Ambushed

The Mangekyō's power was indeed formidable. Not only had his observational and genjutsu abilities greatly improved,

but even Hoshiryu Uchiha's own Chakra had increased dramatically.

The feeling of such a surge in power was truly intoxicating. The Four Mad Laughers of Uchiha had their reasons for their reputation.

Even Hoshiryu Uchiha had immersed himself in that sensation and lost his usual vigilance.

"Earth Style: Earth-Style Wall!"

"Lightning Style: Lightning Ball!"

Along with the shouts came a sudden change in the surroundings. Four earthen walls abruptly rose around Hoshiryu Uchiha, enclosing him, while a Lightning Style attack descended from above with lightning speed.

Though he had been so absorbed that he had let others get right up to him without noticing, panicking now would accomplish nothing.

Besides, who was the prey was not for the ambushers to decide.

Hoshiryu Uchiha merely looked calmly at his attackers as his Mangekyō Sharingan silently activated.

Substantial Chakra suddenly emerged around him, slowly yet swiftly forming a massive skeleton that enveloped him.

It was the divine power in which the Uchiha Clan took such pride—Susanoo.

Though Hoshiryu Uchiha had no desire to use a cannon to kill mosquitoes, he currently had no other ninjutsu suitable for defense.

As for whether this would expose him, he was not worried. As long as he dealt with the mosquitoes quickly, there would be no witnesses.

No matter what anyone said afterward, there would be no proof.

In the blink of an eye, the Lightning Style: Lightning Ball struck Susanoo's skeletal frame.

Like an egg hitting a rock, the Lightning Ball vanished into the air without causing Susanoo even the slightest effect.

The surrounding Earth-Style Formation Walls also collapsed with a rumble. Hoshiryu Uchiha stood quietly within Susanoo, watching the figures fleeing into the distance.

The attackers were cursing inwardly. They were spies from the Cloud Ninja.

This place was secluded enough, and it was right at the edge of the Uchiha Clan Compound, making it ideal for avoiding ANBU pursuit.

After all, Konoha's outskirts had denser patrols, as well as the barrier surrounding Konoha.

This place, on the other hand, was Under the Lamp, Darkness—far safer.

They had originally intended to exchange intelligence quickly here before leaving.

But a massive Chakra signature had appeared here, and it had frightened them badly.

After hiding in place for a while without seeing anyone arrive, they had prepared to continue their intelligence exchange.

Then it happened again.

That made them wonder whether Konoha was conducting some secret experiment, so they resolved to investigate.

One went ahead, while the other stayed behind.

If there was a trap ahead, they would sacrifice the one in front and have the one behind take the intelligence out.

But when they arrived at the source of the Chakra signature, there was only an ordinary residence.

They hid beside the house to observe, only to witness Hoshiryu Uchiha activating his Mangekyō Sharingan.

Although Hoshiryu Uchiha's Mangekyō looked very similar to a Three-Tomoe Sharingan, causing the two to misjudge him,

that did not stop them from wanting to eliminate this genius for their village.

Hoshiryu Uchiha looked only six or seven years old. At such a young age, he had already awakened the Three-Tomoe Sharingan. Would he not become another Madara Uchiha in the future?

Because of that, the two of them, who were originally responsible only for intelligence work, unanimously decided to eliminate Hoshiryu Uchiha.

In truth, they believed Hoshiryu Uchiha was merely a child. How strong could he possibly be?

Though he had awakened the Three-Tomoe Sharingan, even a Kage could be ambushed and killed while off guard, let alone Hoshiryu Uchiha.

And so, the scene before them left them dumbfounded: Susanoo stood towering over the ground.

In the current ninja world, Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha had only been gone for a little over a decade.

As outstanding ninja selected to serve as spies, they naturally recognized Madara Uchiha's signature technique.

For that very reason, they fled without hesitation.

They needed to bring back the news that another Mangekyō had appeared in Konoha. Bringing back that information would be a great achievement.

The two fled in different directions, using the Body Flicker Technique continuously. Before long, they had escaped a considerable distance.

They got away?!

Just as the two were thinking that, a mass of Blazing White flames suddenly appeared around them.

Before they could even scream, they were turned into charred corpses in an instant.

Hoshiryu Uchiha's Mangekyō rotated slowly as he watched the direction in which they had fled.

Even after the two died, the flames did not vanish. They continued burning them until nothing remained but ashes.

Only after watching them burn to ash did Hoshiryu Uchiha deactivate his Mangekyō. When he closed and reopened his eyes, they had returned to the Three-Tomoe form.

At that moment, Three Figures appeared before Hoshiryu Uchiha.

Although Hoshiryu Uchiha's location was in a Residential Area, the commotion had indeed been too great.

The three were ANBU from the village. Reports from the Barrier Team had left them no choice but to come investigate.

They exchanged glances. The Ruins before them, caused by ninjutsu, told the three that a battle had definitely taken place here.

But when they saw the Uchiha Clan Crest on Hoshiryu Uchiha's clothes, they all hesitated for a moment.

After a while, one of them stepped before Hoshiryu Uchiha and asked,

"We are ANBU. Did something happen here?"

Just as he finished speaking, the Uchiha Military Police Force also arrived at the scene.

No matter what, this was Uchiha territory. It would have been rather ridiculous for the Military Police Force to arrive later than ANBU.

"This matter is now under Uchiha jurisdiction. You may leave."

The Uchiha Clan was this domineering now. The Military Police Force's duties Within the Village overlapped heavily with ANBU's.

Otherwise, the Uchiha Clan was not truly foolish. Naturally, they would not undertake something that brought only disadvantages and no benefits.

Any scheme required bait, and the Second Hokage naturally would not be reluctant to provide it.

The Uchiha Military Police Force's duty was to maintain Public Order, suppress crime, and even crack down on Ninja Crime and monitor Criminals.

At this time, nearly all of ANBU's authority Within the Village had been taken over by the Uchiha Military Police Force.

Without the Second Hokage, ANBU lacked capable personnel and naturally could not compete with the Uchiha Clan.

Only later, when an ANBU member called White Fang emerged, did the proud Uchiha Clan relinquish part of its authority.

Then came the Nine-Tails' Rampage. Using the Sharingan that had appeared in the Nine-Tails' eyes as an excuse, the village

not only drove the Uchiha Clan out of their Clan Compound, but also reclaimed most of the Military Police Force's authority. By then, the Uchiha Clan was only one step away from Clan Annihilation.

But the future was the future. Right now, Within Konoha, even ANBU had to bow their heads before the Military Police Force.

Though he knew his Clan Members meant well, Hoshiryu Uchiha believed his own plans were more important.

If he returned to the clan today, the matter of his Three-Tomoe Sharingan definitely could not be concealed.

Given the Uchiha Clan's nature, it might affect Mito Uzumaki's adoption of him.

At this point in time, though the Uchiha Clan was powerful, they could not compare to Mito Uzumaki.

Moreover, this sudden attack had already become a Foregone Conclusion.

He might as well use this opportunity to test the Third Hokage's current attitude toward the Uchiha Clan.

After all, reality was not an anime.

With that in mind, Hoshiryu Uchiha said to the arriving Military Police Force,

"Thank you for your concern, but it would be better to let Lord Hokage handle this matter."

Yan Uchiha retorted arrogantly,

"What are you talking about? This is a matter within our clan. It has nothing to do with the Hokage."

"The Uchiha Clan's glory needs no one else's help. Brat, you had better come with me."

Hearing that and seeing the threatening expression on Yan Uchiha's face,

Hoshiryu Uchiha knew that words alone would not persuade him.

So, sorry about this.

With that thought, the three tomoe in Hoshiryu Uchiha's eyes slowly began to rotate. The pressure of his Advanced Sharingan immediately became too much for Yan Uchiha to bear.

Though he had not activated the Mangekyō, Hoshiryu Uchiha's Three-Tomoe Sharingan had already opened up a qualitative gap from all others.

Under that crushing pressure, Yan Uchiha involuntarily activated his Sharingan and had to struggle with all his strength just to remain standing.

He stared at the Three-Tomoe Sharingan in Hoshiryu Uchiha's eyes, his face full of confusion.

How could this brat possess such Pupil Power?!

Though the pressure left him unable to speak, Hoshiryu Uchiha still understood what the other man was trying to convey.

"Since this concerns me personally, I should handle it myself."

After saying that, Hoshiryu Uchiha deactivated his Sharingan. Feeling as though a great burden had been lifted, Yan Uchiha collapsed onto the ground.

Hoshiryu Uchiha turned and walked over to the ANBU, then said slowly,

"Let's go. I will explain the Specifics of this matter to Lord Hokage."

The three ANBU stared at Hoshiryu Uchiha in shock, never expecting events to develop so bizarrely.

Internal Strife within the Uchiha Clan?

"However, I will also need to trouble you to help me find someone."

ANBU naturally would not refuse such a minor request as finding someone.

"Who do you need us to find?"

"Mito Uzumaki."