Chapter 83: A New Mangekyō
What? You say letting the Uchiha into your village is too risky?
There are risks, and there are hidden dangers, but the value of the Uchiha clan needs no explanation. The key is what kind of attitude you take toward them. To be blunt, the key is whether you can allow them to obtain political power.
Konohagakure, or more accurately, the Hokage's faction led by Hiruzen Sarutobi, would absolutely never tolerate the Uchiha gaining political power. They inherited the will of the Second Hokage, believing the Uchiha to be evil, a hidden danger to the village, and fit only to be used and suppressed.
From this perspective, only Kumogakure and Iwagakure have enough boldness—or perhaps, vision—to accept the Uchiha clan.
Compared to the benefits, some risks are acceptable. Therefore, for the sake of the Sharingan bloodline, those daimyō and Kage would take the chance. They dispatched their villages' elite forces, all swarming toward the northwest region of the Land of Fire.
For example, Kitsuchi of Iwagakure would personally negotiate with the Uchiha to determine if there was any benefit for his village to gain. Even if there was no direct benefit, striking a blow against Konoha was still something worth trying.
Land of Fire.
On a wide plain outside a small town in the northwest, the two or three thousand Uchiha who had fled Konoha finally stopped to rest after a full day and night of frantic travel.
"What's the status of Clan Head Fugaku?" Shisui asked, looking at the few Uchiha who had just escaped from the clan district. Although he knew the answer in his heart, he still held onto a sliver of hope and couldn't help but ask.
One of the shinobi, who was lightly injured, panted and said with grief, "They're all... all dead. Only... only a few of us made it out."
Shisui's body trembled.
The three elders—Yatsushiro, Kaiseki, and Genseki—had bloodshot eyes. Their three-tomoe Sharingan spun rapidly, their dōjutsu, which had stagnated for years, surging. But they were still a long way from awakening the true Mangekyō Sharingan.
In the corner of the tent, Mikoto's arms, holding Sasuke, were tense, veins bulging.
Her Sharingan, which she hadn't used since marrying Fugaku, felt as if it were on fire. An unimaginable dōjutsu surged into her mind. The three tomoe in her eyes connected, forming a three-bladed pinwheel. Her vision was different.
However, every Uchiha in the tent was lost in their grief. Not just Shisui and the others, but even Mikoto herself failed to notice the change in her own eyes.
Shisui took a deep breath and said in a grim tone, "From this day forward, I am the clan head of the Uchiha."
Yatsushiro and the other elders nodded. Normally, a new clan head required a full clan meeting, with a vote from the elders and Jōnin. But given their current situation, everything had to be simplified. Shisui becoming the clan head was Fugaku's last wish; no one would object.
Just then, an Uchiha ran in from outside. "Shisui-san, Elder Yatsushiro! Yugito-san from the Cloud is here!"
Shisui waved his hand. "Let her in, quickly."
The clan had sacrificed a third of its shinobi, even their leader, but it wasn't over. Only when they successfully reached the Land of Lightning would this truly be settled.
A moment later, Yugito walked in, carrying Neji on her back. Shisui glanced at the unconscious Neji, then looked at Yugito and said directly, "Yugito-san, for the rest of the journey, we will need your village's escort."
Yugito was about to speak when she felt Neji stir. "Neji-kun, are you okay?"
Neji waved his hand weakly and looked at Shisui. "We can't rest yet," he said, his voice faint. "Leave immediately. Move toward the northwest border of the Land of Fire. Stop when you reach the Land of Waterfalls. The Fourth Raikage will meet you there."
Yugito quickly added, "Shisui-san, please do as Neji-kun says."
Shisui looked at Neji in surprise, then at Yugito, who seemed to think this was normal. He had always assumed Neji was Yugito's subordinate. Now, it seemed Neji was the one in charge. How bizarre.
But Shisui didn't dwell on it. He mulled over Neji's words, nodded, and asked, "I can do as you say, but can you tell me a little about Kumogakure's plan?"
Neji closed his eyes. "The news of the Uchiha's defection has spread, but no one knows you're joining the Cloud. We can use this. Send a distress letter to Iwagakure. The Fourth Raikage has already mobilized his forces and is likely on the move. Ōnoki has enough ambition and vision to probably accept the Uchiha. Even if he doesn't, he will never stand by and watch the Uchiha join Kumogakure. Once Hiruzen learns that both the Cloud and the Rock are sending forces to escort the Uchiha, his indecisive nature will ensure he doesn't dare to act rashly."
Shisui's eyes narrowed. 'Use Iwagakure's power to checkmate Konoha.' A good plan.
Shisui was not an indecisive man. The moment Neji finished, he ordered the clan to move out toward the Land of Waterfalls.
Land of Lightning Border.
The Fourth Raikage read the latest intelligence from a messenger hawk, laughing heartily. "That Neji-kun... he's really given me a huge surprise."
The normally calm Dodai took the report. His hands trembled as he read it. The Uchiha, numbering two to three thousand, were heading to the Land of Waterfalls, less than three days away, and were requesting an elite escort.
"The younger generation is truly something else," Dodai said with emotion. Before the Chūnin Exams, no one would have believed Neji could poach the entire Uchiha clan. But he had. This achievement alone was enough to make him a candidate for Raikage.
After the initial excitement, the Raikage ordered, "Dodai, I'm going to meet them personally. I'm leaving this place to you."
Dodai thought for a moment. "Lord Raikage, I suggest you have Killer Bee lead two battalions to the Land of Hot Water and feint a move south. It will put more pressure on Konoha. You should take a medical corps and go."
"Hm." The Raikage dropped his dumbbell. "I can't wait. I'm going ahead. You handle the rest." He put on his Kage hat, entered his Lightning Release Chakra Mode, and blasted out of the tent.
Watching him go, Dodai scratched his head and smiled. "Good grief, does he have to be in such a hurry?"
Meanwhile, Uchiha Inabi and two other Uchiha, carrying Shisui's handwritten distress letter, raced toward the Land of Earth. They had planned to go to an Iwa border fortress, get their attention, and then meet Ōnoki to deliver the letter personally.
However, just as they crossed the border from the Land of Grass, they had a stroke of luck and ran right into Kitsuchi's team, who was on his way from the Land of Earth to make contact with the Uchiha and assess the situation.
Kitsuchi was Ōnoki's only son. His mastery of Earth Style was superb, second only to Ōnoki and the two Jinchuriki. In terms of strength, ability, and prestige, Kitsuchi was far more qualified than Kurotsuchi to become the Fourth Tsuchikage.
Both sides were surprised by the sudden encounter.
"I am here on Lord Tsuchikage's orders to find the Uchiha," Kitsuchi said plainly. He was a man who followed protocol; even as the Kage's son, he always referred to Ōnoki as "Lord Tsuchikage" in public.
Inabi, understanding Kitsuchi's importance, directly handed him the letter and explained their intentions.
Kitsuchi's eyes narrowed when he learned the Uchiha were considering joining Iwagakure.
"I understand. This letter will be delivered to Lord Tsuchikage immediately."
While there were risks in accepting the Uchiha, the benefits clearly outweighed them. Besides, the final decision was Ōnoki's. He agreed readily.
Inabi let out a long sigh of relief. "Kitsuchi-dono, the Uchiha are in dire need of manpower. We must return."
"Of course." Kitsuchi nodded.
Inabi and his men rushed back. Kitsuchi turned around and headed straight back to the Land of Earth. He traveled without rest, arriving at Iwagakure and handing the letter to his father.
"A distress letter?" Ōnoki looked at his son, muttering in surprise as he opened it. For the proud Uchiha to send such a letter meant their situation was truly desperate.
"It seems they suffered heavy losses," Kitsuchi noted gravely.
"Heh heh, interesting. The Uchiha chose the Land of Earth. This is Iwagakure's great opportunity." Ōnoki, a contemporary of Hiruzen, had been in power for over thirty years and had guessed the Uchiha's intentions before he even read the letter.
He read it. As expected, they intended to seek refuge.
"Father, what are your orders?" Kitsuchi asked.
"Kitsuchi, I've been Tsuchikage for over thirty years. Even with another thirty, I could never lead Iwa to rule the world. The Uchiha coming to us is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," Ōnoki said decisively.
Sure, there were risks. But to turn them away because of potential dangers would be far too narrow-minded. Ōnoki was already inclined to accept them; the letter only strengthened his resolve.
After a moment, Ōnoki said, "Kitsuchi, you stay here and prepare the troops. I will personally take a medical team to escort the Uchiha."
"Understood."
Konoha, Hokage Tower.
A solemn meeting was underway. The room was filled. All the clan heads and elite Jōnin were present.
For once, Hiruzen Sarutobi was not smoking. He stared at Danzō, who was leaning on his cane. "Danzō, was it really you who killed Fugaku Uchiha?"
Danzō's face twitched, but he nodded firmly. "Hiruzen, are you doubting me? In that situation, I was the only one capable of killing him."
"Oh?" A cold sneer played on Hiruzen's lips. He grabbed several photographs and threw them in Danzō's face. "Then what do you call this?!"
The photos had been taken by ANBU agents stationed in the Uchiha district, who had secretly photographed the battle between Obito, Danzō, and Fugaku. The Four Violet Flames Formation didn't completely block out light. Although the photos were blurry, they could make out the general appearance of the masked man.
"This... this..." Danzō gasped, unable to say a word. The iron-clad proof was mountainous. He couldn't argue.
Thump! Thump! Thump! Hiruzen slammed his fist on the table. "Danzō, tell me! Who is this masked man? What is your relationship with him? How does he have a Sharingan? And how can he use Wood Style?!"
Wood Style and the Sharingan, in one person? And why did Danzō hide this? The other leaders and Jōnin in the room stared at Danzō, stunned, waiting for an explanation.
The atmosphere froze.
A cold sweat broke out on Danzō's palms. "I don't know who he is. I speculate he's a rogue Uchiha who was lost from the clan. As for why he has Wood Style, I don't know either. I swear, we were just using each other. Nothing more."
The room's occupants looked skeptical. A rogue Uchiha, who also wielded Wood Style, strong enough to kill Fugaku... It made them all think of the Nine-Tails attack five years ago.
They had been certain the Uchiha were behind it—the Sharingan's reflection in the beast's eyes was undeniable. Although they hadn't wanted to believe the village's Uchiha would be so insane as to destroy their home, it was even more impossible to imagine a powerful rogue Uchiha with that intent. So, they had poured all their hatred onto the clan within their walls.
Realizing they might have been wrong all these years, some of the clan heads looked deeply uncomfortable.
"Using each other?" Hiruzen bored his eyes into Danzō. "Then why did you hide his existence? What did he give you, hmm?"
Danzō had no defense. His face flushed red, then pale.
"Hmph." Hiruzen snorted, then changed the subject, dropping another bombshell. "Aburame Torune attempted to assassinate me. I killed him on the spot. Before he died, he claimed he was acting on your orders. How do you explain that?"
The room exploded. The clan heads' faces were a mixture of shock, suspicion, and anger. All eyes locked onto Danzō.
Danzō himself was stunned. He had assumed Torune had failed his mission and died in Kumogakure. He never expected him to suddenly appear and try to assassinate the Hokage.
After the shock, Danzō gripped his cane, striking it on the floor. "A frame-up! This is a blatant, naked frame-up!"
He was seething. He was always the one framing others. Now, in just a few days, he'd been framed twice.
First, Itachi's death, and now this assassination attempt. Who was behind it?
If it was the same person, it had to be that mysterious Uchiha. After all, only he knew Danzō had a transplanted Sharingan, which would seal the accusation.
But if it wasn't the same person... the implications were terrifying.