddenly drew his ninja sword, the scabbard hitting the ground with a thud. He knelt on one knee, his Three-Tomoe Sharingan burning in his eye sockets. "Those indecisive cowards, those fawning lackeys, are simply not worthy of leading the Uchiha! I've endured for ten years, waiting for someone who dares to overturn the chessboard!"
"I, Uchiha Setsuna, pledge allegiance to you as my lord! From this day forward, the entire Radical Faction shall be your sharp blade! Should I harbor any disloyalty, may heaven and earth strike me down!"
Xia Yin looked at the kneeling old man, the madness in his eyes gradually receding, replaced by cold control.
The night wind carried the light of the paper lanterns, casting intertwined shadows on the two of them. A conspiracy capable of overturning the Ninja World quietly reached its initial agreement in the silent night.
In Uchiha Setsuna's courtyard, the Shadow Clone who had formed an alliance with the old man glowed with faint Chakra light points, like sparks crushed by the night wind.
Without any extra farewells, the Shadow Clone's outline gradually became transparent in the lingering crimson Mangekyo light, finally turning into a wisp of smoke and dissipating into the night dew on the eaves, leaving only Xia Yin's lingering cold Chakra presence on the tatami.
At the same time, in the west wing of Xia Yin's home, the meditating young man's brows subtly twitched.
He sat upright on the tatami, the blade of grass he was twirling between his fingers quietly breaking. The Shadow Clone's memories surged into his mind like a tide—
Setsuna's fervent kneeling submission, the combat strength roster of the three hundred Clan Members of the Radical Faction, and the details of the Moderate Faction's three Elders' recent contact with the Konoha Anbu, all clearly presented themselves in his consciousness.
Xia Yin slowly opened his eyes, the crimson in them not yet fully faded. The lingering Mangekyo pattern reflected the night outside the window, appearing particularly cold.
His gaze passed over the low wall of the courtyard, precisely locking onto a residence on the east side of the Village—that was the home of the Moderate Faction leader, the Uchiha Third Elder. A dim yellow lamp was lit there, like a firefly barely surviving in the night.
"I've given you a chance; whether you can seize it is up to you." Xia Yin's voice was extremely low, mixed with the chirping of insects outside the window, carrying an undeniable resolve.
He raised his hand and rubbed the uchiha clan crest on his wrist, his fingertips tracing the cold metal pattern. The faces of the ordinary Clan Members in the Clan Compound flashed through his mind—
They might lean towards Konoha, or scoff at the Radical Faction's propositions, but in the internal disputes, they had never committed the evil act of bullying fellow Clan Members. At most, they would argue a few words after meals about "whether to be tough on Konoha."
This was why he was willing to give them a pass.
The decline of the Uchiha originally stemmed from Konoha's division and suppression. Those Clan Members who merely held differing opinions were not irredeemable Woodworms.
He wanted a united Uchiha, not a bloody internal struggle—after all, they were about to face the combined forces of Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo, and every bit of power that could be mobilized was crucial.
But this tolerance was by no means limitless indulgence. Xia Yin's fingertips suddenly tightened, the edges of the uchiha clan crest digging painfully into his palm. The image of the Third Elder secretly passing a list of the Clan's Radical Faction members to the Anbu last month clearly appeared before his eyes.
"If they remain unrepentant..." A cold arc formed at the corner of his mouth, and a hint of ruthlessness flashed in his eyes. "A quick end is better than prolonged suffering. Cleaning out a few Woodworms is better than letting those who follow me die from betrayal by their own people."
He thought of Chi and Yan, of the subordinates who had shielded him on the battlefield, and of his father Senba's decade of forbearance to protect him—the loyalty of these people was more precious than the hypocrisy of the Moderate Faction's "two-faced appeasement"...
Advance chapter available on pãtrêon Got1808