Year 50 of Konoha.
Konoha Village — Uchiha Clan District.
"Congratulations, Clan Head! Congratulations! The rise of the Uchiha is just around the corner!"
"Exactly! Itachi graduated after only one year—he's not inferior to Hatake Kakashi at all!"
"Hahaha! Konoha's strongest clan is still the Uchiha!"
Inside the home of Uchiha Fugaku, cups clinked and laughter echoed.
Praise and celebration flooded the room without end.
Today was the graduation day of the clan head's eldest son—Uchiha Itachi.
After enrolling for only one year, Itachi had graduated early and become a genin.
Such brilliance was more than enough to crown him the greatest prodigy in Uchiha history—of course the clan would celebrate.
"Uchiha Itachi… how laughable."
A cold sneer escaped Uchiha Yusuke.
He did not join the crowd. Instead, he stood alone in the corner, lost in thought.
Uchiha Itachi's reputation as a genius was well-deserved.
But unfortunately, he did not share the clan's heart—he had been completely washed by the Will of Fire.
It was said that upon his graduation, Hiruzen Sarutobi had praised him, claiming:
"At seven years old, he already thinks like a Hokage."
To others, this sounded like Sarutobi grooming Itachi as the next Hokage.
The Uchiha believed the same—some even thought the position was already guaranteed.
But Uchiha Yusuke understood the truth all too well.
As a disciple of the Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama, Sarutobi may not have inherited his master's mastery of Water Release or forbidden techniques…
but when it came to policies targeting the Uchiha, he had surpassed even his teacher.
Tobirama merely guarded against the Uchiha.
Sarutobi and the Konoha high command, however, harbored silent suspicion and deep fear.
From Tobirama's era onward, the Uchiha had been labeled—
"A clan born from evil."
How could Sarutobi ever pass the Hokage seat to a clan deemed inherently evil?
"Uchiha Itachi… the infamous filial executioner."
Yusuke cast one final glance at the boy surrounded by cheers, then turned and left.
If not for Fugaku's invitation, he would never have attended such a meaningless banquet.
As an elite jōnin of the Uchiha, vice-captain of the Konoha Police Force,
his status in the clan was far from low.
Stepping outside, he looked back at the brightly lit hall and murmured:
"There isn't much time left… I must act quickly."
Deep within the Uchiha district stood a delicate two-story Western-style house.
This was Uchiha Yusuke's home.
Sitting cross-legged, he could barely suppress the excitement surging in his chest.
"Today… I should finally awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan."
"System."
He called silently.
A mysterious light screen appeared within his consciousness.
[Fire Release Chakra Mode (Proficiency: 47.2%)]
[Three-Tomoe Sharingan (Proficiency: 99.9%)]
[Konoha Fluid Combat Style (Proficiency: 74.3%)]
[Uchiha Swordsmanship (Proficiency: 92.5%)]
The interface was simple—only four lines.
The system had just one function:
when any skill reached 100% proficiency, it would automatically evolve.
Fire Release Chakra Mode was the evolved form of his clan's Fire Style techniques.
It was somewhat like the infamous Flame-Flame Fruit from the pirate world—
powerful, yet often mocked.
"Sharingan."
Seeing his three-tomoe nearly maxed, Yusuke spoke softly.
As chakra surged through his body, his pupils transformed.
Three black tomoe appeared, rotating slowly around a central pupil.
"As expected… today I can awaken the Mangekyō."
Feeling the surge in ocular power and chakra consumption, he grinned.
"After sixteen years… this forbidden power is finally mine."
The Mangekyō Sharingan—
invincible below Kage level.
Below Kage, all are ants.
As long as he did not face monsters like Pain,
the Mangekyō would let him walk the ninja world sideways.
Pride swelled within him.
"No—stop! I can't become arrogant.
So what if I'm Kage-level? In the Fourth War, even they were just background extras!
What am I thinking?!"
Yusuke shook his head violently, breaking free from the dangerous mindset.
The power of the Sharingan was intoxicating—
and just as easily, it could consume the soul.
Perhaps it was this very arrogance that doomed the Uchiha.
"Changing the clan's fate… this is a long and heavy road."
He exhaled slowly.
Having experienced this power firsthand, he understood the pride of his people.
One-on-one, escape is the only choice.
This was the truest description of the Sharingan.
And the common law of the ninja world.
Only six years remained before the Night of Extermination.
He had to find a way to save the Uchiha—
within six years.