Danzo's Arrogance

After calming down for a while, Uchiha Itachi collected himself and began analyzing the incident.

First, they needed to determine the exact abilities of Uchiha Yuan's Mangekyō Sharingan.

"Yuan's Mangekyō Sharingan isn't as simple as mere supportive ocular power."

"What do you mean?"

"Have you seen the abilities he unleashed..."

Now that he had calmed down, Itachi's tone carried deep insight.

"His ability doesn't merely strengthen other Mangekyō. There must be activation conditions we don't know about. The defining trait of Word Spirit is using words to accomplish tactics."

Itachi's words immediately diverted Obito's attention.

"You mean his Mangekyō Sharingan can not only control ocular power, but also influence others through speech?"

At this moment, Itachi finally understood why the other Mangekyō Sharingan Shisui had left behind had mutated some time ago.

"Yes. Word Spirit can influence people's hearts and make them choose something specific."

It could even...

Influence other Mangekyō Sharingan.

For example, Shisui's eye?

Itachi was starting to find the masked man across from him somewhat distasteful...

His intelligence analysis abilities were poor in every respect...

His execution ability was lacking too.

And he was even suspected of having fallen under Word Spirit.

Thinking of how Obito had taken out those eyes that day, seemingly controlled by some subconscious impulse to cast the Word Spirit Technique...

Itachi gave Obito a deep look.

What did that look mean?

Itachi said nothing more and merely offered a simple reminder.

"After that night ended, you took out his eyes in front of me and nearly used Word Spirit on me. Was that truly your own will?"

Obito froze at his words. "Of course it was my idea. I just wanted to joke around with you."

But Itachi's words gave Obito quite a fright...

Obito checked himself and still confirmed that he had not fallen under genjutsu.

As for Itachi, a simple observation revealed no signs of genjutsu either. After all, they were both Uchiha...

"Without complete intelligence on those eyes, we can't formulate an effective countermeasure at all."

Itachi began recalling the details of his conversation with Shisui before Shisui's death...

There had been no problem.

It felt as though there had been some issue, but he could not remember where the discrepancy lay...

Could he not remember that detail?

Itachi's vigilance rose, but then Obito opened his mouth thoughtlessly again.

"His eyes are right here with me."

Obito took Uchiha Yuan's eyes from his clothes and slowly shook the bottle.

Itachi finally could not take it anymore.

"Why did you take them out?"

"Huh?"

"What exactly are you trying to do?"

Obito said, "I..."

Whether Obito was stupid or genuinely controlled...

Low emotional intelligence: stupid.

High emotional intelligence: controlled.

Itachi slowly activated his own Mangekyō Sharingan, his gaze piercing through the bottle as though he intended to absorb every bit of information inside.

"You claim to be Uchiha Madara. Then, throughout the Uchiha Clan's history, has there ever been a Mangekyō Sharingan like this?"

Obito did not respond...

Seeing Obito remain silent, Itachi approached the matter from another angle.

"When you try to destroy these eyes, do you feel reluctant to do so?"

At that, Obito tried to entertain the thought...

Then he abruptly stopped, indescribable shock appearing in his eyes.

A strange emotion welled up from the depths of his heart, a suppressed attachment and obsession, as if some long-forgotten feeling had surfaced from deeply buried memories.

Yuan's words before his death echoed beside his ears like a ghost: "Actually, Obito, is your wish to create a perfect world where only Rin exists?"

Perhaps his Mangekyō...

Like the Infinite Tsukuyomi, could accomplish that as well.

It was as though an invisible thread pulled him along, forcing him to confront his own heart.

Obito closed his eyes and took a deep breath, trying to suppress the turmoil within him.

He did not want to admit that his emotions had already been drawn in by those eyes, yet he could not restrain the desire rising from the depths of his heart...

To create a world belonging to Rin, even if she were the only one in it.

"I am Uchiha Madara!"

Yet even as he said it, that strange emotion in his heart refused to fade.

A terrifying ocular technique.

It existed solely to target the Mangekyō Sharingan.

Then...

Watching the reaction of the man calling himself Uchiha Madara, Itachi suddenly realized the severity of the problem.

The destruction of the world was real.

More importantly, his Mangekyō Sharingan possessed other bizarre abilities as well.

He had to contact Konoha as soon as possible.

With that thought, Itachi nodded. "I need to find a way to contact Konoha."

Obito naturally knew full well that Itachi still had ties to Konoha.

He was now caught in self-doubt because of Itachi's few words, yet he still had to maintain Uchiha Madara's unfathomable demeanor on the surface.

"Go..."

Using Uchiha Madara's tone, Obito calmly issued his order and instruction.

Ignoring Obito, Itachi left directly.

The air in the Hokage's office suddenly froze.

Danzo pushed open the door and entered, carrying his usual arrogance and coldness as he rudely stopped before Hyuga Hiashi and Hiruzen Sarutobi.

"Hmph, how could anyone from the Uchiha Clan possibly be capable of casting some world-destroying technique?"

Danzo's expression was dark, his voice filled with disdain and mockery.

"You actually believe such an exaggerated and absurd rumor?"

Hiruzen frowned slightly and fixed Danzo with a stern gaze. "Danzo, why are you so certain?"

Danzo snorted, his tone turning even colder. "Because Root's ninja never discovered any Mangekyō Sharingan with that kind of ability. If one truly existed, it would have fallen into our hands long ago."

The office immediately fell silent.

Hiashi, seated to one side, was briefly stunned before letting out a cold laugh.

"Heh heh, Lord Hokage, since I have delivered the intelligence, I will leave the subsequent matters for you and Lord Danzo to discuss at your leisure. I shall take my leave first."

With that, Hiashi slowly rose, politely bowed to Hiruzen, then turned and left the office.

As far as he was concerned, he had already informed the Hokage of the important intelligence. The remaining issues naturally were no longer matters an outsider like him should concern himself with.

In truth, Hiashi had originally come to visit intending to discuss internal unity and cooperation within the village with Hiruzen as well.

But Danzo's sudden intrusion, along with his unrestrained and even provocative remarks, completely turned the atmosphere into one of drawn blades.

In front of the Hyuga Clan head, he had openly spoken of digging out Uchiha eyes. He had absolutely no reservations, and it filled Hiashi with deep disgust toward Danzo.

He himself...

Was the head of a bloodline clan.

And the Hyuga Clan also used ocular techniques. Although the Hyuga Clan did not fear the Byakugan being leaked, those words were truly crude.

Watching Hiashi's departing back, Hiruzen let out a soft sigh.

Danzo's recklessness and arrogance gave him an enormous headache.

With only the two of them left in the office, Hiruzen tiredly rubbed his brow and asked Danzo in a grave tone, "Danzo, speak. What exactly do you want?"

Danzo's expression remained stern, but a trace of agitation and unease that even he could not perceive flashed through his eyes.

"It is about the Uchiha orphan."

"There is nothing to discuss."

Danzo was not surprised and merely stated calmly, "I only want to cultivate him into a qualified ninja who inherits the Will of Fire."

"This has nothing to do with you, Danzo."

"Then what about the Uchiha family's assets?"

"The village will handle them."

"Hiruzen, you will regret this."

Watching Danzo's retreating back, Hiruzen felt his head throb...