Seizing Eyes

"Just the Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms."

Uchiha Akira tossed out a package. Neji opened it in confusion, and his pupils suddenly contracted. "Th-this is a diagram of the body's meridians to accompany the Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms, along with its key points and precautions?!"

His breathing quickened uncontrollably.

The Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms demonstration alone had already delighted him. The secret manual before him, however, left him utterly shaken!

This was clearly a secret technique that only the Hyuga Clan's Main Family could possibly possess.

It was understandable that his teacher had used the Sharingan to copy the form of the Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms, but this secret technique before him...

"Teacher, y-you... you stole..."

Hyuga Neji stammered before he could finish.

Uchiha Akira cut him off. "What nonsense are you talking about, disciple? I merely taught you an ordinary taijutsu technique."

"As for everything else, that was because your talent was extraordinary and you learned it on your own. Understand?"

He revealed a meaningful smile.

Hyuga Neji instantly understood. His face was full of excitement as he said, "Yes, Teacher, I understand!"

His teacher had stolen all of this and taught it to him!

He had to keep this secret hidden.

"Alright, go train. If there's anything you don't understand later, just ask me anytime."

Uchiha Akira waved his sleeve, concealing both his achievements and his reputation. He yawned, then continued sunbathing and sleeping.

The sounds of Hyuga Neji practicing nearby did not disturb him at all.

Instead, they became white noise that helped him sleep.

Several days later.

Hyuga Clan.

Hyuga Hiashi swept his gaze around and took a sip of tea. "Liuhuo, has there been any change on Neji's side lately?"

"Reporting to the Clan Head, there has not."

Hyuga Liuhuo bowed respectfully. "The things Uchiha Akira has been teaching Neji are merely ordinary Uchiha taijutsu. They cannot bring out the Byakugan's true power and will instead waste Neji's time and talent."

"Please rest assured, Clan Head. I will keep a close watch on Hyuga Neji."

Hearing this,

Hyuga Hiashi set down his teacup and lightly waved his hand. "Alright, I understand."

Since there had been no progress, there was no need to pay any further attention.

He lowered his eyes. "Also, the Hyuga Clan's monthly tournament will be held in three days. You will be in charge of the Branch Family matters. You understand what to do, don't you?"

"Yes, Clan Head!"

A trace of delight appeared in Hyuga Liuhuo's eyes. Finally, he had finally waited for this day!

As for what the Clan Head meant, he understood it all too well.

The Branch Family, in the end, were merely sparring partners for the Main Family. Even in a competition, they absolutely could not overstep their bounds. That was his duty. Still, there was nothing much to worry about. The Branch Family could not learn secret techniques in the first place, so how could they possibly defeat members of the Main Family?

Senju Clan.

Uchiha Akira's peaceful days had not lasted long. An unexpected visitor arrived today, and he looked up in surprise. "Huh? Why are you here?"

The Uchiha Clan's other mixed-blood, Uchiha Izumi.

Her mother was merely an ordinary person, so her status within the Uchiha Clan was somewhat lower. However, her talent was not lacking.

She had already awakened the Three Tomoe Sharingan.

"Brother Akira, this is bad! Brother Shisui... Brother Shisui was taken away by Root!"

Izumi's eyes were filled with panic as she hurriedly said, "I was taking a walk on the Back Mountain this morning when I saw quite a few Root members lying in ambush. The place Brother Shisui went to was the Back Mountain!"

Oh?

A trace of confusion surfaced in Uchiha Akira's eyes. He and Izumi did not seem close enough for her to come to him over this matter. Shouldn't she have told Uchiha Itachi, whom she knew better, first?

Right, the Senju Clan was closer to the Back Mountain.

After figuring out the reason, he could not help feeling a little helpless. "Damn it, so you're confident in Shisui? Do you think you're Minato heading home? Minato could really make it home, but you might not be able to stay so confident."

He had warned Shisui before.

It seemed Shisui had not taken it to heart. Or perhaps Shisui trusted the Konoha High Command too much, so even after Akira's warning, he still had not paid it any mind.

"I understand."

Uchiha Akira nodded slightly. "Go tell Itachi and have him come to the Back Mountain immediately. Do not notify anyone else."

"Neji, go home right away. Come back tomorrow."

As soon as he finished speaking, Uchiha Akira turned into a streak of black light under Uchiha Izumi's gaze and shot into the distance. One moment he was still in sight; the next, he had become a black dot and vanished without a trace.

"What incredible speed!"

Uchiha Izumi was stunned.

She had only thought that the Senju Clan was closer to the Back Mountain, so she had come to inform Akira first, hoping he could provide some assistance.

But at that moment, she realized something.

Akira did not seem as simple as he appeared.

"Little brother, you should hurry home too."

At the same time, she noticed Hyuga Neji beside her. After saying that, she turned and quickly left.

"Has Teacher run into trouble?"

Hyuga Neji looked toward the direction Uchiha Akira had vanished in, deep in thought. After considering it, he continued training where he stood.

Elsewhere.

At the mountaintop.

This was Konoha's Back Mountain. Because it was so remote, few people came here. A trace of vigilance rose in Uchiha Shisui's heart. He had always remembered what Akira said before. Though he trusted the village's leadership, he still maintained a measure of caution.

"Danzo, what is this about?"

Danzo emerged from the forest. Even without emotion, his triangular eye radiated cold malice. "Shisui, your incomparably powerful Mangekyō Sharingan... you actually intend to use it to control the Uchiha Clan Head."

"I will never allow such a thing!"

Uchiha Shisui's expression changed. "Danzo, what are you trying to do?"

Danzo did not answer. He merely continued in a sinister voice, "Even if you control Uchiha Fugaku, will that prevent such things from happening again? The best solution is to destroy the entire Uchiha Clan!"

As his words fell,

his body shot forward like a gale. But the instant he drew close, a pair of scarlet eyes appeared, and his body froze!

The distance of three inches before him seemed like an uncrossable chasm.

It was right before him, yet he could never draw closer.

Bzz!

The Three Tomoe Sharingan slowly stopped spinning. Uchiha Shisui said calmly, "This is only an ordinary Illusion Technique. You will awaken soon enough."

In the end, he still held back somewhat against Danzo, a member of the Konoha High Command.

The destruction of the Uchiha Clan would affect Konoha's peace, but so would Danzo's death.

He turned to leave.

The next moment, Danzo's figure vanished like a phantom and appeared before Uchiha Shisui. In the instant Shisui relaxed, Danzo struck with ruthless speed and tore out a scarlet Sharingan!

Just as he reached for the other eye,

Shisui moved even faster. Enduring the intense pain, he twisted through the air like a swallow and evaded the fatal blow!

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!

Seeing that his first strike had failed,

Shimura Danzō unwound the bandages around his face, revealing a gray, lifeless eye. He said coldly, "Shisui, it is a waste for the Sharingan to be in your hands. Hand over the other one as well!"

Whoosh!

The sound of air being torn apart rang out.

Several figures instantly appeared around him, all wearing masks of different styles.

Uchiha Shisui's heart sank.

They were all... Jonin!