What Is the True Nature of the Sharingan?

The newly appointed clan head declared the gathering over.

The clan members left in small groups, their hearts filled with mixed emotions. Before long, those remaining in the clan compound would likely learn of the change in clan leadership from them.

Of course, to ensure the news reached the ears of every clan member capable of acting independently, the elders would also use various channels and methods to spread the new clan head's name and deeds. They had played the same trick more than ten years ago when they supported Fugaku's rise to power, so doing it again now was familiar territory.

But compared to that, the urgent priority was taking control of the Police Force.

The positions of Uchiha Clan head and Police Force chief were bound together. This was both a benefit granted to the Uchiha by the Second Hokage and a restraint placed upon them. Still, Sōken had to take control of the Police Force as quickly as possible and succeed to the position of Police Force chief before he could rightfully unite the clan's full strength and contend with the Third and the others.

"Senior Fugaku, please lead the way to the Police Force. Shisui, Arashiyama, Chihaya... all of you come too."

With a sweep of his arm, Sōken brought along his entire inner circle.

The Police Force was huge, with several hundred people from top to bottom. It was not something he could handle alone. If he did not bring his trusted subordinates with him, then once he sat in that office, he would probably become blind and deaf. Fortunately, Sōken was not alone. He had his own little group.

"Elders, please wait a while longer. Once I have sorted out the Police Force, I will invite you all to discuss the clan's future."

"Go on, get out of here!"

Elder Homaru waved his hand forcefully in irritation. "I can see it now—you brat are the sort who makes all the decisions and acts like you're the only one who matters. Discuss? Heh! Just don't work these old bones of ours to pieces when the time comes!"

Some of the other elders shook their heads, some frowned, and some laughed helplessly, but none of them said anything more.

The Police Force had always been the clan head's private domain. The elders' authority only extended over this little patch of clan territory. This was an effective rule the Uchiha Clan had developed through practice and experience, so they would not interfere in Police Force affairs.

"Senior Fugaku, please."

Sōken extended a hand in a gesture for Fugaku to go first.

"Is there really any need to rush? It's almost midnight already." Shisui quickly approached and asked.

"The sooner, the better."

Sōken answered without hesitation.

Although, having succeeded as clan head, he was all but guaranteed to become the Police Force chief, and even the Hokage could not change that fact, the closer one came to success, the more likely one was to fail. The farther one traveled, the more cautious one had to be. At a time like this, he could not afford to let his guard down.

He had already confirmed with Fugaku that the application document had been sent to the Hokage Building when Sōken came to attend the gathering. The Third and Danzo would most likely use that thing as a pretext to stir up trouble. The sooner he established a firm foothold, the more time he would have to deal with the challenges to come.

They passed through the corridor and climbed straight up the stairs. By the time they reached the surface, the moon was already high in the sky.

Naka Shrine lay beneath the cold moonlight. The clan members who had left earlier had already departed along the Approach Path, and not a single bright lamp could be seen in the vast shrine. Chilled gusts of night wind rustled through the grass and trees, heightening the desolate atmosphere to its peak.

They did not waste time at the shrine. The group immediately set off, heading straight for the Police Force headquarters.

Naka Shrine and the Police Force headquarters were separated by a considerable distance. No one in the group was skilled in Space-Time Ninjutsu, so they could only honestly use their own legs and run through the forest in a straight line.

"Sōken—no, Clan Head—may I ask you something?"

Shisui came over again.

"What is it?"

Sōken blinked, unsure what private matter Shisui wanted to discuss this time.

Was it about stopping the clan members from planning a coup? Or taking over the Police Force? Or something else... Sigh! From yesterday until now, trouble had come one after another without pause. Unexpected events kept disrupting his plans, forcing him to adapt on the fly...

To be honest, his head felt swollen and muddled.

"You... have you changed too, like I have?"

"What are you talking about?"

Sōken was completely baffled.

What kind of riddle was Shisui trying to speak in?

It was not until he noticed Shisui blinking repeatedly that he came back to his senses. His thoughts raced, and he understood what Shisui meant. Shisui was asking whether he had awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan as well. There were too many people around, making it inconvenient to reveal information about the Mangekyō Sharingan.

Come to think of it, under Sōken's subtle influence, Shisui's vigilance had indeed improved considerably. He had not casually revealed the fact that he possessed the Mangekyō Sharingan. According to him, only three people in the clan knew he had awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan: Sōken was one, Elder Jun was another, and he had not even told the clan head.

"No, no. It's not time yet."

Sōken shook his head in denial.

"Not time yet..."

Shisui frowned. Sōken's answer was a little strange. What did he mean, not time yet? Suppressing the doubts in his heart, he asked, "You don't have it? Clan Head, then... how did you defeat Uncle Yashiro and the others? Your ocular power was simply..."

"I see."

Sōken suddenly understood.

He swept his gaze around and discovered that, even as they hurried onward, everyone had pricked up their ears. Clearly, they too were curious about Sōken's answer. Putting himself in their shoes, their curiosity was easy enough to understand. After all, Sōken's performance in the secret chamber had made it impossible not to wonder.

After all, they all possessed the Three Tomoe. There was no reason for him alone to be stronger than all of them. And do not use talent as an excuse—the Uchiha never lacked geniuses. Even Shisui, if he had not awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan, might not have been able to withstand Sōken's illusion techniques while in the Three Tomoe state.

Shisui's illusion techniques were powerful because he excelled at making people fall under them without realizing it.

Before awakening the Mangekyō Sharingan, Shisui himself believed that he was no match for Sōken in a contest of ocular power.

"Shisui, since you asked me a question, let me ask you one as well. What do you think is the true nature of our clan's Sharingan?" Rather than answer Shisui directly, Sōken posed a question in return. He looked around at the people traveling beside him. "All of you can think carefully about this question too. Once you believe you have figured it out, tell me your answer."

At once, everyone fell into thought, including Fugaku Uchiha and his trusted subordinates.

As it happened, Uchiha Yashiro was in the group.

When Shisui brought up his defeat, Uchiha Yashiro showed no dissatisfaction. A loss was a loss—there was nothing to be upset about. Having been defeated by Sōken in such an utterly overwhelming manner, he instead felt a deep sense of admiration.

He, too, was considering the question Sōken had raised.

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