Three Mangekyō Seeds

Facing Uchiha Obito, whose face and neck had gone red with agitation, Uchiha Yu showed no urgency at all. "Finish your morning training."

Rin smiled. "You're so dumb, Obito. Big Brother Yu didn't assign you any afternoon training today."

"Huh? So that's it!"

Now that he could talk to Rin and knew there was hope of ending the physical training, Obito excitedly leaped three inches into the air. Filled with energy from head to toe, he howled and sped up his frog jumps.

"What a scary guy, meow..." Miwa Masayo pressed herself against her owner's ear and remarked.

Before she could finish, Uchiha Yu signaled for her not to speak. Then, by stroking the tabby cat's fur, he conveyed the message: someone was watching them.

Miwa Masayo naturally fell silent. She then jumped down from Uchiha Yu's shoulder and, pretending to be idly exercising, began patrolling the area around the riverside training ground.

The tabby cat found nothing, but she did spot a group of people approaching in the distance. There were many of them, their strengths varied greatly, yet they made no effort to conceal themselves.

So she scampered back, pointed in their direction, and said to Uchiha Yu, "Someone's coming, meow. A lot of people."

Uchiha Yu turned to glance over. Guided by his gaze, he concentrated and sensed vibrations coming from the ground.

Six people. Two walked in front, two behind, with two lighter individuals in the middle. One of them was especially light and should have been a child.

Based on the rhythm and weight of their footsteps, Uchiha Yu easily deduced that the two in front were Clan Head Uchiha Fugaku and Elder Uchiha Setsuna.

That old bastard? Was he here to pick a fight with me?

After recognizing Uchiha Setsuna, Uchiha Yu's thoughts became unsettled. Once his attention scattered, he could no longer hear the approaching footsteps.

He hesitated. How exactly should he deal with Uchiha Setsuna?

That old fellow was shameless too. Whenever Uchiha Yu had argued him into a corner before, he would use the power of his Three-Tomoe Sharingan to force him down.

But if Setsuna tried to suppress him again today, he could withstand it. That would expose his Three-Tomoe Sharingan to the clan head.

It would not really matter if Uchiha Fugaku found out, but Uchiha Obito and outsiders were here as well.

Uchiha Yu looked at Miwa Masayo and suddenly smiled.

It wouldn't be suitable for me to reveal my strength, but Rika-chan didn't have so many concerns. If she stepped in and held off that old bastard Setsuna, no one would suspect that I was strong. They'd only envy my good luck.

"Miss Miwa Masayo, let's discuss something."

"Eugh~~~ Every time you beg me in such a disgusting tone, it makes my heart itch, meow..."

"What do you want?"

"Buddha Jumps Over the Wall!"

"...Could you pick something else?"

"I don't care, meow. I only care about eating, meow."

"..."

"After all, you're the one asking me, meow."

"Tch, fine."

"Long live, meow!"

With that assurance, Uchiha Yu relaxed. He watched the three-person team train while maintaining his Hunyuan Stance, never stopping his own cultivation for even a moment.

Every bit of Natural Energy he absorbed now brought an intoxicating sense of fullness, swiftly transforming into the exhilarating pleasure of physical strengthening and continuously becoming the joy of growing stronger.

This was far more addictive than the agonizing cultivation of a ninja.

"Hmph, as expected, the shame of the Uchiha!" A hoarse, elderly voice shattered the quiet of the riverside training ground. "And there are actually two shames of the Uchiha together here. What good could come of that?"

Uchiha Obito had been called trash many times, most of them within the clan. When facing high-ranking ninjas who had awakened the Sharingan, he rarely argued back.

Without any achievements to support him, he naturally lacked confidence. The "unawakened Sharingan" that propped up his pride was no longer something he could rely on before a true Sharingan.

But today was somewhat different. Seven days of intense physical training had strengthened him somewhat, and Rin was right beside him. How could he endure this?

"I'm not the shame of the Uchiha! You are!"

Uchiha Yu dispersed his Hunyuan Stance and burst into laughter. "Obito, you're absolutely right. This old man is the shame of our Uchiha."

"Fugaku, look at them! One doesn't wear the clan crest or even a forehead protector, while the other is still doing training for three-year-olds. All they do is cause trouble for others..."

"Oh, and what exactly do you want the clan head to do to two official Konoha ninjas, Elder Setsuna?"

Uchiha Yu sneered without restraint. "Cut off the clan stipend you already secretly cut off for me?"

"Disregarding clan rules, disregarding Konoha's laws, disregarding the reality of the clan's declining strength—frankly speaking, you're not the shame of the clan. You're the enemy of the clan."

"Elder Uchiha Setsuna, the clan's predicament is because of you."

"What utter nonsense! Trash like you, with not even a shred of clan honor, cowards who don't even dare display the clan crest, dare to..."

"Please, we're ninjas, not brainless samurai."

"Openly displaying the clan crest outside—was that meant to remind everyone there was a pair of Sharingan here for the taking?"

"Oh, right. You haven't been on the battlefield for a long time, so you can spout irresponsible nonsense as much as you like. After all, it's young people like us who bear the consequences."

Uchiha Obito suddenly interjected, "Big Brother Yu, I think we should display the clan crest. When enemies see it, they'll be intimidated."

"Obito, whose side are you on?"

Uchiha Yu was speechless with frustration. Did he not know he was being unreasonable? The Uchiha's deterrence in the Ninja World still carried considerable weight. If they said they would wipe out someone's family, they truly could.

Besides, the Sharingan was not as useful as the Byakugan. It did not increase one's strength by much and could not be concealed. Once transplanted, it was practically a target marking where the Uchiha's revenge would strike.

But this was an argument. Who the hell needed reason in an argument?

That dense Obito. I really want to beat him to death.

Uchiha Yu glanced wordlessly at the clan head, and his heart immediately skipped a beat. The number was wrong. There were not six people, but seven.

Standing beside Fugaku was Uchiha Mikoto, gently holding a swaddled infant. Naturally, it was her eldest son: Uchiha Itachi.

On Fugaku's other side stood a child of four or five. Though it was also Yu's first time seeing him, those large eyes and button nose instantly confirmed his name: Uchiha Shisui.

Together with Uchiha Obito behind them.

Three geniuses had gathered here. Three seeds of the Mangekyō Sharingan.

No wonder three White Zetsu had gathered here. Had they arrived in advance because the clan head was coming?

Uchiha Yu's distraction made the enraged Uchiha Setsuna even more furious. He abruptly activated his Three-Tomoe Sharingan, and massive ocular power surged like waves toward Uchiha Yu and Uchiha Obito.

He wanted to vent his fury. He wanted the two shames of the Uchiha to make fools of themselves. He wanted them to kneel on the ground, bow in dogeza, cover themselves in dust, and lose all face.

It would be even better if they could not endure it and committed seppuku.

Without hesitation, Miwa Masayo leaped onto Uchiha Yu's shoulder and let out a soul-shaking roar. "Meow!!"

Uh, the cry was indeed adorable.

But along with that adorable meow, the awe-inspiring might of a tiger erupted, instantly crushing Uchiha Setsuna's ocular power.