Uchiha Clan Grounds, Clan Head's Residence.
When Fugaku heard the Sky Screen's evaluation of the Third Hokage's failures, he could not help but nod slightly.
"Exactly so."
Fugaku's voice carried years of suppressed resentment.
"If the Hokage hadn't favored one side, if the Elders hadn't deliberately marginalized us, would the Uchiha have ended up like this?!"
But his words immediately came to an abrupt halt.
Because the Sky Screen's voice continued, calmly dropping a devastating piece of information:
[The massacre of the Uchiha clan!]
These words exploded like thunder in Fugaku's ears.
He shot to his feet, overturning the cushion beneath him. The teacup rolled off the table and shattered on the floor with a sharp, piercing crack.
The tea spread across the tatami mat in dark stains—a chilling resemblance to blood.
The Sky Screen's visuals shifted accordingly: near the Uchiha clan grounds, bodies lay strewn in all directions, wearing clothing bearing the Uchiha crest—men and women, old and young alike, blood spreading beneath them.
The image lasted only a single second, but every detail was exceptionally clear in Fugaku's eyes.
Though the faces were somewhat blurred, Fugaku could still recognize every single one. What infuriated him most was that the enemy had not even spared the children.
Fugaku's eyes instantly turned blood-red, his body trembling violently.
"N-No… impossible!"
His voice was hoarse, forced out through clenched teeth.
"It's all fake!"
But he dared not gamble. He dared not stake the lives of his entire clan on the Sky Screen being false.
Moreover, deep down, he leaned toward this being a true depiction of the future.
The only question was—who was the enemy?
"Clan Head!"
"Lord Fugaku!"
Hurried footsteps and urgent shouts came from outside the residence.
Uchiha Yashiro, Uchiha Inabi, Uchiha Tetsuka, and other radical core members of the clan arrived almost simultaneously. They slid open the door, their faces burning with rage.
"Did you see it?! The Sky Screen said—"
"Massacred! How dare they!!!"
"The Konoha higher-ups! It must be them—!"
They were boiling with indignation.
These Uchiha elites, who had long been dissatisfied with the village's policies, now had bloodshot eyes. Dozens of Sharingan activated. Chakra surged within the room, making the air itself feel scorching.
But all voices ceased abruptly when they saw Uchiha Fugaku's face.
Their clan head stood with his back to them, facing the Sky Screen's projection.
Moonlight streamed in through the window, illuminating half of his face.
And what was most shocking were the two streaks of blood-red tears slowly flowing from his eyes.
Those were no ordinary blood tears.
Drops of blood slid down his cheeks, pooling at his chin before dripping onto his collar, blooming like dark red flowers.
But everyone's gaze was fixed intently on Fugaku's eyes—those slowly spinning Sharingan were no longer in the shape of tomoe.
Instead, they bore three interconnected Taiji patterns, forming a perfect triangular structure, slowly rotating deep within his eyes. The yin-yang of each Taiji pattern turned, as if containing some profound power.
Mangekyō Sharingan!!
The room was deathly silent.
Yashiro stood with his mouth agape; the kunai in his hand clattered to the floor. Inabi took half a step back, his eyes full of awe. Tetsuka dropped directly to one knee, lowering his head, not daring to look directly into those eyes.
Everyone present was an Uchiha elite; they all knew of the Mangekyo Sharingan's existence, knew it was the ultimate form of Uchiha power, and knew the last person to awaken these eyes was Uchiha Madara—the legendary "Shura of the Shinobi World".
But they had never imagined they would witness those eyes on their own clan head.
However, one person still remained standing.
Young Itachi stood at the doorway, quietly watching everything unfold.
"Tou-san…?"
Itachi spoke softly, his voice filled with confusion and a faint, barely perceptible fear.
Fugaku didn't respond to his son. He slowly turned around, his Mangekyō Sharingan sweeping over everyone present.
Those touched by that gaze couldn't help but shiver.
"Yashiro."
Fugaku spoke, his voice eerily calm, forming a strange contrast with the blood tears in his eyes.
Yashiro's body trembled. He straightened himself in a manner never seen before, his voice loud and resonant as a bell:
"Yes, Clan Head!"
"Immediately notify all elders and all Chunin-ranked and above clansmen. There will be an emergency meeting in the underground assembly hall of the Naka Shrine in an hour."
Fugaku's voice had no inflection, but every word carried immense weight.
"Make sure Shisui attends. Furthermore, seal off all entrances and exits to the clan grounds. Until the meeting is over, no one is allowed in or out."
"Yes, sir!"
Yashiro turned to leave.
"Wait."
Fugaku called him back.
"Be polite. Especially to Shisui. Tell him that the Uchiha need his strength. Need his judgment."
Yashiro paused for a moment, then nodded heavily:
"Understood!"
He rushed out of the residence, his figure quickly disappearing into the night.
Inabi, Tetsuka, and the others also rose, awaiting further instructions.
Fugaku waved his hand: "You all go prepare as well. Inabi, you're in charge of arranging security. Tetsuka, compile a list of all combat-capable clansmen and an equipment inventory of the clan."
"Yes, sir!"
Everyone quickly left.
Only Fugaku and Itachi remained in the room.
Itachi stepped forward, looking at Fugaku's still-bleeding eyes, and asked softly:
"Tou-san… do your eyes hurt?"
Fugaku looked down at his son. His Mangekyō slowly stopped rotating and reverted to ordinary black eyes.
He crouched down and reached out to ruffle Itachi's hair.
"No."
Fugaku said, his voice finally carrying a trace of warmth.
"I just… saw something I didn't want to see."
"Is it the 'massacre' the Sky Screen mentioned?"
Itachi asked. Though young, he could understand the meaning of that word.
"Will we Uchiha… all die?"
Fugaku remained silent for a long time.
Finally, he took a deep breath and stood up.
"No."
His voice became firm again.
"Now that I know in advance, I will never let this happen. Itachi, go rest. I still have matters to attend to."
"I want to come to the meeting too."
Fugaku looked at his son and eventually nodded.
"Very well. But you may only listen; you are not to speak."