It was said that every Mangekyō Sharingan ability was different — a reflection of the user's heart.
And each ability was tied to ancient myth.
Susanoo. Izanagi. Amaterasu.
All bore names drawn from legend.
Heavenly Pillar.
In myth, when the ancient god Izanagi built his great hall, he erected a central pillar — the Heavenly Pillar.
What exactly did that pillar symbolize?
Yako felt an itch in his mind.
Now I'm almost tempted to die just to find out.
He wondered whether Uchiha Tōka possessed the same potential — whether he too might awaken the Mangekyō.
Gogo opened his eyes again.
"Clan Head Kagen, the Uchiha cannot remain this passive!"
His voice was firm.
"Uchiha Madara is a rogue ninja even the First Hokage could not kill — yet the village sent us to 'investigate' him.
Call it investigation, but in truth it was a death mission. At best, it was simply testing Madara's attitude toward Konoha.
Yes — we bear responsibility. A rogue from our clan is ours to pursue.
But Madara is different. He is a titan from the founding era.
If we must pursue him, fine — let the Uchiha lead. But sending only half an ANBU squad to assist us? That's deliberately sending us to die.
We must seize greater initiative. Greater power. We cannot allow the village to casually send us to our deaths!
Power is not for ruling Konoha.
It is for protecting ourselves.
If we do not advance, we fall behind.
Without power, we will all die on some mission — just like Teacher Dōma!"
Kagen felt a chill in his chest.
With his newfound strength, Gogo's ambitions were swelling.
He was ready to challenge the village.
It reminded him of Uchiha Setsuna — who, after gaining power, had insisted on challenging the Second Hokage.
Tobirama had imprisoned him in Konoha's prison.
After that… no one heard from Setsuna again.
Whether he was killed before or after imprisonment — no one knew.
Kagen spoke carefully.
"Gogo, the village's distrust of us began in the Second Hokage's era.
He once said the Uchiha are prone to extreme emotional shifts.
Today gentle and kind — tomorrow, after awakening their eyes, consumed by hatred so intense they would slaughter even their own kin.
History contains many such cases.
That is why the village guards against us.
Gogo… you must learn to control your power.
Do not awaken the Mangekyō only to declare war on the village."
"Control?" Gogo snapped.
"If I control myself, will that bring Teacher Dōma back?
If I control myself, will that stop the village from sending Uchiha to die?
Clan Head! We must resist — like Hatake Sakumo did!
We must fight for influence — until we rise to the village's highest ranks!"
"Like Hatake Sakumo?" Kagen looked at him as though he were a child holding a blade.
"You think becoming stronger means the leadership will bow to you?
You may fight well now — but do you believe you are Sakumo's equal?"
Gogo's momentum faltered instantly.
He had awakened the Mangekyō.
But he did not truly believe he could surpass the White Fang of Konoha.
Hatake Sakumo's reputation was carved from battlefield after battlefield.
Many of those who died by his blade were legendary shinobi.
Could he claim superiority?
Sakumo was a top-tier powerhouse — and yet now he quietly mentored students, taking D-rank missions and strolling through the village.
Kagen pressed on.
"Gogo.
I acknowledge your strength. You are perhaps the strongest in our clan at present.
But do not mistake power for invincibility.
Madara was strong. Where did it lead him? Repeatedly driven out by the First Hokage.
Sakumo is strong. Yet before the leadership, he has no real stage.
ANBU Vice Commander Lynx was strong — and died at the hands of rogue Sarutobi Kanosuke.
Yes, this mission carried the scent of a death assignment.
But was the Grass Country pursuit mission deliberately arranged to kill Vice Commander Lynx?
Was White Ram's crushed chest staged for our sake?
Any mission can bring casualties.
Any mission can also produce miracles.
In this mission, you awakened the Mangekyō.
And we learned something crucial — Copper Fox of ANBU wields Wood Release.
From my perspective, Copper Fox did not intend to sacrifice us.
He abandoned his own flank to support us directly — nearly costing the life of one of his squad leaders.
White Ram's fate is still uncertain.
Gogo… tell me honestly.
Can you defeat Copper Fox — ANBU's foremost combatant?"
Gogo bristled.
"I may not defeat Hatake Sakumo. I may not defeat Uchiha Madara.
But Copper Fox? I have a chance."
Tōka quickly tugged at his brother's sleeve.
Even he felt Gogo's confidence was inflating dangerously.
He was afraid of Copper Fox.
Being dragged across the ground by wooden vines — injured and helpless — was not an experience he wished to repeat.
Copper Fox was ruthless. Cold. Extreme.
Better not to provoke such a man.
Kagen did not expose Gogo's fragile bravado.
"Very well.
Suppose you defeat Copper Fox.
What about ANBU Commander Yellow Dog?
If Fox is this strong, how powerful is his superior?
And even if you defeat Yellow Dog…
Can you defeat the Third Hokage?"
Yako nearly laughed to himself.
Yellow Dog's reputation had grown mysterious and formidable alongside Fox's rise.
In truth, Yellow Dog remained an elite jonin — strong, yes, but nowhere near Kage level.
He truly owed Fox a drink.
Kagen continued.
"The Third Hokage is hailed as the strongest Hokage in history.
Have you seen his power — rivaling tailed beasts?
One rogue Sarutobi Kanosuke causes such headaches.
The Third, who commands the Five Release: Great Combo Barrage — do you understand what that means?
Gogo, you have just acquired new power.
Train it.
Master it.
Make it your trump card.
Do not rush out and get yourself beaten — or killed — by Konoha's strongest.
As for Uchiha authority within the village…
That must be pursued gradually.
We currently maintain good relations with Hatake Sakumo and even remnants of the Senju.
In the next political shift, we may rise with the tide.
Power struggles in Konoha are not merely about fighting.
They are not simply about eliminating opponents.
More importantly, they are about winning support."
Hidden beneath the leaves, Yako disagreed silently.
Winning support was important.
But in Konoha's political struggles, eliminating enemies physically was often the shortest path.
If removing an enemy did not secure power…
Then you simply had not removed enough.
Pain was the clearest teacher.
Only when it hurt would they know to let go.